April 21, 2022 - Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies had a busy Wednesday night with four separate felony arrests.
Those taken into custody have been identified as follows:
1.) Craig Jorgensen, 58, of Turlock
2.) Joseph Brown, 24, of Modesto
3.) James Blink, 52, of Modesto
4.) Kyle Luz, 26, of Turlock
The first incident took place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 8:14 p.m. in the area of Iowa Avenue and 8th Street in Riverbank. A deputy assigned to primarily traffic enforcement duties attempted to stop the driver of a Honda Accord for expired registration and driving at unsafe speeds. The Honda Accord fled instead of pulling over as the deputy tried to conduct a traffic enforcement stop.
A vehicle pursuit ensued but had to be terminated near Claus & Plainview Roads in Modesto as speeds became too dangerous. The driver ran multiple stop signs, drove at nearly 100 miles-per-hour, and disregarded all public safety for nearly 2 1/2 miles. Our Air 101 helicopter happened to be available and was able to assist with locating the car as it parked near an apartment complex in the 400 block of “B” St in Empire.
The Air Support Unit was able to direct ground units to the apartment complex, where Joseph Brown was located and determined to be the driver of the Honda Accord. He was on active probation for a previous auto theft conviction and did not have a valid California driver’s license.
Brown later admitted to his involvement in the traffic pursuit and was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for felony evasion & probation violation, as well as misdemeanor driving while unlicensed. His bail was set at $150,000.
In the second incident, at about 11:30 p.m., we were asked to assist Merced County S/O with locating an armed robbery suspect in the 1000 block of N Golden State Boulevard in Turlock. An alert patrol deputy was able to locate and identify Kyle Luz as the person matching the given physical and clothing descriptions. We will be directing any further questions about the robbery in their jurisdiction to the Merced Co. Sheriff’s Office.
A discarded firearm was also located in a garbage can near the area of the arrest, and Luz was turned over to Merced County to further their investigation. Detectives are still looking into his possible involvement in robberies out of both counties.
The Luz arrest was made without incident due to the help from our K-9-unit, patrol deputies, and the Air 101 helicopter hovering overhead providing perspective from above. While we were working the perimeter trying to locate the robbery suspect, at 12:04 a.m. early Thursday morning, pilots and tactical flight officers reported multiple strikes in the cockpit with a green laser pointer.
Our Air Support Unit was able to locate where the lasers were coming from in the 900 block of Chestnut St. in Turlock. They directed ground units to a residence where Craig Jorgensen lives. The laser pointer was retrieved, and Jorgensen was booked into the PSC for dangerously pointing a laser pointer at flying aircraft. His bail was set at $1,000.
In the fourth and final incident of the night, deputies were dispatched to a shots fired call at a closed, legal marijuana dispensary in the 200 block of Daly Avenue in Modesto. The first 911 call was received at 5:45 a.m. during the early morning hours of April 21st. James Blink, who is the CEO of the Trans Cannabis Holding, confronted a man and woman sitting alone in a parked vehicle. Blink was accompanied by one other acquaintance at the time.
Due to being burglarized in recent days, Blink began to engage the couple in conversation to investigate further on his own. The conversation turned into an argument, at which time Blink allegedly discharged a firearm into the car several times. Nobody was injured during the altercation; however, the vehicle was struck in the process.
It turns out the victim’s car had nothing to with the other previous marijuana dispensary burglaries. Blink was arrested and booked into the Public Safety Center for assault with a deadly weapon (firearm), as well as shooting at an inhabited vehicle. He was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Tipsters can call either Sgt. Dias at 209-226-5206 or Det. Silva at 209-226-8467 with added information to share.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office
