East County News Service

January 26, 2017 (San Diego) – Campo resident Ryan Gary Renz, 24, has been arrested for murder and suspicion of driving under the influence after the Jetta vehicle he was driving flipped over last night at 6:55 p.m., killing two passengers.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Still shot from video taken on Branch’s cell phone

January 22, 2017 (San Diego) – The trial of Robert Branch, an African-American motorist choked unconscious by a white Sheriff’s deputy in Del Cerro in May 2015, begins Monday.  Branch was charged initially with resisting arrest, but after he filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Sheriff’s department alleging inappropriate use of force, additional felony charges of reckless driving and use of deadly force against an officer were filed against Branch.  Branch captured a portion of the altercation on a disturbing video. 

Photo:  Bonnie Dumanis, after winning reelection in 2014

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2017 (San Diego) — Bonnie Dumanis has served as San Diego’s District Attorney for the past 14 years.  Today, she announced that she will not seek reelection in 2018, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

By Miriam Raftery; Thea Skinner contributed to this report

January 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Numerous local residents say that after using their debit cards inside a Circle K store in La Mesa, thieves attempted to withdraw money from their bank accounts.  Similar scams have been used recently at other local gas stations and convenience stores. 

East County News Service

January 11, 2017 (Santee) – A California Highway Patrol Officer was injured today after stopping to investigate a collision on I-15 south at the junction with State Route 52.   The officer was outside his patrol car and put his hand out to stop a motorcyclist who was passing on the shoulder, but the motorcyclist accelerated and struck the officer. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2017 (El Cajon) – San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis today announced that her office has exonerated El Cajon Police Officer Richard Gonsalves and will not file charges over the shooting of Alfred Olango.

East County News Service

January 10, 2017 (Spring Valley) – Last night shortly after 10 p.m., deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station responded to calls of gunshots heard in the 1100 block of Jamacha Lane in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

January 8, 2017 (Alpine) – Authorities recovered a stolen U-Haul truck on Friday, filled with other stolen property.

An Alpine Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the lot of a local casino and spotted the stolen U-Haul truck.  With help from casino security, the deputy located the truck’s two occupants, Kimberly White, 47, and Salomon Saenz, 60. 

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 4, 2017 (San Diego) - A running program is giving some youth in detention not only a physical outlet for stress but also meditative time to refocus and readjust attitudes that landed them in trouble. It’s turned into both a goal and an accomplishment they never thought they could attain – and an important component of their efforts to get their lives on the right track.

East County News Service

January 2, 2017 (El Cajon) – A man wielding a knife was shot last night shortly after 9 p.m. by an El Cajon Police officer and is being treated at a local trauma center for the gunshot injury. According to Lieutenant Randy Soulard with ECPD’s special enforcement division, the officer was wearing a body camera and footage has been retained as evidence.

By Miriam Raftery

December 23, 2016 (El Cajon) — An El Cajon Police offered suffered a minor injury after he was struck by the door of a vehicle driven by a fleeing suspect.

Last night at 8:06 p.m., officers responded to a report of a person sleeping behind the wheel of a vehicle in a strip mall parking lot in the 100 block of North Second Street. 

East County News Service

December 20, 2016 (San Francisco) — California’s Supreme Court has temporarily blocked implementation of Proposition 66, a measure approved by voters in November that would speed up death penalty cases.  The high court issued the stay to allow time to hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by opponents of the measure.

East County News Service

December 15, 2016 (Spring Valley) – Jesus Perez, 26, was arrested yesterday afternoon by Sheriff’s detectives for attempted murder. The arrest stems from a shooting which occurred in the early morning hours of October 30th in the 800 block of Broadview Street in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

December 13, 2016 (San Diego) — California Highway Patrol seeks public help to identify a pedestrian struck at 11:17 p.m. Saturday night while walking in lanes of Interstate northbound, south of Friars Road.  The victim suffered major head and chest trauma after being struck by a maroon Subaru station wagon.

By Miriam Raftery

December 12, 2016 (Alpine) -- The Sheriff’s department today announced a second arrest related to the death of 18-month-old Leah Brown-Meza. Lilly Brown, 21, the tot’s mother, will be charged with three counts of willful cruelty to a child with great bodily injury and/or death, said Sheriff’s Homicide Lieutenant Kenneth Nelson.