Regional Roundup

Man heading to trial for patrol car theft, pursuit

A man accused of leading Lodi police on a pursuit, then stealing a patrol car and starting a second pursuit will stand trial, a judge ruled Friday.

Erving Jeovanny Martinez, 23, of Antioch, remains in the San Joaquin County Jail on $270,000 bail and will be arraigned in court Sept. 12, according to court records.

After a preliminary hearing that started Thursday afternoon and concluded Friday, Judge Bob McNatt ruled that there was enough evidence for Martinez to stand trial on a number of felony charges.

Martinez was arrested June 17 after allegedly stealing a large amount of liquor from Safeway on Lower Sacramento Road, then fleeing from a police officer who happened to be in the area.

The high-speed pursuit ended on Hammer Lane in Stockton, where Martinez's car broke down in a parking lot and he barreled over a police officer who had gotten out of his patrol car to detain Martinez. He fled in the police car, heading west over curbs and briefly driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 until the car's tire blew, police said at the time.

Martinez was arrested inside a Stockton home and charged with battery on a peace officer, assault on a peace officer with the vehicle, grand theft of the firearms in the patrol car, vehicle theft, burglary of Safeway, evading police, hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license.

No trial date has been set yet.

Lodi Lake Beach to close Monday

The public swimming season will end at Lodi Lake Beach on Monday. The beach will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the final weekend of the season.

The Blakely Park pool has already closed for the season.

Fuhs reappointed to parks commission

Acampo resident Mary Fuhs has been reappointed to the San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Commission. The seven-member board also includes Arne Aasen, of Lodi, and Gersh Rosen, of Victor. The commission, which advises the Board of Supervisors on park and recreation issues, meets at 5:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each months at Micke Grove Park.

Inspectors out today on heat safety checks

Workplace inspectors will begin checking on farm laborers as temperatures reach triple digits in parts of the San Joaquin Valley.

Investigators with the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health announced they will check on work sites in Fresno, Napa, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Stanislaus and Yolo counties Friday.

So far this year, three farm laborers — including one from Lodi — and an oil worker have been confirmed dead as a direct result of heat exposure.