February 9, 2007

Evergreen Area Police report

Jan. 25
Accident - major injury
Ruby and Simberlin    
A 1995 red Honda van was northbound on Ruby approaching Simberlin. Three juveniles occupied the vehicle. At the time, the vehicle pulled to the side of the road and slowed almost to a stop. A 2002 beige Mercedes Benz, was following the Honda van, continuing northbound. The Honda van pulled away from the curb and made a u-turn directly in front of the Mercedes. The Mercedes then struck the Honda van, causing the van to roll over. One of the juveniles in the van was ejected and partially pinned under the vehicle. Paramedics who arrived at the scene stated the juvenile did not appear to have life threatening injuries. The Mercedes was occupied by three juveniles and an elderly male, who complained of chest pains. Paramedics transported all the occupants of both vehicles to a local hospital. Before leaving the scene, paramedics advised officers that none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.

Jan. 29
Safe Passage Program
Citywide    
Operation Safe Passage successfully concluded on Friday, Jan. 26 after a weeklong campaign. In a collaborative effort, 479 Officers conducted traffic enforcement at and/or near 281 schools throughout the city. Their school related traffic enforcement actions resulted in the issuance of 816 citations, 356 warnings, 49 vehicles impounded, and 14 drivers arrested. In addition, three radar display trailers belonging to the City’s Department of Transportation, and two radar display trailers assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Unit, were deployed at 25 schools throughout the city. The message board belonging to TEU was also deployed at five locations throughout the city. This added an educational component to the department’s enforcement campaign by reminding motorists of the 25 mph speed limit requirements in school zones. The next campaign will take place in April after spring break.

Feb. 4
Assault with deadly weapon
1700 block of E. Capitol Expressway    
Juvenile victims were assaulted by several Asian male suspects. One suspect was armed with a baseball bat. The suspects fled the scene in a blue compact car and are still outstanding. One victim was transported to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Feb. 4
Stabbing
4800 Block of San Felipe Road    
The victim was assaulted and stabbed by a suspect described as a Hispanic male, with numerous tattoos on his arms. The suspect fled in a white four-door car with another Hispanic male passenger. The vehicle’s driver was a Hispanic female. The victim was transported to Regional Medical Center with serious injuries but is expected to survive.

Lost hikers at Grant Ranch Park found
On Saturday, Jan. 27, at about 6:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Grant Ranch Park to assist the California Department of Forestry (CDF) in the search of five lost hikers. According to the hikers, they had planned to do a half day hike through the park. The two men and three women, from Fremont, CA, started out on foot around noon near the Smith Creek Fire Station. They should have returned by dark, but while hiking back, missed the trail returning to the station where their car was parked.

After the sun had set, the hikers called 911. CDF and the Sheriff’s Office, including the Search and Rescue Team (SAR) began looking for the lost hikers, but encountered some challenges. The hikers did not have any flashlights and thus, were unable to signal search crews. One of the two cell phones the hikers possessed had lost power, limiting phone calls to search crews. The weather was another challenge as the conditions limited the ability for Star One, the Sheriff’s Office helicopter, to lift off and aid in the search.

During the search, the hikers advised that they were not in need of medical attention and that they could see the lights from the patrol vehicles. They could not, however, explain their position in relation to the vehicles.

As more time passed, the weather conditions eased and allowed Star One to lift off, arriving on scene shortly after midnight. The hikers were able to use a cell phone to speak with the flight crew to narrow in on their location. Star One located the hikers with the use of the spotlight. This led rescue crews to the hikers at 12:40 a.m. on Sunday morning. Rescue crews brought the hikers back to the Smith Creek CDF station shortly there after. The hikers were not in need of medical attention.

Sources: San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office