County offers courses with funds from Barona and Sycuan

December 28, 2009 (Otay Mesa) – The Sheriff’s office  issued an advisory dated December 16 warning the public that Matthew Hedge, a sexually violent predator, has been granted conditional release to his court-approved residence at 480 Alta Road in the Otay Mesa area.

Hedge served several years in prison and was later committed to Coalinga State Hospital as a sexually violent predator. His crimes included annoying or molesting a child, indecent exposure, and lewd acts with a child under 14. His victims included both male and female juveniles ranging in age from 6 to 13 years of age.

December 22, 2009 (Spring Valley) – Two teenage girls were arrested for armed robbery at the Spring Valley Swap Meet on Saturday, December 19.

December 22, 2009 (La Mesa)--With the holidays rapidly approaching, many East County residents wille will be giving and receiving valuable items as gifts.  La Mesa Police offers tips to protect your valuables by keeping accurate records.

December 14, 2009 (La Mesa) – On December 13th around 2:18 a.m., a man leaving a friend’s home at 8025 Valley View Circle in La Mesa was assaulted while getting into his vehicle . Three black male suspects approached him, armed with a crowbar and a stick. One suspect began punching and kicking the victim while demanding his property and stole his wallet, according to the La Mesa Police. All three suspects fled the scene in a dark 1994 or 1995 Ford Thunderbird. See detailed descriptions below.

December 11, 2009 (El Cajon) – Kareem Colum, 32, of El Cajon has been arrested for attempted murder following an altercation in which he reportedly tried to take Sheriff deputy's gun.

December 4, 2009 (Lakeside) – Jacob Otto Hume, 22, has been arrested and will be booked on two counts of attempted murder, San Diego County Sheriff Department reports. Hume will be charged in the stabbing yesterday of David H. F Fleming, Jr., 29, and another young adult male victim.

November 28, 2009 (Rancho San Diego) -- an Diego Sheriff’s Department’s Domestic Violence Unit asks the public’s help to locate a suspect on the run.  Early on Thanksgiving morning, November 26th,  Francisco McCrary allegedly assaulted the mother of his five-year-old son at her home in Rancho San Diego. McCrary reportedly beat and  strangled the 29 year-old victim to unconsciousness. When she regained consciousness, McCrary held her and her three minor children against their will, preventing them from calling  authorities.

November 28, 2009 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police have arrested a fourth individual,  Johnny Stewart, a 20 year old man from La Mesa, in conjunction with a robbery that occured at Helix Charter High School on November 20. Stewart was arrested November 24 and has been charged with armed robbery; bail is set at $100,000.

One adult and two juveniles were previously arrested for  two street robberies that occurred on Friday, November 20, 2009 in La Mesa. The first robbery occurred in the 7600 block of Normal Avenue and the second robbery, where a handgun was used, occurred on the campus of Helix Charter High School.

November 25, 2009 (San Diego County)--Sheriff William D. Gore announced today a county-wide Holiday Watch Program beginning Wednesday, November 25, 2009 and continuing through Sunday, January 3, 2010. The purpose of Holiday Watch is to provide a safe, secure, crime free environment during the holiday period. The Sheriff’s Holiday Watch program will consist of both education and enforcement. A schedule and locations of enforcement actions for seatbelt laws, drunk driving stops and more is included below.

November 24, 2009 (Poway) Poway Sheriff's deputies attempted to stop a vehicle for a minor equipment violation at Pomerado Road & Robison Boulevard in Poway at 9:33 p.m. last night.. The vehicle failed to yield and the driver, later identified as Jacob Woolsey, fired a weapon several times at the deputy as he fled the area.

November 20, 2009 (Spring Valley) – The Sheriff’s Department has released the following information about a report of a man who tried to pick up a Spring Valley school girl and told her he had been watching her and her sisters. According to the police report, on November 18th around 8:53 a.m., the girl was walking to school near Apple Street and Paraiso Avenue when she was approached by a Hispanic male adult in a late model dark blue minivan.

November 18, 2009 (La Mesa) – A 54-year-old woman was punched in the face yesterday at 5:51 p.m. while watching another woman yell at a young child outside the Target Store in Grossmont Center, La Mesa Police report. The victim was in the parking lot when she stopped to observe the incident. According to police, she was about to walk away when she was assaulted. The victim was transported by ambulance to Grossmont Hospital for treatment.

Police seek the public’s help to identify the suspect, shown on a surveillance camera.  She wore a black jacket with fur hood, dark pants, mult-colored shirt, and white boots.

November 17, 2009 - Today the Santee traffic deputies along with area school resource officers and the Santee COPPS Unit will be conducting a juvenile driver enforcement detail. Special attention will be given to all drivers near schools. Drivers will be stopped and cited for all traffic violations including use of cell phones and texting while driving. Juvenile drivers will be cited if they are not in compliance with provisional license restrictions.

By Miriam Raftery
 

November 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Last week, President Barack Obama signed a defense budget bill which contains language to broaden the definition of hate crimes to include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability—adding to protections already in place for attacks based on race, religion or national origin. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act also creates a new federal crime for attacking U.S. military personnel because of their service.

News of the signing was hailed locally by Estela de los Rios, who led efforts to organize a Hate Crimes Conference recently in El Cajon. “I rejoice and embrace this grand victory,” de los Rios told East County Magazine. “Passing this bill will only strengthen and support the civil rights of all.”