Crime Beat

APPEALS COURT BLOCKS RELEASE OF “BOLDER THAN MOST” RAPIST

By Miriam Raftery
 
September 24, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – The 4th District Court of Appeals has ruled that sexually violent predator Alvin Quarles must remain locked up in a state mental hospital while appellate court judges review the case.
 

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LEMON GROVE MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING POLICE BIKE, BREAKING INTO HOME ON CORONADO

By Miriam Raftery
 
September 22, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – This morning, The Coronado Police Department announced the arrest of Lemon Grove resident Nicklas Paul Jorgenson. He was taken into custody at a motel in Point Loma by Coronado police, aided by San Diego Police Department K-9 units.

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ARREST MADE IN 2012 SPRING VALLEY STABBING DEATH

By Miriam Raftery 

September 21, 2019 (Spring Valley) - Sheriff's homicide investigators today announced the arrest of Waverly James, 49, for the murder of Stanford Roy Johnson, 52.


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SUSPECT IN SECURITY SHIRT WANTED FOR GUNNING DOWN MAN AT POT SHOP IN EL CAJON

Suspect, a Hispanic man wearing a black security shirt, fled on a blue motorcycle and is considered armed and dangerous.
 
By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2019 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are searching for a suspect who gunned down a man inside an illegal marijuana dispensary at 350 West Douglas in El Cajon Thursday night around 11:45 p.m.


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LA MESA HEARS REPORT ON CITIZEN POLICE OVERSIGHT PRACTICES, SEEKS CHANGES TO CHIEF'S PROPOSAL

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Screenshot, City of La Mesa video

September 20, 2019 – (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Chief Walt Vasquez presented a report on citizen police oversight practices at last week's City Council hearing and made suggestions for an 11-member Citizen Public Safety Panel to exchange information for the betterment of public safety in La Mesa. But his panel would lack investigative powers to look into complaints involving the police department.

Public testimony was against the Chief's proposal, and Councilwoman Dr. Akilah Weber grilled Vasquez on whether he adequately canvassed residents for input.


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ARMED ROBBERY NEAR SDSU

East County News Service

 

September 19, 2019 (San Diego) – Police are actively searching for three possible suspects in an armed robbery that occurred at 4:17 p.m. today in the alley north of 5700 Montezuma Road, just off campus near San Diego State University.


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FEDS ANNOUNCE MASSIVE TAKEDOWN OF EAST COUNTY DRUG TRAFFICKING NETWORKS TIED TO SINALOA CARTEL

85 defendants charged for distributing methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl

East County News Service

September 19, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Eight indictments were unsealed today in San Diego federal court, charging 85 members of drug distribution networks linked to the Sinaloa Cartel with federal drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms offenses. Authorities are searching for 38 defendants; the rest are in state or federal custody, the U.S. Department of Justice in San Diego announced.


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ARREST MADE IN 2016 SPRING VALLEY STABBING DEATH OF TEEN

By Miriam Raftery
 
Photo: Victim Jeffrey Quirino
 
September 17, 2019 (Spring Valley) -- Christian Lopez, 27, has been charged with the murder of  17-year-old Jeffrey Quirino, who was stabbed during a fight on May 23, 2016.
 
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a  fight in front of 8914 Delrose Ave. in Spring Valley, but learned that a passing motorist had taken the victim to a hospital, where he died of his injuries a week later.

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ACCUSED ARSONIST ARRESTED AFTER SERIES OF BRUSH FIRES IN OTAY

East County News Service
 
September 16, 2019 (Otay Valley) – Ramon Guevara, 49, has been arrested by San Diego Police on suspicion of arson, Times of San Diego reports.  
 
The suspect is charged with 19 brush fires that have ignited since Friday near a homeless camp on Beyer Way in the Otay Valley area, according to San Diego Police Sergeant Matt Botkin.
 
Witness descriptions and a helicopter search led to the arrest of the suspect. Crews from multiple fire departments responded to the blazes.  

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EL CAJON POLICE CHIEF HONORED UPON RETIREMENT

By Miriam Raftery
 
Photos of Chief Davis’ walk-out ceremony by Catherine Martin.
 
September 15, 2019 (El Cajon) – After 33 years of service with the El Cajon Police Department, Chief Davis retired on Friday. He received salutes and hugs as he walked out of the station in civilian clothes, turning over the helm to his replacement, Mike Moulton.

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LA MESA POLICE SEEK DARK SEDAN AFTER SHOTS FIRED AT MOTORCYCLIST ON UNIVERSITY

By Miriam Raftery

September 15, 2019 (La Mesa) – Gunshots were fired at a motorcyclist in the intersection of University Avenue and Marian Street around 3 a.m., prompting La Mesa Police to shut down several streets while they searched for a dark-colored sedan last seen heading east on University.

The shots missing the motorcyclist, but he sustained leg injuries after the gunfire caused him to crash into a fence. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.


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ViOLENT CRIMES UP, PROPERTY CRIMES DOWN COUNTYWIDE

SANDAG report shows variations among communities for first half of 2019

East County News Service

September 14, 2019 (San Diego) -- Violent crime rates in San Diego County are up slightly compared to the same time in 2018, but property crimes dipped during the same period, according to a new report released by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Criminal Justice Research Division. Read the full report


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CHURCH LEADERS INDICTED ON FORCED LABOR CONSPIRACY INVOLVING HOMELESS VICTIMS

This is the most significant labor trafficking prosecution in this district in many years.” – Robert Brewer, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California in San Diego (photo, left)

By Miriam Raftery

IVM Indictment - Click HERE

September 11, 2019 (San Diego) --  A dozen leaders of Imperial Valley Ministries, including the former pastor, are charged with subjecting dozens of mostly homeless people to forced labor, an indictment unsealed today reveals. Victims in San Diego and Imperial Counties were coerced to surrender welfare benefits and compelled to panhandle up to nine hours a day, six days a week, for the financial benefit of the church leaders, prosecutors allege.


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'SHOCKING' NUMBER OF JAIL SUICIDES STIRS NEW SHERIFF'S POLICIES

 

By Ken Stone

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

September 3, 2019 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced Tuesday that it has adopted a slate of policies designed to prevent inmate suicides at its jails, actions undertaken following the release of a report that decried a “shocking” number of such deaths at local lockup facilities.


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$3,000 REWARD FOR INFO ON SHOTS FIRED AT JEWISH TEMPLE IN DEL CERRO

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via Facebook

August 30, 2019 (Del Cerro) – Workers preparing a classroom for students set to return after summer break at Temple Emmanu-El in San Diego’s Del Cerro neighborhood this week discovered two bullet holes from shots fired at the building. The temple is located on Capri Drive near College Avenue.


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DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO APPEAL RELEASE OF PREDATOR QUARLES

By Miriam Raftery
 
August 30, 2019 (San Diego) – Deputy District Jessico Coto announced today that her office will appeal Superior Court Judge David Gill’s decision to release sexually violent predator Alvin Quarles, known as the “Bolder than Most” rapist.

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MAN FOUND DEAD IN VALLEY CENTER DIED OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS

By Miriam Raftery
 
August 28, 2019 (Valley Center) – Yesterday, Sheriff’s deputies responded to conduct a welfare check on a resident in Valley Center found a man’s body inside with trauma to his upper body.  The Medical Examiner has concluded an autopsy and determined that the victim, Andrew Billeci, died of gunshot wounds inflicted in a homicide.

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LEMON GROVE HOME INVASION SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR MURDER

By Miriam Raftery
 
August 28, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – A home invasion robbery that went awry in February led to a struggle between the home’s occupants and two suspects. The homeowner’s son was shot and wounded, resulting in the homeowner firing back, killing a teenage suspect. 

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ARMED ROBBERY AT LA MESA STORE

East County News Service

August 28, 2019 (La Mesa) – The PowerTech Wireless Store on University Avenue in La Mesa was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon around 2:25 p.m.


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CHP SEEKS WITNESSES TO SHOOTING ON I-8 IN LA MESA

By Miriam Raftery
 
August 27, 2019 (La Mesa) – California Highway Patrol is seeking the identity of a shooter who opened fire from a white or silver SUV on eastbound Interstate 8 near State Route 125 at 9:30 last night.  The gunshots  injured a man and woman in a Nissan Sentra car.

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PUBLIC INVITED TO FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND ECONOMIC CRIMES FORUM IN EAST COUNTY SEPT. 10

Seven Chambers of Commerce coming together to host the event

Source:  San Diego District Attorney

August 26, 2019 (El Cajon) - Members of the public are welcome to attend the first-ever Economic Crimes Forum in East County hosted by seven chambers of commerce to learn how scams and cyber-crimes impact businesses and the community. At the event, experts from the District Attorney’s Office will teach attendees how to protect themselves and their businesses from becoming victims of fraud and other economic-related crimes.


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LA MESA PARENTS CHARGED WITH MURDER OF BABY BOY

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

August 26, 2019 (La Mesa)   Parents in La Mesa are charged with murdering their infant son, as well as assault and child abuse. Joel Dwayne Rodriguez-Brownell and Jalena Robin Rodriguez were arrested August 18th after their 8-month-old son, also named Joel, suffered life-threatening injuries. Murder charges were added after the child died a day later.


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ARREST IN SANTEE FOR SELLING ALCOHOL TO TEEN

East County News Service

August 25, 2019 (Santee) – Minor decoys tried to buy liquor at eight stores in Santee and also asked adults outside four locations to purchase alcohol for them on August 23rd.


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DUI CHECKPOINT IN LA MESA TONIGHT, EXTRA PATROLS THROUGH LABOR DAY

East County News Service

August 24, 2019 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Department’s traffic unit will conduct a DUI checkpoint tonight in the 4900 block of Spring Street from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.  LMPD will also have extra officer on the road now through Sept. 2 over Labor Day weekend looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Department is partnering with law enforcement agencies nationwide in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign over Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day Weekend remains one of the deadliest times of year for alcohol-involved crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 376 deadly crashes nationwide during the 2017 Labor Day holiday period (Sept. 1 to Sept. 5). Among those crashes, more than one-third (36%) involved a drunk driver. Last year, two people were killed, and 31 others injured in California on Labor Day alone.


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POLICE NAB PURSUIT SUSPECT ON ROOFTOP IN EL CAJON

By Miriam Raftery
 
 
August 23, 2019 (El Cajon) – When deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff substation tried to make an enforcement stop on a Mitsubishi in El Cajon yesterday at 1:30 a.m., a passenger fled on food and the car drove away.  
 

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THREE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES SHUT DOWN IN SPRING VALLEY

East County News Service

August 22, 2019 (Spring Valley) – As a direct result of numerous complaints from concerned citizens, three illegal marijuana dispensaries in Spring Valley and Casa de Oro were searched and shut down by law enforcement and one arrest was made.


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WEEDMAPS GOES LEGIT: SMOKES OUT ILLEGAL DISPENSARY LISTINGS

By Miriam Raftery

 

August 22, 2019 (Sacramento) – Weedmaps will no longer list illegal marijuana dispensaries or other illicit enterprises in its online director of cannabis businesses.

 

The change reflects new state licensing requirements for advertising as California’s legal cannabis industry flourishes.


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GOVERNOR SIGNS SAN DIEGO ASSEMBLYWOMAN'S LANDMARK POLICE USE-OF-FORCE LAW

By Dan Morain and Lauren Rosenhaall | CalMatters

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Assemblywoman Shirley Weber stands to the left of Gov. Gavin Newsom at signing ceremony for her police use-of-force legislation. Photo by Dan Morain for CalMatters

August 21, 2019 (San Diego) - California will soon have a tougher new legal standard for the use of deadly force by police, under legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed today that was inspired by last year’s fatal shooting of a young, unarmed man in Sacramento.


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JEWELRY STORE HEIST IN ALPINE

East County News Service
 
August 20, 2019 (Alpine) – Daniels Jewelers in the Viejas Outlets center in Alpine was robbed shortly after 11:30 this morning by three men in their 20s who fled in a dark sedan.  
 
Alpine deputies recovered the vehicle inn the 4300 block of West Willows Road within 20 minutes of the robbery but have not located the suspects.

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POWAY MAN KILLED BY GUN SHOT FROM NEIGHBOR’S APARTMENT

By Miriam Raftery

 

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

 

August 17, 2019 (Poway) -- A suspect is in custody for the murder of a Poway man.

 

The Sheriff’s department received a call from Pomerado Hospital at 2:50 a.m. reporting a man with a gunshot wound in his abdomen.  The victim, Michael Walker, died at the hospital a short time after his wife drove him there, ECM news partner 10 News reports.


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