By Miriam Raftery

Jonathan Goetz also contributed to this report.

Photo, left, by Rebecca Williamson, during vigil at shooting sight this evening

September 28,2016 (El Cajon) –Amid mounting tensions and protests this evening,  El Cajon Police released updates in yesterday’s fatal shooting of Alfred Okwera Olango.  

The updated information reveals the Olango, an El Cajon resident, drew a vape smoking device from his pocket and pointed it at officers. The release also indicates a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team was unavailable due to being dispatched to another call.

A 10 News investigation found  Olango had a criminal record including  a 2005 arrest in Colorado as a felon in possession of a firearm—a semi-automatic pistol in the vehicle he was driving. He also pled guilty to receiving stolen property and driving under the influence in 1999, as well as selling cocaine in 2001.

In this confrontation, however, Olango did not have a gun or any other weapon.  The Ugandan refugee who came to America  after death threats to his famliy was shot and killed after his sister called officers for help due to her brother's erratic actions.

Tonight, crowds clashed with police.  While organizers of a march and vigil sought to keep the peace, some protesters reportedly threw bottles at police and chased a counter-protester wearing a Trump hat after he shouted racial slurs.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: El Cajon Police

Photos (rest) by Robert Gehr (c)

September 28, 2016 (El Cajon)—A shooting of a mentally ill African-American man by El Cajon Police yesterday  has sparked anger among some community members, though police have released a photo suggesting the man assumed a “shooter’s stance” before he was shot and killed.

Following a press conference this morning by police, civil rights leaders spoke at a press conference calling for a federal investigation.  Marches were held downtown and a candlelight vigil is planned tonight at 6 p.m. the El Cajon Police Station forAlfred Olango, 38.

Source:  Press release, SDSU Homeland Security graduate program

September 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- What can be done to stop active shooter incidents such as the one at the Washington Mall this week?  Two San Diegans who recently graduated from San Diego State University’s Homeland Security Program, have developed an innovative mobile app solution for preventing, mitigating and responding to active shooter situations. The Active Shooter Identification (ASI) application has the ability to detect a gunshot that supersedes 125 decibels.

Update Sept. 21,2016:  Sheriff's Homicide Detectives have arrested Sandra Leigh Stoneburner, who lived at the Camino San Ignacio address.  She is charged with murder of  the victim,  her sister Carrie Deatherage, 51.

East County News Service

September 17, 2016 (Warner Springs) — A shooting at the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs has left a woman, 51, in grave condition.  A 57-year-old woman has been detained as a “person of interest” at the scene, says Lieutenant Kenneth Nelson.

East County News Service

September 15, 2016 (San Diego) — An arrest at San Diego State University today sparked protests after videos posted online showed SDSU police officers forcing the African-American man, who was not a student to the ground.  Videos posted on the Daily Aztec show the man standing on a balcony at the student center near where the rapper Chance was slated to perform when he was tackled from behind.(Warning, strong language). Video does not show events leading up to the incident.  The man, whose identity has not been released, shouted to the officers, “You’re breaking my arms!” and insisted he didn’t do anything wrong. He was arrested after the take-down.

Students took to social media with the hashtag #BlackUnderAttackSDSU.  But SDSU’s president Elliott Hirshman issued a statement indicating the man had jumped a construction fence and had been reported by two callers to be acting erratically.

Source: Federal Bureau of  Investigation

September 9, 2016 (San Diego’s East  County) - FBI Special Agent in Charge, Eric S. Birnbaum announced three arrests and  filing of a six count federal complaint against a United States Customs and Border Protection Officer and two co-conspirators, as a result of a public corruption and alien smuggling investigation conducted in San Diego.

East County News Service

September 1, 2016 (El Cajon) -  Dr. Naga Raja Thota has been arrested at his office on Navajo Road in El Cajon by the San Diego Drug Enforcement Administration. A pain specialist and anesthesiologist, Dr. Thota is accused of trading prescriptions for opioid narcotic painkillers for sexual acts with multiple women, prosecutors allege.

East County News Service

August 28, 2016 (Borrego Springs) – Mark Peter Waugh, 53, has been arrested for the murder of a man found dead yesterday morning in a home at 430 Verbena Drive in Borrego Springs,

The victim has been identified as Brett Leslie Boynton, 52. The Borrego Sun reports that the deceased worked in the kitchen at Carlee’s restaurant in Borrego Springs.

According to the Medical Examiner, Boynton died of blunt force trama and possible strangulation. His death has been ruled a homicide.

East County News Service

August 26, 2016 (La Mesa) — Two women in south La Mesa awoke Tuesday around 3 a.m. to the sounds of banging on their front door.  10 News reports the women looked out and saw six people bashing the house and shattering car windows with hammers and a machete.

By Miriam Raftery

August 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — A man with a prior conviction for lewd conduct has been arrested for allegedly photographing a 10-year-old girl in the women’s restroom at a Wal-Mart on Camino Canada in El Cajon, just off of Interstate 8, on August 17th.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Department

August 23, 2016 (El Cajon) - Robert Becker is a registered sex offender under arrest on charges of taking cell phone video of a girl in a restroom at Wal-Mart in El Cajon. The investigation is ongoing and Becker is suspected of committing similar crimes in the East County and potential victims are being urged to come forward.

By Miriam Raftery

August 21, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Jailing poor defendants because they can’t afford bail is unconstitutional and violates the 14^th Amendment right to equal protection, the U.S.  Justice Department argued in an amicus brief filed in federal court on Thursday.

East County News Service

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

 

Update August 23,2016: The deputies involved in this shooting have been identified as Deputy Hugh Davidson, Deputy Nikholas Johnson, Deputy David Smith and Sergeant Robert Niderost. Davidson has been employed as a deputy sheriff with the San Diego Sheriff's Department for 2 years, Johnson for 10 years, Smith for 5 years, andNiederost for31 years. All involved deputies are assigned to the Poway Station.

Update August 19, 2016:  The deceased suspect has been identified as Trenton Lohman, 38, of Lakeside. He was on parole from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Cause of death was a thoracic gunshot wound.

August 18, 2016 (Poway) — Deputies opened fire on an armed man who carjacked two vehicles, including a patrol car.  A wild chase along Poway Road ended in the suspect driving into a ravine, where he was found dead.

By Miriam Raftery

August 10, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Yesterday, Steven Guider, 52, was arrested in the 8200 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. in unincorporated El Cajon. Guider posted $2,000 worth of construction equipment on Craigslist that had recently been stolen from a vehicle burglary in Santee.

East County News Service

August 8, 2016 (San Diego) - Mark Arabo is teaming up with the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) to hold a memorial ceremony and free barbeque for all San Diego honoring slain officers Jeremy Henwood and Jonathan DeGuzman. Today, there will be opportunity for interviews.