Sheriff’s detectives are still looking for a fifth suspect in the June 8 shooting of 30-year-old Arturo Vargas
TULARE COUNTY – Tulare County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested four men in connection with a drive-by shooting that gunned down a man in Porterville on June 8 and they are searching for at least one more suspect.
Julian Martinez
20 years old
On June 12, detectives served two search warrants in Porterville to locate 20-year-old Julian Martinez and 21-year-old Mark Duran, additional suspects in the murder of Arturo Vargas. Information discovered there led them to a Visalia hotel where Duran was taken into custody but Martinez is still on the loose. Anyone with information is asked to please contact Detective Miguel Franco or Sgt. Steve Sanchez with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218.
Vargas was shot and killed just after 1 p.m. in the 500 block of E. River in Porterville. When Deputies arrived, they found the 30-year-old had been shot multiple times. Vargas was taken to a local hospital where he died. In the ensuing two days, Sheriff’s detectives and Porterville Police officers served four search warrants in the Porterville area.
Arrested were: 22-year-old Ricardo Villagomez of Porterville for murder, conspiracy to commit a gang crime, gang enhancement and parole violation; 19-year-old Anthony Llamas of Porterville for weapons charges; and 19-year-old Gabriel Marquez of Porterville on weapons charges.
Anyone with information can also call 24 hours a day at 559-733-6128 or anonymously, by accessing the TipNow page at [email protected].
Sheriff’s Log
Wednesday, June 10
After a month-long investigation, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Cyber-Crimes Unit / Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested 37-year-old Eymes Alexander Cruz-Caceres of Orosi for distributing child pornography on-line. Additional child pornography images and videos were found during a search of his home. Cruz-Caceres is currently being held on a $3.5 million dollar bail at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pretrial Facility.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Christopher Franks at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Cyber-Crimes Unit, 559-687-7021. You can also call 24 hours a day at 559-733-6218, or anonymously, by accessing the TipNow page at [email protected] / 559-725-4194.
Sunday, May 26
Deputies were called to a home in the 200 block of E. Court Avenue in Pixley for a grand theft. When they arrived, deputies learned someone had stolen a catalytic converter from a car parked in the victim’s driveway. The estimated loss was $2,500. The suspect was seen on surveillance leaving the area in a black midsize SUV, which resembles a 2003 to 2007 Saturn Vue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Javier Guerrero or Sgt. Larry Camacho at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, 559-802-9523.
