Police

Updated 10:49 a.m. -- Auburn Boulevard was shut down around 8 a.m. Tuesday due to heavy police presence and SWAT team activity outside S&S Tire on Auburn Boulevard near Kanai Ave. SWAT team members from the Citrus Heights Police Department armed with rifles, saws and other equipment were observed entering and exiting S&S Tire around 8 a.m., with CHPD's recently acquired Mine Resistant Armor Protected (MRAP) military surplus vehicle parked outside. By about 8:45 a.m., the SWAT team had packed up and left, the road re-opened and CHPD officers had left the scene, along with Sacramento Sheriff's Department deputies who were observed to be assisting. According to Sergeant Mike Wells, CHPD's Investigative Services Division "was involved in an active investigation into illegal weapons sales," and was able to obtain search warrants for multiple locations within Citrus Heights -- one of which was S&S Tire...

Citrus Heights police said a 2 a.m. collision between a car and pedestrian sent a young woman to the hospital in critical condition Saturday morning and caused officers to close all southbound lanes of traffic on Auburn Boulevard for 10 hours while conducting an investigation. Officer Anthony Boehle said police were dispatched to a report of a collision near Kanai Avenue just before 2 a.m. on Valentine's Day, finding the vehicle and driver on scene, as well as the pedestrian who had been hit. He said the woman was immediately transported to the hospital for treatment and is currently listed in critical condition. Boehle said the investigation is still ongoing, but speed does not appear to be a factor and the driver showed "no indication of impairment." Referencing the nearby Rocky's 7440 Club, Boehle said "it's possible" alcohol played a role on the pedestrian's part, as "the young lady was coming from the bar..."

Citrus Heights police said a search for a missing "at-risk" girl ended successfully Thursday, after a search team formed and the 10-year-old was located. "We are relieved to announce [the missing person] has been located and is currently being reunited with her family," said CHPD's Public Information Officer Chad Morris in an email update to media just after 3 p.m., Thursday. Police said officers responded to a report of the missing girl, who reportedly had last been seen at her Citrus Heights residence around 11:30 a.m. A detailed description and photograph of the minor was then sent out by police in a press release around 2:50 p.m., urging anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to call the Department. Just 20 minutes after sending the release out, police said the missing girl had been located, and thanked those involved in the search effort for their willingness to help...

Citrus Heights police said they recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested an at-large wanted parolee Monday, after "an alert citizen" helped find the man hiding in a shed within a search perimeter officers established near Antelope Road and Mariposa Avenue. Sergeant Mike Wells said police officers located the stolen vehicle just "moments" after it had been reported stolen around 9 a.m. by a man who'd left his vehicle running while going inside a local gas station. Police said the thief fled the vehicle on foot and was reported "hopping fences" near Mariposa and Pratt Avenues, leading officers to establish a multi-block perimeter in search of the thief. A California Highway Patrol plane was also observed circling the area during the search...

City council members voted unanimously last week to pass an "urgency ordinance" that extends a 45-day temporary ban on new massage permits for another 10 months, citing continued concerns about prostitution in Citrus Heights massage parlors and a need to give staff additional time to revise regulations. The wording of the council's ban declares a “current and immediate threat to public health, safety and welfare,” and prohibits relocating, expanding or opening new massage establishments for 10-and-a-half months, in accordance with California's Government Code section 65858. During a public hearing just prior to approving the moratorium extension, council members heard from several local massage therapists who expressed support for cracking down on illegal activity, although one owner was critical of the effect she said the temporary ban has already had on her business...

Updated Jan. 24, 8:57 a.m.-- Citrus Heights police said officers shot a 52-year-old man in C-Bar-C Park Thursday night, after responding to a call from a relative who said the man had overdosed on prescription medication, had a handgun and was possibly suicidal...

You may have seen them out on patrol at Sunrise Mall already. They're the new, three-wheeled "Trikke Patroller" electric units -- the latest tech deployed by the Citrus Heights Police Department in an effort to minimize crime at the Mall. The light-weight, collapsible, quiet units are able to go up escalators or down a flight of stairs, and feature California-legal red and blue flashing lights and even a siren -- all for a cost of about $4,000 a piece, with civilian versions available starting around $1600. Officer Jeff Schouten, CHPD's full-time policeman handling Sunrise Mall, listed nearly a dozen benefits the Trikkes have, including speeding up officer response time and being great for public relations. "I want one... Where do I get one," are the repeated comments Officer Schouten said he receives from curious shoppers while he's out patrolling his "little city," as he calls the Mall. "You see the smile on their face when they see us [on the Trikkes]..."