Sheriff honors several staff members
Last week, Idaho County Sheriff Ulmer honored several members of the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office. Although the call for service from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office in California may have seemed routine, the outstanding teamwork impressed not only Sheriff Ulmer, but the Sheriff of Stanislaus County.
On January 3, 2024, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office had received information on one of their missing persons cases. The missing juvenile had contacted a family member and wanted to return home, but stated she was afraid. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office pinged her location, and it returned to an address in Woodland, outside of  Kamiah, Idaho. The girl had been missing since August 26, 2023. She had been entered as a runaway, but the circumstances surrounding her disappearance indicated it may not have been of her own free will.
Idaho County Deputies and Dispatchers were able to coordinate with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and were able to locate the victim and subsequently arrested Cristian Ceja, age 27,of Turlock, California on a felony warrant out of California for contacting a minor for sexual gratification, contacting a minor using an electronic device for   the purpose of sexual gratification, and oral copulation of a minor. He was also charged by the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and providing shelter to a runaway.
Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said in a letter to Sheriff Ulmer, “I cannot thank you and your team enough for assisting our Special Victims Unit with this case. Idaho County Sheriff’s Office is hands down a top-notch team.”
Sheriff Ulmer is extremely proud of how his department always comes together when needed and was honored to show them his appreciation.