"...When this happens to elected officials and they choose to drive under the influence, that just shows the public how prevalent the problem is…” -- Eloisa Orocco, executive director, MADD San Diego County.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2011 (Sacramento)—Assemblyman Republican Martin Garrick, whose name has been floated as a potential candidate in a redrawn State Senate District that includes much of San Diego’s East County, has been sentenced on drunk driving charges in Sacramento. Garrick pled no contest to driving with a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit.

July 29, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Three boys told La Mesa Police they were assaulted and robbed at gunpoint by a group of teens on July 26 around 9:38 p.m. near the Amaya Trolley Station on Amaya Drive.

July 29, 2011 (Lake Murray) – Two men wearing black masks robbed the Chevron gas station at 8780 Lake Murray Boulevard at 11:19 p.m. last night.

July 28, 2011 (Tecate)—Yesterday, Jesus Arteaga Garcia was extradited to San Diego from Mexico to face murder charges stemming from the fatal stabbing of his estranged wife, Maribel Arteaga, who was two months pregnant.She was stabbed to death in front of her children on December 9, 2009, at her apartment in Chula Vista. She was a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who served at the Tecate Port of Entry.

July 21, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – San Diego Sheriff’s officers launched a foot chase against a suspected parolee, possibly armed with a gun, near Jamacha Road and Calle Albara in the Cottonwood area of Rancho San Diego shortly before 7 p.m. this evening.
 

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, age 30, six feet tall, 200 pounds, with dark hair. When last seen he was wearing a yellow shirt, white hat, and sunglasses.

July 18, 2011 (Rancho Penasquitos) – Donna Williams, a 32-year-veteran of the San Diego Police Department assigned to the child abuse unit, has been found stabbed to death along with her daughter, Breanna "Bree" Williams, at their home in Rancho Penasquitos.  Donna Williams has worked on many high-profile cases involving children,  including the Danielle Van Damm case.

Brian Williams, 24, has been arrested for the crimes. He is the son of Donna and her late husband, Howard Williams, who was a retired sergeant with the Department.

July 16, 2011 (Spring Valley) –The Medical Examiner has identified the body of a man who drowned in the Sweetwater Reservoir on July 12th. Ebon Brandt Taylor, 31, reportedly broke into a home and assaulted a resident, who called 911.
 

According to the San Diego Sheriff’s office, the suspect was later seen walking into the Sweetwater Reservoir; his behavior was described as “odd” by witnesses.

July 13, 2011 (Alpine) – Late Monday night, thieves stole over 1,500 linear feet of half-inch steel from the fence traversing the Wright's Field Preserve in Alpine, Alpine Community Network reports.

The theft has been reported to the Sheriff and constitutes grand theft due to the value. Now the Back Country Land Trust is asking public help to identify the thieves.

July 10, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego Police Gang Unit detectives have arrested 18 year old Anthony Penn and a 16 year old juvenile for a shooting that occurred yesterday in the Emerald Hills neighborhood. Two victims, 21 year old Martin Barnett, who was confronted by the suspects, and 7 year old Laura Castello, an innocent bystander who was playing in her yard nearby, were wounded. Both victims are expected to survive their injuries. 

July 9, 2011 (San Diego) – A stray bullet from a shooting believed to be gang-related struck a 7-year-old girl in the leg at 2:51 today. The other shooting victim was a 21-year-old man walking on a sidewalk near 5591 Roswell Street in east San Diego's Emerald Hills neighborhood when two men stopped on the opposite sidewalk. One of the men pulled out a gun and fired numerous shots, striking the 21-year-old in the shoulder and arm.

July 7, 2011 (Rolando) – A man posing as a customer at the Jolar Cinema adult bookstore at 6321 University in the Rolando area put a gun to a clerk’s back at 4:27 a.m. yesterday, demanding cash and the clerk’s cell phone.

July 1, 2011 (La Mesa) – Two alleged gang members have been arrested and charged with attempted murder of a 16-year-old boy who was shot in the head while riding his skateboard in La Mesa. The youth, who was from Arizona, was robbed and shot around 1:49 a.m. on June 27 outside a motel where he was staying with his family.

June 29, 2011 (La Mesa)--William Warnock, 59, is under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and felony criminal threats after an eight hour standoff with police. La Mesa Police responded to a call at 6100 Blain Place, La Mesa, around 10 p.m. last night after Warnock's wife reported that her husband had threatened to hurt her and also threatened to kill their 20-year-old son with a large screwdriver.