Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Heber man arrested on suspicion of armed robbery

El Centro police arrested a Heber man on suspicion of robbing a Wake Avenue store at gunpoint, according to a press statement released today.

Miguel Lomeli Vasquez, 36, was identified by police through a video surveillance tape the night he allegedly held up the small market May 15 in the 600 block of Wake Avenue in El Centro, the statement read. Vasquez was found in an alleyway off Main Street in Heber on Thursday afternoon.

Vasquez is on parole for an unknown offense, said El Centro Police Cmdr. Ron Merideth. Vasquez was arrested and booked at the Imperial County jail. In addition to violating his parole, Vasquez faces pending charges for armed robbery, Merideth said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

Shooting of El Centro man justified, authorities say

The shooting of an El Centro man who police said threatened them with a replica handgun outside his home April 17 was justified, according to a press release by El Centro Police Chief James McGinley.

McGinley said in the prepared statement that the three officers involved in the shooting of Mario Perez Soto fired their weapons in self-defense and that criminal charges are pending against Soto. McGinley was informed about the review by Imperial County District Attorney's Office, which investigated the shooting, on Tuesday.

Please read Saturday' issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Local speller out in the semifinals

Brandon Whitehead, a seventh grader at the Academy of Higher Education, ended his run in the semifinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee this morning.

The word that stumped Brandon, 13,  was "acroamatic," meaning abstruse or profound, according to Dictionary.com.

Brandon was one of 41 students that moved on to the final rounds of the competition. The bee is held in Washington D.C. and the Imperial Valley Press sponsored Brandon in the competition.

Read Friday's Imperial Valley Press for more information.

-- BROOKE RUTH, Digital Media News Editor

Brush fire in Holtville

HOLTVILLE – Arson is believed to be the cause of a brush fire in Holtville that started Sunday evening, Holtville Fire Chief Alex Silva said.

Silva said the Sheriff’s department has individuals in custody that are believed to have started the fire.

The fire is expected to be contained by tonight, Silva said.

“It’s smoldering. (It’s) almost out. There are no flames,” Silva said.

Silva said when the fire started the wind was blowing from the west and made the fire more of a challenge to put out.

“Now it’s standing still – it will give us a give us a chance to get the upper hand on it,” Silva said.

The fire is located in the river bottom between Fourth Street and Haven Road south of Holtville.

About seven acres of brush burnt and no injuries were reported.

-- BROOKE RUTH, Digital Media News Editor