News releases

Bishop Police Department

Crime/Offense :
Penal Code Section 487(A) – Grand Theft in excess of $950.00; Penal Code Section 503 – Embezzlement in excess of $950.00; and Penal Code Section 476(A)(B) – Fraudulent check.
Suspect(s) :

Shannon Dora Brosseau This Press Release follows our Police Activity push on our phone app and on FB yesterday regarding the arrest.

In August 2018, the Bishop Police Department was contacted by the general manager of the Vagabond Inn, who reported the embezzlement. The GM’s internal investigation tended to show the site manager, Shannon Brosseau, had taken cash and misused the business credit card as well.

BPD investigated, which included others having the same access, and ultimately determined probable cause that Brosseau was responsible for an amount in excess of $11,000.00. An arrest warrant was obtained on February 13th. BPD began searching for the 35-year-old suspect from nearby Rovana and soon gained contact with her via phone. Brosseau subsequently surrendered herself at the Bishop Police Department.

Brosseau has been charged with Penal Code Section 487(A) – Grand Theft in excess of $950.00; Penal Code Section 503 – Embezzlement in excess of $950.00; and Penal Code Section 476(A)(B) – Fraudulent check. Brosseau was transported and booked into the Inyo County Jail shortly after the arrest yesterday.

Summary :
Although an arrest has been made, the investigation remains open. Anyone having relevant information about this crime or the suspect is encouraged to contact BPD at (760) 873-5866. …

Mammoth Lakes Police Department

Mammoth Lakes, CA – On 2/12/19 at approximately 0726 hours, Mammoth Lakes Police Department Officers were dispatched to a local business, located at 3203 Main Street, after receiving a report of “Someone throwing shovels at cars.”

Upon arrival at the location, Officers saw a male adult running from the rear of the business to the front parking lot. Officers attempted to contact the male who was subsequently identified as 27 year old Jose Lugo Cortez. Mr. Cortez immediately became verbally aggressive. It appeared to Officers that Cortez may be under the influence of a controlled substance.

As Officers approached Cortez, he took an aggressive fighting stance with fists in the air while dancing around. One Officer stopped in front of Cortez in an effort to talk with him, Cortez immediately kicked the Officer with his right foot in the chest and rib area and proceeded to run west on the south frontage road of Main Street. Officers gave chase while ordering Cortez to stop, but Cortez ran across Main Street and into traffic coming from both directions. Then he turned and ran south onto Mono Street.

Officers caught up with Cortez on Mono Street and ordered him to the ground. As Officers attempted to handcuff Cortez, he resisted and tried to escape. Officers and Cortez fell onto the ice-covered street surface, causing Cortez to hit his mouth. Officers were able place Cortez under arrest, put him in the police vehicle and transport him to the Mammoth Hospital Emergency Room.

As Officers attempted to escort Cortez into the hospital, he broke free and ran toward the south parking lot of the hospital, Officers gave chase, reached Cortez and due to the icy conditions, one Officer and Cortez fell on to the ground. The Officer sustained injury to his left side, knee and shoulder.

Officers escorted Cortez into the Emergency Room and placed him in soft restraints due to his combative and unpredictable behavior, Cortez was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance/stimulant.

Once Cortez was medically cleared, he was transported to the Mono County Jail where he was booked under 69 PC “Resisting an Executive Officer” and 148 (a) (1) PC “Resisting Arrest”. An additional charge of 594 (b) (1) PC “Vandalism”, was added to Cortez for damage sustained to a Jeep Wrangler at the original location of the incident.
The injured Mammoth Lakes Police Department Officer was admitted to the Emergency Room where he found to have minor abrasions and injuries.

California Highway Patrol

On February 11, 2019 at approximately 7:20 PM, Jose Ayla-Serrano of Los Angeles, CA, was driving a Freightliner semi truck southbound along Highway 395 approaching the Fort Independence Travel Plaza.

At the same time, Karen Schartz of Independence, CA, was driving a red Ford Fusion, exiting the Fort Independence Travel Plaza parking lot. Schwartz failed to stop at a posted stop sign near Highway 395 and drove directly into the path of the semi truck.

The semi-truck collided into the left side of the Ford Fusion, causing major injuries to Schwartz. Personnel from the Fort Independence Volunteer Fire Department, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, District 9 Caltrans, and CHP responded to the collision scene.

During CHP’s investigation, it was determined Schwartz was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision and she was placed under arrest for DUI. Schwartz was initially transported to Southern Inyo Hospital but due to the seriousness of her injuries, she was flown to Renown Hospital in Reno, NV.