Photo by Robert Gehr: skid marks where suspect’s vehicle drove onto sidewalk outside SDPD headquarters, moments before the deadly incident.
December 21, 2024 (El Cajon) – The individual who was shot and killed by El Cajon Police officers on December 11 has been identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Grube. Earlier reports had listed the suspect as a woman.
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El Cajon Police Department receives $70,000 grant to fight alcohol-related harm from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Source: City of El Cajon
December 11, 2024 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon Police Department announces they have been awarded $70,000 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to reduce alcohol-related harm in their community.
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December 3, 2024 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon announces Captain Jeremiah Larson’s promotion to Chief of Police, effective December 18. Larson has served the El Cajon community for over two decades and will succeed the current Chief of Police, Mike Moulton, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
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November 14, 2024 (El Cajon) – Two people were transported to a hospital early this morning with injuries caused by a speeding vehicle that crashed into their home’s bedroom in the 800 block of Jamacha Road in El Cajon.
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The San Diego Humane Society now offers an adoption guarantee* per Nina Thompson, so families can have peace of mind knowing that if the pet isn't the right match, they will welcome y/our pet back into care if you adopt her or him through the San Diego Humane Society, including the one in El Cajon, in the event the pet does not work out.
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July 28, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon is set to host San Diego County’s biggest National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, August 6th from 5-9 p.m.17:00 at Parkway Plaza. This annual event, which strengthens police-community partnerships and neighborhood unity, is expected to draw thousands of attendees from El Cajon and surrounding areas.
This year’s theme, “The Cops Are Throwing a Party and Everyone’s Invited!”, guarantees an action-packed evening. The El Cajon Police Department, alongside with partner agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and United States Border Patrol, will headline a series of exciting activities and demonstrations.
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June 21, 2024 (El Cajon) – Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. El Cajon Police officers were alerted to a stolen Mazda 3 by automated license plate reader cameras as the vehicle entered El Cajon. The vehicle was reported stolen out of San Diego a little over one week ago.
Officers were able to find the vehicle parked near Emerald Avenue and Laguna Avenue and after a short foot pursuit, arrested two people from the stolen car.
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September 7, 2023 (El Cajon) – A naked man on methamphetamines walked into an apartment in the 1000 block of Redwood Avenue in El Cajon around 5:30 a.m. on Monday. A young woman and several children, her siblings, were sleeping when the man walked into the children’s room.
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September 3, 2023 (El Cajon) – Cameras in public are being used in El Cajon successfully to capture criminals, from car thieves to suspects in violent crimes. But some have raised concerns about privacy. Along with concerned community members, some lawmakers and lawyers are claiming that the police department is illegally sharing private license plate data.
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July 26, 2022 (El Cajon) – Two El Cajon Police officers suffered fentanyl exposure and had to undergo a decontamination procedure today.
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Photo: Children’s hospital in Mariupol bombed by Russians, courtesy of Ukrainian Army
May 6, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Last month, the California Office of Emergency Services reached out to local law enforcement agencies throughout the State with a list of equipment needed in Ukraine. This week, the City of El Cajon Police Department donated 45 ballistic vests and 8 ballistic helmets as aid to Ukraine.
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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.
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March 24, 2021 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested 28-year-old Isaiah Ugaitafa for violent assaults in which he broke down the front doors of homes and attacked two residents, says Lt. Randy Soulard. He is charged with three felonies: hot prowl burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and elder abuse.
On Friday, March 19 at 2:15 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 400 block of South First Street, where a man had been seen by several residents acting strangely and talking to himself. A short time later, the suspect was seen breaking down the door of an elderly man’s home and attacking the senior with a metal pole, striking him in the face before fleeing the scene.
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December 5, 2020 (El Cajon) -- Deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation responded to a call of a shooting last night at 7:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of N. 2nd Street, in unincorporated El Cajon.
“A 16 year-old victim was located by officers from El Cajon Police Department several blocks away on 2nd Street in the city of El Cajon,” says Sgt. Phillip Beaumont with the Sheriff’s department. “The victim suffered from several apparent gunshot wounds and was transported to the hospital by paramedics. The victim was last known to be in critical condition.”
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September 25, 2020 (El Cajon) – Three suspects are in custody for allegedly robbing people at gunpoint at bank ATMs and at a self-serve car wash in El Cajon. They are suspected of other robberies across the San Diego region.
All three crimes occurred on September 18 between 2 and 2:30 a.m. and were reported by the victims, who called 911.
El Cajon Police robbery detectives investigated, working with detectives from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, San Diego Police Department, National City Police Department, and The Chula Vista Police Department.
Detectives identified the suspect and learned he had not acted alone. Two additional suspects were identified. Detectives also discovered the suspects had committed at least eight robberies in San Diego County in the last week, says Lt. K MacArthur with El Cajon Police.
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August 26, 2020 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department is looking to hire police officers and recruits. Applications are being accepted through this Friday, August 28.
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Photo by Della Elliott:Community members have set up a memorial tribute to the victim, whose identity has not yet been released
August 19, 2020 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers dispatched after a 911 caller reported gunshots near 1549 East Main Street found a man suffering from several gunshot wounds around 1:30 a.m yesterday. The victim was transported by ambulance to a hospital, but died before arrival, says Lt. K. MacArthur.
The identity of the victim, who is from San Diego, will be released by the County Medical Examiner after family is notified.
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July 9, 2020 (El Cajon) – An elderly man was struck by a vehicle yesterday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the 500 block of North Second Street in El Cajon. He was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital by Heartland Fire Department medics, but died at the hospital.
According to Lt. Jason Taub with the El Cajon Police Department, a preliminary investigation and interviewing witnesses indicates that a silver Ford F-150 was traveling southbound on North Second in the left-hand turn lane, when the pedestrian was “illegally crossing from west to east between stopped vehicles. The driver of the Ford had a green light and the pedestrian stepped in front of his moving vehicle and was struck.”
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Photos of Chief Davis’ walk-out ceremony by Catherine Martin.
September 15, 2019 (El Cajon) – After 33 years of service with the El Cajon Police Department, Chief Davis retired on Friday. He received salutes and hugs as he walked out of the station in civilian clothes, turning over the helm to his replacement, Mike Moulton.
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June 11, 2019 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon Police Department will be hosting its 4th Annual Teen Academy beginning on June 17, 2018. The academy will run Monday through Friday for two weeks, concluding with a graduation ceremony on Friday, June 28, 2019. Classes will begin at 7:30 am every morning, and conclude at 3:30 pm every afternoon. There are a total of 27 teens in this year’s Teen Academy.
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Photo, L to R – Lt. Steve Paz, Captain Michael Mouton, Police Chief Jeff Davis, Officer Allen Boyer, Julie Boyer his wife and Captain Rob Ransweiler.
March 21, 2019 (El Cajon) — El Cajon Police Officer Allen Boyer was presented with the Top Officer of the Year award yesterday in the 29th annual Auto Theft Advisory Committee (ATAC) awards program held at The Prado in Balboa Park.
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March 2, 2019 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2019 Citizen’s Police Academy. The ten-week academy provides an overview of the Police Department functions. Students attend weekly classes and learn about topics including the history of law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and crime scene investigation from the various divisions within the Police Department. Students participate in hands-on exercises, such as conducting traffic stops, dusting for fingerprints, and a firearms simulation.
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November 15, 2018 (El Cajon) — El Cajon Police Department will step up Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on November 16th, 2018 with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
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June 28, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego Regional Hate Crimes Coalition and the El Cajon Police Department are hosting a free community Forum on hate crimes, law enforcement and community resources. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the El Cajon Police Department’s community room at 100 Civic Center Way.
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December 23, 2016 (El Cajon) -- This holiday season,El Cajon Police will be out looking for drunk & drugged drivers as part of a special year-end Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.
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October 19, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Time to clear out those medicine cabinets! On Saturday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the El Cajon Police Department, working in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will be hosting a prescription drug drop off site in the parking lot of their police station, located at 100 Civic Center Way. Bring your outdated, unused or unwanted prescription pills, ointments, or liquids; no questions asked.
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October 2, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The shooting of a black man reportedly suffering a mental health crisis in El Cajon by police has led to protests, and police crack-downs. After an officer advanced toward Alfred Olango, gun drawn at close range, Olango allegedly pointed a vape pen, or smoking device, at the officer, who mistook it for a gun and fired the deadly shots.
El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a clinician and former Director of Psychiatric Intake Services and Director of Outpatient Services, voiced support and empathy for both Olango’s family and for police in the City’s carefully crafted official response.
But many may not be aware that El Cajon’s City Council has been trying to address problems with the homeless and the mentally ill for quite some time. At its June 14th 2016 meeting, the El Cajon City Council voted to join San Diego County Mental Health and the Sheriffs in the East County Homeless Outreach Team, which embeds social workers with police and travels weekly to homeless hot-spots.
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June 25, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Police Department is looking for highly qualified, highly motivated individuals who want to make a difference by serving their community. The application process opens on Monday, June 27th and closes on Monday, July 11th. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on July 11th. Visit the City of El Cajon website to begin the process and to obtain salary and benefit information.
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January 19, 2016 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department has identified Officer Samson Pak as the patrol officer involved in a fatal shooting of a woman passenger (photo, left) and a dog in the vehicle on Sunday following a high-speed chase. The identities of the driver and all three passengers have also been released, including two El Cajon residents.
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December 24, 2015 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on December 28th in the 300 block of W. Chase between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.
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By Miriam Raftery
El Cajon Police Department receives $70,000 grant to fight alcohol-related harm from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
East County News Service
Source: El Cajon Police
By Miriam Raftery
By Branda Gorgies
East County News Service
Source: City of El Cajon
By Elijah McKee
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
Source: El Cajon Police Department
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