June 10, 2013 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant in the 12000 block of Old Barona Road in Lakeside on June 5 and found a large marijuana cultivation, Sgt. Craig Johnson reports.

During the search, two women, ages 83 and 61, were detained but not arrested. The house on the property had been burned down during the Cedar fires and had not been rebuilt. The women were living in tents on the property.

April 27, 2013 (Poway) – A Sheriff’s K-9 dog search team located a body on Thursday, April 25 in the Blue Sky Ecological Preserve on Espola Road.  Searchers had been looking for Richard Carter, who was reported missing Monday by his wife.  Carter’s car was found parked at Blue Sky.

An identification of the body has not yet been made, pending an examination by the Medical Examiner. Cause of death has also not yet been determined.

Carter, 55, was despondent due to family problems, City News Service reported.

April 25, 2013 (La  Mesa)—Three robbers, one armed with a handgun, held up the Los Piños Taco Shop at 5660 Lake Murray Boulevard in La Mesa last night at approximately 9:52 p.m. They remain at large despite a search by the Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter and a canine unit.

All three are described as African-American men in their late teens or early 20s, wearing bandanas over their faces.  Each was approximately 5’10 and weighs around 165 pounds.  One wore eye glasses and another had a dark gray hooded sweatshirt. All wore dark clothing.

April 13, 2013 (Santee) – A Santee security guard who told Sheriff’s deputies that he was shot at in his vehicle and fired back has been arrested for filing a false report, negligent discharge of a firearm and planting evidence.

Lance Wright, 22, an employee of Bravo 3 Security, called 911 shortly before 4 a.m. on April 5 to report that while driving on Woodside Avenue near Highway 67 in Santee, he saw flashing lights.  Wright claimed that as he pulled over, a red Suburban drove by and shots were fired at him, so he fired back.

March 29, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff’s deputies arrested 14  juveniles during a curfew sweep of Santee and Lakeside from 10 p.m. last night until 1:30 a.m. this morning. 

The juveniles were released to their parents at the Santee Sheriff’s substation.  Eleven were given an opportunity to participate n a diversion program through San Diego Youth Services. Three cases were turned over to the District Attorney’s office for review. One juvenile was found in possession of marijuana.

Deputies were also out on patrol to look for social host violations. No social host violations were discovered.

March 22, 2013 (Santee)--A 14-year-old boy has been booked into Juvenile Hall after making threats against two schoolmates, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department reports.

The principal of Cajon Park Elementary (which has students from kindergarten through 8th grade) school called the Santee Sheriff's Station  yestserday after a female student reported receiving a text message saying she will be killed at school. A second female student received a text message in reference to the killing and a body being hidden.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

March 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – A suicidal man who doused the family home with gasoline forced a two-hour stand-off with law enforcement.  The incident on Penasco Road in the unincorporated portion of El Cajon began around 4:30 p.m., when the suspect’s mother made repeated calls for help, Lt. Eddie Brock with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department told East County Magazine.

A command station was set up at Valhalla High School nearby. 

March 3, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Authorities seek information on an assault by four suspects that occurred last night in Spring Valley.  Lemon Grove Deputies responded at 8:52 p.m. of an assault with a deadly weapon at 9112 Kenwood Dr. in Spring Valley.

According to Sergeant V.J. Rivera, “There were four male Hispanic suspects involved and all were wearing mostly dark clothing. The victim got into a verbal confrontation with one of the suspects after the suspect kicked the victim's car, then it turned physical. During the physical altercation one of the suspects pulled out a knife and cut the victim on his forearm.”

February 27, 2013 (Ramona) – Miles Lockhart, 52, has been arrested for the murder of Shane Tatro, 38.  Tato died on September 16 of a single shotgun wound during an altercation over the purchase of marijuana outside Lockhart’s residence, according to Captain Duncan Fraser with the San Diego Sheriff.

February 23, 2013 (Ramona) –Three men were arrested early February 22 in Ramona following a SWAT operation that led to the seizure of $15,000 worth of marijuana, plus a firearm and $17000 cash.

“The suspects had fortified the residence with a steel security screen door, steel gates and an aggressive dog,” said Sergeant B. Hout with the San Diego Sheriff’s office.

Sheriff’s detectives from the Ramona substation, with assistance form the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT team), served a warrant at a residence at 312 Fegahli Road around 6 a.m. Thursday.  The search warrant was the result of a month-long narcotics operation.

February 16, 2013 (Rancho San Diego) – At 1:33 a.m.,  deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Station responded to an armed robbery at the 7-11 store  at 1498 Jamacha Road in unincorporated El Cajon.

“The suspect in the robbery was a male, wearing a black jacket and jeans. The race of the suspect is unknown because he was wearing a mask,” said Sergeant V.J. Rivera.

February 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A string of 7-11 daytime robberies have been committed by a masked suspect in the past several days.The suspect may be armed with a handgun.

Two robberies occurred yesterday in unincorporated El Cajon at 3 a.m. and 3:12 a.m. The most recent occurred  at the 7-11 on Lake Jennings Road near I-8. The suspect wore  a red mask, gloves and a hood.  Another occurred at Jamacha and Chase a day or so earlier, Lt. Scott Amos with the San Diego Sheriff’s department indicated.  In addition, a similar crime occurred in a neighboring jurisdiction, he added.

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2013 (Poway) – A 12-year-old student at Twin Peaks Middle School has been arrested after sending an e-mail to an administrator Friday night threatening to shoot 23 students and a teacher at the school on Monday, February 11.

According to the  San Diego County Sheriff's department, the e-mail also claimed the student had access to numerous firearms and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Yesterday, a search of the student’s home found numerous rifles and handguns along with computers, ECM news partner 10 News reports.

February 2, 2013 (Jamul)--Yesterday, the San Diego Sheriff announced the arrest of Quincy Sharp, 20, as an accessory to the murder of Dillon Davis. Davis’ body was found in the trunk of a burning vehicle on Skyline Truck Trail in Jamul on September 20, 2012. 

Two other suspects have previously been arrested and charged with murder: Miles Sharp (Quincy’s brother) and Devin Gaillard.  

January 16, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego Sheriff is warning the public to beware of phone scammers posing as members of the Sheriff’s Department.  There are at least two separate scams.  One involves canceling arrest warrants or court appearances for a fee.  The other scam entails notifying the victim that they have won a prize, then asking for payment for taxes.  Scroll down for details.

December 15, 2012 (Lakeside) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team performed a hoist rescue last night to save two hikers off El Cajon (El Capitan) Mountain in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley area.

“The hikers reported that they were lost, cold, wet and unprepared for the cold weather,” Sgt. Mike Forbes with the Santee Sheriff Patrol Station reports.

By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2012 (Bonita) – Today Sheriff’s deputies, with help from Alcoholic Beverage Control agents, conducted drunk decoy operations in Imperial Beach and Bonita.  Of 11 retail outlets visited, six sold alcohol to individuals who appeared to be intoxicated.

An undercover Deputy Sheriff was sprayed with alcohol for the operation, then entered the establishments acting intoxicated and reeking of alcohol.  Where alcohol was sold to the decoy, plainclothes deputies entered and provided informational handouts to the persons who made the sales; no enforcement actions were taken.

December 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—A driver observed driving a Chevrolet Tahoe erratically at a high speed on I-8 early this morning refused to pull over, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit. The driver ultimately exited the freeway in the Granite Hills neighobrhood, lost control and rolled over.

“The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, exited the vehicle and the CHP Officers ordered him to stop and raise his hands,” Lt. Glenn Giannantonio with San Diego Sheriff’s homicide detail stated. “The suspect made movements leading the officers to believe he was reaching for a weapon while he was advancing toward them. Fearing the suspect would shoot them, one or more of the officers fired their service weapons at him.”

November 1, 2012 (Poway)—A hiker who collapsed on a trail on the Poway side of Mount Woodson has been declared dead, Lt. J.T. Faulkner with the San Diego Sheriff’s office informed ECM.

A friend who was hiking with the victim called for help at 11:04 a.m.  “Our unit got there at 11:14 and the Fire Department was already there,” Lt. Faulkner told ECM.  The victim was found about halfway up a trail.  Copter 12 and ASTREA were called in to assist.

Excessive heat warning in effect; Sheriff issues safety tips for hikers

July 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for San Diego County’s desert areas, cautioning that conditions “could be deadly” for unprepared campers or hikers. 

That message comes too late for Lynn Thu Tran, 19, of Escondido.  She was found unconscious with signs of heat stroke on the Julian side of Cedar Creek Falls at 5:30 p.m. on July 9. She was airlifted to Palomar Hospital but did not survive.  According to the Medical Examiner, she died of hypethermia, conditions related to a heat stroke.

July 5, 2012 (San Diego)--FREEZE! Do a good deed and get a cool treat from Sheriff's Deputies.

Sheriff's Deputies are issuing a different kind of "ticket" to children this summer.

Don't be alarmed if deputies stop you along a bike path or sidewalk or call you over to the patrol car, a release issued by the Sheriff’s office cautions. This summer, deputies will "ticket" kids caught in the act of doing a good deed with Slurpee© beverage coupons.

July 5, 2012 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s Child Abuse unit, Homicide Detail and Crime Lab are investigating the serious injury of a 7-month-old child.

Ramona deputies received a call at 11:27 a.m. yesterday to assist fire department paramedics in 2600 block of Southern Oak Road.  The child, injured inside the home, was transported via air ambulance to Rady Children’s Hospital but is not expected to survive, said Lt. Larry Nesbit with the Sheriff's Homicide Detail.

Curfew and social host ordinance sweeps to continue this weekend
 

June 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – During the past two nights, the Santee Sheriff’s station conducted a sweep in Santee, Lakeside and unincorporated areas of El Cajon. Deputies arrested 13 juveniles for violating curfew after 10 p.m. They also looked for social host violations (adults providing alcohol to minors) but no social host arrests were made.

Update June 22:  Joe Rodrigues is safe after walking into a medical clinic; he was hospitalized overnight for observation.

June 21, 2012 (Bonita) – The Sheriff seeks public help to find Joe Rodrigues, an 80-year-old Hispanic man who uses oxygen at night and walks with a cane. He walked away from his residence at 3709 Glen Verde Court in Bonita between 4 and 7:50 p.m. yesterday.

Although his destination is unknown, authorities say he may be heading toward his prior residence in downtown San Diego. He may have been wearing a dark baseball cap, long-sleeve blue shirt and glasses.  He is 5 feet 10 and weighs about 180 pounds.

June 14, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – Animal Control officers have removed three apparent pit bull dogs from a home in the 3500 block of West Street in Lemon Grove, where an eight-month-old baby boy was attacked late this afternoon.

May 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – After spotting a Saturn car driving erratically near 257 East Bradley Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon at 12:08 a.m., three deputies from the Santee Sheriff’s Patrol Station attempted to stop the vehicle.  The driver accelerated, leading deputies on a two-minute pursuit.  The Saturn then struck a parked car in the driveway of a home at 988 Flint Street, pushing it into the garage.

All had criminal records, face new charges

May 25, 2012 (Poway) – San Diego Sheriff’s office has revealed details in a high-speed chase that ended in a crash in Poway on May 22.  Two of the occupants were on probation while a third had an outstanding arrest warrant; all now face new charges.