Crime Beat

GRENADE REMOVED FROM SPRING VALLEY HOME

 

 

East County News Service

 

Photo: Creative Commons image per S.A. of a similar Korean War era device

 

March 8, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies received a call this morning from a resident on Margaret Court, Spring Valley who said his 93-year-old neighbor had given him a grenade.

 

Detectives responded and it was determined that the device was an inert Korean War era grenade. It was removed from the area for proper disposal, says detective John Debus.


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SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER CARJACKING TAXI AT DENNY’S IN LA MESA

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
March 6, 2019 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police have arrested four suspects accused of carjacking a taxicab early this morning at the Denny’s Restaurant on Alvarado Road. GPS tracking on the taxi enabled officers to quickly locate the vehicle and nab the suspects nearby.

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THREE-VEHICLE CRASH IN RAMONA MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DUI DRIVER

 
 
East County News Service
 
Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News
 
March 6, 2019 (Ramona) – The driver of a  Mercedes may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he drifted over the center line on Dye Road in Ramona yesterday afternoon and sideswiped a Subaru, then struck a Toyota Tundra head-on.

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LA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT JOINS 'NEIGHBORS' BY RING TO PROVIDE USERS WITH REAL-TIME LOCAL CRIME AND SAFETY INFORMATION

 

 

"Neighbors" aims to reduce crime in neighborhoods by connecting people, security cameras and law enforcement.

Source:  La Mesa Police Department

March 6, 2019 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Police Department today announced that it is joining the Neighbors app by Ring (available via iOS/Android here: https://download.ring.com/lamesa to provide the La Mesa community with real-time, local crime and safety information. The Neighbors network already has millions of users and has been instrumental in catching package thieves, stopping burglaries, and keeping neighborhoods safe.


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JUDGE SAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MUST COMPLY WITH NEW PUBLIC RECORDS LAW (SB 1421)

 

 

East County News Service

 

March 4, 2019 (San Diego) -- Superior Court Judge Eddie C. Sturgeon sided with the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) and several San Diego news media outlets, ruling on March 1st that local law enforcement agencies must comply with a new state public records law, SB 1421, and disclose relevant records regardless of when they were created.


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EL CAJON POLICE CITIZEN'S ACADEMY BEGINS MARCH 13

 

 

East County News Service

March 2, 2019 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2019 Citizen’s Police Academy. The ten-week academy provides an overview of the Police Department functions. Students attend weekly classes and learn about topics including the history of law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and crime scene investigation from the various divisions within the Police Department. Students participate in hands-on exercises, such as conducting traffic stops, dusting for fingerprints, and a firearms simulation.


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ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS NABBED IN SPRING VALLEY

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
March 2, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Two suspects accused of forcibly robbing a victim at gunpoint yesterday have been taken into custody following a pursuit early this morning in Spring Valley.
 
Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station responded to a call reporting the robbery at 1:19 p.m. outside of the Giant Pizza King at 1029 Elkelton Blvd. in Spring Valley. The suspects were described as two young black males, one wearing a red sweatshirt and the other wearing a black sweatshirt.

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MASKED ROBBERS SOUGHT IN FLINN SPRINGS

 

 

East County News Service

March 1, 2019 (Flinn Springs) – Sheriff’s investigators are seeking two armed men who reportedly robbed a man at gunpoint late Wednesday night at home on Olde Highway 80, just east of Flinn Springs County Park.

According to Sergeant Kelly Moody, the victim told deputies that the armed men had their faces covered.  During the robbery, a physical scuffle ensued and the victim was struck in the head. The thieves reportedly fled in a white Honda Civic with an undisclosed amount of cash. 

The victim was treated for minor injuries. Detectives from the Alpine station are investigating the incident.


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LAKESIDE SHERIFF HOSTS COFFEE WITH COMMUNITY MARCH 12

 

 

East County News Service

February 28, 2019 (Lakeside) — Lakeside Sheriff’s substation will hold a Coffee with the Community event on Tuesday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine St., Lakeside.

“Community outreach is a top priority of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.  Members of the community should feel comfortable bringing problems related to safety and security to our staff,” a press release from the Sheriff’s department states.


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TWO TEENS DEAD IN SAN CARLOS MURDER-SUICIDE

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2019 (San Carlos) – Thomas Jordan Hayes and Willow Singer, both 19, were found dead last night by Singer’s mother in front of the family’s San Carlos home on BudlongLake Ave.


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MAN ARRESTED FOR FATAL SHOOTING OF WOMAN IN ALPINE

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: 10 News

 

Update February 27, 2019: The victim has been identified as Melanie Benitez, 27.  Paraschak, 42, has been charged with murder.

 

February 24, 2019 (Alpine) – A man armed with two guns was arrested yesterday for killing a woman in Alpine. Paul Paraschak has been charged with murder, Lt. Rich Williams told 10 News.


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CHILD RAPIST PROPOSED FOR RELEASE IN JACUMBA

 

 

East County News Service

February 22, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The state of California is proposing to release Alan Earl James, a sexually violent predator and pedophile, at 4512 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. He has multiple convictions including child rape and child molestation.


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LA MESA POLICE CITE, WARN 342 MOTORISTS FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN ENFORCEMENT ACTION

 

 

East County News Service

February 20, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Today, the La Mesa Police Department’s Traffic Unit hosted the County-wide Inter-agency Traffic Enforcement Team which consists of motorcycle traffic enforcement officers from all over the County of San Diego, who meet once a month for the specific purpose of targeting primary collision factors and reducing traffic violations in problem areas.


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POWAY MAN KILLS SELF AMID SWAT STAND-OFF

 
 
East County News Service
 
February 18, 2019 (Poway) – A man who reportedly threatened his wife with a gun prompted an eight-hour SWAT team stand-off early yesterday morning in Poway before taking his own life.
 
According to Lt. Christopher Collier with the San Diego Sheriff’s department, after the woman reported the threat, deputies arrived and began communicating with her husband. Because he was armed, the Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT team) were called in.

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RANCHO SAN DIEGO SHERIFF CAPTAIN MARCO GARMO PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE DURING ATF/FBI CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Action comes on heels of countywide firearms trafficking investigation

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Photo: Capt. Marco Garmo,10 News

February 14, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) -- Capt. Marco Garmo, who most recently headed up the Rancho San Diego substation of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has been placed on an administrative leave until further notice, according to ECM news partner 10News.

On the same day that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted raids throughout San Diego County, including the large sprawling Jamul estate of San Diego jeweler Leo Hamel due to a firearms trafficking investigation, Garmo was put on leave. The Rancho San Diego substation covers the same area of Hamel’s property.

Sheriff Gore, in a e-mail obtained by 10News yesterday, states that he was made aware of potential criminal conduct by Garmo by a senior member of the Sheriff’s Department, and implies that the removal of Garmo is linked to the broader federal investigation involving Hamel’s properties.


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FEDS RAID JEWELER LEO HAMEL’S HOME AND STORES IN GUN TRAFFICKING CASE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

February 13, 2019 (Jamul) – A mansion in Rancho Jamul Estates owned by prominent jeweler Leo Hamel was raided today by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Some of his jewelry stores were also searched in connection with a firearms trafficking case, 10 News reports.

In 2016, Hamel ran for the California State Assembly as a Republican, seeking to represent most of East County. Despite announcing that he had dropped out before the primary election, his name remained on the ballot and he advanced to the November run-off, but was defeated by Randy Voepel.


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EL CAJON POLICE INVESTIGATING BROKEN STORE WINDOW

 

 

By Robert Gehr

 

February 13, 2019 (El Cajon) -- On my walk earlier Wednesday morning, I encountered a shattered store front window at Maximon Botanica, 127 N. Magnolia Ave. in El Cajon. The faith establishment sells a wide variety of religious items.


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ROBBERY SUSPECT RUNS DOWN WITNESS IN SPRING VALLEY

 
 
East County News Service
 
February 13, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Hours after telling law enforcement officers the identity of a strong-arm robbery suspect, Kyshaun Jones, 32, was brutally attacked by the suspect outside of a 7-11 store in Spring Valley yesterday.

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ACLU FILES MOTION TO COMPEL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO COMPLY WITH NEW PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

 

 

East County News Service

February 13, 2019 (San Diego) -- The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) on Monday filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit by several police unions seeking to prevent the release of police misconduct records as required by the state’s new law, the “California Public Records Act” (SB 1421). The ACLU demands that local law enforcement agencies act immediately to comply with the new law.


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MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN EL CAJON

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
February 10, 2019 (El Cajon) – A man suspected of stabbing another man to death in front of two witnesses this morning has been arrested.
 
El Cajon Police officers responded to Grossmont Hospital this morning, where they met with the victim’ wife.  She told officers that around 1 a.m., she and her husband, along with another man, where in their vehicle in an alley in the 300 block of North Second Street.  Her husband reportedly got into an argument with another man outside of their vehicle and tat man stabbed her husband in the chest.

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PAROLEE ARRESTED FOR STABBING AT SPRING VALLEY MINI MART

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) – Roberto Inchaurregui III, 27, of Spring Valley was arrested Feb. 7 for a stabbing that occurred Feb. 2 at the Arco AM/PM Mini Mart in Spring Valley.

Sheriff’s detectives from Rancho San Diego and the Crime Suppression Team arrested Inchaurregui at his parole agent’s office, then served a search warrant on the suspect’s home, where they recovered other items further linking Inchaurregui to the crime, says Sgt. Matt Cook II.

He was booked into the San Diego County Jail.


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SUSPECT WANTED FOR IDENTITY THEFT AND BURGLARY - UP TO $1,000 REWARD OFFERED

 

 

Source:  San Diego Sheriff's Department

February 8, 2019 (Santee) - San Diego County Crime Stoppers along with investigators from the Santee Sheriff's Station are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating an unknown suspect who stole a purse from an unlocked vehicle and used stolen credits cards to make purchases at various stores in Santee.


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CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS READYING CONTROVERSIAL BILL TO LIMIT POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE

 

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) carrying legislation

By Laurel Rosenhall | CALmatters

CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

February 3, 2019 (Sacramento) -- Jamilia Land walked out of a meeting in the state Capitol feeling optimistic that 2019 may be the year California changes the law to try to reduce the number of people killed by police.


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VALHALLA STUDENT ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY BRINGING GUN TO SCHOOL

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
February 2, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) – A student at Valhalla High School has been arrested for allegedly bringing a loaded handgun onto campus in the Rancho San Diego area of unincorporated El Cajon yesterday.

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LARGEST-EVER FENTANYL SEIZURE MADE AT PORT OF ENTRY BY AGENTS UNPAID DURING SHUTDOWN

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
February 1, 2019 (Tucson) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales in Arizona seized nearly 650 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamines worth close to $4.6 million last Saturday—the largest fentanyl seizure in CBP history nationwide. 

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COMMERCIAL BURGLARY SUSPECTS ARRESTED, ALSO CHARGED WITH DRUG CRIMES

 
 
By Miriam Raftery 
 
January 31, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) — Two suspects believed responsible for over 30 commercial burglaries countywide with losses totaling over $130,000 have been arrested in Lakeside and Spring Valley.
 
Detectives and crime suppression team deputies from Alpine, Rancho San Diego, Lakeside and Santee participated in serving search warrants that led to recovery of property stolen from a business in Rancho San Diego. The search also found a clandestine marijuana growing operation and a butane honey oil extraction laboratory. Detectives from the San Diego Regional Narcotics Task Force responded, along with HAZMAT personnel and other law enforcement personnel.

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CAMPO SCHOOL BUS ASSAILANT SENTENCED TO DRUG REHAB AND COUNSELING

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
January 30, 2018 (Campo) – A knife-wielding man who punched a Campo Elementary School bus driver in the face on May 25, 2018 has been sentenced to a year in jail, with part of his sentence slated to be served in a drug rehabilitation facility.
 

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SDPD OFFICER ARRESTED IN SANTEE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ASSAULT CHARGES

 
 
East County News Service
 
January 30, 2019 (Santee) – San Diego Police Officer Timothy Allan Romberger was arrested Wednesday in Santee. He is charged with felony domestic violence and assaulting his girlfriend by putting a semi-automatic gun to her head and asked her why he should let her live. 

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DNA TEST SOLVES COLD-CASE SWORD MURDER IN LA MESA

 

 

East County News Service

Photo:  Murder suspect Zachary Bunney mugshot via Washington County, OR Sheriff 

January 28, 2019 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police announce that they have solved a grisly murder case from 12 years ago using DNA testing.


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ILLEGAL POT SHOP SHUT DOWN IN SPRING VALLEY

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
January 23, 2019 (Spring Valley) — Cookiez Collective, a marijuana dispensary operating illegally at 2913 Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley, was shut down today by county authorities.
 
Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s detectives and crime suppression team members assisted County Code Compliance in serving an abatement warrant. According to Sergeant Matt Cook II, “the abatement warrant was the direct result of numerous complaints from concerned citizens” as well as violating of the county’s zoning ordinance. 

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