March 31, 2013 (El Cajon) – On March 28, 2013 at about 4:50 p.m. two men went to the El Cajon Animal Shelter located at 1275 N. Marshall and engaged one of the shelter attendants in a conversation. While there, the two men were looking at two dogs in separate kennels. The men had additional questions about the dogs and the attendant referred them to the shelter's office. The attendant then went to another portion of the shelter where she could no longer see the men. A short time later it was discovered the dogs the men were looking at had been taken from their kennels and were missing. The men could not be located.

March 28, 2013 (Julian ) – A motorist found a gunshot victim left wounded on Banner Grade along State Route 78 this morning and brought him to the Julian fire station.  The victim was taken to Palomar Medical Center and is expected to survive his injury.

Two people have been arrested for the shooting.  Jeffrey Roberson, 47, is charged with attempted murder.  Jennifer Minor, 40, faces a conspiracy charge.

March 25, 2013 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police Officers responded to a report of a fight and a possible stabbing in the 8100 block of La Mesa Boulevard last night.  According to Police, a 29 year-old victim was walking with two friends westbound in the 8200 block of La Mesa Boulevard.  Words were exchanged between the victim’s group and a group of five male suspects they encountered on the sidewalk.  A fistfight broke out between both groups.  During the fight one of the suspects armed himself with a pocket knife and stabbed the victim two times in the upper torso.

March 20, 2013 (San Diego)--The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program is offering rewards for information on two members of the Somalia-based terrorist organization, al-Shabaab. The Department has authorized rewards of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Jehad Serwan Mostafa or Omar Shafik Hammami.

Jehad Mostafa is a U.S. citizen and former resident of San Diego, California. Mostafa departed for Somalia in 2005 and has served as a media expert and leader of foreign fighters for al-Shabaab, according to a press release issued today by the FBI. He was indicted on October 9, 2009 in the Southern District of California, San Diego, California, on charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiring to provide material support to al-Shabaab, and providing material support to al-Shabaab. Mostafa is on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list. He has used birth years of 1981 and 1986 and has used the aliases Ahmed Gurey, Anwar al-Amriki, and Emir Anwar.

March 18, 2013 – A man armed with a gun robbed the USA Gas Station located at 7594 University Avenue in La Mesa shortly after midnight March 17, 2013. The suspect entered the store, displayed a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded cash. After the clerk complied, the suspect left the store on foot in an unknown direction.  Officers searched the surrounding areas but were unable to locate the suspect.

The suspect is described as a black male adult in his 30s, approximately 5’10 tall, 200 lbs, wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a black baseball cap. The suspect also wore a white bandana covering the lower portion of his face.

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 6, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Reynald Celendro was arrested yesterday in Spring Valley under suspicion of firing  in the direction of a motorist on Highway 52 in Tierrasanta near Santo Road earlier in the day.

CHP officers made the arrest in the 8900 block of Ildica Street in Spring Valley.  A pellet gun may have been involved.

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 (El Cajon) – SWAT team officers used tear gas to end a six-hour standoff and arrest Ennis Staten, 37, a domestic violence suspect who allegedly battered his wife, then threatened to kill himself and stab officers. 

El Cajon Police officers responded to a report of domestic violence at 353 Dominguez in El Cajon last night at 11:04 p.m. last night (Feb. 26), where a woman told them her husband had struck her repeatedly. Officers found her outside the apartment, suffering from facial injuries. She was transported to a hospital for treatment.

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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.

Update 11:55 p.m. -- The driver has come forward to contact police. For details, see: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/12514

February 19, 2013 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Police Traffic division is now investigating a hit and run collision involving a pedestrian tonight. A male pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing mid-block along Avocado Avenue near Carter Street just after 6:00 p.m. this evening. Avocado Avenue was closed between Chase Avenue and Washington Avenue for the investigation.

The Traffic Division is requesting witness information. If you have any information regarding this fatal collision, please call our 9-1-1 Dispatch, at (619) 579-3311.

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 15, 2013 (Valley Center)-- Sheriff's Deputies went door to door in Valley Center this morning to inform the community about a former Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) now living in their neighborhood. Mark William PLISKA reported to the Valley Center Sheriff's Substation on February 6th. He is now living at 15236 Woods Valley Road #41, Valley Center. 

Deputies and members of the SAFE or Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force notified 110 homes within a half-mile radius of Pliska's mobile home. Deputies also notified the principals of Valley Center Elementary and Valley Center Middle Schools, which were closest to Pliska's residence. Pliska relocated to Valley Center from Escondido. He is current with his registration and a county probation officer will monitor his compliance. 

February 12, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police warn that a 14-year-old girl riding her bicycle home on Dallas Street near Nagle Street this evening reports that a man in a white pickup truck jumped out of his vehicle and tried to kidnap her this evening.

Police responded at 6:23 p.m.  According to the victim, the man wore a red and white jacket and black baseball cap with logo. He is described as mixed race, 20-30 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium stocky build.  He drove a newer, medium-sized white pickup with white camper shell.