Crime Beat

ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: CRIME FREE MULTIHOUSING

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

 

Photo courtesy San Diego County Sheriff’s Department website, other photos via Creative Commons

 

July 10, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Imagine you lived in an apartment complex so riddled with crime and danger, that law enforcement officers would not enter the property until backup arrived. A place where firefighters would not respond to a fire unless they were accompanied by sheriff’s deputies for protection. Where helicopters frequently flew overhead in search of a suspect, or attempting to restore peace. Where drive-by shootings, vandalism, prostitution, thefts, drug dealing, gangs and violence ruled the day.


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BB SHOTS DAMAGE BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES

East County News Service

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

July 8, 2019 (San Diego) – BB gun pellets fired in the College Area Sunday night damaged at least four businesses on El Cajon Boulevard near 71st street.  The BBs broke windows in an appliance store, an auto body shop, a coffee shop and a plasma center, as well as shattering a window in a vehicle parked nearby, 10 News reports.


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JULIAN BURGLARY SUSPECT FROM EL CAJON BUSTED AFTER CRASHING STOLEN BAJA BUG

By Miriam Raftery 

July 5, 2019 (Julian) – A Sheriff’s deputy investigating a burglary that occurred overnight in the 3300 block of Pine Hills Road spotted a Baja Bug (a Volkswagon beetle car altered for off-road use) drive onto the victim’s property this morning.  Realizing this could be the burglar returning to steal more items, the deputy tried to contact the driver, who sped away.


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SHOTS FIRED OUTSIDE MOVIE THEATRE IN RANCHO SAN DIEGO

By Miriam Raftery
 
July 3, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) – Last night around midnight, three boys ran into the Regal Edwards Cinema in Rancho San Diego to report a shooter outside, NBC 7 reports.
 
Several people in the theater called 911 and Sheriff’s deputies responded.  The boys told Sheriff’s officials that a man had pulled out a handgun and fired shots in the air after an argument with the boys.  The shooter was reportedly a passenger in a four-door, silver or gray car. 

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ANDREW OTERO IN HIS OWN WORDS

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor
 
July 3, 2019 (El Cajon) - Andrew Otero on Tuesday released a long written statement on his involvement in a construction contracting scheme. Otero was sentenced Friday in federal court after being found guilty of defrauding the federal government to obtain funds allocated for businesses owned by disabled veterans. Otero states, “I make no excuse, and take full responsibility for what I was convicted of. When you bend rules sometimes you have not even the slightest idea of what the consequences can turn out to be.”

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JUDGMENT DAY FOR LOCAL CONTRACTOR ANDREW OTERO

A U.S. District Court judge fines and sentences Otero to federal prison for fraud

 

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

 

July 3, 2019 (San Diego) -- Friday was judgment day for Andrew R. Otero, owner of A&D General Contracting and husband of Cajon Valley Union School District president Tamara Otero.  

 

Otero, a San Diego building contractor, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John Houston after a federal jury convicted Otero last November of fraudulently obtaining over $11 million dollars in government contracts through his company which had been set aside for small businesses owned by disabled veterans.


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CHP OFFICER STRUCK BY DUI DRIVER ON I-8 SUSTAINS MAJOR INJURY

East County News Service 

June 28, 2019 (El Cajon) – A CHP officer who had stopped to aid a disabled motorist in the center divide of Interstate 8 last night at 9:24 p.m. in El Cajon was struck by a Chevrolet Camero driven at a high rate of speed by Richard Chambers, 25.  The accident occurred on I-8 west, just east of West Main Street.


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TWO EL CAJON STRONG-ARM ROBBERY SUSPECTS STILL AT LARGE, ONE ARRESTED IN ROLANDO

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2019 (El Cajon) – Two suspects masked with black bandanas demanded merchandise from customers at a T-Mobile store at 354 N. Second Street in El Cajon at 11:05 a.m. yesterday. A customer was assaulted, suffering minor injuries before the two robbers fled in a dark Chrysler four-door sedan along with a third suspect.

Two of the suspects were described as black male adult wearing jeans.  One wore a black hooded sweatshirt and is around 6 ft. tall, weighing 200 pounds. The other is approximately 5 ft. 7 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds.  A third suspect is of unknown description.


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REWARD OFFERED FOR INFO ON SUSPECT IN SHOOTING OF LA MESA WOMAN

East County News Service

 

June 27, 2019 (La Mesa) – A woman who was shot in the leg at her La Mesa home called 9-1-1 this evening.  La Mesa Police responded at 6:13 p.m. to the residence at 3752 Harris Street, where they found the woman in the front of the home and administered first aid until paramedics arrived.


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LEMON GROVE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER

East County News Service
 
June 27, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – Gustavo Flores, 39, has pleaded guilty to killing Juan Martinez, 47, after a fight near the Home Depot store in Lemon Grove last year on June 21, 2018. 
 
The charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter.  Martinez could face up to 13 years in prison for striking fatal blows with an unknown weapon.

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MAN BEATEN IN LEMON GROVE

East County News Service 
 
June 25, 2019 (Lemon Grove) -- Two suspects have been charged with the violent assault of a man found bleeding in the street in Lemon Grove late Monday night, says Sergeant Sanchez with the San Diego Sheriff’s department.

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7 ARRESTED IN RAIDS ON ILLEGAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN CASA DE ORO

By Miriam Raftery
 
June 20, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Seven people have been arrested following raids yesterday morning on three illegal marijuana dispensaries in the Casa de Oro area of Spring Valley.  An abatement warrant and three search warrants were served at an office complex at 9966 Dolores Street in units 102, 108 and 208. Sheriff’s deputies found over 600 pounds of marijuana along with marijuana edibles, drug paraphernalia, $21,000 cash, and four firearms. 

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DRIVER ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE AFTER INJURY CRASH IN EL CAJON

By Miriam Raftery
 
June 17, 2019 (El Cajon) – A 22-year-old man has been arrested by El Cajon Police following a collision that occurred shortly after midnight at Jamacha Road and Vista del Valley Blvd. The crash injured two people, one seriously.

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SHERIFF SWEEP ARRESTS 36 IN EAST COUNTY

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

 

June 16, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Yesterday, 36 adults were arrested in a sweep by the San Diego Sheriff’s court services bureau, clearing 44 misdemeanor warrants and two felony warrants.  The operation focused on apprehending people with outstanding warrants, regardless of charges or bail amounts. It was conducted in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Jamul, El Cajon and La Mesa, says Sergeant David Pocklington.


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BORDER PATROL AGENTS HOSPITALIZED BRIEFLY WITH SYMPTOMS AFTER STOP FINDS DRUGS IN VEHICLE

By Miriam Raftery

June 14, 2019 (Campo) – After Border Patrol agents stopped two vehicles in Campo on June 2nd that were traveling in tandem and suspected of smuggling undocumented immigrants, drug paraphernalia was observed during examination of the vehicles.  “Shortly after, one of the agents began coughing and complained of nausea,” says Justin Castrejon, public affairs officer for the Border Patrol in San Diego.  The agent reported an odor from inside one of the suspect vehicles.  The San Diego County Hazardous Incident Response Team responded, ECM news partner 10 News has learned.


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BOMB THREAT AT POWAY HIGH SCHOOL A HOAX

East County News Service
 
June 11, 2019 (Poway) -- After a Poway High School staff member received an email claiming one or more explosive devices had been concealed on campus, Sheriff’s deputies today responded and secured the campus with cooperation of the school’s staff.  A search was conducted with help from Harbor Police K-9 units.

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EL CAJON POLICE TEEN ACADEMY BEGINS JUNE 17

Source:  El Cajon Police Department

June 11, 2019 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon Police Department will be hosting its 4th Annual Teen Academy beginning on June 17, 2018. The academy will run Monday through Friday for two weeks, concluding with a graduation ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2019. Classes will begin at 7:30 am every morning, and conclude at 3:30 pm every afternoon. There are a total of 27 teens in this year’s Teen Academy. 


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SHOOTING THREAT PROMPTS DISMISSAL AT BANCROFT ELEMENTARY

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2019 (Spring Valley) – A male caller, possibly a juvenile, called Bancroft Elementary School in Spring Valley at 2:44 p.m. today to state that there would be a shooting and warned the school to go on lockdown.  Staff put the school into lockdown and notified the Sheriff.

Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers responded.  There were no further threats or substantiation, but the school dismissed students with law enforcement present.


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EAST COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS AMONG 11 INDICTED IN CHARTER SCHOOL FRAUD SCHEME

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan yesterday announced indictments against 11 individuals in a statewide charter school scheme that stole over $50 million in public funds.  Those indicted include Nancy Hauer, superintendent of the Dehesa Elementary School District in El Cajon, and Steve Van Zant, former superintendent of the Mountain Empire Unified School District that services Descanso, Pine Valley, Potrero and Campo.

The ringleaders, Sean McManus and Jason Schrock, CEO and president of A3 Education, sought out small school district with limited oversight experience and proposed that they authorize online charter schools to earn oversight fees paid for through public funds, according to the 253-page indictment handed down by a grand jury investigation May 17th after a year-long investigation that involved interviewing over 70 witnesses.


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AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCE TAKE-DOWN OF MULTI-STATE METH NETWORK TIED TO SINALOA CARTEL: 43 CHARGED IN SAN DIEGO WITH DISTRIBUTING AROUND THE WORLD

 

 

East County News Service

May 23, 2019 (San Diego) -- Indictments were unsealed this week in San Diego federal court charging 43 members of a methamphetamine distribution network tied to the Sinaloa Cartel with federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)’s Narcotics Task Force, San Diego Sheriff’s Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced in a joint press conference on Tuesday.


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SANDAG REPORT SHOWS CRIME TRENDS ACROSS REGION

East County News Service

May 21, 2019 (San Diego) --  A new report by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) shows crime in all San Diego County Sheriff's Department patrol areas is down, though some other jurisdictions had increases. The Sheriff is responsible for all unincorporated parts of the county as well as several incorporated cities including Santee, Lemon Grove and Poway in our inland region.


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EL CAJON FIRE WAS CAUSED BY HASH LAB EXPLOSION

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

May 17, 2019 (El Cajon) – Last night’s major fire at 920 El Cajon Blvd. in El Cajon was caused by an explosion at an illegal hash oil extraction lab which caused burn injuries to one victim. The explosion occurred less than two weeks after a hash oil lab exploded in Mira Mesa, seriously injuring three people.


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FORMER TEACHER AT CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL IN EL CAJON ARRESTED FOR RAPES

 
 
East County News Service
 
May 17, 2019 (El Cajon) – The Sheriff’s Department arrested Dustin Sniff, a.k.a. Dustin Stevens, a former teacher at Christian High School in El Cajon, on May 15. He is charged with rape and sexual assault of a minor. Six victims ranged from 16 to 22 years of age, including two of his students.

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SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 15, 2019 (Washington D.C.) -- The Federal Trade Commission is warning the public about a surge in phone calls from scammers posing as Social Security agents. The imposters try to con people into providing their Social Security numbers or other personal or financial data.


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SAN DIEGO SUPERVISORS, CITY COUNCIL SPLIT ON POLICE USE OF FORCE BILL

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 15, 2019 (San Diego) – San Diego County Supervisors and the San Diego City Council have taken polar opposition positions on Assembly Bill 392, authored by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), which would limit police officers’ use of force. 

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FBI OFFERS $10,000 REWARD FOR INFO LEADING TO RECOVERY OF MISSING 5-YEAR-OLD ARANZA LOPEZ

 

 

East County News Service

May 14, 2019 (San Diego) -- The FBI needs public help in the search for missing 5-year-old Aranza Lopez, who was removed from a mall in Vancouver, Washington in October 2018 and is believed to be located in Mexico.  California residents may have information that could be key to her safe recovery, as an individual she may be residing or traveling with has close ties to the San Diego area.


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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHARGES POWAY SYNAGOGUE SHOOTER WITH 109 HATE CRIMES

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2019 (San Diego) – The U.S. Department of Justice today filed 109 hate crime charges against John T. Earnest,19. The Rancho Penasquitos teen is charged with murder and 53 counts of attempted murder for shootings at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue on April 27. Prosecutors may seek the death penalty for crimes believed to be motivated by hatred toward the Jewish community.


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MAN DIES AFTER ATTACK IN EL CAJON

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 9, 2019 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested a suspect accused of beating another man with a stick.  Officers responded to a call yesterday at 2 p.m. reporting an injured person at a strip mall at 300 North Second St. 

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LMPD IDENTIFIES OFFICER INVOLVED IN SHOOTING

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 8, 2019 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Department has identified Officer Roberto Nava as the officer who discharged his firearm May 2nd, injuring a trespassing suspect armed with a knife. Nava has been with the LMPD for five years.

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DRIVER ARRESTED AFTER STRIKING, SERIOUSLY INJURING MAN IN SANTEE

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 7, 2019 (Santee) – A driver who seriously injured a pedestrian in Santee has been arrested for a felony hit and run.  The accident occurred this morning at 5:03 a.m. at North Magnolia Ave. and Riverview Parkway.
 
The victim, 32, had been arguing with his brother and jumped out of a vehicle, walking south on North Magnolia in the lanes of travel, according to Lt. Chris Steffen. The brother and his friend tried to talk the man back into the vehicle, when he was struck by another vehicle traveling north on Magnolia.

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