Crime

Police arrested a San Jose man on New Year’s Day after he allegedly fled from the scene of a crash in which a pregnant woman was injured, authorities said. About 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, Esteban Sanchez, 23 of San Jose, crashed his Mazda 3 into a vehicle on East Dunne Avenue, injuring the pregnant driver, according to a press release from Morgan Hill Police. Sanchez fled the scene, and soon after lost control of the Mazda and collided into a fire hydrant and traffic signal box on Butterfield Boulevard at Barrett Avenue, police said. After the collision, Sanchez exited the vehicle and led officers on a foot pursuit into an industrial area near Caputo Drive.Sanchez was taken into custody and booked at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of felony hit and run, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license and violation of probation, police said. Police later learned that Sanchez has been arrested four prior times on suspicion of driving under the influence. Anyone with information about this case can contact Morgan Hill Police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867. 

After a suspect’s vehicle was identified in connection with two auto burglaries at the Morgan Hill Community Recreational Center, a Morgan Hill police investigation led officers to their suspect in the early morning of New Year’s Eve, police said.

Police arrested two people outside a Morgan Hill hotel after finding drugs and stolen credit cards in the room they were renting, according to a press release from Morgan Hill Police Department. On Sunday, Morgan Hill police contacted Kristina Jeffrey, 33 of San Martin, in the parking lot of the Executive Inn on the 16000 block of Condit Road, police said. Jeffrey was on searchable probation, authorities said. Officers located an ounce of methamphetamine, an ounce of marijuana and stolen credit cards in her hotel room and vehicle. Police also contacted Jorge Hernandez, 30 of Morgan Hill, at the hotel, and he was also arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Jeffrey and Hernandez were booked at Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of possession of narcotics, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of stolen property, police said. Anyone with information about this case can call Morgan Hill Police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867. 

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At the end of the 2013/2014 winter holiday DUI crackdown, Santa Clara County law enforcement reported 452 motorists arrested on suspicion of impaired driving during the two-week effort. The arrests were made from Dec. 13 to Jan. 1, by officers from 13 agencies in the County, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. The arrests were part of the annual “Avoid the 13” campaign to crack down on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The arrests were the result of DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols and routine patrols by officers throughout the County, assisted by a grant from state and federal authorities, according to the press release. During the same winter holiday period a year ago, authorities reported 458 arrests on suspicion of DUI throughout the County, according to the press release. Police will be conducting further DUI crackdown efforts in the coming weeks, on Super Bowl Sunday in February, and on St. Patrick’s Day in March, according to authorities. The Avoid the 13 campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorists who suspect a fellow motorist of driving impaired on Santa Clara County roads may call 911 to report the incident. 

The Gilroy Police Department responded to a bank robbery at approximately 3:49 p.m. Tuesday at the Union Bank located at 8000 Santa Teresa Blvd., according to a press release from the department. No injuries were reported during the robbery.

A 21-year-old man was formally charged with murder in the Christmas Day killing of a woman who had a restraining order against him - marking the Garlic Capital's third murder this year, according to the Gilroy Police Department.

The Gilroy Police Department responded to a variety of crimes this week, including a Christmas day murder, driving infractions, corporal injury and grand theft. Arrests were recorded in this week's GPD blotter from Dec. 12 to Dec. 26.

Officers representing 13 county law enforcement agencies arrested 316 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from Dec. 13 through Dec 25.

Here's your weekly digest of criminal happenings in Gilroy, including multiple auto burglaries, possession of a controlled substance, recovery of a stolen vehicle and credit card fraud.