Ridgecrest PACT

On 1/17/21, Officer Cushman responded to the 400 Blk of N. Sanders St. and found an unattended pig. He has no identification and pleaded the 5th when asked wher...e he lived. We tried outfitting him in a uniform, but none would fit and he’s getting pretty hungry. He’s having fun patrolling the streets with Ofc. Cushman, but is starting to stink up the patrol car. If this is your pig please contact us at 760-499-5100 so we can get him home to you! See more

***PRESS RELEASE*** DATE OF EVENT: January 11, 2021 TYPE OF EVENT: Fatal Traffic Accident... LOCATION: 300 block W. Bowman Rd. CHARGES: Not Applicable SUSPECT(S): Not Applicable On 1/11/2021, at about 0557 hours, officers from the Ridgecrest Police Department were dispatched to a traffic collision in the 300 block of W. Bowman Rd. The traffic collision was between a single vehicle and a pedestrian. Officers arrived and located an unresponsive subject lying near the roadway. Emergency life saving measures were initiated and EMS arrived as well. The subject was pronounced deceased by EMS personnel a short time later. Jed McLaughlin, Chief of Police PREPARED BY: Sergeant Groves

***PRESS RELEASE*** DATE OF EVENT: January 13, 2021 TYPE: Fatal Traffic Accident... LOCATION: 200 block E. Ridgecrest Blvd. On 01/13/2021, at about 1611 hours, Officers from the Ridgecrest Police Department were dispatched to a vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision in the 200 blk. of E. Ridgecrest Blvd. Upon arrival, a juvenile was found to have been struck by a vehicle. Liberty Ambulance arrived on scene and began treating the juvenile. The juvenile was transported via Mercy Air to a hospital out of town, where the juvenile later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the vehicle is cooperating with the investigation. The investigation is on-going and no further information is available at this time. JED MCLAUGHLIN, Chief of Police PREPARED BY: Sgt. A. Tucker Administration Sergeant

***PRESS RELEASE*** DATE(S) OF EVENT: September 2020 through December 2020 CHARGES: See Below Narrative... LOCATION: City of Ridgecrest SUSPECT(S) ARRESTED: See Below Over the past several months, Detectives with the Ridgecrest Police Department conducted an ongoing undercover operation, which was specifically meant to target online child predators or those that wished to exploit children. During this time, Detectives posed as minor children on various social media sites/applications, where adults were engaging in sexually explicit conversations and wanted to meet the child with sexual intent, along with traveling from various areas to meet. While conducting this operation, Detectives with the Ridgecrest Police Department arrested 8 suspects ranging from ages 24-49 years old. These are the following suspects that were arrested during the course of this operations: - Date of arrest - September 12 2020 - Brian Ballard (32 YOA), Ridgecrest CA ---- P.C. 288.3(a) and P.C. 288.4(b) - Date of arrest - September 20 2020 - James Fredrick Buge (49 YOA), Tehachapi CA--- P.C. 288.3(a) and P.C. 288.4(b) - Date of arrest - September 28 2020 - Andrew Charles Trujillo (26 YOA), Pearblossom CA --- P.C. 288.2(a), P.C. 288.3(a), P.C. 288.4(a) (1), P.C. 288.4(b) - Date of arrest - October 6 2020 - Alan Lucas Hargrove (24 YOA), Ridgecrest CA ---- P.C. 288.3(a), P.C. 288.4(a) (1), P.C. 288.4(b) - Date of arrest - October 10 2020 - David Tyson McDaniel (36 YOA), Ridgecrest CA ----- P.C. 288.3(a), P.C. 288.4(a) (1), P.C. 288.4(b) - Date of arrest - October 13 2020 - David Nathan Walters (35 YOA), California City CA ---- P.C. 288.3(a), P.C. 288.4(a) (1), P.C. 288.4(b), P.C. 148(a) (1) - Date of arrest - November 21 2020 - Denzil Clark Rout Jr (38 YOA), Modesto CA ---- P.C. 288.3(a), P.C. 288.4(b), P.C. 288.4(a) (1) - Date of arrest - November 21 2020 - Avidan Daniel Pell (31 YOA), Mammoth Lakes CA ---- P.C. 288.3(a), P.C. 288.4(b), P.C. 288.4(a) (1) Although we are isolated here in Ridgecrest, many of the suspects came here from other cities to engage in the illegal activity with minors. Unfortunately, during these times, people that wish to exploit children are using this pandemic as a way to communicate with children via social media. It is recommended for parents to keep a close eye on what social media applications our children are using and how often they use it. With children being at home because of the pandemic and with the increasing use of technology (cellphones, laptops, computers, etc.) while being locked down, this could expose our children to be sexually exploited or abused by means of the Internet. If you have any concerns about your children being on suspicious social media sites and speaking with unknown individuals, please contact the Ridgecrest Police Department. JED MCLAUGHLIN, Chief of Police PREPARED BY: Detective F. Mixon Investigations Bureau

Even in California S.U. I. (Sleighing under the influence) is a crime. Stay safe this Holiday weekend and use a D.S.D. (Dedicated Sleigh Driver). In all seriousness, Merry Christmas Ridgecrest, stay safe and be kind. - RPD