Police Blotter 3/24

Staff at a Clovis alternative school called police about 6:30 p.m. March 17 to report that five females left on foot and had not been seen since 5:45 p.m. Police took down the names and descriptions of the five girls, aged 13 through 17, and filed a missing persons report.

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About 3:15 a.m. Thursday, officers received 11 different reports of shots fired at the 100 block of Park Street. Police found two intoxicated men who at first denied shooting a gun and said they had been shooting fireworks, but one finally said both of them had been shooting an assault rifle. The second man present continued to deny involvement.

Police arrested the two men and booked them for obstructing a police officer, negligent use of a deadly weapon, and disorderly conduct.

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A restaurant manager called police Thursday regarding damage to the restaurant’s plate glass windows.

The manager said the damage appeared to be worth $500.

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Police received a report of a five-vehicle crash at 7 a.m. Thursday on the corner of Fifth and Prince streets. According to reports, the driver of a white International truck owned by a trucking company said the sun was in his eyes and he didn’t see the oncoming vehicles, each of which was pushed into the next vehicle of the chain. None of the drivers reported serious injuries.

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A storage unit manager called police about 7:40 a.m. Thursday to report that a trailer worth about $4,300 had been stolen from the lot. The manager said he didn’t know who might have taken the equipment.

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Magistrate court officials asked a police officer there for unrelated business about 11 a.m. Thursday to look into a situation of a man sitting next to a couple who were preparing to testify, smacking his fist into his hand, and warning that something was going to happen after court.

Officers arrested the man and booked him for attempting to intimidate a state’s witness.

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Police received a call about 2:50 a.m. Friday notifying them that a vehicle had crashed into a telephone pole. Another officer said he had seen the vehicle run a stop sign at the corner of 12th and Beta and leave the alley at a high rate of speed.

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Police accompanied agents from the Children, Youth and Families Division to the 2100 block of West Grand regarding the welfare of a 2-year-old child. While searching the house, officers discovered possible methamphetamine residue in the trash can but no other contraband.

The 49-year-old woman living in the house admitted she had last used methamphetamine three days earlier, had consumed drugs in the presence of the children, allowed friends to use drugs in the presence of children, and allowed drug paraphernalia to come within reach of children. Police determined three children were in immediate danger and took custody of three girls, ages 2, 9, and 7.

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Police noticed a Ford pickup swerving into the wrong lane of traffic on Sheldon Street about 7:30 p.m. Friday and repeatedly failed to get it to stop at Eighth, Seventh, and Sixth Streets. When the driver finally pulled over, he could not complete field sobriety tests and officers had to catch him to prevent him from falling over.

A check of his record showed numerous prior convictions and police arrested him for driving while intoxicated, fourth offense.

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A Clovis business owner called police to the 100 block of North Main about 11:20 a.m. Saturday to report that his store window had been shot by a bullet, sending glass 20 feet into the store. Officers checked the glass and found it was at least a quarter-inch thick.

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About 2:10 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a Clovis restaurant where a clerk reported receiving a suspicious bill. Police tested the bill and determined that it was a counterfeit $50 bill.

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About 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers noticed a green Cadillac speeding south on Prince Street near First Street, pulled it over, and administered field sobriety tests that the 38-year-old female driver failed. Later breath alcohol tests gave results of 0.11 and she was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Police Blotter is compiled by CNJ staff writer Darrell Todd Maurina. He can be contacted at 763-6991 or:

[email protected]