By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Barry Aninag, B.A.investigations, via Linked In

February 16, 2018 (La Mesa) – La Mesa's City Manager Yvonne Garrett and City Attorney Glenn Sabine signed an agreement today with Barry Aninag, B.A. Investigations, LLC, in connection with the January 19, 2018 use of force incident by a La Mesa Police school resource officer on a handcuffed female student at Helix Charter High School.

Aninag's LinkedIn profile states that Aninag is the owner of B.A. Investigations and is a “retired police executive after having served thirty years in law enforcement.”

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are seeking witnesses to identify the driver who hit and fatally injured a woman pedestrian found still alive at 4:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of South Sunshine Avenue.  She died while being transported to a hospital, Patch.com reports.

The woman may have been homeless, according to Lt. Royal Bates.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2018 (El Cajon) — A man in a vehicle parked outside the Home Goods store at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon exposed himself to a 14-year-old girl on Tuesday, the girl’s mother told ECM news partner 10 News.

By Miriam Raftery

February 6, 2018 (Alpine) – The California Highway Patrol is warning motorists about a series of accidents caused by 50-pound bricks that authorities believe were left intentionally on Interstate 8 in Alpine, NBC 7 news reports.

By Miriam Raftery

February 5, 2018 (El Cajon) -- A man was shot and a security guard injured outside Parkway Bowl on Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon Saturday night shortly after 11 p.m.

El Cajon Police Department reports that a confrontation began at the bowling alley, leading to a shooting nearby.  A security guard who tried to intervene was rammed by the suspect’s vehicle as he fled the scene.

By Chris Jennewein, reprinted with permission by Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  David Nisleit at the press conference in the mayor’s office. Photo by Chris Jennewein

February 1, 2018 (San Diego) - A 30-year San Diego Police officer, Asst. Chief David Nisleit, was chosen Thursday as the next police chief of San Diego.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer made the announcement at an 11 a.m. press conference in his office accompanied by numerous community leaders.

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2018 (San Diego) – In what she calls a “wakeup call for men who buy sex,” San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan today announced the arrest of 29 men following a three-week sting operation. 

By Sergeant Kevin Maxwell, El Cajon Police Dept. Traffic Unit

January 29, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Kickoff on America’s favorite past time is just about ready to start. For many football fans, when it’s time for Super Bowl LII, everyone’s a fan…and Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. The California Office of Traffic Safety, Police, Sheriff and the CHP are huddling up for a special designated driver reminder to urge football fans across the nation not to drop the ball on this issue. 

By Paul Kruze

Watch ECM news partner 10News Video of students speaking at Helix

Update January 24, 2018:  La Mesa Police have identified the officer, Scott Wulfing, and indicated he is assigned to administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation.

January 23, 2018 (La Mesa) -- A group of some 200 students at Helix Charter High School on Monday morning walked out of their classes and gathered in front of the school chanting “Justice for Bri” to protest the aggressive arrest of an allegedly unruly 17-year-old female student on Friday afternoon.

The officer forced the handcuffed African-American girl, who has not been identified, to the ground. The San Diego Union-Tribune today reports that the La Mesa Police Department's school resources officer for Helix has been reassigned and will not be working in any schools until an investigation is concluded.

Update January 18, 2018:  Alaya Michelle Jenkins has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in this case.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

January 17, 2018 (El Cajon) — A woman stabbed near a bus stop in the 100 block of West Madison Avenue in El Cajon by another woman yesterday at 3 p.m. was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead.  According to Lt. Walt Miller with El Cajon Police, the victim and her pet pit bill dog had exited a vehicle to confront another woman. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 15, 2018 (San Diego) – They seem to spring up faster than weeds after the winter rains.  Marijuana dispensaries, still illegal on unincorporated lands in San Diego County despite the state’s recent legalization of recreational use, continue to pop up and routinely be shut down by the Sheriff’s department.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2018 (Spring Valley) – A raid at The Bakery, an illegal marijuana dispensary at 9215 Birth Street in Spring Valley, yesterday morning resulted in seizure of large amounts of marijuana, marijuana edibles, cash, marijuana paraphernalia and other items.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2018 (Alpine) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a burglary alarm at the Alpine School District yesterday around 4 p.m.  After security the perimeter of the building, they contacted a person they believed to be a possible suspect.   The individual, Kelly Carpenter, 59, “became uncooperative and assaultive toward deputies,” according to Sergeant James Blanton.  A deputy was injured in the struggle and received treatment for minor injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Samantha Banegas, via Facebook

January 10, 2018 (Ramona) – Bryan Hinkle, the suspect in the shooting death of Samantha Hayes Banegas, has died of self-inflicted injuries. Banegas, an El Cajon resident, had been honored as 2013-14 Barona Powwow Princess.

By Miriam Raftery

January 4, 2018 (Ramona) – The woman found dead at 24478 Del Amo Road in Ramona yesterday has been identified as Samantha Hayes Benegas, 21, of El Cajon. Deputies responding to a 911 call reporting a murder suicide also found Bryan Kinkle, 35, of Ramona nearby with a serious wound; he was airlifted to a hospital but is not expected to survive according to Lieutenant Rich Williams with the Sheriff’s homicide unit. 

The County Medical Examiner’s officer has completed an autopsy on Benegas and found cause of death was a gunshot wound.