East County News Service

March 7, 2016 (San Diego) – Last year,  83 people were victims of homicides in San Diego County, a 12% increase over the year before.  But San Diego still ranks as having the lowest murder rate among the nation’s ten biggest cities.  While San Diego’s murder rate last year was 2.7 per 100,000 residents, Philadelphia and Chicago, the worst cities in the nation for homicides, had 16 and 17 murders for every 100,000 residents, over five times higher than America’s Finest City.

East County News Service

March 4, 2016 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are search for two suspects who fired a gun at a witness during a robbery at the Sombrero Mexican Food restaurant in the 1200 block of West Main Street last night. The shot missed and the witness was not harmed.

Photo: Facebook

February 28, 2016 (Boulevard) --  The victim in yesterday’s fatal stabbing in Boulevard has been identified as Christalina Leona Louise Indish.  Four people have been arrested in connection with her death. In addition, 17 undocumented immigrants found at the residence have been detained.

East County News Service

February 27, 2016 (Boulevard) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Sheriff’s rural command received a call at 11:28 p.m. reporting a stabbing at 36380 Tusil Road in Boulevard on the Campo Indian reservation.  Deputies arrived at the residence to find a woman, approximately 35 years old, with obvious signs of trauma to her upper body, said Lieutenant Greg Rylaarsdam with the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail.

Deputies called for medical aid but paramedics confirmed the woman had died of her injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – In a case that pits privacy rights against security concerns, Apple has asked U.S. District judge to dismiss a court order requiring Apple to assist the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in hacking an iPhone owned by the terrorists who massacred 14 people in San Bernadino. 

East County News Service

February 16, 2016 (Boulevard) – A Sheriff’s deputy fired a shot early this morning at a domestic violence suspect who reportedly charged out of a home in Boulevard, screaming a waving a shovel. The deputy’s shot missed and the suspect, 19-year-old Reid Wohlford, barricaded himself inside the home, but was later apprehended with help from a K-9 dog.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ColbyCriminalJustice.Wikidot

February 14, 2016 (Sacramento) -- A ballot measure backed by Governor Jerry Brown would make it easier for nonviolent prisoners to win parole. It’s called the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act.

East County News Service

February 12, 2016 (Potero) – Michael Walliser, 68, has been arrested and charged with murder of his neighbor, Ronald Drinkard. Drinkard was shot March 22^nd at a residence on Coyote Holler in Potrero.

Source: USA.gov

February 11, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- The greeting card aisle crams with shoppers, struggling to find the right sentiment. Buyers line up at the register with heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, and keep florists busy juggling orders for beautiful bouquets. It’s all part of the excitement and romance of Valentine’s Day. But for someone who’s recovering from sexual assault or living with domestic violence, all of the cards and roses in the world can’t make up for the pain.

If you want to support a friend in this difficult situation, or if you need support yourself, USAGov has gathered these resources to help:

East County News Service

February 2, 2016 (Jacumba) – The Sheriff and Crime Stoppers are asking the public’s help to identify suspects who stole a construction backhoe loader and tools from the front yard of a home undergoing construction in Jacumba Hot Springs back on December 14^th.  A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.

East County News Service

February 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Sheriff Bill Gore has announced that his department will launch a pilot program to test body cameras.  The test period starts Friday, February 5^th.  It includes the Lakeside substation, Rancho San Diego station and Rural Command covering much of East County as well as the North Coastal and Vista stations, plus deputies assigned to the Hall of Justice.

By Miriam Raftery

January 27, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Juveniles in federal prisons can no longer be sentenced to solitary confinement under an executive order issued by President Barack Obama that also reforms solitary confinement rules for adults. Also this week, the Supreme Court ruled that an earlier decision banning mandatory life sentences for juveniles applies retroactively—meaning prisoners who committed serious crimes before age 18 must have parole hearings or an opportunity for resentencing.

Update January 23, 2016 -- The Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Donnie Chipp, 28.  Cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

East County News Service

January 22, 2016 (Pine Valley) – Pine Valley resident Douglas Kell, 20, has been arrested and charged with murder.

East County News Service

January 20, 2016 (Alpine) — At the El Cajon Courthouse this week, Navy Corpsman Brett Brown entered a not guilty plea to charges of murder and child abuse. He is accused of killing his gilfriend’s 19-year-old son.

ECM interviewed Officer Pak in December

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Kelsey Hauser, courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

January 19, 2016 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department has identified Officer Samson Pak as the patrol officer involved in a fatal shooting of a woman passenger (photo, left) and a dog in the vehicle on Sunday following a high-speed chase. The identities of the driver and all three passengers have also been released, including two El Cajon residents.