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Child Taken in Stolen Auto Reunited with Family

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MERCED – The parents of a three year old girl who was taken with their car as it was stolen were relieved to have their child back home Monday night.

The incident happened at about 6:45pm on the 400 block of West 27th Street, as Melissa Foster was preparing to take her Toyota Corolla to a car wash.

“I took one second just to run back to my porch to grab my purse,” Foster said. “In that split second, my mom saw the car door open and close.”

Someone had jumped into the car and began driving off with it. Melissa’s three year old daughter Jessie Sanchez, or “JJ” as she is affectionately called, was still inside. Melissa chased after the car on foot for two blocks before the vehicle was able to get away.

She believed whoever took her car and her daughter had been watching and waiting for her.

Police searched the surrounding neighborhood for any sign of the the stolen vehicle and the child.

“Commonly when someone steals a car and finds a child inside they (the suspect) will usually abandon the car within three or four blocks,” said Captain Jay Struble with the Merced Police Department. “Unfortunately this was not the case here.”

As time continued to pass with no sign of the car or the child, authorities issued an Amber Alert. Photos of the car and child were posted and shared to social media sites to help the word spread.

At about 8:45pm, the California Highway Patrol received a call from a citizen saying they saw the vehicle parked at a Chevron in Chowchilla. Authorities responded and found the vehicle abandoned with the child inside. Officers had to force entry into the vehicle to gain access, but found the child was unharmed and uninjured.

Detectives with the Merced Police Department, officers with Chowchilla Police and California Highway Patrol, as well as a K-9 from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office searched the area for any signs of a suspect. Monday night there was no word of an arrest.

Captain Struble said investigators were looking at surveillance video from the area, but they can only make out what appeared to be a male figure.

Jessie was brought home and reunited with her family in Merced shortly before 9:30pm. To brighten her spirits, Officer Rogelio Rodriguez bought her lollipops to enjoy on the drive home.

“She was very excited to see her mom and dad when she got back.”

The parents expressed their gratitude for the authorities involved in searching for little Jessie, and thankful for the public and Amber Alert system that made everything in this incident work out.

“Your mind is just a fog in that moment,” the child’s mother said of the two hours waiting while police searched for the girl. “I know she’s so strong and so brave.”

Carlos Rodriguez is an Emmy Award winning photojournalist specializing in public safety and natural disasters. His passion for local news stems from a deep commitment to his community, with a selfless mission to inform the citizens of the valley. As he worked on assignment for 19 days at the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise, California, he spent most of his time helping survivors contact their loved ones to let them know they were ok. Carlos is a veteran of Univision, FOX, and Telemundo TV stations and a native of Modesto, California.

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Threat Cancels Class at Modesto High School

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MODESTO – Classes were canceled Thursday morning at Modesto High School after police were notified of a threat.

A message sent out by Modesto City Schools read in part “Modesto Police Officers are at Modesto High this morning investigating a threat of a possible explosive device. There will be no school this morning until the campus can be deemed safe.”

A police spokesperson said out of an abundance of caution the campus is being cleared.

As of this post, authorities were still searching the campus.

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Parents Arrested, Charged in Death of 2 Year Old

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STOCKTON – The parents of a two year old girl were arrested and charged in her death after police say she was malnourished and neglected.

The incident began early Monday morning, when fire and medical personnel were dispatched at about 3:15am to a home on the 300 block of West Oak Street. The report indicated help was needed for a two year old girl who was unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead.

Police say the girl was malnourished, appeared extremely emaciated, and had clear signs of neglect. Detectives and CPS officials responded to the home to investigate.

Both parents were taken into the police department for questioning. Gregorio Ornelas, 61, and Jessica Chavez, 39, were both arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in death.

Both parents were booked into the San Joaquin County Jail without possibility of bail. They are due in court Wednesday afternoon.

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Victim Shot During Robbery

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Stockton Police Department

STOCKTON – A 19 year old man was hospitalized after he was shot during a robbery Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after 1:30pm, Stockton Police Officers were called to the 10000 block of Hidden Cove Circle for a report of a shooting.

Officers learned that the suspect shot the victim, took his property, and fled the area. The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injury. He is expected to recover.

The only description available of the suspect was a black male in his 20’s.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Stockton Police Department or Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.

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