A Victory for our Neighborhood

We've had a victory in our community. It has a bit of a back story.

At nearly 1:00 Am on June 21st, one of our community members was once again targeted by thugs for his efforts to help keep criminals out of our neighborhood. His household was awakened by two loud bangs.

On examination, he found an improvised explosive device made from a Simply Lemonade bottle. He was able to determine the basic composition of the bomb, but we won't repost here to avoid imitation.

A check of the security cameras the resident maintains showed the 4-door sedan turn onto Ione Street from Eastern Avenue, make a U-turn, and drop the bomb near his vehicle before speeding off southbound on Eastern.

This was a deliberate act of terror meant to intimidate a member of our neighborhood watch.

Videos were made available through the mailing list, but are not shared here to help protect the victim of the attacks.

Fortunately for us, these guys decided to try it again, but this time didn't get away. The press release is here: http://www.sacsheriff.com/media/0629_explosives.cfm

June 29, 2011

Two Arrested for Explosive Devices in Carmichael

Earlier this morning, Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men in connection with the explosion of a device at a private residence in Carmichael. Scott Barney and Phillip Fernandez, both 23 years old, were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail for charges including vandalism, conspiracy, possession of a destructive device, and felony child endangerment.

Just after midnight today, an audible alarm sounded at a home in the 4300 block of Vulcan Drive. The resident of the home also called the Sheriff’s Department, reporting what sounded like a loud explosion moments earlier. An additional call from a neighbor stated that he observed someone place an unknown object in the victim’s mailbox before getting into a vehicle that left the scene. The neighbor also reported hearing the explosion just after he witnessed the suspect place the object inside the mailbox.

Within ten minutes, a deputy observed a vehicle matching the description given by the witness at Arden Way and Eastern Avenue. An enforcement stop was conducted on the vehicle, which was occupied by suspects Barney and Fernandez, and two other juvenile males, ages 8 and 13. Inside the vehicle, deputies observed what appeared to be four plastic bottles with a white powdery substance inside. At that point, deputies detained the occupants of the vehicle, and initiated a call-out to the Sheriff’s Explosive Ordnance Detail (EOD).

EOD detectives responded and rendered the improvised devices safe. The two juveniles inside the suspect vehicle were determined not to be criminally liable, and were returned to the custody of adult relatives. In addition to the residence on Vulcan Drive, patrol deputies found another residence in the 1800 block of Saint Anne Court where a similar device had been placed inside a mailbox.

Barney and Fernandez are each being held on $1,000,000 bail and are expected to be arraigned later this week.

Deputy Jason Ramos,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Scott Barney (03/16/1988)

Phillip Fernandez (02/13/1988)