Full Notification

Please see corrected news release:

On March 13, 2015, Jose Banales was shot and killed at his residence in the 400 block of Crawford St. in east Bakersfield.

Kern County Sheriff’s Office detectives began an investigation into Banales’s murder. During the investigation detectives were able to develop probable cause to arrest 20 year old Anthony Rivera. An arrest warrant was obtained for Rivera and detectives later learned he had fled the county.

Detectives recently developed information that Rivera had returned to the Bakersfield area. On June 12^th, 2015 deputies with the Sheriff’s Office Gang Suppression Unit located Rivera in the 700 block of Goodman St. in east Bakersfield. He was arrested without incident.

Rivera was booked into the Kern County Jail for murder. He is being held without bail.

*ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE*

Details: On March 13th, 2015 at about 8:35 pm, Kern County Sheriff's deputies responded to a residence located in the 400 block of Crawford Street regarding an unresponsive adult male. When deputies arrived they found CPR was in progress by Medical aid. Medical aid later pronounced the subject deceased at the scene. During the investigation, deputies determined the manner of death was suspicious.

Homicide Detectives were called to the residence and assumed the investigation. Detectives are asking for anyone who has information on this case to call the Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.