Sunnyside council meets to address gang violence

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — The Sunnyside City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss, and maybe implement, a few steps in tackling the city’s violent crime problem.

Council members will talk about and possibly take action toward hiring temporary police officers, adding more clerical help in the Police Department and purchasing a second license plate reader for police vehicles among other proposals.

City leaders have taken a get-tough attitude about gangs after several shootings this year. A trio of councilmen —Don Vlieger, Paul Garcia and Mike Farmer — have been compiling a list of potential changes with the help of Sunnyside Police Chief Ed Radder and Deputy Chief Phil Schenck.

“We’re going to get very aggressive,” said Vlieger, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy. “This is not a place where you want to be a gang member.”

Last week, monday, april 12 the City Council unanimously approved spending up to $72,000 on a K-9 program for the Police Department.

Also, though it won’t be ready for a council decision Tuesday, Schenck has been drafting a proposed crime-free housing ordinance that would regulate tenant-landlord agreements.

The meeting will be 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Sunnyside Law and Justice Center, 401 Home St.

— Ross Courtney

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/16/sunnyside-council-meets-tuesday-to-tackle-gang-violence

Sunnyside- five teens arrested after shooting

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Cooperative victims led to the arrest of five teenagers after a gang-related drive-by shooting Wednesday night.

Sunnyside police said shots were fired from a passing vehicle at rival gang affiliates living in two houses in the 1200 block of South 13th Street.

Nobody was struck, but at least two people were standing in the front yard when shooting broke out at 7:40 p.m., said police spokeswoman Charlotte Hinderlider.

The victims identified the five suspects and their vehicle, a 2005 silver Mitsubishi Lancer, Hinderlider said. That information made the difference.

“A lot of times people don’t talk,” she said.

The tip led police to stop the car at the intersection of Sunnyside-Mabton Road and Willowcrest Road, about two miles south of the shooting. Officers also found a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun at the scene, where they made the arrest, Hinderlider said.

The suspects are a 16-year-old boy from Prosser, a 16-year-old boy from Grandview, a 15-year-old boy from Sunnyside, a 14-year-old girl from Grandview and an 18-year-old woman from Sunnyside.

Police found several .22-caliber shell casings in the street and around the houses where the shooting occurred, Hinderlider said. One
of the houses was damaged.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/15/five-teens-arrested-after-sunnyside-shooting

Sunnyside- couple arrested for weed and guns

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Authorities discovered more than 2 pounds of marijuana plus guns and ammunition Wednesday in the apartment of a Sunnyside couple.

Narcotics agents with the countywide LEAD Task Force arrested the man and woman, both 20, after the warranted search of their apartment in the 1300 block of South 11th Street, according to records filed in Yakima County Superior Court.

Authorities said they found marijuana in the kitchen cupboards and inside their 3-year-old son’s bedroom. The apartment is located within 100 yards of a day care center, according to the report.

The investigation began in January and authorities believe the man is actively involved in the drug trade.

Both face multiple drug charges and are being held in the Yakima County jail.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/15/pot-plus-guns-plus-ammo-equals-two-arrests

Sunnyside woman shot in driveby condition improves

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A 24-year-old Sunnyside woman critically wounded in a drive-by shooting this weekend has been upgraded to satisfactory condition at Sunnyside Community Hospital, authorities said Monday.

She was shot multiple times in the torso, according to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.

Two other men riding in the same car as the victim were treated at the Sunnyside hospital for gunshot wounds and released, said Stew Graham, chief of detectives for the sheriff's office.

A 23-year-old Sunnyside man was shot in the arm. Family members later took the other man, a 33-year-old Grandview man who was shot in the cheek, to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for additional treatment, Graham said.

The shooting was reported late Saturday in the 2200 block of Waneta Road outside of Sunnyside.

The victims said that a dark-colored sport utility vehicle pulled alongside their car and fired several rounds. The car struck a roadside fence before returning to the pavement and coming to a stop about a quarter-mile from the shooting scene.

The suspect vehicle was possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe or Cadillac Escalade, but the victims told investigators they did not know why anyone would shoot at them, Graham said.

Sheriff's officials were checking on possible leads with help from the Sunnyside Police Department.

At least one of the victims has gang ties, but investigators said they did not know if the shooting was gang-related.

Anyone with information about the case may call the sheriff's office at 509-574-2500.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/12/condition-upgraded-for-sunnyside-woman-hit-in-drive-by-shooting

Sunnyside car fired on, 3 injured

Yakima County sheriff's deputies, and officers from Grandview and Granger, as well as aid units from the Sunnyside Fire Department rushed to the scene of a shooting this past Saturday at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Three victims, a 33-year-old male, a 23-year-old male and a 24-year-old female, were shot in a vehicle chase that occurred at Waneta and Hollis roads south of Sunnyside.

According to sheriff's deputies, four subjects were traveling south on Waneta Road in a 1993 Mitsubishi sedan. They were nearing Hollis Road when a dark SUV pulled beside the vehicle and shots rang out.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, the 33-year-old victim was reportedly shot in the face, and his vehicle left the roadway, striking a fence. The vehicle returned to the road for approximately another quarter of a mile before coming to a complete stop.

A passenger in the Mitsubishi, a 23-year-old man, was struck by a single bullet to the arm and the female passenger suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her torso.

One other passenger was not injured by gunfire.

The SUV continued southbound on Waneta Road and was last seen traveling in the direction of Mabton.

The victims were all transported to Sunnyside Community Hospital. The men's wounds were last reported to be non-life threatening, but the female was considered in critical, but stable condition. As of yesterday, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office was unable to provide an update on her status.

It is unknown how many suspects were involved in the shooting, and evidence collected at the scene indicates at least one handgun was used in the armed attack.

The only information deputies have regarding the suspects is they were in a dark SUV, which may have been a Cadillac Escalade.

The victims have known gang ties, but the sheriff's office said it is unknown if the shooting was gang-related.

http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNNews2.shtml

Reward offered for Sunnyside murder suspects, two more SS homes shot at

The Sunnyside Police Department is offering a $1,000 reward for each of the five suspects wanted for the March 26 shooting of Romon Mendoza, Maria Reyes and a third unidentified victim that took place at Sunnyside's Rico's Tacos Guadalajara restaurant.

Wanted are Lisandro Rangel, 21; Alfonso Rangel Jr., 27; Ramon Medina-Gutierrez, 21, Juvenal Moreno-Garcia, 25; and Tanilo Medina (a.k.a. Guadalupe Fernandez), 26, all of Sunnyside.

Mendoza died as a result of multiple gunshots and Reyes is still recovering from wounds she sustained in the shooting incident. The third victim was treated and released from Sunnyside Community Hospital the night of the shooting.

"The arrest of these individuals takes precedence for the Sunnyside Police Department," said Sunnyside Police Chief Ed Radder.

He said the police department is concerned for the safety of Sunnyside residents and is placing a high priority on locating the suspects in the shooting.

Anyone with information about the case or the location of the five suspects is urged to call the Sunnyside Police Department at 836-6200.

Since last Thursday Sunnyside police have been busy handling other criminal activity, as well.

Two homes in the 900 block of South 11th Street and the 1100 block of Jackson Avenue were reportedly hit by gunfire just after 1 p.m. yesterday (Sunday). Noone was reported injured in the incident. It is believed a white or gray Altima was involved in the shooting.

Five burglaries and three thefts have been reported to police since Thursday.

A back door in the 100 block of West Parkland Drive was pried open sometime before 6:20 p.m. Thursday and it is unknown what was stolen.

Friday a resident in the 700 block of McClain Drive reported a man wearing a blue bandana was trying to break into her apartment just before 8 a.m. The screens to several windows were removed and the woman's boyfriend yelled at the suspect, who fled the scene.

http://sunnyside.net/ARCHIVES/Story.aspx/18131/reward-offered-for-apprehension-of-five-murder-suspects

Sunnyside Police identify 5 homcide suspects (pics)

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Police are seeking five suspects in connection with last week’s restaurant shooting that killed one man and injured two others.

A Sunnyside police spokeswoman said Thursday that detectives still have not determined a motive for the shooting and more suspects could be named as the investigation continues.

The shooting late Friday at Ricos Tacos Guadalajara killed Ramon Magna Mendoza, a 25-year-old Sunnyside man.

Maria Reyes, 42, also of Sunnyside, was taken to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, where authorities reported Monday she was in critical condition. An update on her condition was not available Thursday because the family has asked that no information be released, a Harborview nurse administrator said.

A third victim was treated and released at a local hospital. Police, citing the complexity of the investigation, have not identified him.

Police said they are seeking: Lisandro Rangel, 21; Alfonso Rangel Jr., 27; Ramon Medina Gutierrez, 21; and Juvenal Moreno-Garcia, 25.

The fifth suspect, Tanilo Medina, may go by the alias Guadalupe Fernandez, 26, police said.

All are residents of Sunnyside, police said.

Detectives either have arrest warrants or are in the process of obtaining them for all five suspects, though they believe they have enough probable cause to arrest them without warrants, police spokeswoman Charlotte Hinderlider said.

Some of the suspects have been in trouble with the law before.

Both Rangels were found guilty of a controlled substance violation in 2007 in Yakima County Superior Court.

Medina Gutierrez was charged in 2009 with first-degree robbery. Court records allege that in 2007, Medina Gutierrez and three other men held a victim at gunpoint in a Wapato car sales office to get back Gutierrez’s $5,000 down payment on a vehicle after he changed his mind about the purchase. He is still awaiting trial.


• Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.

• Reporter Melissa Sánchez contributed to this report.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/01/sunnyside-police-have-5-suspects-in-deadly-restaurant-shooting

Sunnyside- victims in fatal shooting named

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Authorities on Monday identified two of the victims of a weekend shooting in a Sunnyside restaurant that left one person dead and two wounded.

Ramon Magna Mendoza, a 25-year-old Sunnyside area resident, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the torso in the Friday night shooting, based on an autopsy Monday afternoon, said Jack Hawkins, Yakima County coroner.

Meanwhile, Maria Reyes, 42, of Sunnyside, is in critical condition in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Hawkins said.

A third victim, a man, was treated and released at a local hospital. His identity has not been released pending notification of family members and because of the nature of the investigation, said Charlotte Hinderlider, a Sunnyside police spokeswoman.

The shooting occurred about 10:45 p.m. Friday at Ricos Tacos Guadalajara on Yakima Valley Highway.

Hawkins said he used fingerprints and conversations with relatives in Mexico and California to identify Mendoza, who was found with no identification. Family members are on their way to Yakima, Hawkins said.

Reyes may be a relative of Mendoza’s girlfriend, Hawkins said.

Meanwhile, Sunnyside police detectives have multiple suspects in the investigation, according to a news release Monday by Hinderlider.

On Saturday, detectives found one suspect vehicle, a white Chevrolet Malibu, while it was burning north of Sunnyside, the release said.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab Response Team and Washington State Patrol detectives have been asked to assist in the investigation.

Restaurant owner Francisco Hernandez said he doesn’t know what will happen next with his business.

He spent Monday moving furniture and equipment from the bright red-colored restaurant into a rented trailer.

“I’m really not sure right now,” Hernandez said. “We’ve never had any problems here before, nothing like this that happened.”

• Reporter Melissa Sánchez contributed to this report.

• Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/03/30/officials-name-two-victims-in-fatal-sunnyside-shooting

Sunnyside- I dead in triple shooting

Last Friday at approximately 10:45 p.m. Sunnyside police rushed to the scene of a reported shooting at 809 Yakima Valley Highway, also known as the site of Rico's Tacos.

Officers arrived at the site to find three victims had been struck by gunfire, one of them, a male, was deceased on arrival.

A female victim was found shot multiple times and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Another adult male was treated for gunshot wounds at Sunnyside Community Hospital and released.

An autopsy of the deceased victim is scheduled for today (Monday) and additional victim information has not yet been released by authorities.

The Sunnyside Police Department is being assisted by the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab Response Team and detectives from the Washington State Patrol in investigating the incident.

It is believed multiple suspects were involved, but information regarding the suspects is being held from the public.

A suspect vehicle described as a white Chevrolet Malibu, said Sunnyside police, was recovered north of Sunnyside Saturday. It is believed it was in the process of being destroyed as it was found burning.

Anyone with information involving this case is asked to call the Sunnyside Police Department at 509-836-6200.
http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNNews17.shtml

2 Sunnyside shootings

On March 23, a shooting occurred on McClain Dr in Sunnyside.

On March 21, an assault with a firearm occurred on the 1000 block of Tacoma Ave in Sunnyside.

Sunnyside area- six weekend shootings

Six weapons offenses reported to deputies

Since last Friday, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office has been alerted to six weapons incidents.

Just after 3 p.m. Friday a resident in the 900 block of Rouse Road near Sunnyside reported hearing a gunshot. An area check was requested.

A resident in the 1000 block of Alexander Road Ext. near Grandview just before 4 p.m. last Friday told deputies his neighbor was shooting a gun at his property.

Gunfire was reported on SLI Road near Sunnyside at approximately 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The subjects were witnessed driving back and forth on the roadway, shooting from the vehicle.

Just after 4 p.m. that day a resident in the 1700 block of Bus Road near Mabton reported his cat was shot on his property.

Shots were fired at and struck a vehicle in the 200 block of Third Avenue in Mabton just after 2 p.m. yesterday (Sunday). The property owner phoned deputies from work after her husband told her about the incident.

A drive-by was reported at approximately 1 p.m. in the 600 block of Monroe Street in Mabton yesterday. The homeowner did not see the vehicle as it drove by, but one bullet went through a window to the home. Deputies were unable to discover further information that might lead to suspects in the incident.

Also since last Friday Lower Valley residents have called deputies to report two burglaries, two domestic violence situations and four suspicious situations.

http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNNews16.shtml

Sunnyside shootings

On March 19 on the 900 block of Rouse Rd in Sunnside shots were reported at 3pm to the YSO.

On March 14 shots were reported on the 400 block of Skyline Dr in Sunnyside.

On March 11 shots were reported on the 1700 block of Cascade Way, again.

Sunnyside- 16 y.o. shot in drive-by

SUNNYSIDE -- A 16-year-old boy was shot in the back Wednesday evening during a drive-by shooting outside his home in the 1600 block of Braden Road, authorities said

The wound was not life-threatening, and the boy was expected to be released Wednesday night from Sunnyside Community Hospital, said Sgt. John Durand of the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.

The victim, an admitted gang member, stepped outside his house about 6 p.m. and was shot by someone who exited a white Nissan, Durand said.

The Nissan and a silver Volkswagen, possibly a Jetta, then left the area.

Anyone with information about the incident may call the sheriff's office at 509-574-2500.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/03/17/03-18-10-braden-road-shooting

Sunnyside- man shot in weekend shooting

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- A 22-year-old Sunnyside man suffered a gunshot wound late Saturday during an exchange of gunfire in a residential area, police said Monday morning.

The victim is identified as Gilberto Garcia Ramos, who suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

He was taken to Sunnyside Community Hospital for treatment and was discharged Monday afternoon.

The other participant in the shooting has not been identified.

Police ultimately executed a search warrant at a North Fourth Street residence near where the shooting occurred, confiscating 74 ounces of marijuana, scales and a loaded shotgun.

City officials also condemned the house for a variety of code violations.

Police spokeswoman Charlotte Hinderlider said police are still investigating and aren't sure whether the shooting was gang-related.

Two people were detained. One, a 31-year-old Sunnyside man, for unrelated warrants. The second man, a 27-year-old Sunnyside resident, is being held for investigation of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of marijuana.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Sunnyside Police Department at 509-837-6200.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/03/15/sunnyside-police-probe-shooting-that-left-one-wounded

Sunnyside- 4 weekend shootings, 1 man shot

In addition to the five people shot around the valley this past weekend, four shootings occurred in the Sunnyside area.
On Thursday at approximately 7:30pm, a caller reported someone standing in the middle of the street on the 600 block of N 4th street, firing four to five shots.
At 9pm Friday, 12 shots were reported at Midvale and Green Valley.
On Saturday, an Outlook man reported being shot in the back to police, and was able to give a description of the vehicle to police.
At 10pm on Sunday, shots were reported on the 1900 block of Maple Grove.

Sunnyside- shooting on Cascade Way

A shooting was reported near the 1700 Block of Cascade Way on Wednesday, February 18th. No casualties or arrests are known.

Sunnyside- 22 year old shot

Jose Acevedo, 22, of Sunnyside suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of a bullet hitting his leg in a shooting incident that occurred at approximately 6:40 a.m. this morning (Wednesday) in the 1000 block of South 10th Street, according to Sunnyside police.

Police responded to the call and are still investigating the incident, but were told a van with tinted windows was involved.

Officials said preliminary information provided to them indicates the victim was walking down the street when several shots aimed in his direction were fired from the van.

Acevedo was treated and released from Sunnyside Community Hospital this morning.

Witness statements, as well as a victim's statement, were still being taken as of press time.

Sunnyside Police Department officials said further details will be forthcoming, but anyone with information that might lead to a suspect, suspect vehicle or other information regarding the incident is asked to call 836-6200.

In other news, an apartment manager told the Daily Sun News last Saturday morning's shooting incident resulted in bullets striking two apartment units at the Meadow Apartments in the 1400 block of South Sixth Street just after 1:30 a.m.

The apartment manager said one bullet traveled through a window and two walls before stopping in a second apartment.

Two bullets, he shared, struck the complex, and one of the apartments struck was occupied by a mother and her young child.

The apartment manager plans to speak with police regarding the incident, and he said the problem is ongoing, involving suspects with whom the police have had prior contact.

The Sunnyside Police Department is still investigating the Saturday incident and officials said concerns regarding the incident will be addressed at the conclusion of the investigation.

http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNNews6.shtml

Sunnyside- Meadows apartments shot up

This past weekend at the Meadows apartments at the 1400 block of S 6th St in Sunnyside, two shootings were reported early the 13th, one at about 1:30am, and another a couple hours later. The Daily Sun News had initially reported it as shots being fired into the air, but the manager of the apartments told the Daily Sun that two apartments had been hit, one of which had a mother and small child inside.

Also on the 13th, a shooting was reported at S 11th and Tacoma Ave in Sunnyside.

Sunnsyide shooting

On February 12th, a shooting was reported in Sunnyside at Yakima Valley Highway and N 1st St. No casualties were reported.

Sunnyside- shooting near Snipes Pump

On February 10th, gunshots were reported on the 1800 block of Snipes Pump road, south of Sunnyside. Of course, the Sheriffs didn't find nothin.