KUZZ News

taft man injured in explosion, fire

taft man injured in explosion, fire

A man has been severely burned during an explosion and fire in Taft. It happened Sunday at around 11 a.m. in the 100 block of Loma Vista Avenue where firefighters and Taft police found the badly injured man in front of a burning garage. The Midway Driller reports the man was taken to Taft Airport…Read More

assault suspect wanted

assault suspect wanted

Bakersfield police are working to identify a woman wanted for alleged assault.  Police say the suspect, between 20 and 30 years old, is believed to have joined other suspects in assaulting a victim outside Dignity Health Arena on Truxtun Avenue at around 11 p.m. March 30. The woman is described as 5 feet, 4 inches…Read More

woman sought for alleged elder abuse

woman sought for alleged elder abuse

A Kern County woman accused of elder abuse is on the run.  The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help locating Tory Baxter who is wanted for suspected elder abuse and identity theft. KCSO hasn’t released much information about the case, however they want anyone with any pertinent information to reach out…Read More

east bakersfield swat standoff

east bakersfield swat standoff

A 41-year-old man was arrested Thursday afternoon following a standoff with police in east Bakersfield. It happened shortly before 3:00 p.m. when officers responded to a call to check the welfare of Alejandro Leon who allegedly refused to come out of the house in the 2900 block of Baylor Street. Leon reportedly assaulted a family…Read More

third-striker sentenced to life for rite-aid robberies

third-striker sentenced to life for rite-aid robberies

A third-strike offender who robbed the same Rite Aid store in Bakersfield five times in one month has been sentenced to 100 years to life in prison. The crimes happened between July 15 and 25, 2024, when Jonathan Goodrich, 45, repeatedly targeted the Rite Aid on 34th Street. Authorities say during the crime spree, Goodrich…Read More

accused arsonist sent to mental hospital

accused arsonist sent to mental hospital

A man accused of setting a fire that damaged the Kern County Veterans Memorial is headed to a mental health hospital after being found not competent to stand trial. A hearing was held Tuesday for Oscar Ibarra, 40, where a judge sent him to treatment for two years. The memorial on Truxtun Avenue was damaged…Read More

30-year-old sex offender sentenced for trying to hug young girl

30-year-old sex offender sentenced for trying to hug young girl

A 30-year-old registered sex offender was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail for trying to hug an 11-year-old Bakersfield girl. Prosecutors say Jaylen Cates approached the girl outdoors last November and said, “Come here and give me a hug so I can keep you warm.” A bystander stepped in and told the girl to…Read More

city council passes bakersfield budget

city council passes bakersfield budget

The Bakersfield City Council has approved its proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The budget totaling $852.7 million was approved by a 5-to-2 vote on Wednesday. Money will be allocated for priorities such as homelessness and street repairs, however some community members expressed dissatisfaction with the city’s decision to allocate nearly $115 million in…Read More

bell gardens man arrested on drug, porn charges

bell gardens man arrested on drug, porn charges

A 39-year-old Bell Gardens man was arrested by McFarland police after a traffic stop led officers to alleged cocaine and hundreds of pictures of child pornography. Police say Gerardo Heredia was stopped in the 100 block of Browning Road June 20, where officers reportedly discovered the drugs inside his car. He was arrested on drug…Read More

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