Author: KYMA

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One person was arrested for armed robbery at Wells Fargo on Avenue B, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

On Friday, October 24, at about 12:26 p.m., officers were called about a robbery at a Wells Fargo located in the area of S. Avenue B and W. 26th Street

YPD says a man entered the bank, said he had a gun but did not show it, then fled the scene with stolen money.

The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Ivan Soqui, was later found in Somerton and arrested. He’s been booked into the Yuma County Detention Center with an armed robbery charge.

No injuries were reported.

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Karina Bazarte

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – A man was arrested while riding a bike after Brawley police found drugs and a firearm on him.

The Brawley Police Department (BPD) says officers stopped a 41-year-old man riding a bike on Cesar Chavez Street and Main Street.

Officers quickly learned the suspect was on active parole which lead to a search.

“The officers located drug paraphernalia as well as a firearm with a high-capacity magazine and the serial number removed from the firearm,” said Jonathan Blackstone, Assistant Chief for BPD.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Imperial County Jail and is being charged with four felony counts.

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Eduardo Morales

WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA) – Monica Vargas is the mother who lost her two sons in a murder-suicide shares how she feels after their deaths.

“We need to get guns out of the streets,” expressed Monica Vargas, who is the mother of both Jonathan and Matthew Vargas.

Jonathan is accused of shooting Matthew and later taking his own life. Since then, Monica is advocating for stricter gun laws in the states.

She says Jonathan had problems with mental health in the past and was under the influence of alcohol when it happened.

“In the flash of a moment, he argued with my son and went to the car, and loaded up the gun, and shot my other son, so I didn’t lose one life, I lost two,” said Monica.

The grieving mother also has a message of mental health awareness for everyone.

“See the signs, respond. Don’t just judge the person, don’t just judge the youth or the young adults…they have it hard already. They’re trying to find a purpose in their life,” Monica says.

However, she is thankful for all the support she has received from the community.

“My fellow classmates in NAU, with the all the support I’ve received, the churches, I appreciate all of your prayers, I think I couldn’t handle this without their prayers and my faith,” Monica said.

There will be a community car wash fundraiser for the brothers this Sunday at the Torch Lite Lodge on Fourth Avenue at 10:30 a.m.

If you would like to help out the family, you can make a donation here.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Halloween night is full of costumes, candy, and fun, but it also brings some real health and safety risks.

Leala Martinez, nurse practitioner at Exceptional Community Hospital in Yuma, shares what parents should watch out for and to keep kids safe and healthy.

“We often see falls from costumes that are too long or shoes that don’t fit, as well as minor cuts and scrapes in darker neighborhoods. There’s also a higher risk for pedestrian injuries. Parents can help by choosing safe costumes, adding reflective tape, and making sure kids carry a flashlight,” says Martinez.

Martinez adds some medical concerns to keep in mind about candy.

“For children with peanut, tree nut, or milk allergies, Halloween can be tricky. Also read labels carefully before letting them eat, and if a child has a history of severe reactions, keep an EpiPen nearby. Parents should also check candy to make sure it’s sealed and safe,” says Martinez.

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Adrik Vargas

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) – A new state law, originally introduced as Senate Bill 461, will allow the City of Imperial to take over a soon to be vacated California Highway Patrol (CHP) building and turn it into a new police station.

Around 24 Imperial police officers will move into the CHP offices on Imperial Avenue once the highway patrol relocates next year. The current police facilities are too small to meet the needs of the growing community.

“Our existing facility right now is the original probation slash juvenile hall. It’s not a purpose built law enforcement facility. The highway patrol, on the other hand, is a purpose built law enforcement facility,” said Imperial Police Chief Aaron Reel.

Chief Reel said Imperial is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, and the department will benefit from the extra space.

“This gives us an additional 1200 square feet of building size, but even more facility when it comes to parking, the radio tower, just the covered areas where we can actually park police cars, park personal vehicles collected, maintain evidence,” Reel said.

Before the move can happen, the city must work with the Department of Governmental Services to finalize the transfer.

“And once that takes place, we first we have to wait for CHP to leave. And then when CHP is out, we can start that process of designing a renovation and updating it to meet our needs. And I would hope, fingers crossed, to be in there this time next year,” Reel said.

The building was constructed in 1960 and will soon serve as the new home of the Imperial Police Department.

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Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – When it comes to court cases, sometimes there’s a misconception on why a defendant walks out of custody without any charges filed.

Some people think this means the defendant will never be charged, however, this is not always the case.

When a person gets arrested, the judge has to look for a probable cause to keep them in custody.

Based on that information, they look for any victims and if the victim received a notification.

“Based on that information is where we determine if we are going to release the person or set a bond, a high bond, a low bond, do they have a criminal history,” said Scarlett Harper, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.

In Arizona, the county attorney or the prosecutor has 48 hours to collect the police reports and all the information needed to file charges.

“Now that time is for the officer to summit the report to the city prosecutor or county attorneys, now if if they didn’t receive the report then the person get a no complaint filed, no charges are filed,” explained Judge Harper.

In the case the prosecutor needs more information, they will do what’s called a follow up.

Even if charges are not filed while the suspect is still in custody, they can be filed later.

“A misdemeanor, if no charges are filed after the 48 hours, then we advised them they have up to a year to file charges on a misdemeanor and on felonies they got up to seven years to file charges,” said Harper.

Harper clarifies that the prosecutor or the county attorney is the one who can charge the defendant.

“It is clear that the judge does not charge a person, it’s the state, it’s the prosecutor, the county attorneys, the city prosecutor. They make the charges that they are the state of Arizona. The judge in these cases we are like the referee,” said Harper.

The judge reads the charges, goes over advisement, lets the defendant know their rights and helps assign an attorney if needed.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Water Users’ Association (YCWUA) would like to remind the community that it is illegal to dump trash or waste material into our canals, drainage ditches, access roads or agricultural fields.

Trash can contaminate our water supply, harm crops, and damage vital irrigation infrastructure. They say it’s important to keep these areas clean and debris-free to protect local water quality and agricultural resources.

YCWUA’s General Manager Tom Davis says it’s even more crucial during this time of year as we enter into produce and production season.

“What is termed is field to fork products and so any kind of contamination…any kind of dumping in our canal system immediately results in contamination on the produce fields,” said Davis.

All incidents of illegal dumping will be reported to county authorities, and violators will be prosecuted.

They suggest residents can use dumping stations around the county or municipal dumps.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is investigating a two-vehicle crash which left a man injured Friday morning.

According to a press release, the crash happened at around 10:35 a.m. in the area of Laguna Dam Road and County 5 1/2 Street.

YCSO says a 2007 Dodge Dakota was driving northbound on Laguna Dam Road while a 2001 Ford Ranger was driving east on a dirt road.

For unknown reasons, YCSO says the driver of the Ford attempted a wide turn in front of the Dodge, resulting in the Dodge to crash into the front passenger side of the Ford.

As a result, YCSO says the driver of the Ford, a 67-year-old man from Yuma, was trapped inside the vehicle, and says “life saving measures were performed by medical personnel on scene.”

YCSO says the man was taken to Onvida Health for serious injuries.

While alcohol did not factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at (928) 783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

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Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) arrested a teen they say is connected to vehicle burglaries in Yuma.

YPD said early Friday morning, shortly before 4:30 a.m., officers responded to the area of W. 14th Street and S. 35th Drive.

Officers say a homeowner saw the suspect, a 13-year-old boy, partially inside his car, and says when the homeowner confronted the teen, the latter threatened the former with a handgun and then fled the area.

YPD says the teen entered or attempted to enter 25 vehicles in the neighborhood, and says investigators later served a search warrant at the teen’s home and found a firearm stolen during one of the burglaries and other crime-related evidence.

The teen, according to YPD, was arrested and booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for numerous felony charges, which includes aggravated assault burglary, attempted burglary, assisting a criminal street gang and theft.

If anyone has information regarding the case, or if anyone believes their vehicle may have been broken into, call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Aggravated Assault-Vehicle Burglaries 25-66569Download

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Joaquin Hight

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Brawley Post Office, located on 401 Street, had its name changed in honor of Walter Francis Ulloa.

The post office will now be known as “The Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post Office Building.” A commemorative plaque was built and installed in the lobby of the facility, which visitors can see at any time.

Congressman Raul Ruiz hosted the ceremony outside the post office to officially change the name.

Brawley Mayor Gil Rebollar shares more on Ulloa’s impact.

“A man born and raised in Brawley, who went on to found Spanish-language media platforms, that was transforming. He was essentially a pioneer for the media industry,” Mayor Rebollar spoke.

Ulloa co-founded and built his own company, Entravision, which diversified media by acquiring more Spanish-language media across the country.

For his work, he was appointed to the Kennedy Center Honors by President Barack Obama.

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