Calaveras County – A press conference on Tuesday held by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office addressed progress so far in the investigation of multiple random shootings in the Valley Springs area. Sheriff Dennis Downum said his department is making progress in eliminating suspects and is working with a profiler to try and narrow down the suspect pool. The first drive-by shooting report took place December 17 at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Road. A total of 15 shootings into moving vehicles or homes reported overall have left community members shaken. In one instance, a victim driving on Watertown Road swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle with its high beams on which continued to swerve across the center divide and forced the victim off the roadway and into a ditch. Calaveras County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Seawell said the victim described the suspect vehicle as “a full size pick up truck painted white with silver and beige” and the “doors of the pick up truck were painted differently than the body of the truck.” Seawell said at the time that the “described pick up truck is a vehicle of interest.” Downum reported that the occupants of the pick up truck are now being treated as witnesses, not suspects. Investigators are still seeking another possible suspect vehicle identified as a light-colored late-model sedan with square headlights. The case became even more high profile when a Calaveras County family sent their 11-year-old daughter to school in body armor and a Kevlar helmet as a means of protection. The girl’s father, who did not want to be identified, told KCRA 3 that he is taking precautions because “there's some maniac running around here who could shoot at people from cover, ambush, driving by, or just sitting in your home.” Downum said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A.T.F.), California Highway Patrol (C.H.P.) and F.B.I. have all been helpful in assisting with the investigation. “They're also bringing technologies that we certainly didn't have that we hope will help us in the investigation, but we're not going to expand on what those are,” he said. The A.T.F. is now offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the rash of shootings. Seawell said that in some cases, information has been delayed in getting to the Sheriff’s office. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (209) 754-6030 or (209) 754-6500. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives tip line is 1-800-ATF-GUNS. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:00
Calaveras Investigators Enlist Profiler in Shootings Investigation
Calaveras County – A press conference on Tuesday held by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office addressed progress so far in the investigation of multiple random shootings in the Valley Springs area. Sheriff Dennis Downum said his department is making progress in eliminating suspects and is working with a profiler to try and narrow down the suspect pool. The first drive-by shooting report took place December 17 at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Road. A total of 15 shootings into moving vehicles or homes reported overall have left community members shaken. In one instance, a victim driving on Watertown Road swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle with its high beams on which continued to swerve across the center divide and forced the victim off the roadway and into a ditch. Calaveras County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Seawell said the victim described the suspect vehicle as “a full size pick up truck painted white with silver and beige” and the “doors of the pick up truck were painted differently than the body of the truck.” Seawell said at the time that the “described pick up truck is a vehicle of interest.” Downum reported that the occupants of the pick up truck are now being treated as witnesses, not suspects. Investigators are still seeking another possible suspect vehicle identified as a light-colored late-model sedan with square headlights. The case became even more high profile when a Calaveras County family sent their 11-year-old daughter to school in body armor and a Kevlar helmet as a means of protection. The girl’s father, who did not want to be identified, told KCRA 3 that he is taking precautions because “there's some maniac running around here who could shoot at people from cover, ambush, driving by, or just sitting in your home.” Downum said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A.T.F.), California Highway Patrol (C.H.P.) and F.B.I. have all been helpful in assisting with the investigation. “They're also bringing technologies that we certainly didn't have that we hope will help us in the investigation, but we're not going to expand on what those are,” he said. The A.T.F. is now offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the rash of shootings. Seawell said that in some cases, information has been delayed in getting to the Sheriff’s office. Anyone with information is asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (209) 754-6030 or (209) 754-6500. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives tip line is 1-800-ATF-GUNS. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Latest from
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