BPD searching for suspects in theft of Famous Footwear

The Bakersfield Police Department is requesting community assistance identifying three suspects wanted for a February theft at Famous Footwear located at 5243 Gosford Road.

BPD described one suspect as a white or Hispanic man, between 20 to 30 years old, standing 5-foot-8 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with dark hair and large sideburns. He was wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball hat during the incident.

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic woman in her early 20s, according to BPD. She has a light complexion, long black hair, stands 5-foot-4 inches tall, with a medium build, BPD said. She was wearing a grey and black hooded sweatshirt and an orange T-shirt at the time of the incident.

BPD described the third suspect as a Hispanic man, 20 to 30 years old, standing between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10, with dark hair and a mustache. He weighs about 140 pounds and was wearing a black jacket, black beanie cap and blue jeans at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Senior Officer Guinn at 326-3273 or BPD at 327-7111.

The Bakersfield Police Department arrested a man Tuesday night following a ShotSpotter activation in the 1400 block of Flower Street.

Lawrence Appodaca, 22, was arrested on suspicion of several felony firearm violations, possession of a controlled substance and gang participation, according to a BPD news release. He was booked into Kern County Jail.

Just before 8:30 p.m. officers found Appodaca armed with a loaded .40 caliber concealed handgun, BPD said. Several .40 caliber shell casings were found in the area. No victims of the shooting were located or reported to police, BPD said.

Anyone with more information is encouraged to call BPD at 327-7111.

One person is dead after an “unauthorized attempt” to access the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Wednesday morning.

The incident is under investigation by Naval Criminal Investigation Service, according to NAWS Public Affairs Officer Margo Allen.

The driver attempted to gain access at approximately 7:30 a.m., and the installation’s main gate was closed as soon as the driver tried to make it onto the base.

After the final denial barrier was deployed, the vehicle struck the barrier at a high rate of speed, according to a news release from China Lake. The driver of the vehicle was killed and their name, age and gender weren’t released.

Emergency personnel including Federal Fire Personnel responded to the incident. No one else was injured.

Allen said the pop-up barrier where the crash occurred is past the front gate and technically on the China Lake installation. Allen confirmed that the person killed in the incident lacked the appropriate ID necessary to gain access to the installation.

The scene was secured and NAWS China Lake remains mission capable, according to a news release from the Navy. The gates remain closed.

Allen said the investigation will include reviewing camera footage of the incident.

The incident occurred when employees are typically on their way to work. Although some base workers are working from home during the current COVID-19 lockdown, some are still working on the installation.

Kern County Sheriff deputies found about 25 people inside a suspected illegal casino Tuesday, located in the 2400 block of Alta Vista Drive.

After serving a search warrant, deputies seized 19 pounds of processed marijuana, dozens of marijuana edibles and other THC products from the premises. They also found 22 computers, one fish table and several thousand dollars.

Two of the people detained had warrants for their arrest, were cited and released.

This case is still under investigation, according to KCSO, and anyone with information is asked to call 861-3110.

A dead body was discovered in a trash can Tuesday night in the north alley of the 300 block of Goodman Street.

Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported to a suspicious circumstance just before midnight, where they discovered the body. An investigation is ongoing.

A shooting in Delano Tuesday night left one dead and two others in critical and stable conditions, respectively, at Kern Medical.

Michael Ernesto Serrato Marroquin, 21, was identified as the man who was killed, according to the Kern County Coroner’s Office. The shooting occurred just after 10:50 p.m. in the 800 block of Maria Way, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.

Homicide detectives are conducting an investigation, KCSO said in a news release.