By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2022 (Spring Valley) – State Route 94 is shut down this morning for investigation of a car-to-car shooting that injured a woman who was driving a white Ford Edge. She was traveling west on 94 just east of Kenwood Drive, along with two male passengers, at 5:40 a.m. when an unknown vehicle pulled p behind and opened fire.

“Several of the rounds penetrated the vehicle and the female driver was struck.  This caused driver of the Ford to veer to the left and crash into the center median,” says Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol. “The unknown vehicle fled the scene westbound on State Route 94.”

March 2, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- Detectives from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station want the public's help in identifying and locating a man accused of trying to lure children into his black vehicle near a school in Spring Valley.

One of the children also told detectives the car may have tinted windows and a scratch on the rear bumper.Between February 17 and February 28, there have been at least two incidents of a man attempting to lure children into his car. The children told detectives the person who followed them is a black man between 30 and 40 years old driving a black car, possibly a Dodge Challenger or Charger. 

The children also told detectives the driver had a passenger whom they describe as a white man between 30 and 40 years old. 

East County News Service

Photo: Joylin Gutierrez, 6, and her suspected captor, her non-custodial parent Wendy Guttierez

Update:  Authorities indicate the abductor may have taken Joylin Gutierrez into Mexico.

February 22, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- The Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station wants your help in locating a missing six-year-old girl from Spring Valley.

On Tuesday, February 22 around 1:15 p.m., Joylin Gutierrez was taken from Kempton Elementary School located in the 700 block of Kempton Street in Spring Valley. Joylin  is Hispanic, three feet tall with long brown hair and brown eyes.  She was last seen wearing a pink or purple sweater.

 Joylin is believed to be with her biological, non-custodial parent, 45-year-old Wendy Gutierrez.

They were last seen around 4:00 p.m. in the area near East Plaza Boulevard and South Harbison Avenue in National City.

Update:  The deceased has been identified as Ronald Ray McKinney, 59. The death has been ruled a homicide.

East County News Service

January 23, 2022 (Spring Valley) – Hikers found the body of a man shortly after 7 a.m. today off the roadway in the 3500 block of Millar Ranch Road, Spring Valley. According to Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Thomas Seiver, “There was trauma to the body.”

The Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation. More information will be released to the public once the Medical Examiner's Office conducts an autopsy.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2022 (Spring Valley) – A male pedestrian who has not yet been identified was struck and killed tonight at 7:09 p.m. by a Volvo in Spring Valley.

According to Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol, the victim stepped off the sidewalk into the path of the 2010 Volvo XC90, which was traveling north on Sweetwater Road near Saint George Street.

East County News Service

January 14, 2022 (Spring Valley) – Today, the San Diego Sheriff announced arrest of a third suspect in the murder of 25-year-old Jordan Amon Farmer, who was shot and killed December 10, 2021 in his apartment in the 8900 block of Delrose Avenue, Spring Valley

Homicide detectives identified three suspects:  Jazmin Holdren, 25, Didesisi Franklin,27, and Andre L. Ford, 29.

Ford, who was already in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correction Center in San Diego, was arrested January 11, 2022 and charged with Farmer’s murder.  He has been booked into San Diego Central Jail.

By Miriam Raftery

Image:  final Congressional districts in San Diego County. Courtesy Citizens Redistricting Commission

December 21, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Yesterday, California’s independent citizen redistricting commission unanimously approved the state’s new Congressional district maps, which will be certified December 27.  Today, two of East County’s Congressional members, Democrat Sara Jacobs and Republican Darrell Issa, announced plans to seek reelection in their new and solidly safe districts.

East County News Service

December 7, 2021 (Spring Valley) – Mt. Miguel High School Foundation will present a Holiday Craft fair at 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley, CA 91977 on Saturday December 18, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

By Miriam Raftery

November 28, 2021 (Spring Valley) – Two homes in Spring Valley were destroyed yesterday by a fire started from a propane barbecue grill.

The blaze on San Bernadino Avenue near Date Street in La Presa started around 12:30 p.m. The grill was reportedly left unattended and flames caught wood siding on fire, San Miguel Fire & Rescue division chief Andy Lawler told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Residents, unable to locate a fire extinguisher, called 911.

East County News Service

November 24, 2021 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel & Hardy appreciation society, invite you to "Laurel & Hardy - Save the Best for December Night" December 18 at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

Update 8 p.m. -- The victim has been identified as Arnolfo Quintero, 26, of Spring Valley.  The Medical Examiner has determined the death was a homicide caused by the shooting.

East County News Service

November 4, 2021 (Spring Valley) – The Sheriff’s homicide unit is investigating the  death of a man who was shot in Spring Valley late last night.  

Deputies responded to multiple calls around 12:22 p.m. reporting the shooting in the 8700 block of Troy Street. Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s station arrived and learned that the victim was taken to a hospital by three concerned citizens, but despite treatment at the hospital, he did not survive. 

East County News Service

September 14, 2021 (Spring Valley) – A 60-year-old man died at the scene after being struck by a Mercedes Benz C350 last night in Spring Valley at 9:42 p.m. last night.  The Mercedes was traveling west on Jamacha Blvd. just west of Gillespie Drive when it struck the pedestrian.

East County News Service

September 4, 2021 (Spring Valley) – Mt. Miguel High School Foundation, the nonprofit organization devoted to helping Mt. Miguel High School, is hosting Quartermania on Saturday, October 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mt. Miguel High School Multi-Cultural Event Center, 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley. The cost of admission is $20; all proceeds will go toward Mt Miguel High School Special Projects.

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2021 (Spring Valley) –  Boys and girls in grades K-5 and their families are invited to attend Cub Scouts Pack 355 “Join Night” on September 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Santa Sophia Academy, 9806 Juan Street, Spring Valley.

Source:  San Diego Sheriff

August 17, 2021 (Spring Valley) - On Friday around 7 a.m., detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), with the assistance of San Diego Sheriff Deputies from the Santee Patrol Station's Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (C.O.P.P.S.) Unit, San Diego Sheriff Deputies from the Lakeside Patrol Station's Crime Suppression Team (CST) and San Diego Sheriff's deputies from the Special Enforcement Detail (SED) served search warrants at two illegal marijuana dispensaries. One dispensary was located on the 600 block of Grand Avenue in Spring Valley and the other dispensary was located on the 700 block of Grand Avenue in Spring Valley.