East County News Service

June 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- Over the past six years, law enforcement agencies throughout the region have seen an 84 percent increase in the number of calls for service that stem from mental health issues, according to new data compiled by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Criminal Justice Research Division.

East County Magazine

June 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- In response to the community’s objections about San Diego Police Department’s unprecedented show of force at last Friday’s Trump Rally, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties sent a letter yesterday requesting public records from the City of San Diego concerning SDPD’s operations. 

East County News Service

May 29,2016 (San Diego's East County) -- AB 2590, the Restorative Justice bill authored by  Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego)  passed the full Assembly last week

With a massive recidivism rate, it's time for more effective approach to public safety, Dr.    Weber believes. This bill provides an opportunity for the offender - with the consent of the victims or their families - to accept responsibility, acknowledge the harm to victims, make agreements to repair damage as much as possible, and clarify future intentions to reform.

East County News Service

May 25, 2016 (El Cajon) – An Uber driver arrested for sexual assault in El Cajon in March now faces charges as a serial rapist. 

El Cajon Police have charged John David Sanchez, 52, with sexually assaulting five additional victims, including raping a 13-year-old child and raping an unconscious person.  Authorities believe those attacks occurred between 2011 and 2014 at Sanchez’s residence in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mike Farrell was interviewed by ECM editor Miriam Raftery on his opposition to the death penalty and prison reform issues during his 2009 visit with the Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club

May 19, 2016 (San Diego) -- Signature gathers are working to put two competing measures on the ballot. One, backed by former M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell, would eliminate the death penalty in California.  The second measure would speed up the process for inmates on death row.

East County News Service

May 17, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation want the public's help in identifying and locating those responsible for stealing 43 laptops from San Miguel Elementary School April 27^th or 28^th. 

Attackers use compromising information to force victims to engage in sexual activity online

East County News Service

May 17, 2016 (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging the Department of Justice to begin specifically tracking criminal offenses involving acts of sexual extortion, or "sextortion."

May 13, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Brent Adler, 33, is dead of a gunshot wound after arriving at his San Carlos home and interrupting a home invasion robbery.  San Diego Police are seeking four or five men spotting fleeing the scene in the 8500 block of Tommy Drive in a green Ford Expedition Wednesday, May 11 around 2:50 p.m..

The victim suffered at least one gunshot wound to his upper body and was found dead in front of the residence.

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (La Mesa) — La Mesa Police tried to stop a vehicle for an equipment violation in the Costco Parking lot this morning, but the suspect put his Toyota Camry into reverse quickly, causing officers to have to jump out of the way, according to an police. He fled, leading officers on a brief pursuit before he got out of the vehicle and ran behind businesses along Fletcher Parkway.

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (San Diego) -- Sergeyi Bazar, a 37-year-old Ukrainian national living in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court May 3rd to 17 years in custody for sex trafficking two adult women in late 2014. Bazar was found guilty after jury trial in November 2015 for two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of coercion and enticement.

Source:  La Mesa Police Department Press Release

May 2, 2016 (La Mesa) - On May 5, officers from the La Mesa Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee. All community members are invited to attend. The event begins at 8:00 AM at Starbucks, 5020 Baltimore Drive La Mesa.

East County News Service

April 29, 2016 (Santee) – George Lowery, 50, a homeless man found brutally beaten April 24^th in the San Diego riverbed in Santee, has died of his injuries. 

Updated April 25, 2016 with victim's identity and cause of death.

East County News Service

April 24, 2016 (Lakeside) – Lance Benson, 29, of Lakeside has been arrested and will be charged with murder for the death of a man found early this morning on a sidewalk by a newspaper delivery person. The victim has been identified as Trammel Joseph Rizzuti, age 35 and the death was caused by sharp force trauma.

By Liz Alper

Photo by Miriam Raftery

April  22, 2016 (San Diego) – La Mesa Chamber of Commerce members and guests came bright and early to Marie Callender’s for a breakfast with new La Mesa police chief Walt Vasquez on April 13th.