Elk Grove Police apprehended a Sacramento man yesterday morning after he was found to have outstanding arrest warrants and to be in possession of burglary tools.

According to police reports, officer responded to a suspicious persons call on the 49000 block of Willow Vale Way and contacted 21-year old Joe Vang of Sacramento . Vang had previously been contacted by an off-duty officer near a residence that had been burglarized.

Officers found Vang to be in possession of narcotics paraphernalia and burglary tools. A record check revealed that the suspect has outstanding arrest warrants.

Vang was arrested and transferred to the county jail.

Middle age man arrested for shoplifting

Elk Grove To Celebrate Official Grand Opening Of Sheldon Road-Hwy 99 Interchange

The City of Elk Grove will hold a grand opening ceremony for the Sheldon Road-Highway 99 interchange this Friday morning.

The city has substantially finished improvements to the interchange that was built in the 1950’s. The newly redesigned and reconstructed interchange now provides safer freeway access and increases mobility for Elk Grove's burgeoning commuter traffic.

“Reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility throughout Elk Grove and the Sacramento region is a priority at the City,” said Mayor Pat Hume.

The celebratory event will be held at the northwest corner of the park-and-ride lot off East Stockton Boulevard. The ceremony starts at 10:00 AM.

Parking will be available in the lot as well. For event or project information, please contact Angela Frost at (916) 478-2203 or afrost@elkgrovecity.org.

Interchange features

Features of the new Sheldon Road / State Route 99 Interchange

* Widens Sheldon Road to six through-lanes plus turn-lanes
* Replaces existing overpass
* Improves intersections and provides bike lanes and sidewalks on Sheldon Road
* Replaces and widens freeway ramps to provide additional turning lanes
* Realigns frontage roads
* Relocates and expands the existing Park-and-Ride Lot

The Sacramento Police Department is asking for the community's help in locating the driver of a vehicle that hit and killed a 4-year-old boy.

On November 30, 2009, at 8:20 a.m., officers responded to the area of Northgate Boulevard and Wilson Avenue regarding a hit and run accident. Officers arrived and determined that a 4-year-old boy had been struck by a vehicle exiting the parking lot of Smythe Academy.

The boy was on his way to school, riding his scooter, with his older brother and his grandmother. The vehicle dragged the boy several feet before fleeing south on Northgate Blvd. Emergency medical personnel responded and transported the boy to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The suspect vehicle is described as a 1995-1997 Nissan Maxima, dark red or burgundy with a black tinted rear window. Detectives believe that there may be minimal if any damage to the front of the vehicle. Below is a photo of the possible suspect vehicle that was captured on a surveillance video south of the accident location.

The Sacramento Police Department urges anyone with information pertaining to this incident to contact Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or text in a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or call the traffic detectives directly at (916) 808-6030. Enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Abducted Sacramento Children Located - Father Arrested

On November 27, 2009, shortly after 7:00 p.m., Sacramento County Sheriff’s detectives tracked Daniel Gwilliam (25) to a house in the 4400 block of Bacall Court in Sacramento. Gwilliam’s two children, Tyler (6) and Lilly-Ann (20 months) were also located in the home.

Gwilliam was arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Centralized Investigations Division for questioning. The children were in good health and will be returned to their foster parents.

On November 25, 2009, at 3:50 p.m., Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report that Gwilliam had abducted his two children from a visitation facility in the 2300 block of Glendale Lane in Sacramento. Deputies were told Gwilliam left the facility with his children twelve minutes after he arrived to participate in a court-allowed observed visit.

Gwilliam will be booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail to face the charge of parental abduction after he is questioned.

Former Cop From Elk Grove Sentenced By Federal Judge

United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that Eric Gene Piotrowski,41, of Elk Grove, was sentenced this morning by United States Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows to 12 months probation and 200 hours of community service for falsely claiming that he was awarded a Silver Star Military decoration during Operation Desert Storm.

Piotrowski pleaded guilty on September 15, 2009 under the Stolen Valor Act, which was enacted in late 2006, It is a misdemeanor offense to wear military medals that were not in fact awarded, or to falsely claim to have been awarded such medals.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, the Elk Grove resident falsely claimed that he was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry and intrepidity in action against hostile forces in Operation Desert Storm.

The Silver Star is the third highest decoration awarded by the U.S. Military. He falsely claimed that in 1991 during an Iraqi counterattack in Operation Desert Storm “he exposed himself to direct enemy fire while providing suppressive fires to cover an antitank team, which was maneuvering to destroy an Iraqi T-62 tank.”

It was found that Piotrowski did not see military action in Operation Desert Storm, and he purchased the Silver Star Citation and medal via the Internet. Under false pretenses, on December 1, 2007, he was formally recognized for the Silver Star by the Undersecretary for the California Department of Veteran Affairs. Piotrowski made his false claim of valor while he was employed by the California Exposition Center Police Department.

Permanently barred from law enforcement

In imposing the 200-hour community service to be performed at a Veteran’s Hospital or similar facility for United States Veterans, Judge Hollows stated that such service was an opportunity for Piotrowski to learn from his mistakes. He was ordered to abdicate his peace officer’s certification from the state of California and is under a lifetime prohibition from law enforcement employment for lack of good moral character.