Regional Roundup

It's usually not a good idea to fire a gun while stumbling drunkenly down a Lodi street.

That allegation is what landed 21-year-old Derek Richard Azevedo behind bars Sunday morning after police found him on Harney Lane.

Police were called at 5:32 a.m., when a citizen reported that a stumbling man in a red sweatshirt had fired several shots near Winchester Drive.

Officers arrived and detained Azevedo at gunpoint, Lt. Virgil Monroe said, after reviewing a report on the matter. Police found a handgun and several casings on the ground, not far from a bicycle, Monroe said.

A very intoxicated Azevedo cooperated with officers and denied shooting the .22-caliber handgun, Monroe said. Police conducted a gunshot residue test on Azevedo's hands, which tested for having recently fired a gun, Monroe said.

Azevedo, who lives near where he was arrested, was booked into jail on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm and public intoxication.

Police do not believe anybody was a target of gunfire, and think that the gun was fired into the sky, Monroe said. The gun had not been reported stolen but also had no listed owner when police tried to check records on its serial number.

False carjacking report leads to arrest

A Lodi woman who said she'd been carjacked Saturday was instead arrested when police later determined that she knew her car had been repossessed.

Jennifer Morring, 35, reported to police at 3:41 p.m. that she'd been carjacked at Ace Hardware, 872 W. Kettleman Lane, according to Lodi police.

She described a female woman with a ponytail, who threw Morring out of her car, took the car keys and drove away. Morring allegedly told police the woman, along with another suspect, then drove away in her dark blue 2006 Dodge Charger, which had 22-inch chrome wheels.

But then police found out that Morring's car had actually been repossessed. Officers talked to the repossessing company, and soon learned that they had even talked to Morring before taking the car away, according to police.

Morring was arrested on suspicion of filing a false police report, a misdemeanor.

Farmer water efficiency workshop to be held

A free workshop to educate growers on water efficiency will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Pietro's Italian Restaurant, 317 E. Kettleman Lane, Lodi.

The workshop will be conducted by PureSense, which provides irrigation and nutrient monitoring and management services. For more information, call (888) 882-PURE or visit www.puresense.com.

Mayor to give state of the city speech Thursday

Lodi Mayor JoAnne Mounce will deliver her state of the city speech during a luncheon hosted by the Lodi Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets to the event cost $25 and will not be available for purchase at the door. To buy tickets, contact Karen Cannon at 367-7840, ext. 100.

The mayoral state of the city speech is an annual tradition in which Lodi's mayor discusses the successes and challenges facing the city in the past year and in the future.

The lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Crete Hall, Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins St.

Report on Contreras' death on WID agenda

The Woodbridge Irrigation District board will hear a report about the accident that killed employee Antonio Contreras at Thursday's board meeting.

Contreras, 55, drowned in an irrigation canal on Oct. 16.

The board will also hear a report on the updated injury and illness prevention program and an East Bay Municipal Utility District hydrology report.

Thursday's board meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the district office, 18777 N. Lower Sacramento Road, Woodbridge.

Copper thieves cause phone outage

About 350 Acampo residents had no telephone service Tuesday because someone cut a line while trying to steal copper wire.

The damage was estimated at $10,000 and telephone service was not expected to be restored until late last night.

Around 4:30 a.m. AT&T received an alarm call that wire had been cut at Bruella and Orchard roads, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.

The wire was still hanging from a pole, so investigators believe someone must have scared off those trying to steal the wire. Nobody has been arrested.

Thieves often target wire in hopes of recycling the copper for a small amount of cash. They steal everything from brass cemetery urns to railroad crossing arms.

Sanitary board to review financial statements

The Woodbridge Sanitary District board will review a draft of financial statements for the 2007-08 fiscal year at Wednesday's board meeting.

The board will also discuss possible opportunities for using alternative energy and consider authorizing a survey of the eastern boundary of the district's wastewater plant to determine the property line, bids to install monitoring wells and authorizing the general manager to make purchases up to $5,000.

In other action, the board will consider recommendations about the Lodi Elks Lodge's sewer charge and office-storage room expansion, accept a donation from Winwood Estates Developers to install concrete sludge drying beds and consider an increase in board members' compensation.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the portable classroom behind the Woodbridge fire station, 400 E. Augusta St.

Thanksgiving mishap stories sought

Have you ever forgetten an ingredient in a Thanksgiving dish? How about undercooking the turkey? Or maybe the cat suddenly got your tongue when it was time for the blessing. If you have any Thanksgiving faux pas stories, we'd like to hear from you for an upcoming story. Mishap stories may be sent to Pam Bauserman at pamelab@lodinews.com or to P.O. Box 1360, Lodi, CA 95241.

Reader Feedback

edumacation wrote on Nov 12, 2008 7:15 PM:

" To T & C: I keep reading your posts about all the vagrants, drunks, and loiters as well as the illegal narcotic distribution sales network across from 10 S Main street. Why should any police officer leave the peace and quiet of the Police admin building to deal with these reprobates? Why should patrol cars pull away from the donut stands when they can munch on their snacks and be left alone? I'll ask a GOB friend to call Jerry, Larry or King "legumes" Bob. "

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T & C wrote on Nov 12, 2008 4:10 PM:

" There's a VERY GOOD REASON drunks are LOITERING "ACROSS" the street from 10 S. Main Strett EVERY DAY! If they're LOITERING ACROSS from 10 S. Main street "They are placing their 40 ounce beers at 10 S. Main Street so they do not have "Open Containers" where they are standing! When they are LOITERING at 10 S. Main Street, their 40 Ounce Beer is placed by the Cherry plant fence! You see they are playing "Cat and Mouse" with the Police and getting away with drinking in public, knowing LPD is just too pre-occupied to deal with the SEVEN DAY A WEEK Loitering and drinking between Pine and Oak Street. We may be poor and choose to live in these old hotels, but we don't like drunks on our street seven days a week! Bottom line is we can do nothing! After the non-emergency LPD# 333-7974 goes home, 911 will not respond because they say "Drinking in public" is "Not an Emergency"! People in support of the homeless think they NEED our help! Sorry but they are very "SAVVY as to how to get around the law and drink in public! "

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