By Elijah McKee

December 21, 2021 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon City Council tackled several County-level issues at its recent meeting on December 14.  

First, City Manager Graham Mitchell spoke about a rare opportunity to temporarily over-staff the police department with 10 new officers drawn laterally from other nearby agencies, in an effort to save the city money over the next three years. 

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, as many as 160 San Diego police officers may be facing termination in light of the city’s vaccine mandate. Meanwhile, El Cajon does not currently have such a mandate.

By Elijah McKee

Photo, left: Rebecca Branstetter, East County Homeless Task Force, testifies to El Cajon City Council

December 18, 2021 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon City Council addressed several agenda items at its last meeting that had potential to either help or hurt those in the homeless community who rely on cars or RVs. 

According to the East County Homeless Task Force (ECHTF), the Cajon Valley Union and Grossmont Union High School Districts serve a known homeless population of over 550 families, at least 30 of which are unsheltered and sometimes living in vehicles. 

However, after lengthy discussion, the two pressing items — a Safe Parking Program proposal and a zoning code update on RVs — were pushed off to a future meeting so that City staff could look at them in greater detail. Many who spoke at the meeting hoped to see clear actionable steps and less policy mazes on these issues, but the City Council sought to strike a balance. 

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2021 (El Cajon) – Sheriff’s deputies deployed a spike strip on Interstate 8 East in El Cajon Tuesday night to help stop a suspected carjacker who forced an Amazon driver out of a delivery truck in Kearny Mesa. The driver drove a short distance on the shredded tires before he was surrounded by officers and arrested in the parking lot at Shadow Mountain Church on Greenfield Drive in El Cajon around10 p.m.

East County News Service

December 13, 2021 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are investigating a suspicious death after Sharp Grossmont Hospital reported a 29-year-old man with a single gunshot wound admitted by family members last night around 8:15 p.m. The man died of his injury upon arrival at the hospital.  

“At this time, it is believed the incident originated on the 500 block of Jeffree Street in the City of El Cajon,” says Sergeant James Juns with El Cajon Police. 

Story and photos by Elijah McKee

December 8, 2021 (El Cajon) — “Our community is under threat again. This time, it's right here in the United States,” said Vince Kattoula, a Chaldean activist, at the Keep East County United rally and press conference on Tuesday.

"These types of extraction operations pose an inherent risk to public safety.” --Shelly S. Howe, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Agency 

Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

December 3, 2021 (El Cajon) --  Yesterday the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotic Task Force and El Cajon Police Department executed a state search warrant at a warehouse at 1478 Fayette Street in El Cajon.  Investigators uncovered an active and sophisticated hexane hash oil extraction laboratory operation. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner ABC10 News

December 1, 2021 (El Cajon) – A man who reportedly threatened another person with a gun during a domestic violence dispute in City Heights early this morning fled the scene when San Diego Police officers arrived shortly after 7 a.m. 

The suspect, who was driving a white SUV, led officers on a high speed pursuit first to Kearny Mesa. California Highway Patrol joined the chase but halted when speeds reached up to 100 miles per hour near a school, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

East County News Service

November 25, 2021 (Crest) – Santa will arrive by firetruck to cap off a two-day Christmas Market and Festival in Crest.  The event will be held at the Crest Clubhouse (113 North Park, El Cajon) on Friday, December 3 from 3-8 p.m. and Saturday, December 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Story and photos by Henri Migala

November 23, 2021 (El Cajon) -- November is National Homeless Youth Month. Nearly 100 people participated in a rally and march in downtown El Cajon on November 17 to bring attention and awareness to this national crisis, including El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, Councilmember Steve Goble, and representatives from various non-profit organizations and agencies dedicated to serving homeless youth.

According to the National Child Trauma Stress Network, “as many as 2.5 million youth per year experience homelessness. Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many homeless youths are also victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers, with an increased likelihood of substance abuse, early parenthood, impulsivity, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a vulnerability to being trafficked.”

It is estimated that there are at least 1,500 homeless youth in San Diego, although some believe that the number is much higher since homeless youth are difficult to find and count.

East County News Service

Photo: CC via Bing

November 14, 2021 (El Cajon) – A walk, rally and resource fair aimed at raising awareness of runaways and ending youth homelessness will take place Wednesday, November 17 in downtown El Cajon. According to Home Start, the nonprofit organizing the event in honor of National Runaway Month:

The victim, Jose Serra, was interviewed today by 10 News. Still in the hospital, he said the assailant had asked him on the trolley for directions to Spring Street. Soon after they got off in El Cajon, Serra says, "He just pulled out the knife and started slashing. It was a complete surprise."  A bystander came to his aid after he fell to the sidewalk. He adds, “It feel good, feels good to be alive."

Investigators are looking into whether the assault on Serra, who is Filipino, may have been a hate crime.

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2021 (El Cajon) – The victim of a brutal stabbing attack in El Cajon was on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit, after suffering stab wound injuries to multiple major organs, his intestines, head and hand.

The vicious assault by a stranger also cut an artery and nearly severed an ear, according to Todd Jones, who has set up a GoFundMe account to help his 71-year-old friend and colleague.

By Ken Stone and Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells warned against the “evil” of government mandates.  Photo by Chris Stone

November 11, 2021 (El Cajon) - Raging against “a plot to take over America and the rest of the world,” El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells spoke Wednesday at a rally of parents calling for freedom from vaccination mandates.

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2021 (El Cajon) – Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon will host a job fair on Saturday, November 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

“There are a range of positions available from seasonal to full-time/management positions,” says Petra Rich, marketing and business development manager for Parkway Plaza. “These opportunities provide great flexibility and extra holiday cash. We will have opportunities with Pandora, Tilly’s, Cabrera and Associates, Sunglasses Hut and more.”

East County News Service

November 10, 2021 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police responded to reports of a shooting near 200 South Mollision at 4:27 p.m. yesterday. The caller reported hearing a gunshot, then seeing a woman running from the area.

“Officers arrived on the scene and located the victim, who had been shot in the upper back near the shoulder,” says Lt. Jeremiah Larson. “Shortly after, officers were able to detain the suspect as he was walking away from his apartment where the shooting took place. The suspect and the victim are currently in a relationship and live together.” 

The victim was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive. The suspect, a 32 year old El Cajon resident, was arrested without incident. 

Source: Caltrans

November 5, 2021(San Diego’s East County) --  Construction Maintenance crews will close a segment of westbound and eastbound Interstate 8 (I-8) near State Route 67 (SR-67)/Magnolia Avenue Saturday at 3-11 a.m. and Sunday through Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for bridge repair, according to Caltrans.

The Saturday closures include the westbound I-8 off-ramp to southbound SR-67/Magnolia Avenue, the northbound SR-67/Magnolia Avenue on-ramp to westbound I-8 and the Mollison Avenue on-ramp to westbound I-8.