WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A driver accused of being under the influence when he crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing a mother and father, has been arrested, police announced Tuesday. Gabriel Poletti, 27, is facing two counts of murder and two counts of driving under the influence causing injury. READ MORE: Victimized Again: Looters Rummage Through Victims' Burned Homes Poletti allegedly crashed head-on into a family of four on Jefferson Boulevard near Locks Drive on the night of Feb. 15. Gabriel Poletti’s booking photo (credit: Yolo County Jail) The father, Rasul Afzili, was pronounced dead at the scene and the mother, Anila Afzili, died at an area hospital, officials confirmed. The couple’s two young children, three-year-old Jannah and seven-month-old Azzan, sustained minor to moderate injuries and have since been released into the care of family members. READ MORE: West Sacramento Family Grieves The Loss Of Loved Ones In Deadly READ MORE: Man Killed In West Sacramento Police Shooting Police say Poletti was also seriously injured and was taken to an area hospital. Investigators believe Poletti may have been under the influence at the time of the crash. He has a prior DUI conviction from 2016, police said. On Tuesday, Poletti was arrested on multiple charges connected to the fatal crash. He was booked into Yolo County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 26. The investigation into this crash is ongoing and police ask anyone with information to contact the West Sacramento Police Dispatch at (916) 372-3375. MORE NEWS: Man Arrested In Manteca Linked To 1989 Rape, Stabbing In San Mateo RELATED: Memorial Held For Couple Killed In West Sacramento Crash ...
6 cops killed in misencounter with army soldiers
Widow Of Man Killed By Sacramento Deputies Sues Sheriff’s Office
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The widow of a man killed by Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies is suing the department. (credit: Sacramento Sheriff) Maurice Holley was shot by deputies in Herald in October of 2019 after investigators say he reached for what turned out to be a Glock-style airsoft gun. READ MORE: Victimized Again: Looters Rummage Through Victims' Burned Homes The lawsuit disputes that, claiming video shows Holley attempting to “make himself more comfortable” while sitting on the ground and was not reaching for anything. Holley’s widow Kimberly Perez is seeking damages from the department. Deputies were called to Bennett Road on Oct. 6 after reports of a “suspicious man sitting in front of the home.” Holley was found lying in a ditch. READ MORE: Man Killed In West Sacramento Police Shooting The lawsuit claims Holley was asleep on the side of the road and presented “no apparent threat or harm” to the deputy. As he asked for identification, the deputy reportedly noticed a weapon in the suspect’s waistband and began giving Holley verbal commands. Officials claim Holley then reached for his weapon in his waistband and the veteran deputy, fearing for his safety, fired his weapon at the suspect. At least nine shots struck Holley and he was pronounced dead. The lawsuit alleges that deputies did not call for medical care or allow medical personnel to treat Holley in a timely manner after he was shot. That alleged delay of medical caused Holley “extreme physical and emotional pain and suffering, and was a contributing cause of [Holley’s] serious injuries.” MORE NEWS: Man Arrested In Manteca Linked To 1989 Rape, Stabbing In San Mateo Holley’s three children are also named as “nominal defendants” in the suit and could be added as plaintiffs later if they choose. ...
DA Files Murder Charges Against Suspected Drunk Driver In Fatal West Sacramento Crash
WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The Yolo County District Attorney on Thursday filed murder charges against Gabriel Poletti, the man accused of a DUI in a head-on crash that killed two parents and injured their two young children in West Sacramento on Feb. 15. The criminal complaint filed against 27-year-old Poletti, of Elk Grove, alleges two charges of murder, two charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with a previous DUI conviction and other DUI-related charges with several enhancements related to the children’s injuries and Poletti’s blood alcohol content level. READ MORE: Victimized Again: Looters Rummage Through Victims' Burned Homes The crash occurred at night on Jefferson Boulevard near Locks Drive. READ MORE: Man Killed In West Sacramento Police Shooting The father, Rasul Afzili, was pronounced dead at the scene and the mother, Anila Afzili, died at an area hospital, officials confirmed. The couple’s two young children, three-year-old Jannah and seven-month-old Azzan, sustained minor to moderate injuries and have since been released into the care of family members. According to the district attorney’s office, Poletti having a prior DUI conviction allowed for murder charges to be filed in this case. MORE NEWS: Man Arrested In Manteca Linked To 1989 Rape, Stabbing In San Mateo Poletti is being held in the Yolo County Jail without bail and his arraignment is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26. ...
Modest Hero Of ‘Forgotten War’ Recalls Historic Rescue Mission
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Burley Smith remembers Christmas Day 1950 at the height of the Korean war. The retired Miami realtor, now 92, was a 21-year-old sailor aboard the United States Merchant Marine vessel Meredith Victory. READ MORE: Victimized Again: Looters Rummage Through Victims' Burned Homes He and a few other shipmates had recently graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, New York. The ship was in Korean waters to carry military equipment to U.S. troops. He vividly recalls the ship. “The ship was the Meredith Victory ship, hundreds were built during World War II, the top speed was 17 knots, about 20 miles an hour. It had 15 cargo holds and carried a crew of 47 people and could only carry 12 passengers,” said Smith. But the ship’s assignment changed as thousands of desperate North Koreans fled from the Chinese army. In the bitter cold, Smith and his fellow crew members loaded 14,000 refugees on board for a three-day rescue mission. “We happened to be the ship that took the most because our skipper Captain Leonard LaRue said ‘pack them aboard as tightly as you can’,” said Smith. “We had 14,000 people stuffed on a small ship. No toilets, no food, no water. They were locked down in the hold afraid mostly of disease.” The refugees made it safely to South Korea. The Meredith Victory became known as the “ship of miracles” completing the largest humanitarian rescue mission by a single ship in history. “The miracle part of it was the Koreans behaved so well- there was no riot,” said Smith. READ MORE: Man Killed In West Sacramento Police Shooting “None of them spoke English and none of us spoke Korean, my respect for them is immense,” he added. Burley Smith (CBS4) The rescue is part of South Korean history. There’s a memorial in the city of Geoje, which Smith has visited. He’s also been presented with medals and commendations from the South Korean government. “The Koreans celebrate it every year, it’s a big thing. Here, ...
Man Accused Of Impersonating An Officer To Get Into Turlock Motel Room
TURLOCK (CBS13) — A man is in custody accused of impersonating an officer to get into a motel room. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office says Alejandro Madrigal, 35, went to a motel on North Golden State Boulevard in Turlock. He reportedly showed a gold-colored badge to a housekeeper, saying he was an undercover cop and needed to be let into a room. READ MORE: Victimized Again: Looters Rummage Through Victims' Burned Homes The housekeeper then notified the front desk, who called deputies to the motel. READ MORE: Man Killed In West Sacramento Police Shooting When deputies arrived at the motel Madrigal was gone, but he was located just before 11 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant. MORE NEWS: Man Arrested In Manteca Linked To 1989 Rape, Stabbing In San Mateo Madrigal is facing charges of impersonating a police officer. ...
