Latest news with #VernonPoliceDepartment
Metro
15-07-2025
- Metro
Teen dies after getting sucked into meat grinder at burrito factory
A teenage sanitation worker at a California factory making popular frozen burritos was sucked into a meat grinder and killed. The 19-year-old was cleaning an industrial food processor at Tina's Burritos factory in Vernon when the machine started up unexpectedly, according to police. Other employees heard the victim shouting for help and tried to turn off the grinder, but could not get it to stop, said Vernon Police Department Sgt Daniel Onopa. Officers responded to a call for an injured worker at a kitchen shortly after 9.30pm on Sunday. By the time they got to the scene, the worker had died, Onopa said. 'Our thoughts are with the family, friends and coworkers affected by this tragedy,' Onopa told ABC 6. Fellow workers gathered in a seating section outside the factory after the tragic incident and appeared distraught. The victim's identity was not immediately released. No foul play is suspected and it seemed to be an accident, Onopa said. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which works to protect workers in the state, was set to begin investigation on Monday. Vernon is about five miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Tina's Burritos' website states that it produces 'America's Best Single-Serve Frozen Burritos' and that 694 of them are heated up somewhere in the US every minute. More Trending 'Tina's began in Los Angeles with a handful of people, a kitchen, and a belief: 'Everyone should be able to afford a great tasting burrito'. That's never changed. We've grown – but not to go corporate,' states its site. 'We grew so we could feed more people. You can taste it in every bite. That stubborn simplicity? That's Tina's.' The company has not responded to a request for comment from Metro. The victim's death comes just a couple weeks after a 38-year-old factory worker got stuck in an industrial oven at a Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation cereal plant in Perryville, Missouri, and died. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man stabbed in heart on Christmas Day 'by abusive ex when she saw him on Tinder' MORE: Two men who cut down Sycamore Gap tree jailed for four years MORE: Couple guilty of murdering grandson they subjected to weeks of 'pain and misery'
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Newsweek
Teen Killed in Meat Grinder Incident at Burrito Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A teenage cleaner was killed after he was sucked into a meat grinder at a Tina's Burritos factory. The 19-year-old sanitation worker, who has not been publicly identified, got trapped in the machine on Sunday night at a processing plant in Vernon, California. Sgt. Daniel Onopa, of the Vernon Police Department, said the victim was cleaning an industrial food processor at the site when the machine unexpectedly turned on. Coworkers heard his screams for help and tried to shut down the grinder, but were unable to do so in time to save his life, according to local news reports. The victim was declared dead when emergency crews arrived at the scene. Police say it appears to have been an accident and there is no suspicion of any foul play., There will be an investigation into how the machine was activated and managed to trap the young employee Newsweek has reached out by email to the Vernon Police Department, and has also messaged Tina's Burrito's outside of usual working hours through a contact form on its website, seeking further information and comment. File photo: an industrial cutter for grinding meat. File photo: an industrial cutter for grinding meat. Salomonus_/Getty Images Why It Matters The incident is likely to once again shine a light on industrial safety procedures, following a spate of accidents in recent years. In October last year, a tree worker lost both his legs in a woodchipper just 20 minutes into his first day on the job in Colorado. Investigations occasionally find fault with the companies involved. For example, the Department of Labor slapped Caterpillar Inc. with a fine of $145,027 in 2022 after claims that lax safety procedures had contributed to the death of an employee who was killed when he fell into a vat of molten iron in Illinois. What To Know The meat grinder incident in California occurred at about 9:30 p.m. local time when the after-hours cleaning crew were working at the site. Local news channel ABC 7 aired RMG News footage of the scene after the incident. Apparently filmed through a gate, past a fire truck with flashing lights, the clip showed workers milling around tables in a seating area, with some appearing emotional. One worker was shown wiping her eyes. Tina's Burritos is a well-known brand that makes single-serve frozen burritos. The company's website said it has so far fed more than 2 billion people and there is a video on the website to explain "how a 58-cent burrito gets made with this much flavor." CEO Robert Cross explained the company makes "over a million burritos a day," while several factory workers were featured in the footage explaining in Spanish a little about their roles and revealing which Tina's burrito was their personal favorite. What People Are Saying Sgt. Daniel Onopa, of the Vernon Police Department, said: "Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy." What Happens Next The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (known as Cal/OSHA) are now investigating the death.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Vernon Police Department seeks community's help for missing woman
VERNON (KFDX/KJTL) — The Vernon Police Department is searching for a missing woman and is seeking the community's help. According to a Facebook post made by the Vernon PD, the woman is Lotwanna Hardeman and has been reported missing by her family. Hardeman does suffer from IDD (Intellectual Disability Disorder) and can be aggressive at times. Name: Lotwanna Hardeman Last Seen: 6-6-2025 Age: 50 years old Height: 5'10 Weight: 120 lbs Last seen wearing a black shirt and white capri pants. If you think you have seen Hardeman or you have any questions, contact the Vernon Police Department at (940) 553-3311. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Two local first responder departments go head-to-head in ‘Battle of the Badges'
VERNON (KFDX/KJTL) — Get ready to watch two teams head to head on Thursday, March 27, for the Battle of the Badges. This event will occur at 6:30 p.m. at the D.O. Fulton Gym in Vernon, with doors opening at 6 p.m. The Vernon Police Department and Vernon Fire Department will compete in a friendly yet competitive game of basketball. Whoever wins will get bragging rights, but it will all be for a good cause. Admission to this event is all by donation. The proceeds will be donated to a local non-profit chosen by the police and fire departments. For more information about Battle of the Badges, contact Haley Bounds at tourism@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Vernon business owner now facing child porn charges
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story contains details from court documents regarding allegations of sex crimes committed against a child victim. Due to the content of this story, discretion is advised before reading. If you know or suspect that someone is being abused sexually, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 (800) 656-4673. WILBARGER COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — Authorities arrested a Vernon business owner for the second time in less than a month on child pornography charges connected to pending allegations of sex crimes against a teenage girl. According to the Wilbarger County Jail roster, Miguel Angel Delacruz, 26, of Vernon, was booked into the Wilbarger County Jail on Feb. 24, 2025, and charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. He was released the next day after posting bond. Delacruz was initially arrested on Feb. 6, 2025, and charged with one count of sexual assault of a child and three counts of indecency with a child. The new child pornography charges against Delacruz are connected to his previous arrest. PREVIOUS STORY: Vernon business owner accused of child sex crimes The initial charges against Delacruz stem from an outcry made by a 16-year-old girl to her mother. According to the arrest affidavit, the girl's mother said her daughter told her she and Delacruz were having sexual intercourse. According to the affidavit, Delacruz's phone was seized during the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the phone, which was sent to a Computer Forensic Analyst with the Wichita Falls Police Department for extraction. Vernon police officers said when they reviewed the digital evidence taken from Delacruz's phone, they found two sexually explicit videos of the teenage girl that were saved on the phone on Jan. 22 and Jan. 30. According to the affidavit, the alleged victim's mother told police she'd found handwritten love letters from Delacruz expressing his love and affection for the victim. Police said the girl's mother also accessed the victim's phone and discovered inappropriate content in the teen's Snapchat. The affidavit said Delacruz agreed to an interview with the Vernon Police Department. Officers said Delacruz was shown the 'nude Snapchat photos and videos' from the girl's phone. Police said Delacruz affirmed it was him but denied having sexual intercourse with the girl. According to the affidavit, police said Delacruz then requested a legal representative and refused to answer any further 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
