Imperial Valley Press Quick News

No injuries reported during single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 78

 WINTERHAVEN --- No injuries were reported today when a tractor-trailer hauling a load of gravel on Highway 78 west of Stallard Road overturned, a California Highway Patrol officer said in a press statement.

The driver, Luis I. Dukes, a 23-year-old El Cajon resident, allowed his vehicle to drift off the roadway and having the right-rear tires run into a ditch while traveling west on Highway 78, Highway Patrol Officer Todd Curtis said. The weight of the gravel pulled the trailer down and over the embankment, Curtis said. The incident had been reported at 1:20 p.m.

The motion caused the tractor to jackknife and spill the load onto the roadway, blocking both directions for several hours until 3:40 p.m. when one lane had been re-opened, Curtis said. 

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

CBP officer assigned at Calexico Port of Entry arraigned on drug-related charges

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer suspected of conspiring to import a controlled substance into the country and of other charges while he worked at the Calexico Port of Entry was arraigned today in federal court in El Centro.

Oscar Osbaldo Ortiz-Martinez, a 30-year-old El Centro resident, was ordered, along with co-defendant Victor Manuel Silva Jr., to appear back in court Tuesday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis for a detention hearing. Both defendants are in custody. Silva is also a 30-year-old El Centro resident.

Authorities allege that Ortiz received a $20,000 bribe that Silva allegedly helped arrange to allow vehicles he believed to be carrying narcotics to pass through his primary inspection lane on June 3 and on Tuesday.

A copy of the criminal complaint reveals that Ortiz had been arrested Thursday morning as he met to receive an additional $30,000 for his assistance with Tuesday's vehicle crossing, according to a press statement issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Teen-age motorist escapes major injury following collision with train

SEELEY --- A 17-year-old girl escaped major injury today when the 2004 Ford Focus she was driving was struck by a moving freight train, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The girl, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was sent to El Centro Regional Medical Center for minor injuries following the collision that was reported at 12:03 p.m., Highway Patrol Officer Temo Beltran said.

The incident occurred on Silsbee Road north of Evan Hewes Highway. No other information was immediately available of the collision.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

Southwest Dental Group settles discrimination case for $130,000

A former El Centro-based dental practice settled a discrimination case for $130,000, announced the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Tuesday.

The commission had filed a suit against Southwest Dental Group about an upper-level management official of the dental practice who allegedly routinely asked women during interviews what their marital status was; whether they were or planning to become pregnant; and if they had children, according to a press release from the commission. At least three former female employees also said they were either demoted, discharged or forced to resign as a result of their pregnancies.

The lawsuit was settled the same day it was filed.

For more information read Thursday's edition online or in print.

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Central Union High School District announces vacancy

The Central Union High School District has declared a vacancy on the Board of Trustees due to the resignation of Ricardo Labrada.

The Board of Trustees will appoint a replacement at its regularly scheduled meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 12 at 7 p.m.

For more information about the application process read Thursday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press in print or online.

- ROMAN FLORES, Staff Writer

Geothermal exploratory wells southwest of Brawley approved

The Imperial County Planning Commission voted 9-0 to allow five exploratory wells on Austin Road southwest of Brawley.

The applicant, Ram Power, intends to drill, sample and monitor up to five exploratory wells, according to the project description. Each well would be drilled for about 60 days, with work going on 24 hours a day.

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Brawley man wounded in officer-involved shooting ordered back in court Oct. 6

A Brawley man convicted of assaulting a police officer with a gun was ordered today to appear back in court Oct. 6 when his motion for a new trial would be heard.

Gerardo Miguel Gonzalez, who initially faced an attempted murder charge, is seeking a new trial on the grounds of juror misconduct, his defense attorney John Breeze said. Gonzalez is also seeking to strike down the allegation that he used a firearm against Brawley Police Officer Rene McNish during a tense encounter March 29 behind Garcia's Market.

The allegation, or jury finding, could potentially lengthen Gonzalez's prison term by 10 years, Breeze said. The juror misconduct occurred when two jurors discussed during deliberations how Gonzalez never testified, Breeze said. Typically, jurors are instructed not to discuss in their deliberations whether a defendant does not offer testimony.

Gonzalez was twice wounded when he aimed a gun at McNish who opened fire that night behind the well-known market in Brawley. During Gonzalez's trial it was revealed that McNish had been involved in two past officer-involved shootings during his time with the Hemet Police Department but prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Brooker said McNish never pulled the trigger during either incident.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

 

Imperial County Supes approve enterprise zone expansion, continue Williamson Act talks

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an almost 6-acre expansion of the Imperial Valley Enterprise Zone before continuing discussion about a land conservation law.

The enterprise zone will include Dahm Enterprises, Inc on Dogwood Road.

Supervisors did ask to bring back a discussion about combining the county's two enterprise zones, though both Calexico and Brawley indicated they had no interest in doing so at previous city council meetings. The board emphasized it is in the best interest of the county as a whole, and asked for a meeting with the Imperial Irrigation District, who is a voting member of each enterprise zone.

The Williamson Act was also discussed, but no action was taken.

Representatives from the state and local farm bureaus asked the supervisor to reconsider not renewing contracts under the land conservation act, which give tax breaks to those who contract into the law saying they will keep their land for farming purposes only. They discussed a new bill before the governor that they say will gain Imperial County a lot of its subvention funding back.

The money was decreased substantially -- from more than $500,000 to $16.22 -- because of problems with the state's budget. The Board of Supervisors voted in the spring to not renew contracts, which would end the program in 10 years.

The Board asked staff to come back with budget projections under the new bill and if they end the Williamson Act.

For more information read Wednesday's edition online or in print.

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Narcotics seized at I-8 checkpoint

A motorist was arrested Sunday on suspicion of attempted drug smuggling after U.S. Border Patrol agents at the checkpoint on westbound Interstate 8 seized several packages containing methamphetamine and cocaine, a press statement reported today.

A drug-sniffing dog alerted agents to a pickup that approached the inspection area. Several discrepancies with the four-wheel drive system of the vehicle lead to the discovery of the packages, the statement read.

The estmated worth of the cocaine was placed at more than $1 million and the methamphetamine was valued at more than $300,000, the press statement reported.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Man pronounced dead at hospital last week identified, official says

CALEXICO --- The man who was pronounced dead at El Centro Regional Medical Center last week after mysteriously being dropped off at a Birch Street outpatient clinic here was identified Monday as a 26-year-old Baja California resident, an Imperial County deputy coroner said today.

Scars helped coroner's officials determine that the man was Daniel Torres along with a cellular phone he carried with him and a hotel receipt that was in his name, Imperial Countuy Deputy Coroner Eric Frazier said. Coroner's officials had to first confirm whether the name found in the receipt was really him, Frazier said.

Torres was initially found unresponsive Thursday after he was left at the Calexico Health Clinic by a pair of men authorities have not identified. An autopsy that would determine what Torres died from will be done Thursday, Frazier said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer