Archive By Author - Jim Holt
SCV saw increase in public suicides
On the morning of July 18, when residents of a Valencia apartment complex looked out their windows and saw a man hanging from a tree in their shared garden, they witnessed a sad and disturbing trend that unfolded in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2012.
CORRECTION: Year in review: Heroin-related deaths rose locally in 2012
In a year that began with civic leaders rallying to fight heroin and stop a tragic number of young people dying from the deadly narcotic, the number of local deaths blamed on heroin rose steadily.
Year in Review: Year marred by crashes on one ‘dangerous’ stretch
The Santa Clarita Valley saw hundreds of traffic collisions in 2012 but only one stretch of roadway was actually deemed "dangerous" after emergency crews responded to a 19-car pileup on southbound Highway 14 near Escondido Canyon road, in Acton.
Year in review: Court cases slowly move through system amid cuts
Justice served for crimes committed in the Santa Clarita Valley is expected to be a lot slower, in fewer locations and with a lot less hired help in the new year, court officials report.
Year in Review: Speed a common factor in fatal crashes
If local traffic collisions this past year could be summed up in two words, they would have to be: speed kills.
Castaic Lake Water Agency expected to close purchase of Valencia Water Co.
The Castaic Lake Water Agency is expected to close a deal Friday to buy the Valencia Water Co. from Newhall Land Development Inc.
Santa Clarita to fight fine over chloride levels
The City of Santa Clarita is fighting a $280,250 water fine over chloride levels handed to the local sanitation district by state water quality assessors last month.
Castaic killer sent to state mental hospital
A Castaic man who strangled his stepfather while the two were traveling on Interstate 5 and who was determined to be not guilty by reason of insanity Tuesday has been sentenced to a state mental hospital, a court official confirmed.
Convicted driver to undergo 90-day review
A 68-year-old man who entered a plea of no contest Tuesday to the felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident has been ordered to undergo a 90-day review in state prison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed.
Crash blamed on falling asleep
Falling asleep at the wheel is suspected in a single-car rollover crash early Thursday morning that left one man slightly injured, a local sheriff's sergeant said.
Athlete survives crash
Dean Hendrix-Davis, captain of the basketball team at Canyon High School, said Wednesday he remembers driving through a roadside fence but recalls nothing about his 50-foot plunge down an embankment.
Man committed to state mental hospital following wild chase
A Chatsworth man accused of leading deputies on a wild high-speed chase through Santa Clarita two years ago has been committed to a state mental hospital, court papers show.
UPDATE: High wind warning issued for Santa Clarita Valley
It was a blustery day in the Santa Clarita Valley Tuesday and weather specialists were calling for a blustery night to follow.
UPDATE: Newhall Bicycle Company calling it quits
After years of spearheading what has become the Santa Clarita Valley's biggest community event and annual street party at Thanksgiving, the owners of the Newhall Bicycle Company are throwing in the towel on their business.
Due to insanity, Castaic man found not guilty of strangling stepfather
A Castaic man who strangled his stepfather while the two were traveling on Interstate 5 was determined to be not guilty by reason of insanity on Tuesday, a court official confirmed.
Articles By Author - Jim Holt
Chess players compete for championship
There was a beach party at the Hyatt Regency Valencia this weekend and partygoers brought their own boards - chess boards that is.
Motorcyclist taken to hospital after crash
A motorcyclist was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon following a traffic collision in Canyon Country.
Suspect arrested in blond scammer thefts
A woman suspected of being the blond scammer for allegedly stalking other women at grocery stores, stealing their wallets and then using their IDs to obtain cash or expensive jewelry has been arrested, a local sheriff's spokesman said.
Driver unhurt as car rolls over
A motorist rolled his car several times Thursday after he reportedly pulled onto the gravel shoulder to let a "tailgater" pass on San Francisquito Canyon Road, said a man who towed the wrecked car from the crash site.
UPDATE: Woman returned from Oregon to face charges of killing mother
A former Saugus High School student was in jail in Van Nuys Wednesday accused of murdering her mother after homicide detectives brought her back from Oregon, said the detective in charge of the case.
Attacker sought in Canyon Country condo assault
Despite an arrest made in last week's attack of a woman inside her condo complex garage in Canyon Country, local sheriff's deputies are still looking for a second man wanted for a similar attack on a woman nearly a year ago at the same complex, a local sheriff's spokesman said Wednesday.
Canyon Country man sentenced to 14 years in extortion case
A Canyon Country man who shot up the American Beauty condo complex with a machine gun eight years ago pleaded guilty to five criminal counts in a more recent series of offenses, including two counts of felony battery on a peace officer and three counts of extortion, a deputy district attorney said Wednesday.
Trial delayed for pair charged in shotgun holdup
Trial was put off until March today for a couple who allegedly held up a Valencia home-improvement store with a shotgun last September, a court clerk said.
1 injured in Bouquet Canyon head-on collision
One person was rushed to the hospital with undisclosed injuries this morning following a head-on collision in Saugus, according to emergency response officials.
Turkish man charged in Valencia crash is working a deal
A 20-year-old Turkish man charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for a car crash last summer that killed a young Turkish woman was represented in court today by a lawyer trying to work out a deal for him.
UPDATE: Valencia woman confronts burglars
Two burglars, one brandishing a crowbar, startled a Valencia resident today when they tried to break into her home in an attempted "hot prowl" burglary, a local sheriff's spokesman said.
Newhall man arrested after woman attacked in her garage
A 25-year-old Newhall construction worker is in custody Tuesday facing assault charges after he allegedly attacked a woman in her garage in Canyon Country last week, a local sheriff's spokesman said.
Preliminary hearing ordered in Saugus murder case
A preliminary hearing has been ordered for a 41-year-old man charged with murder in the death of his Saugus girlfriend 18 months ago, a court clerk said Tuesday.
Plea deal pending in summertime fatal crash
A 20-year-old Turkish man charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for a car crash last summer that killed a young Turkish woman was represented in court today by a lawyer trying to work out a deal for him.
Valencia resident confronts burglars
Two burglars, one brandishing a crowbar, startled a Valencia resident today when they tried to break into her home in an attempted "hot prowl" burglary, a local sheriff's spokesman said.
