Aggravated Assaults Triple In City

The crime stats are in - aggravated assaults rose 190 percent but overall Part I crimes were down 14 percent - so the question remains: Is Oakdale still a safe place to live?

Oakdale Man Convicted Of Auto Theft

Andrew Lee Suarez, 20, of Oakdale, was convicted on Oct. 27, of auto theft.

Life Sentences For Murders

Jesse Frost, 39, of Riverbank, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for the February deaths of his mother, Donna Norton; sister, Judy Niemi; and brother-in-law Anthony Niemi. He also injured his nephew, Matthew James.

Police Seek Suspects In Carjacking

A 53-year-old Oakdale woman was carjacked early Wednesday morning, Sept. 9 around 7 a.m. when two Hispanic men pulled her from her vehicle and threw her to the ground before making off with her truck.

Busy Labor Day Weekend

Vehicle burglaries, drunk driving offenses and bouts of violence marred an otherwise beautiful Labor Day weekend as the temperatures were near perfect for holiday outings at the lake or picnics at the park.

Kawamoto Returning To State Prison

Darren Kawamoto, 44, a registered sex offender, was recently sentenced to 36 years to life in prison. He had previously been found guilty of six counts of criminal threats and five enhancements of personally using a deadly weapon while committing those crimes. Kawamoto had previously been convicted of five prior serious felony convictions with two prior prison commitments.

Cops Remind Motorists Of Cell Laws

Thief Sentenced To Prison

LOCKDOWN

The names and incidents printed in the Lockdown are obtained from the daily log of the Oakdale Police Department, which is a public document. The listing of a name here does not imply that person's guilt or innocence. That can only be determined by a court of law.

Jury Favors Oakdale Officers

Getting a favorable decision, a federal jury on July 9 found the actions of two Oakdale police officers to be proper in a lawsuit filed by a suspect after a 2004 arrest.

New Reward Offered In Ross Murder

Three years after his murder, a $50,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the stabbing death of Joseph 'Joey' Ross.

Shooting Sends Two To Hospital

Two men suffered serious injuries that sent them both to the hospital following a shooting that may have been gang-related, said police.

Prison Looms For Kawamoto

Darren Kawamoto, 44, a registered sex offender, was found guilty of six counts of criminal threats and five enhancements of personally using a deadly weapon while committing those crimes by a jury on May 14. A court trial also found true that Kawamoto had previously been convicted of five prior serious felony convictions, and had two prior prison commitments.

Two Surrender From Summer Gang Assault

A six-month investigation of a gang assault that has led to several arrests of gang members as well as a Jan. 12 sweep that involved over 40 officers from six agencies, has resulted in two additional suspects surrendering to police.

Residents Warned Regarding IRS Phone Scam

Local police report that residents are continuing to receive scam phone calls from people demanding money or a refund in order to trick victims into sharing private information. Some of the callers have been able to alter a telephone's caller ID to make it appear that the call is coming from the Internal Revenue Service.

Gang Sweep Nets Two Arrests

A four-month investigation into a large gang fight from last summer resulted in a multi-agency gang sweep in Oakdale Monday morning, Jan. 12.

Forgery Suspect Caught

A suspect wanted in connection with stealing and forging checks was arrested by Oakdale Police on Friday, Jan 9 when observed in a car on F Street.

Website Allows Residents To Check Crime Activity

With the use of a personal computer or mobile device, local individuals and businesses can now retrieve crime information from the Oakdale Police Department and will be able to make police reports.