26 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - one of the most powerful political figures in Kern County -- 2nd District Supervisor Zack Scrivner -- is under investigation following allegations he sexually assaulted a child.   The troubling allegations regarding Supervisor Scrivner and what happened at his Tehachapi house began circulating early Wednesday morning. It was a lot of hearsay... until Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood confirmed some of those shocking details.  Scrivner has *not been arrested or charged. Youngblood says he received a call from District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer around 11 Tuesday night... saying her nephew... Zack Scrivner... was armed and suicidal.   Youngblood says after hearing from a concerned and emotional Zimmer... he immediately dispatched deputies to Scrivner's Tehachapi home. Youngblood did not confirm the sexual assault but he says they're investigating with reason.   That altercation led to Scrivner being stabbed twice in the upper torso with a knife.   It is unclear what type of knife.   Scrivner was taken to Kern Medical and treated for non life threatening injuries.   Youngblood says to his knowledge... Scrivner is no longer in the hospital. The sheriff says Scrivner... his four children... all minors... and his parents were at the scene.  Scrivner's wife Christina Scrivner was not on site.   DA Zimmer also was not on site.   Youngblood says no one other than Scrivner is under investigation.   And it's unclear if there were attempts to conceal evidence... as alleged.   The following day... Wednesday... detectives arrived with a search warrant for the alleged stabbing and sexual assault.   They seized 30 firearms... electronics... including Scrivner's phone... possible evidence of both the stabbing and sexual assault... as well as forensic evidence. There is an emergency protective order to keep Scrivner away from his children... who are with their mother. - Criminal defense attorney H-A Sala is representing District 2 Supervisor Zack Scrivner.  Yesterday, he lashed out at Sheriff Donny Youngblood, over allegations, he says are false.  About an hour after that declaration was made by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, Zack Scrivner's defense attorney H.A. Sala fired back at his own news conference. Again, Scrivner has not been arrested or charged with a crime. Sala believes there shouldn't be any charges filed.  Sheriff Youngblood and Defense Attorney Sala do agree on one thing: the investigation is going to take longer because the case will be moved out of Kern County.  As we mentioned, the county's lead prosecutor, District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer is Scrivner's aunt. - There are several unanswered questions surrounding this investigation this morning... including...     Where is Zack Scrivner?     Was an emergency psychiatric hold placed on Zack Scrivner?     Was there any effort to conceal what happened at the home?     And what is Scrivner's future on the board of supervisors.      We'll let you know, when those questions are answered. You can find all of our coverage of the investigation into Zack Scrivner on on our website, KGET dot com.      Just scan the Q-R code on your screen for complete coverage, including the full news conference at the KCSO headquarters.  - A homicide investigation is underway in central Bakersfield - following a shooting on V and 8th Streets, west of Union Avenue. According to Bakersfield police, officers were alerted to the shooting through a ShotSpotter activation around 6:45 yesterday evening.     When they arrived, there was a victim with several gunshot wounds who died at the scene.     The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

25 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - Kern County firefighters had their hands full last night... with a vegetation fire near the Bena landfill.The call came in around 6:40.     Crews worked quickly to knock down the flames.     At last check, the fire is under control with three acres burned.     No word yet on a cause. - This morning... we know the name of a man who died following a shooting late Friday night near Panorama Park in northeast Bakersfield.     24-year-old Ronald Josue Rivera Hernandez was shot April 19 at the intersection of River Boulevard and Panorama Drive.     He died at the scene.     Bakersfield police said he was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the park's parking lot.      The shooting remains under investigation.     Anyone with information is asked to call BPD at 327-7111. - A man known as the "pillowcase rapist" was sentenced yesterday for trying to kidnap a woman in Bakersfield. A man known as the "pillowcase rapist" was sentenced yesterday for trying to kidnap a woman in Bakersfield.  - 12  years...      That was the sentence handed down to a driver involved in a deadly street racing crash.      The crash happened back in November 2021 on Stockdale Highway.      Nathan Valencia was racing a red Honda Civic, which sideswiped another vehicle and crashed into a traffic pole.. killing Jose Beltran-Lopez and Carmen Romero Vidal.     A third person in the civic survived.     Valencia last month pleaded no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter.      Murder charges were dismissed. - A new partnership between the Bakersfield Police Department and the California Highway Patrol - will lead to more officers on the streets.     It comes as Governor Gavin Newsom pledges to crack down on crime in California. It's what Newsom is calling a crime suppression partnership... and it's part of more than one billion dollars spent on crime since 2019....     Meaning there will be more resources and personnel locally.  Partnerships are ongoing in San Francisco and Oakland.      Newsom says compared to the statewide average... Kern County sees higher rates of property and violent crime... as well as arrest rates.      This partnership targets roadway dangers and vehicle and retail theft. - A pressing issue in our community -- businesses hit by vandalism.  The latest incident happened at Mill Creek Antique Mall in downtown Bakersfield.  17's Cecilia Trevino reports.

24 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - Farm workers protested outside the Marriott Hotel in downtown Bakersfield yesterday morning, as a hearing got underway in the case of Wonderful Nurseries versus United Farm Workers.      The workers claim they were tricked into unionizing with the U-F-W and they want out. The workers allege the U-F-W approached them... offering $600 in COVID-19 relief funds... as part of a federal program for farm and food workers.      They say they were told signing what they did not know was a union authorization card... was part of the process. U-F-W Vice President Erika Navarrette told 17 News the claims are "a complete lie," and says the workers are being manipulated by Wonderful Nurseries.         The hearing has been adjourned until Thursday.          For more on the case... as well as past allegations against the UFW... you can visit our website, k-g-e-t dot com. - Bakersfield police now say street racing was the cause of a crash in southwest Bakersfield that sent four people to the hospital, including a child.     The crash happened Monday night on Old River Road near White Lane just before 7 p.m.     Investigators say two Chevy Camaros were racing when the white camaro hit several vehicles stopped at a light at the intersection.     The driver of the black camaro drove over the center median and left the scene.     Three adults and one juvenile, who were not part of the illegal street race, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.     BPD says the driver of the white camaro, 19-year-old Meylin Rosi Barrera, was also taken to the hospital. {banner}     Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call police at the number on your screen. - We have new information this morning on a fire that destroyed a Rosamond home Monday night.       It happened around 7:15 on Cold Creek Avenue.       The Kern County Fire Department has confirmed that one person died in that fire.       Officials say firefighters tried to force their way into the home, but collapsing ceilings kept them from getting inside.       The person who died has not yet been identified.       The cause of the fire is still under investigation.  - We have new details on the arrest of four teens following a high-speed pursuit in Northeast Bakersfield. That pursuit happened Sunday morning in the area of Bernard and Sacramento Streets.      It came to an end when the driver of the stolen car crashed into a street sign and a telephone poll in front of Studio B Salon.      We are learning all four teens have been charged with resisting arrest.      The driver was also charged with felony evading and possession of stolen property - This morning.. we are learning prosecutors have requested futher investigation into a shooting that left a woman dead in East Bakersfield. That shooting happened around 10:45 Friday night on Pearl Street near Robinson Street.      38-year-old Margarita Lopez was killed.      Deputies arrested 36-year-old Paul Magallanes on suspicion of murder.     Magallanes was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday, but no charges were filed.      The case will now be sent back to the to the sheriff's office for further review. 

23 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - A Rosamond home is destroyed this morning... after a massive fire engulfed the structure last night. The fire happened at a home on Cold Creek Avenue.     You can see county firefighters battling the blaze.     Firefighters from Los Angeles County were called in to assist in the firefight.     The flames were knocked down about an hour later.     It is unclear if anyone was inside the home and how the fire began. - Now to a series of fires in Bakersfield.     The latest on Saturday, consumed an abandoned 10,000 square foot building, but that's not the only fire this month Fire crews scrambled to contain the massive fire located in downtown Bakersfield Saturday.     And, fire crews saved two people from another burning building on the morning of April 17th on California Avenue.     These buildings have the same thing in common: They're abandoned, except for the homeless. They contain mountains of trash, they have easy access, and now they're in ruins.     Alan Alvarez with the Bakersfield Downtown Business Association owns the old medical building that burned Saturday.      He said it has been abandoned for 15 years, and said this is the 4th time the building has caught fire.     Alvarez told 17 News he's reached out to Bakersfield Police and Citiguard Security to ramp up patrols and mitigate the risk of fire danger.      We've reached out to the fire department regarding more information about this series of fires, but we have not heard back. - 17 News is your local election headquarters.     Proposition 47, which was passed by voters in 2014, reclassified some low level, non-violent felonies to misdemeanors.     But, critics say what was meant as a criminal justice reform, has backfired. Calls for accountability are ringing through the Golden State...     As law enforcement officials in Kern County and statewide are backing The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act... a measure to amend Proposition 47. The measure to amend will likely be on California's November ballots.      A little over 546,000 signatures in support are required... more than 900,000 have been submitted for verification statewide. 

22 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - It's the final countdown to opening statements in former president donald trump's historic hush money trial in a downtown manhattan courtroom.     Just an hour from now... the historic criminal case will begin against the former president.     With the jury - now seated...     The defense - preparing to counter each claim...     And the defendant himself - turning the courtroom into a campaign stop.     NBC's Yasmin Vosoughian (Vo-suh-hian) starts us off. - a man is dead following a motorcycle crash yesterday evening near Jefferson Park. It happened at the intersection of River Boulevard and Bernard Street.     We're still waiting to hear more about what led up to the crash but CHP says a man was killed.     His identity has not been revealed. - A high speed pursuit yesterday morning ended in a crash and 4 people detained. The crash is located in the parking lot of the Salon on Bernard Street and Sacramento Street.     4 people were placed in handcuffs.     Deputies were on scene taking booking photos ot the suspects.     The Kern County Sheriff's Office has not released any details about the cause of the police pursuit or the suspects. - A man was arrested in East Bakersfield Saturday morning for first degree murder. Deputies say 36-year-old Paul Magallanes was arrested on Pearl Street near Robinson Street.     We are still working to see who he allegedly killed.     Magallanes was booked into the Lerdo Jail and denied bail.     He is due in court tomorrow.  - And a man shot and killed near Panorama Park Friday night has still has not been identified.     Officers say they found the man in the parking lot  suffering from multiple gunshot wounds around 11 p.m.     He later died.     No word yet on any suspects.     Anyone with information is urged to call police at the number on your screen.

19 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - Two earthquakes struck the Kern River Valley yesterday...     The latest rattling the town of Bodfish before 9 p.m. with a magnitude of 3-point-2. Yesterday afternoon, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck just before 12:20.     The epicenter was about 6-and-a-half miles south of Bodfish, according to the U-S Geological Survey This is new viewer video showing the shaking from the first quake at a home in Bodfish.     Calls flooded our newsroom from viewers who said they felt the shaking here in Bakersfield -- some 40 miles away.      There have been no reports of any structural damage as of newstime this morning. - Now to one of our signature issues here at KGET... Kern's Sober Reality.   The man accused of driving drunk and injuring three people at the Bakersfield Christmas Parade, has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence *again.*   And he's due in court today.   72-year-old Alan Booth, was arrested Wednesday near Oak and 20th Streets - his second DUI arrest in less than six months. According to police reports, Booth's blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit.  He has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and DUI.    Booth is in custody following last night's arrest, but his attorney plans to propose new conditions for his release. Attorney Chris Hagan who represents the parade victims released a statement that reads, "It's unfortunate Booth has failed to recognize the gravity of what happened at the Christmas Parade and the harm to others in the community. He hasn't learned his lesson."   Again, Alan Booth is due in court this afternoon.  - Guilty on all counts.     That was the verdict handed down to a man who fired 17 shots inside a Greyhound bus as it traveled over the Grapevine, killing a woman and wounding five others. Anthony Williams admitted bringing a gun onto the bus and told investigators he began shooting after getting into an argument with another passenger.      Jurors deliberated for less than a day before convicting Williams yesterday of first-degree murder, six counts of attempted murder and six counts of assault with a gun.     A second phase of the trial will begin Monday to determine whether Williams was sane at the time of the shooting.  - A federal lawsuit has been filed, alleging Kern County Sheriff's deputies are responsible for the death of a toddler after allowing the boy to return to the home of his "abusive father," where he came in contact with fentanyl. Filed in February, the wrongful death suit says the mother of two-year-old Ezekiel Rivera argued with the child's father, Raul Rivera, during a custody exchange on June 3rd.       Deputies were called and, despite seeing Raul Rivera holding a bag containing a white substance, deputies did not remove Ezekiel from his custody.      Two days later, deputies were again called to the father's home on Sentido Drive, where Ezekiel was found unresponsive.       Emergency medical workers were unable to resuscitate the toddler. - The coroner has released the cause of death for an inmate at Lerdo Jail.     30-year-old Jocelin Berly Alvarez of Los Angeles was found unresponsive at the pre-trial facility on March 3.     The coroner's office says an autopsy determined Alvarez died of Fentanyl, Xylazine, and Other Drug Intoxication and the manner of death is Accidental.

18 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - Last night brought a scare in the emergency room at Adventist Health Hospital. According to Bakersfield police, a call came in that a man armed with a gun was seen in a restroom in the E-R.     Officers raced to the scene and after the hospital was put on lockdown - they were unable to locate a gunman.     BPD tells 17 News, it's possible this was a prank call or what's known as a "swatting" call.     An investigation is underway.     Again, no gunman was found at Adventist Health hospital. - We are on verdict watch in the murder trial of Anthony Williams -- the man accused of opening fire on a Greyhound bus four years ago. The shooting happened February 3, 2020, as the bus traveled over the Grapevine.   Passengers say they heard yelling and cussing before bullets started flying.   When it was over, a woman lay dead and five others were wounded.   Seventeen shots were fired in all.  Deputy Public Defender Nick Roth told the jury today he doesn't contest his client is guilty of second-degree murder, adding there was no premeditation on Williams' part, and that he should not be found guilty of the more serious charge of first-degree murder.  Williams faces life in prison if convicted.  - Three people are under arrest this morning after the California Highway Patrol issued over 127 of those citations were issued for speed, five for seatbelt violations, and 13 for cell phone violations.     C-H-P also says 9 stolen vehicles were recovered.     They would like to remind the public to drive safe, slow down, and eliminate all distractions while driving. 200 citations during a joint traffic enforcement operation yesterday in Bakersfield. - Big news out of Wasco this week.      Starting today, the Kern County Sheriff's Office will no longer provide law enforcement services to the city.      Beginning at 11 a.m., the Wasco Police Department will officially take over as the sole agency within city limits.      The main line for dispatch services will be 758-7266. - Bakersfield police officers are credited with saving two people from a burning building in central Bakersfield. The fire started just before 3:30 yesterday morning in the 11-hundred block of California Avenue.     According to the Bakersfield fire department, officers on scene tore down the boarded up entrance to the building and pulled two people to safety.     The officers tended to the victims until firefighters arrived - both suffered minor injuries. - A motorcyclist is hospitalized following a crash in southwest Bakersfield.     It happened just before 4:30 yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Ashe Road and Taft Highway.     According to police, the motorcycle rider was making a left turn and collided with another vehicle.     The motorcyclist reportedly suffered moderate injuries     KCSO will remain the main point of contact for all open cases prior to April 18th, 2024.

17 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - The race for the gold is getting a lot closer this morning..     Today we are exactly 100-days out from the opening ceremony at the summer olympics in paris..     To celebrate.. Dozens of stars from team usa are in new york to talk about the games and what it means to represent their country with the whole world watching..     NBC's Jay gray spent some time with the athletes, and has more. And the TODAY Show is celebrating the countdown in a big way!   Tune in this morning as the Plaza will be transformed into Paris with dozens of hopefuls sharing their path to gold with the TODAY team.   Mike Tirico will check in from Paris as well. The ceremonial flame was lit at the birthplace of the olympic games in greece yesterday.      The ceremony, took place in the ruins of the temple of Hera in Olympia.      The ceremony launches a 68-day torch relay set to culminate in paris on july 26TH. - A pro-Palestinian protester who was arrested for threatening to murder Bakersfield City Coucilmembers - is out of jail this morning.     Meantime, last week's comments by 28-year-old Riddhi Patel are making headlines nationally and internationally.     Bakersfield Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales appeared on CNN with Jake Tapper to discuss the threats.      He also spoke to 17 News.  Vice Mayor Gonzales says there have also been at least two instances in which Patel approached him outside of city hall and accosted him. Patel and other pro-Palestinian protesters have gone to city council meetings... demanding that Bakersfield pass a Gaza ceasefire resolution.      Patel faces 18 felony charges and has pleaded not guilty.      Bail was reduced to $500,000 and this morning, Patel is not listed as "in custody." - A Kern Valley High School teacher has admitted to sending sexually explicit messages and engaging in sex acts with a student inside a classroom. That's according to newly-released court documents.     29-year-old Christopher Renaudo is charged with five felony counts.     He was arrested earlier this month after the alleged victim reported Renaudo sexually assaulted her on three occasions after asking her to stay behind after class, according to the documents.     When first questioned, Renaudo told investigators he had a normal student-teacher relationship with the teen.     Kern High School District officials have said Renaudo was placed on unpaid administrative leave. - investigators are still looking into a fire that started in a building in east Bakersfield.     The fire on East 19th and Grove Streets started around 5 o'clock yesterday     This is in an industrial area with several warehouses, however it's unclear if the building that caught fire is a business or if it was perhaps, vacant.     We have calls out to the city and county fire crews to learn more. 

16 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - We're learning the name of a woman who was hit and killed by a car over the weekend. It happened  just after 2 a.m. Saturday at South P Street. Bakersfield Police say 45-year-old Estella Andino was hit by the car and died. The search is still underway for the driver. call B-P-D if you have any information. By our count, this is the 18th person hit and killed by a car in Kern County this year. - And the California Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash east of Delano.     It happened just before 5 Saturday evening on Highway 65 south of the 155.      CHP says for unknown reasons, a driver crossed into the opposite lanes, hitting an oncoming car.      One person died in the crash. {banner}     Officers are investigating if the use of drugs or alcohol were factors in this crash.. but they're calling for witnesses to help with the investigation.     If you know anything, call C-H-P.  - Just yesterday morning... the state of California sued the city of Huntington Beach for going against state election law.      The city is mandating voter identification for elections.      17"s Jenny Huh has more on what supporters and opponents are saying.

15 APR 2024 · Some of today's top stories - When donald trump.. Manhattan prosecutors.. And potential jurors gather to begin the first-ever felony trial of a former u-s president..     NBC's Jay gray has the story. - Fire crews raced to the call of a structure fire at the Woolworth Diner Saturday afternoon. The fire was located inside on the third floor of the building in downtown Bakersfield.     The building was purchased by MoneyWise Wealth management and is currently going through extensive rennovations.     No injuries have been reported.     It's unclear the extent of the damage to the building.     The cause of the fire is still under investigation. - A woman is in critical condition this morning following a crash on Saturday night.  Bakersfield police say 2 vehicles crashed near the intersection of Gosford Road and South Laurelglen Boulevard before 10:30 p.m.     Officers on scene found the woman, a passenger of one of the vehicles, suffering from major injuries.     Anyone with information on this crash is encourage to call B-P-D at 327-7111. - And now to a signature issue here at KGET... we call it pedestrian safety.     A woman is dead after a hit and run accident on Ming Avenue Saturday morning. Bakersfield police say it happened just after 2 a.m. at Ming Avenue and South P Street.. When the woman hit by a vehicle traveling eastbound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity has not been released. The driver fled the scene.