On March 18, 2026, Kern County Sheriff's Office deputies from the Taft...

On March 18, 2026, Kern County Sheriff's Office deputies from the Taft Substation and detectives with the Rural Crimes Investigation Unit (RCIU), with assistance from the Probation Department, conducted a warrant sweep in the Taft and Maricopa areas targeting individuals with outstanding arrest warrants. During the operation, JOSHUA GREEN (37), JAIME BAXTOR (34), and BRANDEN CLARK (37) were arrested on outstanding felony warrants.

A search warrant was also executed in the 400 block of Monteview Avenue in Taft. LAURENTINO GARCIA HERNANDEZ (25), ISAIAS TORRES-TORRES (25), MIGUEL ANGEL LLAMAS (27), and CIRILO SANDOVAL HERNANDEZ (35) were arrested for violations of PC 496a(a) (receiving/possessing copper wire), PC 496(a) (receiving/possessing known stolen property), PC 466 (possession of burglary tools), and PC 182(a)(1) (conspiracy to commit a crime), in addition to their outstanding warrants.

RCIU detectives seized approximately 100 pounds of industrial-grade copper wire and six ceramic industrial fuses belonging to PG&E. All suspects were later booked into the Lerdo jail facility.