On November 9, 2011, at approximately 1:34am, Turlock Police officers heard the sounds of several shots fired in the area of Alaska Street in Turlock. As Officers arrived in the area two vehicles were observed leaving at a high rate of speed.
The first vehicle, a Toyota land cruiser, was stopped and the three occupants were detained and 15 pounds of packaged marijuana were found. The three male occupants were identified as Simon White (23), Travis Smith (22), and Jose Mendoza Nava (22). White had sustained an injury to his head and was treated at a local hospital and released.
The second vehicle, a Chevrolet pickup, was pursued and evaded officers, however it was located several minutes later in a field as it had crashed. Officers found 55 pounds of packaged marijuana and three firearms inside the pickup. The driver was not was not located.
Information from the occupants of the Toyota indicated a shooting had occurred in the 200 block of Alaska. Investigation of this incident continued throughout the day and led to the arrest of Simon White, (23), Travis Smith, (22), and Jose Mendoza Nava, (22) for Possession of Marijuana for Sales and Transportation for sales.
The registered owner of the pickup, Carlos Arnoldo Espinoza-Lopez (21), was located and arrested for Robbery, Possession of Marijuana for sales and Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Firearm). Additional leads identified Anthony Rodriguez (20) who was also arrested for Robbery, Possession of Marijuana for sales and Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Firearm).
The investigation is still ongoing but preliminary findings indicate a drug transaction turned bad. All of these individuals are from the Turlock area.
If you have any information regarding this investigation please contact Turlock Police department Detective Brandon Bertram at (209) 664-7323. You can also report any information regarding this investigation through Crime Stoppers.
