Page 1 - Dinuba Sentinel 9-13-18 E-edition
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Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
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Sheriffs deputies receive Purple Heart, Medal of Honor for Orosi of cer involved shooting
Established 1909, Dinuba, California Thursday, September 13, 2018 50 Cents
Deputy Juan Serrano
Dinuba
of cers
tase, shoot
woman
Sentinel staff report
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux honored two of his deputies with the most prestigious awards for law enforcement on Tuesday – the Purple Heart and the Medal of Valor. Those two honors went to two deputies involved in a recent officer-involved shooting that took place in Orosi.
The Medal of Valor is the highest honor the Sheriff can award to sworn staff for a selfless and courageous act taken at the risk of their own lives with full awareness of the danger involved.
The Purple Heart is awarded to sworn staff who are wounded or killed in the line of duty.
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux will award the Purple Heart to one deputy and the Medal of Valor to another deputy who risked their lives during an attack on a deputy and the officer- involved shooting.
Dep. Juan Serrano was violently attacked during a call for service on May 3, 2018. Accompanying him was his Field Training Officer, Dep. Daniel Villalobos, who defended him and came to his aid.
Orosi regarding a mental health issue. After speaking to the suspect’s mother at great length, Dep. Serrano agreed to check on her son, whom she said suffers from a mental illness, wasn’t taking his medication and was acting erratically.
The deputies were led inside the house by the suspect’s mother who directed them down the hallway to his bedroom door which was closed. Dep. Serrano led the way down the hallway with Dep. Villalobos behind him a short distance away.
Dep. Serrano knocked on the door and asked calmly, “Would you mind if we came in to talk to you?”
The subject responded “no” in a passive voice.
A few seconds later, the suspect opened the door and immediately raised a large knife, described as a machete, and swung it downward, striking Dep. Serrano’s head, causing a large laceration.
Dep. Serrano was dazed but continued to fight off his attacker. Dep. Villalobos stepped in to engage the suspect who, unbeknownst to him, was still in possession of the
See Honors, Page A2
Deputy Daniel Villalobos
The two of them had been dispatched to a residence in
By Rick Curiel
Riding for the Wall
Motorcycle riders roll into the Dinuba Memorial Hall on Sunday morning as part of the Fifth Annual Soft Thunder Riders Run. The run is put on by a local Christian women's bike club and serves as a way to raise funds for the Western Regional Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at the Dinuba Memorial Hall. (More on Page A7)
Orosi Memorial Hall undergoes makeover
The Orosi Memorial Hall has been standing for more than 50 years, according to Espino.
It is the hub for various events such as weddings and birthday parties to name a few.
A major renovation project that took place was inside the Hall. There is a new floor and tile in
the kitchen and hallways.
“The floors were looking worn
down,” Espino said. “We were closed for a month and were able to come back in on June 25.”
In addition, there is a mural that is on the stage wall. The mural was made by Jorge Vargas of Orosi in July.
“It makes the hall beautiful,” Espino said. “It was looking worn down but we want to make sure the hall is
maintained well.”
See Hall, Page A8
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
On Monday Dinuba police officers were forced to tase and ultimately shoot a woman in the legs after she reportedly came at officers with gardening sheers.
While responding to a disturbance call in the 300 block of South M Street at approximately 3:45 p.m., officers confronted 57-year-old Lisa Mendez in the yard a residence. According to police, Mendez, who is also known as Boogie, is known in the area as a local transient.
The officers were responding to a complaint of unwanted person.
“Apparently, she had been told multiple times that she was not wanted there,” said Dinuba Police Lieutenant Abel Iriarte.
According to Iriarte, when officers arrived they attempted to negotiate with her but Mendez reportedly refused to cooperate with officers.
“Right from the beginning she was uncooperative,” said Iriarte.
Iriarte said officers determined she had something in her hand that first appeared to be a knife. The item in her hand was later found to be metal gardening sheers.
Though it remains unclear as to what
See Shooting, Page A2
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
By George Villagrana
Board members of the Orosi Memorial Hall are Mary Helen Espino, Gabe Pena, Leo Gonzalez (president), Joe Quevedo (vice president), Jacob Huerta and Melba Espino.
George M. Villagrana | The Sentinel
All around the Orosi Memorial Hall are remnants of a past life and hints of a new one.
Director Melba Espino says the building was becoming worn down and needed on-going maintenance.
With the approval of an at-large community board, Espino has been seeing transformation taking place for the betterment of the community the Hall serves.
“It’s still going through some renovations and cosmetic touch ups,” Espino said. “We have new blinds and curtains."
Walls have been painted inside
the front of the building where she plans to hang old photos of those who served in the military.
“We want to have it the way it used to be,” Espino said. “It brings out the history of the hall.”
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Déjà vu
Cardinals fall just short against Strathmore, again
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"It makes the hall beautiful."
-Mary Helen Espino Orosi Memorial Hall member
