Crime Beat

CHIEF ED ACEVES PASSES THE BATON AND WALKS INTO RETIREMENT

By Bonnie Baranoff

April 12, 2015 (La Mesa) -- On Tuesday, April 14 at 2 p.m., 30-year La Mesa Police Department veteran and outgoing Police Chief Ed Aceves will “walk out” in what has become a traditional retirement ceremony at the La Mesa Police Department. Though officially retired in December 2014, he stayed on until his replacement, Chief Walter Vasquez, had a week to transition into the job.

In an ECM exclusive, Aceves shares how he got into law enforcement, how technology and communications have changed the field, his most memorable moments, and his plans for the future.


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SECOND VIDEO IN SHOOTING OF UNARMED BLACK MAN, OFFICER FACES MURDER CHARGES

 

By Ed Barrena

April 11, 2015 (South Carolina)--“Black Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter.” Those are the cries of chanting protestors after another officer involved shooting, in which a white police officer shot to death an unarmed black man. The incident occurred in South Carolina on Saturday April 4th,


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WANTED FUGITIVE: JASON PRATHER

 

April 11, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The Sheriff's Department and the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force (FTF) seek public help to locate 35-year-old Jason Evan Prather, whose last known address was Alpine. He is wanted on charges of domestic violence and sexual assault. Prather also failed to comply with the terms of his probation.


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CRAIGSLIST GAY "DATE" ROBS AND TASERS MAN, 74

 

East County News Service

April 9, 2015 (San Diego) – A 74-year-old College area man who answered a personal ad on Craigslist seeking a date got a shock—literally.  At 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, the suspect showed up at the victim’s home on El Cerrito Drive.  The suspect used a Taser on the elderly victim, tied him up and robbed him, 10 News reports.


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HAIL TO THE CHIEF: LA MESA’S NEW POLICE CHIEF SWORN IN

 

 

By Kristin Kjaero

April 7, 2015 (La Mesa) -- It was a perfect spring day in La Mesa for the outdoor swearing in of the new Police Chief, Walt Vasquez (photo, left), joined by his family (photo, below right).  The charisma and popularity he brings with him was clear to see in the size and responsiveness of the crowd.

Vasquez began his career in law enforcement in 1986 with the San Diego Police Department, where he rose through the ranks to captain, most recently overseeing SDPD's SWAT team, Canine Unit, communications,  property room, information services, and the chief's community advisory boards. 

Not surprisingly given this background, his speech today expressed the values he places on public service, teamwork, and community policing.

Below and in video, we give you Chief Vasquez's speech in full.


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LA MESA MAN TO STAND TRIAL FOR THREATS AGAINST ISLAMIC CENTER

 

East County News Service

April 8, 2015 (La Mesa) -- A La Mesa resident will stand trial on hate crimes, illegal weapon possession and making criminal threats against the Council on American-Islamic Relations in San Diego.


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SHERIFF SEEKS ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT IN SANTEE

 

East County News Service

April 7, 2015 (Santee) -- The Sheriff's Department wants your help in identifying and locating a woman who robbed a pharmacy at gunpoint in Santee.

The woman entered a CVS store in the 9700 block of Mission Gorge Road around 4:30 a.m. Witnesses say the suspect pulled out a pistol and demanded percocet, a drug, and threatened to shoot the clerk if the demands were not met. Once the woman was given the percocet, she walked out of the store. No one was hurt.


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BILL SEEKS TO END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT OF YOUTHS IN CALIFORNIA

 

East County News Service

April 7, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—A measure set for hearing this week in the California  Senate Public Safety Committee aims to end solitary confinement of children in our state.


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CITY HEIGHTS ARSON SUSPECT ARRESTED

 

East County News Service

April 4, 2015 (City Heights)—A suspect is under arrest for suspected Arson in City Heights.  The Metro Arson Strike Team announced the arrest of 24-year-old Rolando Resendiz.


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MOTHER ARRESTED IN EL CAJON CRASH THAT KILLED 3-YEAR OLD, INJURED 2 OTHER CHILDREN

 

Update April 8, 2015: The victim has been identified as Carly Ramirez, 3, daughter of Carlos Ramirez and Brandy Teague.

April 5, 2015 (El Cajon)—  Brandy Teague, a 31-year-old mother, is under arrest after a crash killed her 3-year-old daughter and injured two other children of hers in the vehicle.

The accident was reported at 9:43 p.m. Saturday night on Broadway in El Cajon. According to witnesses, the silver Hyundai driven by Teague was traveling east when it left the roadway and collided with a telephone pole. 

“The driver may have fallen asleep behind the wheel before the collision occurred,” said Lieutenant R. Soulard. Teague is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license.


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COUNTY TEAMS UP WITH ATHLETES TO FIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

 

County News Service

April 9, 2015 (San Diego)--Now is the time to stand up against domestic violence. That’s the message County officials and three well-known local athletes—professional skater Tony Hawk, San Diego Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram and BMX champion Alise Post—are urging in a new public service announcement that has begun airing on Time Warner and Cox Communications cable channels.


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REVENGE PORN SITE OPERATOR SENTENCED

 

East County News Service

April 4, 2015 (San Diego) – A San Diego man who operated a revenge porn site called UGotPosted.com has been sentenced to 18 years in jail after being convicted on 21 counts of identity theft and six counts of extortion.  Kevin Bollaert is the first person in the nation prosecuted for operating a revenge porn site.


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POLICE CHASE ENDS WITH CRASH INTO LA MESA CAR DEALER

 

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 2, 2015 (La Mesa)—A police chase in La Mesa Thursday night ended when the suspect crashed into a car dealership.


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MORE ARSON FIRES IN CITY HEIGHTS

 

East County News Service

April 1, 2015 (City Heights) - Two mattresses were ignited in City Heights early Tuesday morning just before 1 a.m. A half hour later, a commercial garbage bin erupted into flames.


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EMT ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN EAST COUNTY

 

East County News Service

April 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - A emergency medical technician with Rural/Metro of San Diego is charged with sexual assault of  a minor in East County, 10 News reports.


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FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS CHARGED WITH STEALING DIGITAL CURRENCY

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2015 (Washington D.C.) - Two federal officials assigned to probe a black market in digital currency are accused of becoming black marketers themselves—allegedly stealing bitcoins from Silk Road, the company they were investigating.


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LEMON GROVE SCHOOL EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR CHILD ENDANGERMENT

 

East County News Service

March 28, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – An after-school assistant at Lemon Grove Academy was arrested Wednesday after she began acting bizarrely and barricaded herself in a classroom along with several children from 1st through 7th grade.


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SUPREME COURT HEARS CASE ON POLICE SHOOTING OF MENTALLY ILL WOMAN

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – The Supreme Court this week is hearing arguments in the case of San Francisco v. Sheehan to determine whether or not San Francisco police officers were justified in shooting and killing a mentally ill woman in her own home. The officers fired five rounds and the case centers on whether non-lethal force should be used first in such cases.


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SDG&E WORKERS FIND HUMAN REMAINS AT ALPINE HS SITE

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (Alpine) – Homicide detectives are investigating the discovery of human remains in Alpine, the Sheriff’s department reports. According to Lieutenant John Maryon, it appears the remains have been there for quite some time.


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EL CAJON CITY MANAGER DEFENDS DECISION NOT TO FIRE OFFICER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT; CITIZENS ASK FOR JUSTICE DEPT. PROBE

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2015 (El Cajon) – At the El Cajon City Council meeting on Tuesday, several members of the public spoke out to ask that Officer Richard Gonsalves be fired or put on administrative leave pending outcome of a lawsuit by a woman claiming sexual harassment.  Gonsalves has been demoted, but remains on the force.


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PALA POT STOP

 

By Leon Thompson

March 27, 2015 (Pala) –  According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, a Fallbrook deputy saw a couple hanging out inside a car that was awkwardly parked in the 2700 block of Pala Road at around 8:15 a.m.


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ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING AT SDSU

 

March 24, 2015 (San Diego) –San Diego State University has issued a community safety alert warning that a man armed with a black handgun tried to kidnap a female student Monday night at 10:50 p.m. and force her into a vehicle.


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LAWSUIT IS LATEST IN STRING OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS AT EL CAJON POLICE

 

An East County Magazine special report

By Miriam Raftery

March 24, 2015 (El Cajon)--An East County Magazine special investigation reveals a long string of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct claims involving the El Cajon Police Department, dating back over the past two decades.  Following a recent sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the ECPD, victims and witnesses to past sexual crimes and alleged sexual misconduct have come forward to speak with ECM about other cases.

Bonnie Price, who is organizing a protest rally Tuesday at 2:15 outside El Cajon's City Council, contends that the Police Department has a "culture of sexual harassment" that may be overly conducive to such actions.


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MAN ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN POTRERO

 

East County News Service

March 23, 2015 (Potrero) – The Sheriff’s homicide unit are investigating the shooting death of a man at 23531 Coyote Holler Road in Potrero.

Deputies responded to a call at 6:47 p.m. from Mike Walliser, who stated that he shot another man due to threats the victim had made against Walliser. When a deputy arrived, he was flagged down by Walliser, who surrendered without incident.


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FIREARMS STILL IN HANDS OF MENTALLY ILL

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2015 (Sacramento)—More than 17,000 mentally ill people continue to illegally possess over 36,000 firearms despite passage of SB 140, which authorized the California Attorney General to hire 36 new agents to reduce a backlog. 

The bill was passed after the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2013.  At the time, 20,000 prohibited people in California had about 40,000 firearms, an audit found.


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JUSTICE DEPT. ISSUES REPORT, RECOMMENDS REFORMS ON SAN DIEGO POLICE MISCONDUCT

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2015 (San Diego)--The U S. Justice Department has completed an investigation into officer misconduct at the San Diego Police Department.  The report found serious problems with supervision and failure to hold employees accountable for their actions over a five-year period.


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FBI ACCEPTING JOB APPLICATIONS

 

Deadline Extended to March 31, 2015

March 18, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - “Joining the FBI is like no other career choice you have explored. It is challenging. It is exciting. It is rewarding and every day you have a chance to serve your country,” says Special Agent Darrell Foxworth.


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SHERIFF'S COFFEE WITH THE COMMUNITY MARCH 24 IN SANTEE

 

East County News Service

March 17, 2015 (Santee)--Santee’s Sheriff Station invites you to “Coffee with the Community” on Tuesday, March 24th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.


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GANG CONSPIRACY CHARGES DROPPED IN CONTROVERSIAL CASES

 

East County News Service

March 16, 2015 (San Diego)—Earlier this week, we reported on controversial gang conspiracy charges filed by San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis against men who were accused of benefiting off crimes that they were not accused of committing. Specifically, those crimes included nine shootings committed by the Lincoln Park gang.  The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged the charges on constitutional grounds in an amicus, or friends of the court, brief.


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SHERIFF ANNOUNCES DUI PATROLS, CHECKPOINTS COUNTYWIDE

 

East County News Service

March 14, 2015 (San Diego)--Don't press your luck this St. Patrick's Day by drinking and getting behind the wheel of a car, the Sheriff warns. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department will be out in full force in the coming days looking for impaired drivers.


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