By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2013 (Lakeside) – Details are emerging about the dramatic rescue Saturday of Hannah Anderson, the 16-year-old Lakeside teen abducted by James Lee DiMaggio, a 40-year-old family friend.  Hannah is safe and being reunited with her family after being found in the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho, an area also known as the River of No Return. 

According to San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore, Hannah was taken against her will and did not know about the tragedy that befell her mother and brother, who were found dead in a fire at DiMaggio’s Boulevard home. Authorities have found that Hannah’s mother, Christina Anderson, was murdered by being struck on her head.  DNA tests identified a second body as that of 8-year-old Ethan Anderson.

"It is clear from information we have received that she was under extreme duress. She was taken out of the county, out of the state, clearly against her will," said Gore in an interview with 10 News.. "She has lost her mother and her brother, which she was not aware of until she was recovered up in Idaho... She didn't know."

August 10, 2013 (Lakeside) -- A nationwide search for missing Lakeside teenager Hannah Anderson, 16, and her suspected abductor, James Lee DiMaggio, is over. Late this afternoon, Hannah was rescued and FBI agents shot and killed DiMaggio at Morehead Lake, Idaho after an arrest attempt, San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore announced.

“We want to thank the public for looking out for Hannah and Ethan Anderson during the Amber Alert and calling in your tips to law enforcement,” Sheriff Gore said.

Facebook page for suspect James DiMaggio has cryptic final messages

By Nadin Abbott

August 8, 2013 (Lakeside) The Amber Alert for Hannah Anderson, 16, and her brother, Ethan, 8, has now extended to Mexico. According to El Diario, a Mexican newspaper, “The FBI is working with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and Mexican authorities since Monday.”http://diario.mx/Estados_Unidos/2013-08-08_1b800648/emiten-alerta-amber-en-san-diego-buscan-al-sospechoso-en-mexico

Other developments have led to the extension of the Amber Alert to Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Canada. 

"We are hoping. We're keeping the faith; our little girl is coming home." -- Sara Britt, grandmother

By Nadin Abbott

August 6, 2013 (Lakeside) A very emotional gathering of friends, classmates and residents of Hannah and Ethan Anderson met at El Capitan High School tonight in Lakeside  to hold a vigil for the missing children. Those present lit candles and at the end of the ceremony let balloons lose to signify hope.

The children were declared missing and a statewide Amber Alert was issued by the authorities for Hannah, 16, and her 8-year-old brother, Ethan, Monday. On Sunday night, the body of their mother, Christina Anderson, and an unidentified child’s body were found in a burned home in Boulevard. 

Authorities have stated that Christina Anderson was murdered. They have not identified the child’s body found. Police believe that one or both children have been abducted by James Lee DiMaggio, a friend of their mother.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2013 (Lakeside) – Lakeside resident Dennis Richardson was shocked to find a gift-wrapped box outside his home left around 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday,  July 30 with a hand-scrawled threat reading “Someone’s gonna get beat with my bat!”  He called the Sheriff, who dispatched a Bomb-Arson team to blow up the box as a suspicious device. 

After the explosion, they found a dead rabbit in the box with a red ribbon tied around its neck. Surveillance video showed four male suspects in light-colored clothing—and they left behind clues, including a shoebox for men’s athletic shoes, size 13, white Active Performance Succeed- manufactured by Champion and sold locally at Target.  A video of the suspects has been posted on the Lakeside Eucalyptus Hills Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eucalyptus-Hills-in-Lakeside-California-92040/157660207604891

Richardson, whose photos and stories have been featured in ECM, said of the threat, “I react and take it serious…This is a federal offense—making terroristic threats.”  He has offered a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. 

July 30, 2013 (El Cajon) – A fugitive who rammed a police car in El Cajon is under arrest, along with his companion.  The arrests followed a pursuit that resulted in a police officer opening fire and a K-9 dog biting the fleeing suspect.

At 2 p.m. on July 30, El Cajon Police offers spotted the wanted fugitive, Ali Alkafaji in the 1300 block of North Johnson. Officers in marked patrol units attempted to stop the vehicle, assisted by a California Highway Patrol officer. According to police, the suspect intentionally rammed a police sergeant’s vehicle and then accelerated toward the CHP officer, who was out of his car on foot.

According to Lieutenant Frank La Haye, “The suspect continued in the CHP officer’s direction, attempting to run him over. The CHP officer, fearing for his life, fired several rounds at the suspect’s vehicle.”

July 26, 2013 (Ramona) – On July 25, 2013 at approximately 11:55 a.m. Sean Kelly Cullen, 22, of Ramona was riding a 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650.  The rider was traveling in the eastbound lane of SR-78 east of Magnolia Avenue at approximately 60 MPH when he lost control of the motorcycle.  The motorcycle crossed the parallel yellow lines, into the westbound traffic lane.

Over the weekend, over 1,000 federal, state and local law enforcement officers conducted Operation Allied Shield, resulting in nearly 400 arrests, including 34 gang members.

The operation included parole and probation checks, traffic stops, and serving search and arrest warrants to locate and arrest gang offenders.   Command posts were established in Spring Valley, San Diego and Vista.

July 12, 2013 (El Cajon) -- Lynmarie Rodriguez, 29, of Chula Vista has been charged with attempted murder for reportedly stabbing a man at his home at 1696 Buckeye Drive in El Cajon.  According to El Cajon Police Lieutenant Frank Haye, investigators found that the woman had "attempted to rob the victim when the altercation occurred."

June 29, 2013 (San Diego)—The San Diego Sheriff's Department, Crime Stoppers and the Fugitive Task Force seek public help to locate Ramiro Espinoza, who  has a $1,000,000 arrest warrant for attempted murder, domestic violence, felony assault, as well as a felon in possession of a weapon. Espinoza has a tattoo that says "San Diego" on his stomach. He also has a tattoo picture of Jesus with a thorn crown on his back. Espinoza is known to frequent the South Bay area of the county.

If you see him, do not approach him. Espinoza has a history of violence and should be considered armed and dangerous.

June 21, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police responded to a 911 call last night at 11:17 p.m. from a woman who had been shot in the hand and abdomen by her husband, Clyyde Hayen. On arrival at the residence in the 7300 block of Princeton Avenue, Police found that the suspect was still inside the residence and the victim was unable to leave.

After a few minutes, the 73-year old victim was able to leave the residence.  The victim reported that she had just served her husband with divorce papers prior to the shooting.

June 19, 2013 (Valley Center)--A five-month-old baby abducted in Valley Center by a domestic violence suspect was found safe hours after the abduction, the San Diego Sheriff reports. A countywide amber alert issued for suspect Kenneth Nusun Welch has been cancelled. The suspect in this case was taken into custody in Vista just before 10:00 a.m.

The incident started just before 2:00 a.m, when deputies in Valley Center responded to a domestic violence call on Poomacha Road. Deputies found an injured woman. She was taken to a hospital with life threatening injuries. Deputies also learned the woman's boyfriend, Kenneth Wayne Welch, snatched their five-month-old son and threatened to harm the baby.

June 11, 2013 (La Mesa) – At 12:30 a.m. on June 8,  the crew of the Sheriff’s ASTREA 3 helicopter was repeatedly struck by a green laser. ASTREA 3, piloted by Deputy Dollard with Tactical Flight Officer Deputy Brown, was flying in the La Mesa area when Deputy Brown noticed a green laser was striking him. Deputy Dollard positioned the aircraft so that Deputy Brown could locate the suspect using the Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) camera. While orbiting an apartment complex in the 5300 block of Baltimore Avenue, La Mesa, the suspect stood on his balcony and illuminated ASTREA 3 with the laser.

June 10, 2013 (La Mesa) – Crime didn’t pay for a pair of burglars caught fleeing the scene of a break-in at Vista La Mesa Academy.  On June 6 at 2:28 a.m., La Mesa Police responded to an alarm activation at the elementary school, located at 3900 Violet Street.  As officers arrived, they heard glass breaking inside.  More officers, including a canine team, responded.

Two suspects were seen carrying computer equipment out of the school and fleeing south through the playground area. Both were taken into custody as they jumped a fence at the south end of the school grounds. The property taken was recovered.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

June 5, 2013 (Campo) – A Border Patrol agent discharged his weapon during a pursuit in Campo early this morning.  A suspected drug smuggler was injured by flying glass when the vehicle window shattered, according to a Sheriff’s report, which indicated the agent claims to have fired in self-defense.

Lieutenant Glenn Giannantonio with the San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Detail said the suspect was treated at a hospital and released to custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.