major central valley pot bust
A state task force uprooted more than 105,000 marijuana plants and seized more than 22,000 pounds of processed cannabis in what officials are calling the Central Valley’s largest pot-busting operation to date. The massive effort involving several agencies took place the week of May 5 and focused on illegal grow operations in Kern, Tulare, and…… Read More
unlicensed contractors busted
Ten people in Bakersfield are facing numerous charges for performing contracting work without a license. Investigators with the Contractors State License Board conducted a two-day sting in April and received bids from the suspects ranging from $1600 to $4800, well over the $1,000 limit that requires a license to perform work. Some of the suspects…… Read More
crews continue fighting democrat fire
The Democrat Fire continues to burn east of Bakersfield. Cal Fire says nearly 1,000 acres of brush have been scorched since the fire broke out Sunday afternoon along Highway 178 near the Upper Richbar Campground area. Authorities say the blaze started when a pickup crashed into the mountainside. No firefighters have been injured. The fire…… Read More
police nab suspected fencing thief
A 59 year-old Bakersfield man is behind bars after police say they found stolen city property and a marijuana grow. Investigators say they recovered $260,000 worth of stolen fencing and over 300 marijuana plants on five and a half acres in the 1900 block of Lotus Lane on May 9. Authorities say Evens Bernard tried…… Read More
earthquake strikes near mettler
A 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 12:09 p.m. Monday west of Mettler. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake caused aftershocks in the magnitude 2 range. There are no reports of damage or injury. Officials with the Southern California Seismic Network say more aftershocks are possible in the next few days, and there’s a 5%…… Read More
grassfire closes highway 178
Crews are battling a grass fire east of Bakersfield. The Democrat Fire broke out at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday along Highway 178 near the Upper Richbar Picnic Area. Cal Fire reports the blaze has scorched more than 450 acres and is zero percent contained Monday morning. Highway 178 is closed in both directions as crews…… Read More
coroner: north kern inmate murdered
The Kern County Coroner says an inmate found dead at North Kern State Prison in Delano was murdered. Officials say Enrique Gomeztagle, 31, died from asphyxiation caused by strangulation and an object blocking his airway. Prison staff found him unresponsive in his cell on January 29. He was later pronounced dead. The case is being…… Read More
inmate tries unusual escape
A Kern County inmate is facing an extra charge after allegedly trying a unique way to escape from a jail transport bus. Sheriff’s deputies say Maminder Singh, 26, hid underneath the bus as it was leaving the court holding facility on Truxtun Avenue on May 14. The driver stopped after hearing screams. Singh was reportedly…… Read More
taft crash victim identified
A woman killed in a head-on-crash in Taft has been identified. The Kern County Coroner’s Office says Brandy Naff, 38, died at the scene Monday. The California Highway Patrol says her SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a big-rig. The truck driver from Tennessee suffered minor injuries. There’s no word what caused the crash.… Read More
