East County News Service

July 19, 2017 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved more than a million dollars to equip Sheriff's Deputies with body-worn cameras.

The Sheriff's Department will officially roll out its body-worn camera program next month at the Alpine Sheriff's Station and Ramona Sheriff's Substation. From there, deputies countywide will receive the cameras within four to five months.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Department

December 1, 2016 (San Diego) - 24 hours per day, seven days a week, Sheriff's Dispatchers answer emergency calls from all across San Diego County. They save lives by getting help out to those calling 9-1-1.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Richard Edwords: Harrowing ride along State Route 94 during Border Fire

September 15, 2016  (San Diego’s East County) – The County’s Border Fire 2016 After Action Report  presents a review on the regional response to the Border Fire that ignores many serious complaints lodged by rural residents in the fire. The report was written entirely by official agencies and  does not include concerns raised by the public, leading rural planning officials,  residents and a community news editor to contend the county whitewashed their concerns.

 The blaze killed two people , destroyed five homes and left countless animals without care in triple-digit heat while residents were refused access  for days after the fire. While residents praise efforts of firefighters who worked valiantly to prevent worse losses, many feel betrayed by officials in the wake of the Border Fire report and other complaints that residents say have yielded little or no meaningful changes.

The report omits entirely any mention of controversies over the deaths of Potrero residents Jim and Kyrie Keefe,  whose bodies were found by community volunteers.  Agencies praised themselves in the report, while omitting criticisms on issues such as lack of  adequate care for animals stranded in triple-digit heat and inadequate evacuation notifications -- in some cases, just yellow caution tape stuck on mailboxes, with no explanation or direct contact with residents in danger after their phone lines, cell towers and Internet service all  went down in communities such as Potrero and Lake Morena.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff's Department

July 27, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Join the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for FREE Night Out Against Crime© events on Tuesday, August 2nd. Sheriff's Stations and Substations all over the county will be hosting block parties to take a stand against crime.

Activities vary by location and may include free food, drinks, giveaways and activities for kids. Night Out Against Crime© is a celebration of community relationships. Meet your neighbors, as well as deputies who patrol your area. All locations will have a Sheriff's Crime Prevention Specialist on site so you can get tips on how to stay safe. See below for a community near you or visit www.sdsheriff.net:

Update: The Sheriff's office has responded to concerns raised at the Campo-Lake Morena meeting. View the response from Captain Hank Turner here:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/rural-fire-sheriff%E2%80%99s-office-re...

By Miriam Raftery

July 10,2016 (Campo) –At a packed meeting of the Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group this week, attendees spoke out to voice anger over officials’ treatment of residents during the  Border Fire, particularly issues involving law enforcement officers and County Animal Control. Chair Billie Jo Jannen stated, “We need to channel this outrage”  and circulated a draft letter to be sent to Supervisor Dianne Jacob following any changes after the public’s statements.

The first portion of the meeting focused on issues of not enough water in Lake Morena to fight the fires. (See our article on the Lake Morena issues here.)  The next agenda item focused on other Border Fire issues.

At a table in the back sat several  women who found the bodies of Jim and Kyrie Keefe during a search conducted by volunteers 10 days after the fire at the site where they lived in Dogpatch, just  east of Potrero. They voiced outrage over the fact that despite complaints to officials who did too little, too late, it fell to women volunteers to find the bodies.  The couple died of smoke inhalation in between boulders behind their home, where they apparently tried to take shelter during the wildfire.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff Press Release

June 23, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - It's a scenario that plays out hundreds of times a day across San Diego County.  People are calling 911 and hanging up.  It's most likely an accident, but it's taking time away from those who really need help.





 

December 15, 2015 (San Diego) - During the holiday season, members of the Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol work hard to make sure seniors who live alone feel extra special. Throughout the month of December, Senior Volunteer Patrol members will be delivering gift baskets or hot meals to seniors enrolled in the Sheriff's You Are Not Alone program.

East County News Service

December 5, 2014 (Valley Center) – A bomb threat e-mailed to an NBC news station threatened to place explosives targeting San Diego Gas & Electric Company work trucks over a land use dispute in Valley Center. 

Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson investigators shut down the Spearhead Trail area for two hours yesterday afternoon to assure that it was safe.

Subsequently, deputies arrested Frits Versteegh, a nearby resident who sent the threatening email, said Sergeant Jeff Lauhon.

By Miriam Raftery

March 27, 2014 (Julian) – Last night shortly after 8 p.m., a lost hiker called the Sheriff’s communication center to report that he and a companion were lost in the rugged Three Sisters Falls area near Julian.  Their cell phone was dying and they could not find their way back to their vehicle, said Sergeant Carlos Medina at the Julian Sheriff’s Substation.

Update March 20:  Missing Persons of America has advised ECM that Joseph Swett has been found and is safe.

March 17, 2014 (Santee) – San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the family of 20 year-old Joseph Swett and the San Diego Sheriff's Department requests public help in finding the missing man, who has been diagnosed with autism.  He was last seen wearing a bright orange shirt, red shorts and black shoes.  He is white, has short brown hair, brown eyes, and was unshaven.  He stands five feet 10 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.

Swett came to Santee with his mother and brother from Los Angeles to attend a Christian college for two weeks. Shortly after 3:00 p.m. today, his mother and brother left the motel room in the 10700 block of Woodside Avenue in Santee to get lunch.  Swett remained in the motel room to take a nap. When his mother and brother returned,  Swett was gone.

February 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A multi-agency probation sweep in East County conducted on Friday, February 21 resulted in 17 arrests.

Deputies and officers visited probationers in Santee, Lakeside and El Cajon to see if they were following the conditions of their release, also working with Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Enforcement at San Diego Trolley stations in the area to conduct compliance checks on passengers.

2 teens arrested for skateboard attacks in area

January 28, 2014 (Spring Valley) -- The Sheriff's Homicide Division is asking for the public's help in identifying additional victims or witnesses in connection with an assault in Spring Valley.



On January 14th just before 7 p.m., 61‐year old Daniel Sparks was found lying in the intersection of Gillespie Drive and Frederick Street with his head bleeding. It is believed two young males attacked him with a skateboard—one of three known skateboard attacks in the vicinity.

By Miriam Raftery

November 24, 2013 (San Diego) --Public safety spending is decreasing in the San Diego region. At the same time, arrests also are going down, according to a pair of new reports released by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). 

This news comes on the heels of several recent complaints ECM has heard from residents in unincorporated areas, who spoke to us off record to complain of very long response times for calls to the Sheriff.  According to the residents, responses of 30 to 60 minutes have occurred even for violent asauslts, hot prowl burglaries, and other crimes in progress in unincorporated areas such as Campo and Lakeside.

November 13, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – Yesterday at 2:55 p.m., a student at Monterey Heights Elementary School in Lemon Grove told school officials that a stranger grabbed him and dragged him along a sidewalk away from school. The student claimed he had freed himself from the suspect’s grasp and ran back to school.  Deputies obtained a suspect description and launched a search of the surrounding neighborhood with help from a helicopter.

By Miriam Raftery; photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

October 12, 2013 (Spring Valley ) – Eugene William Volk, 45, has been arrested and charged with arson in connection with the fire at Santa Sophia Church on October 8. 

Detective Calvert, lead investigator from the San Diego Sheriff's Department, developed sufficient probable cause to arrest Volk, said Detective Portillo-with the Sheriff’s Bomb Arson unit which located Volk walking less than a quarter mile from the church at the intersection of Campo Road and Conrad Drive  on October 13.  Authorities have not revealed what evidence they believe links Volk to the crime.