A Taft man wanted for a fatal hit-and-run crash on Kern Street has surrendered to Kern County Sheriff’s deputies. Alejandro Padilla, Jr., 48, arrived at the Kern County superior courthouse with his attorney Tuesday afternoon after being accused of a wreck that took the life of a motorcycle rider in the 1100 block of Kern…… Read More
The California highway Patrol arrested sixteen people for DUI during a weekend operation in Kern County. The crackdown took place Saturday night as part of a statewide effort to catch impaired drivers. Officers recovered a stolen car, made one felony arrest, issued thirty warnings, and impounded thirteen vehicles. The CHP says more DUI operations are…… Read More
A Ridgecrest police officer has been arrested on allegations of domestic abuse and injury to a child. Laura Kenney was arrested Tuesday after a community member reportedly identified her as the suspect in a domestic violence incident. Detectives who investigated the call say they observed a minor injury to the victim’s face. Detectives say the…… Read More
The County of Kern will pay $300,000 to a former chief deputy of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office who claimed he was fired because he challenged Sheriff Donny Youngblood in the 2018 election. During the campaign, Justin Fleeman promised to stop alleged sexual misconduct within the sheriff’s office and the Sheriff’s Activities League. Fleeman claimed…… Read More
Trial has been moved to September 15, 2025, for a man accused of driving drunk and striking attendees at the 2023 Bakersfield Christmas Parade. Police say Alan Booth, 74, had a blood alcohol level over three times the legal limit when he reversed his truck into a crowd leaving three people injured. Booth faces charges…… Read More
Police have identified the suspect in a hit-and-run accident that killed a motorcyclist in Taft. Alejandro Padilla, 48, is a resident of the Taft area and is described as an Hispanic man standing 6′-2″, weighing about 185 lbs. Police say Padilla was driving a Chevy Silverado that turned into the path of Harley Davidson motorcycle…… Read More
Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who killed a motorcyclist in Taft. It happened around 10:45 a.m. Sunday on Kern Street just west of Cascade Place when the driver of a pickup made a left turn and struck the motorcycle. Police say after the accident, a man was seen running southbound through the parking…… Read More
A 46-year-old man has been arrested for an alleged killing in Oildale. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office says Daren Williford was arrested July 24, 2025, following the incident July 12 in the 800 block of Beardsley Avenue where deputies responded to reports of a man suffering from trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene.…… Read More
A tentative agreement has been reached between Albertsons Companies and workers at Albertsons, Safeway and Vons stores in Northern and Central California, avoiding a strike. The deal delivers economic security, health care and pension improvements for 25,000 workers. The United Food and Commercial Workers, 8-Golden State, UFCW Local 5, and UFCW Local 648 announced the…… Read More
A Visalia woman will stand trial September 9, 2025, after her young son died inside a hot car in southwest Bakersfield. Prosecutors say Maya Hernandez, 20, left her two boys alone inside her car for two hours on June 29, 2025, while she received a cosmetic treatment at a medical spa on Real Road. The…… Read More
