Police arrested 28-year-old San Jose resident Francisco Melecio on charges of carjacking. He was arraigned on May 5 on charges of carjacking and auto-theft. His bail was set at $100,000. Melecio was one of three individuals that police believe was involved in the incident. The two other individuals are still at large.

A man and his cousin were in the Super Mercado parking lot at Willow Street and Almaden Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. on May 2 when three men approached the car, according to the San Jose Police Department. One of them brandished a knife and allegedly threatened to kill the man and his cousin. He also demanded that the man and his cousin get out of the car, a blue two-door 1991 Daihatsu. The three men got into the car and fled. No one was hurt.

At 1:26 a.m. on May 3, a police officer on patrol noticed the vehicle at Goodyear and Mastic streets, SJPD spokeswoman Gina Teeporten said. The officer pulled the car over and arrested the man in the vehicle. The two other individuals were not in the car.

Teeporten described one of the suspects as a Hispanic male in his 30s with a medium build. Another individual was described as a Hispanic male, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, between 35 and 45 years old. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Jose police at 408.277.4166.

Iris Court neighbors organize watch group

Close to a month after Jackson, a 3-year-old King Charles Cavalier dog died of anti-freeze poisoning at Iris Court, residents are calling for a neighborhood watch meeting.

The last time such a meeting was called was about three years ago, Iris Court resident Mary Schorr said.

Residents will be meeting with the San Jose Police Department on May 17, and they have also invited neighbors on nearby Nevada Avenue to participate. "There have been minor thefts going on as well," Schorr said. "We just want people to be aware of what's happening."

The May 17 neighborhood watch meeting will be held at 1434 Iris Court at 7 p.m.

Market boasts book fair, school auction

Willow Glen Elementary School invites all to be part of this year's silent auction on May 14.

Up for grabs is a wide array of merchandise, including movie passes, restaurant certificates and gift baskets. The money goes toward the school's educational and enrichment programs.

For the bookworms out there, the school will have a book fair the same morning. Proceeds from the book fair will be used to purchase books and materials for the school's library.

Both the book fair and silent auction will be held at the Willow Glen Farmer's Market on May 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Manhole covers blow, resulting in explosion

An explosion in the city's sewer system sent four manhole covers along Meridian Avenue flying onto the street on May 1.

San Jose Fire Department spokeswoman Allison Cabral said the fire department have detected a buildup of hydro-carbon gases in the sewer system. However, the source of the gas cannot be determined.

Following the explosion, the police closed Meridian Avenue from Curci to Minnesota avenues from noon to about 5 p.m. Businesses along Meridian Avenue had to close their doors. No one was injured in the incident.

In a separate incident, a tractor-trailer rig clipped a power line near Meridian and Hamilton avenues at about 8:50 p.m. on May 2, causing the power line to arc. PG&E and San Jose Fire Department personnel determined that the line was "hot" and the area unsafe. Traffic was diverted temporarily while crews fixed the problem.

Jeff Smith, spokesman for PG&E, said the incident triggered a power outage to about 460 households in the Willow Glen area. The power was restored at approximately 10 p.m. No one was injured in the incident.