News Archive (6192)
John Wadsworth has been ordered to appear for felony
sentencing at 10am this Wednesday morning.
The ordeal began on September 19th when Amador High School was
placed under lock down due to an angry parent who was thought to be armed and
dangerous. Apparently 34 year old Wadsworth left his home in Ione when he
learned that the Child Protective Services were questioning his children in
regards to an Ione Police Department domestic violence case involving both
their mother and Wadsworth.
Chief of Police Proudly Introduce 3 New Reserve Police Officers to City Council
Written by
Chief of Police Scott
Morrison proudly
introduced 3 new Reserve Police Officers to the Jackson City Council on Monday.
Laurie Smith, Rachel Brager
and 27 year CHP veteran John Kellogg joined the Department. Morrison
also presented Kellogg with two resolutions from Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi and
Senator Dave Cox’s Office for his 27years of dedicated service on the California
Highway Patrol. Later under Administrative reports Morrison reported that due to Detective Chris
Mynderup’s outstanding work the suspect who attacked School
District employee Jeff Baxter is in custody. He also
reported that the suspect is being investigated for several other crimes
throughout the City of Jackson.
Also good news, the couple responsible for an arson that occurred on Amador Street in
April of 2006 could be facing conviction for their crimes. Carletta Johnson and
Sean Rowell, on the night of April 30th, threw two incendiary devices at a home
located on Amador Street
causing the home to burst into flames and endanger the occupants within. Sean
Rowell has been convicted of Arson with special circumstances with Explosive
Devises, while Carletta Johnson was given a 3 year sentence upon her conviction
of arson. Rowell will be appearing soon in Amador Superior Court for
sentencing.
The totals are in for 2006
accidents in the Amador Unit of the California Highway Patrol and the numbers are up over 2005 numbers
and interestingly enough, the same as 2004. 636 accidents were reported on Amador County Roadways
in 2006, up from 582 reported in 2005. These numbers include only reports at
the CHP, and exclude the cities of Ione, Jackson, Sutter Creek and Plymouth.
Of the 648 accidents reported in 2006 350, or over half, were injury accidents.
March and April of 2006 saw the highest accident totals, generally, according
to Public Information Officer Craig Harmon, due to inclement driving conditions
because of the severe storms that impacted the county during those months.
What started as a minor mechanical fire ended in a blaze for a truck driver this last Sunday. The blaze occurred on Defender Grade Road in Pioneer around 3pm. The owner indicated he had a mechanical failure. The blaze started in the engine and quickly spread throughout the vehicle and then to some surrounding trees. Firefighters from the 10th Battalion responded and extinguished the blaze. The truck was completely destroyed in the fire. No one was reported as injured.
Jackson police Officers were dispatched to a 911 call of a shooting this last Saturday at approximately 3:04 am at 1034 North Main Street in the City of Jackson. Upon arrival of the officers, one victim of an apparent gunshot wound was discovered lying on the floor inside an out-building to the rear of the main home. The out-building is described as a garage converted into a small apartment, which is where the shooting victim resides along with a 31-year-old female, who was there at the time of the call and found providing aid to the victim upon the officer’s arrival. The female reported to police personnel on the scene that the victim had shot himself. A medic unit from the American Legion Ambulance Service arrived on the scene a short time later along with fire personnel from the Jackson Fire Department and rendered emergency medical aid to the victim. The Medic Unit ordered an air ambulance. The victim was later transported to Sutter Amador Hospital and subsequently flown to a valley hospital for further treatment. As of 9:15am on Sunday, the victim was reported to be in grave condition. Jackson police detectives Chris Mynderup and Douglas Grey were called to the scene and are in charge of the investigation.
An Amador County Narcotics Investigation resulted in the bust of a large methamphetamine lab in San Andreas over the weekend. The crackdown resulted in the arrest of four Stockton men and another man, according to the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office. Five suspects from the Stockton area were arrested and booked between Friday and Saturday on suspicion of manufacturing a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a crime. According to an Amador Police official, this bust was above and beyond the size of an average meth lab crackdown, but details have yet to be disclosed.
The Amador County Narcotics Task Force had been investigating the lab for close to a month and made the bust in cooperation with the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office and the Amador County Sheriff's Office. There was evidence of frequent drug manufacturing, although drugs were not being manufactured at the time of the arrest. Nine 55 gallon tanks were filled with manufacturing waste from meth production. Most of the necessary chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine are readily available in household products or over-the-counter cold or allergy medicines. Synthesis is relatively simple, but entails risk with flammable and corrosive chemicals, particularly the solvents used in extraction and purification. Clandestine production of meth is therefore often discovered by fires and explosions caused by the improper handling of volatile or flammable solvents.
Amador officials are hoping that a shocking recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will help raise awareness of child abuse on a local level. The study showed close to one in 50 infants in the country were victims of child abuse or neglect in their first year. Amador County’s Child Welfare Services Office statistics indicate a total of 42 reported cases of child abuse in February and 45 in January. Roughly 10 percent of the reports received are confirmed as legitimate cases. On average, the office receives 45-60 reports a month. Reports are received from law enforcement officials, child care providers and concerned citizens.
According to Matt Zanze, program manager for the child welfare office, any reasonably suspicious report of sexual or physical abuse is investigated jointly with local law enforcement. If a situation is deemed unsuitable for the child, the law will take the child into protective custody, which may require Child Welfare services to file a petition with the court. Zanze explained that his department will try and keep the child with their family whenever possible. “The law requires we make every effort to help the children remain in their home. We work to make sure parents receive the necessary parenting skills,” says Zanze. However, a number of children who have been separated from their families are put into foster care.
Amador County Sheriff Department Reports Officer Involved Shooting; Jackson Man Shot
Written by
Yesterday around 2:45 pm the Amador County Sheriff’s
Department received a 911 call from the relative of a distraught man stating
that he had a gun and was going to kill his family. The Sheriff’s
Department responded to the address of 15732 Butte Mountain Rd. in Jackson in force. Upon arrival on scene the Sheriff’s
Department observed the man in jeans and a denim shirt that had a hand gun in
his hand. The man,
after looking like he was going to return to one of the two residences located on
the property, turned and toward the deputies. Witnesses on scene stated that they heard one shot and
then several more fired in return. Although we are expecting a media release
from Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan later this morning, Under Sheriff James Wegner has
stated that the shooting was officers involved and that no officers were hurt.
The suspect was shot in the
abdomen and hip. The man was identified as Stephen Schumann Sr. of Jackson. Schumann
was airlifted after sustaining the gunshot wounds to Sutter Roseville hospital
where he is being treated for his injuries.
Friday night marked a
significant milestone in Amador County this year- a record count of fatal
accidents in the first 3 months of the year. A total that now has reached 8 after an accident reported
around 7:00 pm Friday night claimed three more lives. According to information
currently available two full size trucks were involved in a head on collision on
Highway 88 near the Pioneer Trailer Park in Pioneer. Three men in the front seat of one
of the pick ups were all declared dead at the scene. The driver of the other pick
up was airlifted from the Pine Grove Camp Helispot to Sutter Roseville
Hospital. Hwy 88 was closed for about one hour. The cause of the accident
is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
A Head on accident occurred yesterday at approximately 3:56 pm on Lupe Road near the intersection of Lupe and Ridge Road in Pine Grove. Apparently a driver, while entering a sweeping curve, crossed over the center line and hit the other vehicle head on. The impact left the two vehicles blocking both lanes of traffic and traffic was backed up for about a half an hour while emergency crews cleared the roadway. American Legion ambulance responders attended to the injured occupants of the vehicles. Both drivers had reportedly major injuries, one of which included severe facial trauma. The drivers were transported by American Legion ambulance to receive medical care. The accident is under investigation by the CHP.
