This edition of Weekly Lowlights is a testament to the fact that most Turlock Police Officers are people too and don’t want to be bothered with the somewhat minor societal infractions of others, believe it or not.
In the past several days there have been numerous incidents where officers probably could have arrested and booked people into the Stanislaus County Jail, but evidently elected not to.
As you read on, it will become clear there are two ends of the spectrum.
We will begin with those who wisely chose not to mess with the PO-lice and accepted responsibility for their alleged bad choices.
Exhibit number 1: At 12:43 a.m. on March 19, Desirae Ramirez, 21, was arrested in the 1400 block of N. Palm Street on an active warrant for hit and run. She was issued a citation and released. Like most people, if you don’t mess with the police beyond a reasonable and logical response, they won’t mess with you.
Exhibit number 2: Later that night, at 4:20 a.m., Gary Ivan Fleming, 43, was stopped at West Main St. and Soderquist Rd. for a vehicle code violation. Turns out he had a suspended license. He was arrested and released with a citation.
Exhibit number 3: At 1:53 p.m. on March 24 Devin Tillery, 20, was arrested and issued a citation for theft and trespassing at Walmart on Fulkerth Avenue.
Exhibit number 4: Rhonda Nightengayle, 58, was arrested for shoplifting at Kohl’s on Countryside Drive, and issued a citation for theft. At well over half a century old you have to wonder what she was allegedly stealing. Perhaps some inserts for her shoes or some sort of broach?
Exhibit number 5: Again on March 24, Turlock police issued a citation after placing Melissa Maldonado, 23, under arrest for driving with a suspended license at 11:35 p.m.
Now we move into the other end of the spectrum of criminal behavior, and those people who allegedly deserve to be placed behind bars.
On March 25 Peter Garcia, 21, was arrested and booked for robbery after he allegedly walked into the victim’s residence, punched the victim in the face and then took the victims wallet. Garcia’s actions sound like something my children would have done to each other when they were toddlers over something stupid like Legos or stuffed animal.
Garcia allegedly has not advanced beyond being a toddler. Garcia needs some advice on his alleged life choices. He was arrested and booked for robbery at 4:20 p.m. near the intersection of Canal Drive and Broadway.
Jora Khomari, 61, was arrested at 5:53 p.m. for brandishing a weapon in the 1200 block of Golden State Boulevard. Police say he got into a verbal argument with the victim and starting waving a tire iron in an alleged fit of rage. He also happened to be on probation.
Once again, that sounds like something a toddler would do. Except that Khomari is 200 percent older than a 3-year-old. By mathematical computation, that if he were to live 183 years his emotional response to an adverse situation would be the rough equivalent of a 10-year-old. I am actually impressed at that level of alleged anger from such a senior citizen.
