Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Man arrested in Union Bank robbery

A man was arrested Friday morning for robbing a bank in downtown El Centro, said Cmdr. Paul Longoria of the El Centro Police Department.

Francisco Velasquez, 33, of Calexico was arrested at the intersection of Sixth and State streets as he allegedly fled from Union Bank after stealing an undisclosed amount of money, Longoria said.

Multiple people called in that a man had broken the front window of the bank at about 8:30 a.m. Friday, before the bank opened, Longoria said. He demanded money before fleeing the scene.

The El Centro Police Department stopped Velasquez, and multiple witnesses identified him as the man who broke into the bank, Longoria said. Velasquez had two outstanding warrants.

Velasquez was arrested and turned over the to local Federal Bureau of Investigation office, Longoria said.

"It's protocol when it's a financial institute like that," he said.

Witnesses both inside and outside of the bank were very helpful in the police catching the alleged robber, Longoria said. They kept dispatchers informed about the man's location, while keeping a safe distance.

--ELIZABETH VARIN, staff writer

City employee crashes into wall at parking structure

CALEXICO --- A city employee behind the wheel of a city-owned Crown Victoria apparently fell ill today while entering the underground parking facility on Heber Avenue and crashed into a wall, a Calexico Police sergeant said.

The employee whose name was not disclosed is believed to have suffered a seizure during the 1:46 p.m. incident and was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center in El Centro, Sgt. Frank Uriarte said. The city employee, who works for the Calexico Public Facilities Department, was alone when he was driving the vehicle, officials said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Sex offender from Desert Shores arrested Tuesday

A registered sex offender was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of removing his GPS tracking bracelet, said Sgt. Joe Alvarez of the Imperial County Sheriff's Department.

Frank Hoehner, 69, was convicted of child molestation in 1998. He recently got out of jail for serving time on a separate offense, which the details are not known of at this time, and the parole department alerted the Sheriff's Department of the incident.

Hoehner is a Desert Shores resident. Desert Shores is in the Salton Sea area.

For more information on this story please read tomorrow's edition of the Imperial Valley Press online or in print

-- BROOKE RUTH, Digital Media News Editor and SILVIO PANTA, staff writer

Centinela prison inmate struck in face by bullet fragment, official says

SEELEY --- A 40-year-old Centinela State Prison inmate is in stable condition today after being struck near his left eye by a bullet fragment of a mini .14-caliber round fired by a prison guard, a spokesman said.

The guard fired three rounds from the observation tower at Facility C as warning shots, said Administrative Lt. Richard Dubbe, to quell a fight between three inmates in the yard. The injured inmate, who is from an unspecified Los Angeles County city and was not involved in the scuffle, was taken by ambulance to a San Diego area hospital.

A second inmate, who suffered puncture wounds from the fight, was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries and was expected to return to the prison, Dubbe said. An investigation into what lead to the fight is under way, Dubbe said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

Supes approve prescription discount program

A prescription discount program that would give an average 22 percent discount for underinsured or uninsured Imperial County residents was approved with a unanimous vote Tuesday by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors.

The drug prescription program is offered at no cost to the county, said Rodolfo Aguayo, interim county director of human resources and risk management. It will not be insurance, but rather a discount card that can save residents about 22 percent compared to retail costs.

There is nothing to lose and everything to gain, said Supervisor Gary Wyatt.

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

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

Parollee struck by moving BLM ranger vehicle, spokesman says

PLASTER CITY --- An investigation is continuing in connection with a Bureau of Land Management ranger whose vehicle struck a parolee over the weekend in the desert, a spokesman said today.

BLM spokesman Steve Razo said the ranger was on routine patrol early Sunday when he spotted a pickup truck with expired reg tags. The moment the ranger went to inspect the vehicle, the suspect, identififed as 46-year-old Richard Rusk Orman, sped off in the truck only to abandon it later at an unspecified distance, Razo said.

A helicopter flown by the U.S. Border Patrol pilot assisted in the search for Orman, who apparently was hiding behind some bushes, Razo said. Once the abandoned pickup truck was found by helicopter, the search for Orman became a ground search, Razo said.

Orman, who took off his boots to avoid leaving foot print impression on the sand, was struck by a moving BLM ranger vehicle during the search and was flown out to a trauma center in Palm Springs, Razo said.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer