On 07/10/15, the El Dorado County Office of Emergency Services (OES) was contacted by Cal OES for mutual aid. Shasta County Sheriff’s Office was actively looking for a 6 month-old baby that might have been abducted and they needed additional personnel to continue the search.

El Dorado County OES, which is part of the Sheriff’s Office, notified their Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers Friday morning and got an immediate response. The volunteers were asked to drive to Redding California and search difficult terrain for up to three days. They knew before leaving that the search was possibly going to be a heart breaking recovery mission.

By the afternoon of the 10th, 20 SAR volunteers assembled and drove to Redding. The group was briefed and deployed in the field early Saturday morning. By the end of a long tiresome day in sometimes chest high starthistle and stickers, there was no sign of the baby girl. On Sunday (07/12), a second group of 18 El Dorado County SAR volunteers were once again assigned a search area. They too did not find the missing infant. By Sunday afternoon, El Dorado County SAR members were released to go home.

To date, the 6 month-old has not been found. The baby’s father is deceased after a shooting with law enforcement (see the press release from Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office) on Monday 07/13/15. The search continues.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office SAR volunteers responded at a moments notice and were the largest team in the field both Saturday and Sunday out of the eight or more counties that responded. This event showed once again how dedicated and motivated our volunteers are within El Dorado County. They served both days with distinction and pride. Sheriff D’Agostini would like to thank each member for their selfless dedication and utmost professionalism in trying to find the missing little girl.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

On 07/06/15 at about 12:15 PM, deputies responded to the Bank of America off Missouri Flat Road regarding suspicious activity. It was reported that two African American Adults, one male and the other female, were possibly “shoulder surfing” bank customers at the ATM. Shoulder surfing is where criminals attempt to see a potential victim’s PIN number while they are using the teller machines.

In the parking lot, deputies contacted the subjects. One gave an address of San Francisco and the other Vallejo. Both subjects matched the description of a Fraud Alert Bulletin that was distributed by the Bank. There had been similar reports of the same individuals shoulder surfing in Rocklin and Grass Valley. After reviewing the local ATM video, deputies were unable to confirm if a crime had occurred here and released them. Their identifying information however will be shared with other law enforcement agencies to aid with on-going investigations.

Anyone using an ATM is advised to use caution. Do not use an ATM or enter your personal identification number if someone is loitering nearby. If you see anyone acting strangely or lingering around an ATM, please contact your local law enforcement.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

On 07/05/15 at about 10:40 AM, deputies went to a residence in the 5300 block of Union Mine Road in El Dorado to do a probation search. Outside of the home, 47 year-old Holly Moore of Fair Oaks and 32 year-old Benjamin Patterson were contacted. Patterson was found to be in possession of heroin and a hypodermic needle and syringe. Three other adults were temporarily detained.

Inside the house deputies contacted 26 year-old Matthew Davis, 22 year-old Courtney Boyer, 23 year-old Toby Piearcy, and two children ages 1 and 4. Piearcy was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant for his arrest. One other male adult was also detained. Searching the house, a 17 year-old female juvenile was found hiding in a back room.

In the living room, deputies located an unzipped bag with a hypodermic needle sticking out. More hypodermic needles and syringes were found in the bag; some had been used and still contained a brown tar like residue that appeared to be heroin. Due to the condition of the house and the many dangerous objects that were accessible to the children inside the home, CPS was called-in to assist.

Deputies arrested Courtney Boyer for child endangerment. She is still in custody on a no bail hold. Child endangerment charges were added to Toby Piearcy’s warrant arrest and he is in custody on $42,000.00 bail. Matthew Davis was arrested for disobeying a peace officer and was later released on $13,000.00 bond. Holly Moore and Benjamin Patterson were both arrested on outstanding warrants and Benjamin Patterson received extra charges for possession of narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia. Patterson was released from jail on a $15,500.00 bond. The 17 year-old female was turned over to an adult.

Anyone knowing or suspect a child or children are living in a dangerous or an illegal drug environment is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement. You may be saving a child’s life.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

Booking photo of Courtney Boyer

Booking photo of Toby Piearcy

Booking photo of Matthew Davis

Booking photo of Holly Moore

Booking photo of Benjamin Patterson