Page 8 - Reedley Exponent 9-27-18 E-edition

HERRERA Continued from page A1
been avoided because the jail is understaffed. She said a court order to the jail man- dated that 127 new hires be added by 2018. Lawyers esti- mate that only 60 have been added, although the county hasn’t contacted them to confirm the figure.
“When when you are understaffed, you have vio- lence. And In this jail, there is rampant violence,” Kruze said. The large law firm is representing the Herrera family pro bono (without pay), and has a history of representing Central Valley families and others in spe- cial need.
Kruze also said the ex- cessive bail prevented the family from being get their son home before going to court or trial.
“[The bail] is an exor- bitantly high amount for a first time offender,” she said. “Lorenzo had zero criminal history before this. And yet, with zero criminal history, he was put in a pod with over 90 percent violent offenders.”
Carlos Herrera said his son told him in phone con- versations from jail that he was afraid of the environ- ment he was in.
“He was afraid of that type of structure,” he said. “It was all new to him. He was dealing with [migraine] headaches he was getting. He’s never been a hostile person to anybody.
“He was afraid that he didn’t want to be confronted. Being enclosed, he was mak- ing him kind of like a differ- ent person.”
Carlos Herrera said he told Lorenzo to exercise, read and think good thoughts
VASQUEZ Continued from page A1
Vasquez helped found the frog jump contest back in 1968. He was a member of the original group of Bud Brockett, Ralph Parichans, Gail Ball, Don Jadoon, Bob Lock, Robert Lock, Nick Pavlovich and Larry Green. Vasquez is the most well-
The Reedley Exponent A8 Thursday, September 27, 2018
City trash truck catches fire
Courtesy of the Herrera family
Lorenzo Herrera was pictured in an April 2016 photo.
to help him maintain a right state of mind.
“I also told him was to pray to God to take care of you and help diffuse any kind of problem coming your way,” he said. “Whether it be the courts, or inmates, staff or anybody.”
Anna Herrera said the family remains in shock six months after Lorenzo’s death.
“Where is the account- ability?” she asked.
The lawsuit seeks com- pensatory damages, general and special damages as well as exemplary and/or puni- tive damages. But Kruze — who is working with Arturo Gonzalez as lead attorney — said the legal action is not about the money but to get Fresno County to change its structure of operations in its jail facility.
“I mean this genuinely, and I told this to the county attorney, that I would much rather have them spend the money fixing this problem than fighting a lawsuit that they know they’re going to lose,” she said.
known “frogger” — the vol- unteer who coaxes the frogs to jump.
As grand marshal, Vasquez will ride at the start of the parade and then be one of the judges to select the top marching band of the parade.
The Exponent will do a profile on Vasquez in its is- sue on Thursday, Oct. 4.
ABOVE: A city of Reedley trash collection truck sustained considerable damage Sept. 24 after a fire broke out in the compactor section of the truck on 11th Street, between G and F streets. The fire broke out shortly after 4:30 a.m., and was believed to be started when the truck was compacting trash after a pickup. It’s be- lieved that gasoline or a flammable chem- ical or substance was illegally dumped into a dumpster and ignited into a large fireball as seen in the photo. Fire officials said the truck driver smartly parked in the middle of 11th Street to avoid igniting landscaping or adjoining buildings.
RIGHT: Flames burn in the back of the trash truck, and led to the failure of the compressed natural gas fueled cell. When the CNG cell failed, a relief valve opened up and allowed excess pressure to escape. The fireball could be seen from across town, and flames shot as high as 60 feet into the air. A total of 15 firefighters responded to the blaze.
Justin Watson, Reedley Firemen’s Association / Photos Contributed
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Reedley 4-H window display
Photo Contribiuted
On Sept. 22, representatives from Reedley 4-H gathered at Sam’s Shoes in downtown Reedley. These “4- H Week Display” committee members planned and built a display in the store window to serve multiple purposes — first to recognize 4-H Week, second to highlight 4-H youth in the community, and finally to showcase projects available to members and encourage new member enrollment. Participating members were Clayton Pennebaker, Charlotte Burks, Maya Osborne, Megan Osborne, Wyatt Esch, Stone Higgins, Jonathan Hofer, Madison Martinez, Harry Maroon, Kaycie Huffman, Abigal Tarin and committee chair Athena Pennebaker. The club’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, at Riverview K-8 School.
ASSAULTS Continued from page A3
cording to Pelayo.
Police responded to anoth-
er aggravated assault report at about 2 p.m. on Sept. 19 in the parking lot area in front of the Town & Country Market in the 900 block of East Manning Avenue. Pelayo said a woman was in her car when a man brandishing a knife walked to- ward the vehicle. The woman quickly drove from the park- ing lot and called police. The suspect fled the scene, and no arrest was made.
On Sept, 17, police re- sponded to a residential bur- glary call just after 10 p.m. in the 600 block of East Muir Avenue. A woman was home with her three young chil- dren when she went into the garage and saw two men. She ran inside, locked the door and contacted police, hiding in the bedroom with her children be- fore law enforcement arrived.
The suspects fled the scene. As of Sept. 25, no ar- rests had been made.
10th Annual Senior Prom 2018
Reedley Senior Commission, Inc.
Thank You For Your Support
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