23ABC News at 6 a.m. - Top Stories for Jan. 15, 2020

California City has sworn in a new Chief of Police at the city council meeting.

Plus, the Bakersfield SPCA need the community's help in finding a new location for their annual book sale.

A LOCAL NON-PROFIT WANTS TO MAKESURE YOU KNOW WHAT TODO IN THE EVENT OF AN ATTACK.A LOOK INTO A SELF-DEFENSE CLASSFOR WOMEN.AND -- A NEW FACE WILL REPRESENTCALIFORNIA CITY'SPOLICE DEPARTMENT - AS THE TOPCOP.FIND OUT THE MAN BEHIND THEBADGE.A FREE RIDE HOME FOR RUNAWAYSACROSS THENATION.HOW GREYHOUND IS TEAMING UP WITHA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TOGET KIDS HOME SAFELY.GOOD MORNING... AND THANKS FORTUNING IN FOR 23ABC NEWS AT SIXA-M..

I'M MIKE HART.AND I'M DANIELLE KERNKAMP.WE'RE CHILLY AGAIN THIS MORNINGBUT EXPECTED TOENJOY YET ANOTHER SEASONALAFTERNOON COUNTY-WIDE.

EXPECTPARTLY CLOUDY SKIES THISAFTERNOONWITH MODERATE VALLEY AIRQUALITY.

BAKERSFIELD WILLCLIMB TO A HIGH OF 57 WHILE LAKEISABELLA TOPS OUT AT 56 ALONGWITH ROSAMOND AND CALIFORNIACITY.

TEHACHAPI AND FRAZIER PARKBRIEFLY TOP OUT AT 50 THISAFTERNOON.

WE'RE ALL A BITWARMER TOMORROW WHILE WE WAIT ONTHE RAIN,WHICH INCREASES AFTER 4 P.M.WITH SNOW FALLING TO PASS LEVELTOMORROW NIGHT.THE BAKERSFIELD POLICEDEPARTMENT NEEDS YOUR HELPFINDING THE VEHICLE THAT WASINVOLVED IN AN INJURY HIT ANDRUN CRASH.TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN--POLICE SAY THIS IS THE TRUCKYOUNEED TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR.ACCORDING TO BPD -- THE CRASHHAPPENED ON ALLEN ROAD NEARBRIMHALL ROAD AROUND 7:30 P.M.ON NOVEMBER 17.THE COLLISION CAUSED AN INJURYAND THE SUSPECT VEHICLEFLED THE SCENE.BPD SAYS IT'S DESCRIBED AS ANEWER MODEL 4-DOOR TOYOTATACOMA --DARK GRAY WITH TINTEDWINDOWS AND BLACK RIMS. ANYONEWITH INFORMATION - CALL BPD AT327-7111.CALIFORNIA CITY HAS A NEW CHIEFOF POLICE.

THE NEW TOP COP WASSWORN IN AT THE CITY COUNCILMEETINGLAST NIGHT.JON WALKER WAS NAMED AS CHIEF ATTHE MEETING, HE REPLACESFORMER CHIEF ERIC HURTADO WHORETIRED IN OCTOBER AFTERSERVING EIGHT AND A HALF YEARSAS POLICE CHIEF.

HURTADO HAD THELONGEST TENURE EVER FOR A CALCITY POLICE CHIEF.NO INFORMATION WAS GIVEN OUTABOUT WALKER OR HIS PAST ATTHE MEETING.PRIOR TO SWEARING IN WALKER, THECOUNCIL MADE AGESTURE TOWARD THE INTERIM CHIEFOF POLICE.COUNCIL GAVE THE SERGEANT WHOHAS BEEN SERVING ASINTERIM CHIEF A CERTIFICATE OFRECOGNITION FOR ALL OF HIS HARDWORK.THIS WEEK -- THE KERN COUNTYPROBATION DEPARTMENT WILLBE HOSTING A GRADUATIONCELEBRATION.THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT ALONGWITH G-E-O RE-ENTRYSERVICES WILL HOST A GRADUATIONFOR INDIVIDUALS WHOHAVE COMPLETED THE KERN COUNTYDAY REPORTING CENTER.THE CENTER PROVIDES INTENSIVERE-ENTRYPROGRAMMING FOR PROBATIONERS.LOCAL OFFICIALS -- CORRECTIONSPROFESSIONALS AND FAMILYMEMBERS WILL BE ON HAND.THE TRANSITION CEREMONY WILLTAKE PLACE THIS AFTERNOON ATHODEL'S COUNTRY DINING AT 3 P.M.TONIGHT THE ALLIANCE AGAINSTFAMILY VIOLENCE IS HOSTING AFREESELF DEFENSE CLASS FOR WOMEN.23ABC'S DANIELA GARRIDO GIVES USA LOOK AT WHAT ATTENDEESCAN EXPECT.DANIELA?....."DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMETHINGHAPPENS"THE ALLIANCE AGAINST FAMILYVIOLENCE IS GIVING WOMEN INTHE COMMUNITY A CHANCE TO LEARNTO DEFEND THEMSELVES FORFREE.DAVE WOODS/SELF DEFENSEINSTRUCTOR: "I'VESEEN AND MET SO MANY PEOPLE INTHE COMMUNITY WHO ARE EITHERMOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS WHO WANTTO KEEP THEMSELVES SAFEWHEN THEY GO UP TO SCHOOL ANDI'VE MET PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMSOF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHERASSAULT AND IT'S REALLYUPSETTING TO SEE THAT AND KNOWTHOSE THINGS AREHAPPENING SO I FEEL OBLIGATED TOGIVE A LITTLE SERVICE BACK TOTHE COMMUNITY AND TRY TO HELPTHESE PEOPLE"WHAT STARTED AS A ONE TIME CLASSHAS TURNED INTO TWELVE YEARSFOR DAVE WOODS."SO I'LL START OUT TALKING ALITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR INTENTIONWHICHIS STRICTLY SELF DEFENSE WITHTHE UNDERSTANDINGTHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVERIT TAKES"THE CLASS STARTS WITH APRESENTATION ON ARMED SELFDEFENSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCERESOURCES.

BUTMOST OF THE CLASS INCLUDES HANDSON TRAINING.."THE FIRST DAY I CAME IN WE DIDA REGULAR WARM UP AND THEN WELEARNED A KNIFE DEFENSE AND IWAS LIKE WHOA"DAVE WALKED ME THROUGH A BASICSCENARIO..

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IFSOMEONE GRIPS YOU BY THE ARM?"CIRCLE STRIKE"SCRATCH THE EYES, CUSP THE EARS,HIT THE THROAT, ANDKNEE THE GROIN.A TECHNIQUE THAT DAVE SAYSSHOULD BE PRACTICEDREGULARLY."TO PHYSICALLY BE ABLE TO DO ITYOU HAVE TO PRACTICE IT OVERAND OVER SO IT BECOMES MUSCLEMEMORY"HE SAYS LIKE MYSELF MANY OF THEWOMEN ENTER THE CLASS DOUBTFULAND LEAVE EMPOWERED.A LOCAL GROCERY STORE IN CENTRALBAKERSFIELD HASANNOUNCED IT IS CLOSING.THE FOODMAXX ON UNION AVENUENEAR CALIFORNIA AVENUECONFIRMING THEY ARE CLOSING THISFRIDAY.FOODMAXX IS OWNED BY SAVE MART-- AND OFFICIALS WITHSAVE MART SAY THEY DECIDED TOCLOSE THE GROCERY STOREBECAUSE THE FOODMAXX HAS BEENUNDERPERFORMING.AND GOOD NEWS FOR THEIREMPLOYEES -- A SPOKESPERSONWITH THE COMPANY DID INFORM23ABC THAT ALL TEAMMEMBERS HAVE BEEN PLACED INOTHER SURROUNDINGFOODMAXX STORES.FOODMAXX HAS SOLD THE LEASE TOANOTHER OPERATOR - WHOWILL ASSUME CONTROL OF THEPROPERTY SHORTLY AFTERTHE STORE'S CLOSURE ON FRIDAY.IF YOU HAVE A DREAM OF BEING ANACTOR - NOW IS YOUR TIME TOSHINE --NETFLIX IS COMING TOBAKERSFIELD.THE STREAMING COMPANY IS HOLDINGAN OPEN CASTING CALLTHIS WEEKEND FOR MEN AND WOMEN18 AND OVER TO BEFEATURED IN THEIR UPCOMING FILMCALLED "THE PROM".THE MOVIE IS ABOUT A GROUP OFSELF-OBSESSEDTHEATER STARS WHO VISIT A SMALLCONSERVATIVEINDIANA TOWN IN SUPPORT OF AHIGH SCHOOL GIRL WHO WANTS TOTAKE HER GIRLFRIENDS TO PROM.THE FILM IS EXPECTED TO FEATUREMERYL STREEP, NICOLEKIDMAN, AND JAMES CORDEN.AND -- SHOOTING IN BAKERSFIELDIS SAID TO BEGIN ON JANUARY24TH.THE CASTING CALL IS HAPPENINGSUNDAY FROM 11A-M TO 3 P-M AT THE BAKERSFIELDMARRIOT CONVENTIONCENTER ON TRUXTUN AVENUE.A BOOK SALE BENEFITTING OURFELINE AND CANINE FRIENDSOF BAKERSFIELD MAY NOT HAPPEN -THE SPCA SAYS THEIR IN NEED OFA NEW LOCATION AND THEY NEED THEPUBLIC'S HELP.FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES THEBAKERSFIELD SPCA HAS HELDONE OF ITS LARGEST ANDPREDOMINANTLY VOLUNTEER RUNANNUAL BOOK SALE.THE LOCATION WAS DONATED TO THEORGANIZATIONTHROUGH THE YEARS TO HOLD THEMONTH-LONG EVENT.AND ACCORDING TO ORGANIZERS--THIS YEAR THEY HAD TO MOVE ANDHAVE NO NEW LOCATION.THE SPCA SAYS IT TAKES A LOT OFPREP AND SET-UP SO THE NEED FORA NEW RETAIL LOCATION IS DIRE.ANYONE INTERESTED IN DONATING ALOCATION - CALLTHE SPCA AT 323-83-53.OR YOU CAN VISIT THEIR LOCATIONON GIBSON STREET.IT'S A SITUATION NO PARENT WANTSTO FIND THEMSELVES IN-THEIR CHILD RUNNING AWAY.LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIESRECEIVETHOUSANDS OF MISSING PERSONSCASES PER YEAR OF JUVENILESWHO RUNAWAY NEAR AND FAR.GREYHOUND WANTS TO HELP..BYREUNITING THOSEWHO ARE READY TO RETURN HOME.IT'S A HELPLESS SITUATION THATTHOUSANDS OF KERN COUNTYPARENTS KNOW ALL TOO WELL-- ARUNAWAY CHILD.CHRISTINA PERKINSCOMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERWHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ISTHE DANGERS OF LEAVING THEIRHOMETOWN AND NOT COMMUNICATINGWITH THEIRFAMILIES WHAT THEIR INTENTIONSARE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WILLHAPPEN ON THEIR WAY THERE.OFFICER CHRISTINA PERKINS HASDEALT WITHRUNAWAYS BEFORE.

AND SHE SAYSMANY OF THEIR STORIESARE THE SAME.CHRISTINA PERKINSCOMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERTHE MAJORITY OF IT IS JUVENILESHAVING CRISIS OF SOME SORT ORTHERE'S JUST SOMETHING GOING ONTHAT PARENTS MIGHTNOT EVEN BE AWARE OF.

AND SOTHEIR WAY TO DEAL WITH THATCRISIS IS RUNNING AWAY.

GOINGSOMEWHERE WHERE THEYBELIEVE IS SAFE.

HOWEVER ASJUVENILES, SOMETIMES THEYDON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SAFEREALLY IS.PERKINS SAYS IN SOME CASES.RUNAWAYS END UP AS FAR ASHUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME.

ANDTHAT'S WHERE GREYHOUND SAYS ITCAN HELP-OFFERING A FREE RIDE BACK HOMETO THE CHILD AND TO AGUARDIAN TO RETRIEVE THEM.SUSAN FRANKELNATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE12-14 YEAR OLDS MUST ACTUALLYTRAVEL ACCOMPANIED BYAN ADULT.

SO THAT CAN BE SOMEONEFROM A YOUTH SHELTER,IT CAN BE A PARENT OR SHELTER.AND GREYHOUND ALSOPROVIDES FREE BUS SERVICE FORTHOSE FOLKS AS WELL.THERE ARE A FEW CONDITIONS TOGET A FREE RIDE BACK HOME.THEY MUST GET IN CONTACT WITHTHE NATIONAL RUNAWAYSAFELINE--1-800 RUNAWAY.THEY MUST BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF12 AND 21.BE NAMED ON A RUNAWAY REPORTOF COURSE-WILLING TO REUNITEWITH THEIR PARENTSAND GUARDIANS.SUSAN FRANKELNATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE"HAVING THE SERVICES VITAL ANDWE DO QUITE OFTEN HEAR BACKFROM FAMILIES WHO ARE TRULYGRATEFUL."LAST YEAR.THE BAKERSFIELD POLICEDEPARTMENTTOOK ALMOST 3,000 (2,970)REPORTS OF MISSING CHILDRENBETWEEN 5 AND 17 YEARS OLD.THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICESAYS IT HAS 149 REPORTS OFMISSING PEOPLE.OFFICER PERKINS SAYS IF YOU EVERFIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATIONLIKETHIS.CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENTRIGHT AWAY.CHRISTINA PERKINSCOMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER"IF THERE IS NO TIME FRAME ORTIME WAIT THAT PARENTS ORLOVED ONES OR ANYONE FOR THATMATTER HAS TO WAIT IN ORDER TOREPORT TO A JUVENILE AS ARUNAWAY."SHE SAYS AS A PARENT.

THE BESTTHING YOU CAN DO IS KEEPTHE LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITHYOUR CHILD OPEN.

AND B-P-DOFFERS HELP.CHRISTINA PERKINSCOMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER "IWANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THATTHEY ARE NOT ALONE YOUKNOW.

THERE ARE SEVERALRESOURCES OUT THERE INCLUDINGTHE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OURCOMMUNITY RELATIONS UNITWHO PROVIDES TRAINING, WHOOFFERS RESOURCES TOPARENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WEARE HERE TO HELP."AGAIN THAT NUMBER THAT WILL HELPYOUR CHILD GETSERVICES TO GET BACK HOME1800RUNAWAYYOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEPROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE, TURN TO23 DOT COM.