Crime · Fresno, CA
A Placer County jury convicted Paige Grant McQuay, a former Fresno police sergeant, of attempted lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 and communicating with a minor to commit an unlawful sexual offense. McQuay was arrested Sept. 18, 2024, in Fresno during a Roseville Police Department sting operation targeting adults seeking sexual activity with children online, which led to 19 felony arrests. He had served the Fresno Police Department since 1993 and supervised about 15 officers in its northeast policing district at the time of his arrest. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 9 in Auburn, and McQuay remains in custody.
Community News · Fresno, CA
More than 1,000 residents gathered in Fresno near Fashion Fair Mall on Shaw Avenue and along the Clovis Old Town Trail on Saturday, October 17, for the fourth nationwide wave of "No Kings" demonstrations. Organized by Central Valley Indivisible, the rallies focused on voter turnout ahead of midterm elections while protesting increased ICE operations in the region since early October. At least 10 similar demonstrations took place across the Central Valley, including in Merced, Madera, and Visalia, joining over 3,000 rallies nationwide. Fresno-area Congressman Jim Costa attended the local rally, where attendees raised concerns about accountability, affordability, and the Iran war.
Public Safety · Fresno County
A roundup published Oct. 17 details four deaths during outdoor recreation in the Sierra Nevada affecting Central Valley residents: Brian Seibert, 54, fell from a cliff band on Mount Morgan near Bishop (Mono County) on Oct. 4-6; Kalem Peter Kazarian, 52, of Fowler, died while hiking Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park on Oct. 4; Mammoth Lakes climber Jacob Whisenant, 30, died Aug. 2 in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness; and a paraglider crashed into terrain on Burrough Mountain in eastern Fresno County on May 31. Search-and-rescue operations involved Mono County Sheriff SAR, Inyo County SAR, Cal Fire, CHP helicopters, and the California National Guard across multiple multi-day recoveries. Authorities had not determined cause of death for Kazarian or the paraglider as of Oct. 9. The article notes recurring risk factors including exposed descents on loose rock, solo travel at altitude, late starts, and icy conditions.
Public Safety · Fresno County
The prescribed fire known as Grant Grove Fall began on October 11 at 5 p.m. in Fresno County, California. The controlled burn is taking place on federal land managed by the National Park Service. As of the October 17 update, the fire has been burning for six days as part of a wildfire prevention strategy.
Public Safety · Fresno County
A wildfire named Pebble Fire was first discovered at 10:43 p.m. on Oct. 17, burning on private land in Fresno County, California. As of the report's publication that evening, no containment data was available and the cause had not been determined. The information was sourced from the National Interagency Fire Center.
