23ABC News at 6 p.m. | Top Stories for January 6, 2020

23ABC News at 6 p.m. | Top Stories for January 6, 2020

NEWS AT SIX-- I'M JESSICAHARRINGTON.TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES..THE FIGHT TO KEEP OTHER DRIVERSAND PEOPLE SAFEFROM STREET RACERS INBAKERSFIELD -- AN IN-DEPTH LOOKATTHE EFFORTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAYBY BAKERSFIELDPOLICE...AND -- THE FINAL WEEK FOR CITYMANAGER ALAN TANDY -- HOW THECITY COUNCIL PLANS TO HONORHIM...ALLISON???23ABC NEWS AT SIX STARTS RIGHTNOW...SINCE NOVEMBER THE BAKERSFIELDPOLICE DEPARTMENT HASISSUED OVER 40 CITATIONS ANDIMPOUNDED MORE THAN A DOZENVEHICLES RELATED TO STREETRACING......AND THE AGENCY SAYS THEY'REJUST GETTINGSTARTED.

23ABC'S AUSTINWESTFALL JOINS US IN SOUTHWESTBAKERSFIELD WITH WHAT CITYOFFICIALS PLAN TO DO NEXT INTHEIR ONGOING EFFORT TO STOPSTREET RACING.

AUSTIN?JESSICA, POLICE SAY THERE AREMULTIPLE HOT SPOTS FORSTREET RACING AROUND TOWN,INCLUDING THIS KOHL'S PARKINGLOT IN SOUTHWEST BAKERSFIELD OFFGOSFORD STREET.THESE ARE THE KIND OF MARKS LEFTBEHIND BY CARS DOINGDONUTS -- ONE OF MANY DANGEROUSACTIVITIES THAT BPD IS CRACKINGDOWN ON."SINCE LATE NOVEMBER GOING TONOW WE'VE STOPPED OVER 55 CARS,HAD OVER 44 CITES, 14 IMPOUNDS,HAD A DUITHAT WAS IN THERE, AS WELL AS AFELONY WARRANT SUSPECT WHO WASLOCATED INTHESE STOPS."THE BAKERSFIELD POLICEDEPARTMENT SAYS ITS BEENCRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL STREETRACING FOR OVER AMONTH NOW...JUST THIS PASTWEEKEND ACCOUNTING FOR 18CITATIONS AND 3 VEHICLE IMPOUNDSALONE.BPD SAYS THE CRACKDOWN INCLUDESTHOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY RACING ONCITY STREETS...AND GROUPS WHOMEET UP IN LARGE PARKING LOTS TORACE AND DO DONUTS.

AND POLICESAY THE CRACKDOWN WON'T ENDTHERE, CITY OFFICIALS WILL SOONBE HOLDING A COMMUNITY FORUM TODISCUSS THE ISSUE, COUNCILMEMBERCHRIS PARLIERBEING ONE OF THE VOICES PUSHINGFOR IT."WHEN YOU'RE OUT DOING IT ON AROADWAY WITH NORMAL FOLKS JUSTOUT THERE DRIVING, TRYING TO GETTOWHERE THEY'RE GOING, IT CREATESA REAL HAZARD.

UNFORTUNATELYTHATCREATED A DEATH IN OUR COMMUNITYAND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ITHAPPEN AGAIN."IN NOVEMBER, 57-YEAR-OLD MARIANAVARO WAS KILLED, ANDHER TWO GRANDCHILDRENHOSPITALIZED, AFTER POLICE SAYTHEY WERE INNOCENT BYSTANDERSCAUGHT UP IN ASTREET RACING CRASH.

TWO MENWERE ARRESTED AND HAVE BEENCHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THEINCIDENT.

PARLIERSAYS THE UPCOMING COMMUNITYFORUM WILL GIVETHE POLICE A CHANCE TO UPDATETHE PUBLIC ABOUTTHEIR CRACKDOWN, AND THE PUBLICA CHANCE TO GIVETHEIR OPINIONS ABOUT STREETRACING."BUT ALSO COMMUNICATING WITHOUR STAKEHOLDERS AND PRIVATEPROPERTY OWNERS THAT OWN THESHOPPING CENTERS TO HAVE THEMCOME TO THE TABLE AND DEPLOYTOOLS WITHUS TO HELP MITIGATE THEPROBLEM."PARLIER SAYS STREET RACERSTHEMSELVES ARE INVITED AS WELL.MEANWHILE, POLICE SAYS THEY HAVEMORE STREET RACINGUS TO HELP MITIGATE THEPROBLEM."PARLIER SAYS STREET RACERSTHEMSELVES ARE INVITED AS WELL.MEANWHILE, POLICE SAYS THEY HAVEMORE STREET RACINGENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS COMING UPIN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS."WE'RE LOOKING AT INSTALLINGSOMEDIFFERENT INFRASTRUCTURE,POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT SOMECAMERAS TOGO IN SOME OF THESE PARKINGLOTS, WORKING WITH SOME OF THESEBUSINESSOWNERS TO CHANGE SOME OF THEINFRASTRUCTURE AND THE LAYOUTTHATWOULD MAKE THIS NOT CONDUCIVE TOSTREET RACING ACTIVITY."BPD IS WORKING TO NAIL DOWN ANEXACT DATE FOR THE COMMUNITYFORUM, BUT THEY SAY IT SHOULDTAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT COUPLEWEEKS.

FOR NOW IN SOUTHWESTBAKERSFIELD AUSTIN WESTFALL23ABC CONNECTING YOU.THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICEIS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP INFINDING TWO MISSING RUNAWAYS --THEIR CASES ARENOT CONNECTED...KCSO IS TRYING TO FIND 16-YEAR-OLD XAVIER FISHER.

HE WASLAST HEARD FROM ON JULY 27TH OFLAST YEAR IN BAKERSFIELD.HE IS DESCRIBED AS ABOUT SIX-FEET TALL, WEIGHING 150POUNDS, WITH BROWN HAIR ANDBROWN EYES.K-C-S-O IS ALSO LOOKING FOR 17-YEAR-OLD DESTINY YELLAND.SHE WAS LAST SEEN LAST MONTH ONDECEMBER 10TH INBAKERSFIELD.SHE IS DESCRIBED AS BEING ABOUTFIVE-FEET-TWOINCHES TALL, WEIGHING ABOUT 115POUNDS WITH BROWN HAIR ANDEYES.ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN EITHER ONEOF THESE MISSING TEENS IS ASKEDTO CALL K-C-S-O AT 8-6-1 --31-10.JOSE VELASQUEZ, THE MANSUSPECTED OF SHOOTING ANDKILLING A MAN IN SOUTHEASTBAKERSFIELD LAST MONTH,PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES OFSECOND-DEGREEMURDER AND RECKLESS DISCHARGE OFA FIREARM...49-YEAR-OLD VELASQUEZ WAS INCOURT MONDAY AFTERNOON FORFELONY ARRAIGNMENT.DEPUTIES ARRESTED VALESQUEZ LASTMONTH FOR THESHOOTING OF 19-YEAR-OLD NICHOLASVILLARREAL.ACCORDING TO THE KERN COUNTYSHERIFF'S OFFICE, DEPUTIESRESPONDED TO A DISTURBANCE CALLNEAR CHATTAHOOCHEELANE AND MISSOURI AVENUE AT11:49 A.M.

ON DEC.

29, 2019.WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY FOUNDVILLARREAL WITH MULTIPLE GUNSHOTWOUNDS.

HE WAS PRONOUNCEDDEAD AT THE SCENE.VELASQUEZ IS DUE BACK IN COURTON JANUARY 17THFOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING.NEW DETAILS TONIGHT -- THE KERNCOUNTY CORONER HASIDENTIFIED THE MAN FOUND STABBEDTO DEATH IN CENTRALBAKERSFIELD...ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS -- 38-YEAR-OLD DONTAE MAURICE LEE WASTHE PERSON FOUND JUST BEFORE ONEA-M ON SATURDAY,JANUARY 4TH.ACCORDING TO B-P-D OFFICIALS --OFFICERS ARRIVED ONSCENE AFTER REPORTS OF A MANDOWN ON 30TH STREET,NEAR JEWETT AVENUE -- JUST NORTHOF GOLDEN STATEAVENUE.THEY FOUND DONTAE LEE DECEASEDFROM APPARENT STABWOUNDS -- AND BEGAN A SUSPICIOUSDEATHINVESTIGATION.NO SUSPECT INFORMATION HAS BEENRELEASED -- BUT ANYONE WHOMAY KNOW OR MAY HAVE SAWSOMETHING -- IS ASKED TO CALLPOLICE AT 3-2-7 -- 71 --11.NEW DEVELOPMENTS TONIGHT -- THISWEEK WILL MARKTHE FINAL WEEK THAT ALAN TANDYWILL SERVE AS THE CITYMANAGER OF BAKERSFIELD...TANDY ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENTLAST YEAR --ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO BE OUT OFOFFICE LAST MONTH --BUT DECIDED TO POSTPONE IT TOHELP WITH THE TRANSITION OFRABOBANK INTO MECHANICS BANK ANDSOME WORK ON VARIOUSHOMELESS INITIATIVES -- TANDYPOSTPONED HISFINAL DAY TO THIS FRIDAY --JANUARY 10TH.CITY COUNCILMEMBER CHRIS PARLIERSPEAKING TO US --ABOUT THE COUNCIL'S PLANS TOHONOR TANDY DURING HIS FINALCOUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAYAND GIVING AN UPDATE ON THEIRSEARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT..."ALAN TANDY HAS DONE A FANTASTICJOBFOR THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD FORTHE LAST 27 YEARS.

THISWEDNESDAY AT OURCITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE AREGOING TO HAVE A GREAT SEND OFFFOR HIM.

WE WILL CELEBRATE HIMAND ALL HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.""WE ARE CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS ONTHE13TH AND 14TH OF JANUARY, FOR ANEW CITY MANAGER.

HOPEFULLY, WEHAVE A GOOD CANDIDATE THAT RISESTO THE TOP.

I JUST BELIEVETHERE'S BEEN A LOT PF POSITIVETHINGS HAPPENING FOR THE CITY OFBAKERSFIELD AND THIS IS JUST ANEW CHAPTER IN IT."FIRST HIRED IN 1992, TANDY HASBEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF MANYCITY PROJECTS, INCLUDING THEFIRST HIRED IN 1992, TANDY HASBEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF MANYCITY PROJECTS, INCLUDING THECONSTRUCTIONOF WHAT IS NOW THE MARRIOTTHOTEL DOWNTOWN ANDRABOBANK ARENA AND CONVENTIONCENTER -- WHICH AS MENTIONED --HAS SINCE BECOME MECHANICS BANKARENA ANDCONVENTION CENTER.NOW TO TRAFFIC ALERT -- DRIVERSUSING HIGHWAY 43 NEAR STOCKDALEHIGHWAY FOR THEIR COMMUTE SHOULDEXPECT DELAYS STARTINGTOMORROW... DUE TO MORE WORKBEING DONE ON A ROUN-A-BOUTBEING BUILT AT THATINTERSECTION...THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEWROUNDABOUT AT THE HIGHWAY 43AND STOCKDALE HIGHWAYINTERSECTION PLANS TOCOMPLETE PAVING OPERATIONS FORTHIS PHASE OF THE PROJECTTOMORROW, AND TO STRIPE THE NEWROADWAY ON THURSDAY,JANUARY 9TH AND FRIDAY, JANUARY10TH, WEATHER PERMITTING.THESE OPERATIONS WILL REQUIREINTERMITTENTTRAFFIC CONTROL.

FLAGGINGPERSONNEL WILLBE STOPPING TRAFFIC ON STOCKDALEHIGHWAY AND 43BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 A.M.

AND5 P.M., EACH DAY.DRIVERS SHOULD ANTICIPATE HAVINGTO STOP UP TO 10 MINUTESAND ARE ENCOURAGED TO USEALTERNATE ROUTES ORALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIRDESTINATIONS IFTHEY MUST TRAVEL THROUGH THISINTERSECTIONDURING THESE TIME PERIODS.OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE DRIVERS TOSLOW DOWN AND WATCHFOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ANDEQUIPMENT WHILEDRIVING THROUGH THE WORK ZONE.KERN COUNTY IS FEELING WARMINGTEMPERATURES AS W HEAD INTOTUESDAY DUE TO HIGH PRESSURETHAT IS IN CONTROL.

DUE TO THECHILLY NIGHTS AND CLEAR SKIES,THERE IS A FOGTHREAT MAINLY IN THE VALLEYTONIGHT INTO TUESDAYMORNING.TUESDAY WILL BE THE WARMEST DAYOF THE WEEK WITH A HIGH OF61 IN BAKERSFIELD.

THE KERNRIVER VALLEY WILL BE INTHE LOW-60S AND THE SOUTHMOUNTAINS IN THE LOW-50S, WITHOVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE 30S.

AIRQUALITY REMAINS MODERATE IN THEVALLEY TOMORROW.

THERE IS NOBURNING UNLESSWITH A REGISTERED DEVICE.

ASYSTEM IS MOVING THROUGH ONWEDNESDAY BRINGING A DIP INTEMPERATURES AND AN INCREASE INWINDS.

THURSDAY LOOKSTO BE THE BEST CHANCE FORPRECIPITATION IN THE COUNTY.

ASOF NOW, WE ARE TRACKING RAIN ANDTHE CHANCE FOR MOUNTAIN SNOW.THAT SYSTEM CLEARS BY FRIDAYWITH ANOTHER ON ITS HEELS THISWEEKEND.

WE ARE STILL SEVERALDAYS OUT, BUTCOULDBE SEEING MORE RAIN IN THEVALLEY AND SNOWE CHANCESIN THE MOUNTAINS.FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW --BAKERSFIELD WILL HOST A WOMEN'SMARCH IN DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD...THIS IS VIDEO FROM A PREVIOUSYEAR...ORGANIZERS SAY THE EVENTCOINCIDES WITH NATIONWIDEMARCHES.THE MARCH WILL FEATURE LOCALSPEAKERS AND PERFORMERS...MORE THAN 50 LOCAL NONPROFITSAND LOCAL BUSINESSVENDORS SHOWING THEIR SUPPORTFOR EQUALITY ANDRIGHTS.THE EVENT IS SCHEDULED FORSATURDAY, JANUARY 18-THFROM 10 A-M UNTIL 3 P-M ATCENTRAL PARK OFF OF 21-STSTREET IN DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD.THE TRIAL FOR 36-YEAR-OLDALEJANDRO SANCHEZ, THEMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING TEHACHAPIWOMAN CHEYENNE WATKINS, HASENDED IN A HUNG JURY.A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DECLAREDA MISTRIAL TODAYAFTER A JURY FAILED TO REACH AVERDICT IN THIS CASE.A RETRIAL IS SCHEDULED FORFEBRUARY 24 -- THAT'SACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS.SANCHEZ WILL BE HELD WITHOUTBAIL UNTIL THEN.WATKINS WAS FOUND DEAD ON JUNE1-ST ON KID PLACE INTEHACHAPI.ACCORDING TO THE CORONER -- SHEDIED OF A GUNSHOT WOUNDTO THE HEAD.LAST OCTOBER -- KERN COUNTYSHERIFF DETECTIVESWERE ABLE TO TRACK SANCHEZ DOWNIN SANTA MONICA...ARRESTING HIM WITH THEASSISTANCE OF THE SANTAMONICA POLICE DEPARTMENT.MEANWHILE -- THE REGIONALOCCUPATIONAL CENTER WITH THEKERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT ISLOOKING FOR COMMUNITYVOLUNTEERS TO HELP THEM HOST THESKILLS-U-S-A CALIFORNIAREGION 2 CONFERENCE HAPPENINGNEXT MONTH...ACCORDING TO THE KERN HIGHSCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CONFERENCEIS EXPECTED TO BRING TOGETHERNEARLY TWO-THOUSANDSTUDENTS FROM ACROSS CENTRALCALIFORNIA TO SHOWCASE THEIRSKILLS IN OVER 100 DIFFERENTCONTESTS.IN ORDER TO PUT THE EVENTTOGETHER, THE LOCAL R-O-COFFICE IS ASKING THE COMMUNITYFOR NEARLY 200 VOLUNTEERS.VOLUNTEERS CAN SERVE AS SKILLCOMPETITION JUDGES,LEADERSHIP COMPETITION JUDGESAND MORE.WE HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUTVOLUNTEERING AVAILABLE AT OURWEBSITE -- TURN TO 23 DOT COM.THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELDFEBRUARY 22ND AT THE R-O-CCAMPUS LOCATED AT 501 SOUTHMOUNT VERNON AVENUE.SKILLS-U-S-A IS A NATIONALNONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONTHAT PREPARES MIDDLE SCHOOL,HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGESTUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN TRADE,TECHNICAL, ANDSKILLED SERVICE OCCUPATIONS.AND CHECK THIS OUT -- GARCESMEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOLANNOUNCED TODAY THE FORMATION OFTHEIR FIRST-EVERCOMPETITIVE DANCE TEAM IN SCHOOLHISTORY...THE HIGH SCHOOL MADE THEANNOUNCEMENT AND RELEASED THISPICTURE OF ITS TEAM.THE TEAM WILL BE COMPOSED OF 12CURRENT DANCERS ONCAMPUS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN ANADVANCED COURSEINSTRUCTED BY GEORGIA PECK.PECK AND HER FAMILY HAVINGSTRONG TIES TO DANCE.THE INSTRUCTOR IS RELATED TOTILER PECK WHO IS ABAKERSFIELD-BORN BALLERINA ANDHAS ACHIEVEDINTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM.IN JULY 2017 -- TILER PECKDIRECTED AND PRODUCED THETHREE-NIGHT DANCE SERIES "BALLETNOW" AT THE LOS ANGELESMUSIC CENTER.

AND IN 2018 --TILER WAS FEATURED IN ADOCUMENTARY ALSO TITLED "BALLETNOW" ON THE STREAMINGSERVICE HULU.ACCORDING TO TODAY'S RELEASE --THE NEW TEAM WILL ALLOW THEDANCERS TO COMPETE AT THE STATEAND NATIONAL LEVELAGAINST OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS,DANCE STUDIOS AND INDEPENDENTDANCERS.THE TEAM IS SCHEDULED TO HAVETHEIR FIRST COMPETITION INMARCH.COMING UP IN SPORTSA PREVIEW OF THE BAKERSFIELDCOLLEGE SOFTBALL TEAMAS THEIR SEASON IS JUST AROUNDTHE CORNER.