Deputy reportedly sought to protect woman he was dating from assault by ex-boyfriend

February 7, 2011 (Lakeside)—An argument over alleged reckless driving with a child ended with the death of a man, 33, last night around 8 p.m.

According to Lt. Dennis J. Brugos with the San Diego Sheriff’s homicide detail, following a visit the man returned the child to the mother’s home in unincorporated El Cajon. The mother, 28, came outside and confronted the man, her ex-boyfriend, over his  driving. 

February 6, 2011 (El Cajon) – A parolee accused of stealing a car has been arrested after crashing the vehicle into the bedroom of a home at 627 Verdin Street in El Cajon shortly before dawn this morning. Thankfully the home's occupants were spared a rude awakening, since no one was sleeping in the bedroom that was struck.

February 3, 2011 (Escondido) – San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore has released departmental expenses associated with the investigation of the “bomb house” at 1954 Via Scott in Escondido. Expenses for the investigation, which culminated in burning down the home filled with the largest stash of home-made explosives ever found on U.S. soil, cost taxpayers $541,242.

February 1, 2011 (Santee) – A hit-and-run accident in Lakeside under investigation by the California Highway Patrol led to discovery that the same vehicle had committed a hit and run in Santee yesterday, according to Sgt. Scott Hill at the Santee Sheriff substation. “The subject was seen leaving that vehicle and going into a house. There was a theft of items in a vehicle and that suspect vehicle was tied to that also,” he said.

January 30, 2011 (Lakeside) – Last night, a 28-year-old man reported that his 77-year-old father was deceased at their residence. Paramedics pronounced the elderly man dead at the scene, 12645 Laurel Street, Apt. 1, in Lakeside. “The condition of the body was such that paramedics expressed their concerns to deputies,” said Lt. Dennis J. Brugos with the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail.

January 13, 2011 (Bonita) – After a resident called 911 to report that someone was trying to break into the home in the 5300 block of Robinwood Road in Bonita, Sheriff’s deputies found screens had been removed from two windows and two sliding doors. A door lock had also been broken. Deputies arrested Cinely Ruvalcaba, 23, a parolee who was found hiding beneath an elevated porch, Lt. Scott Ybarrondo reported.

January 9, 2010 (San Diego's East County) --The San Diego Sheriff's Department has been investigating a series of thefts of copper wire and construction materials from businesses along the Hwy 67 corridor north of Willow Road. Suspects would use cover of darkness and in many cases, bad weather, to sneak onto properties to cut out heavy gage copper wire from heavy equipment and machinery.

On January 5 around 5:30 a.m., Deputy Karl Miller and his team arrested Ronald Hyde for 15 counts of grand theft and conspiracy. Christine Vandecar was arrested for conspiracy (related to grand theft cases) and possession of methamphetamine for sale.

December 30, 2010 (Lemon Grove) –Sheriff’s Deputy Seel shot and killed a pit bull at 6956 after the dog bit his thigh. The deputy was contacted by a citizen who reported a vicious pit bull dog at 9 a.m. near San Miguel Elementary School. The citizen claimed the pit bull charged him and bit him in the leg, although the reporting party had no visible injuries and did not request medical attention.

By Miriam Raftery

Video by Ron Cook

December 26, 2010 (Lakeside) – Shortly after reporting about an injured hiker air-lifted off El Capitan Mountain this afternoon, I was dismayed to learn that the victim is East County Magazine’s own videographer Billy Ortiz, creator of our “Video Adventures in East County” series. He was taken to the emergency room at Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he spoke with me by phone moments ago about his harrowing ordeal.

December 8, 2010 (Lemon Grove) -- They make a difference everyday and they do it for free. Volunteers play a vital role in building a community. On December 7th, Sheriff Bill Gore and the County of San Diego honored Lemon Grove Senior Volunteer Patrol member Dale Kephart, 93, with a “Volunteer of the Month” award.

“If he did make it out of there, someone must have seen him or knows what happened to him, and we need them to call and tell us.” - Sgt. Don Parker, San Diego Sheriff Department

By Caleb Trainer
 

December 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) --The blue Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 16-year-old Mickey James Guidry was found abandoned in the Anza Borrego desert two days after Thanksgiving. That was Thanksgiving a year ago. No one has reported seeing him since.

November 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- On November 20th, the San Diego Sheriff's Court Services Field Unit conducted a warrant sweep in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and the unincorporated areas of El Cajon, Alpine and Lakeside. The focus was on apprehension of suspects with outstanding misdemeanor and felony warrants. A total of 67 persons were arrested and 96 warrants were cleared.

By Paula H. Dickenson, USN, Retired Crime Prevention Specialist
Alpine & Rural Crime Prevention, San Diego Sheriff's Alpine substation

November 22, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--Travel safety and prevention tips have taken on a new meaning during tough economic times. Opportunistic thieves may be looking for unprotected homes or pre-occupied travelers.

The Alpine Sheriff's Deputies wish you a safe Thanksgiving Holiday with these following safety tips to avoid problems during the start of the busiest travel season of the year.

Update November 1, 2010:  The San Diego Medical Examiner's office has found that the baby was stillborn and that no homicide occured.  The mother, who is mentally disabled, may not have been aware that she was pregnant and her family attempted to hide the body of the baby after she gave birth, authorities report.

October 29, 2010 (El Cajon) – The body of a full-term baby boy was found in a plastic bag in a backyard storage shed last night at 6:30 p.m. A woman resident found the bag while walking her dog in the backyard of her home in the 1100 block of Flamingo Avenue in rural El Cajon, ECM news partner 10 News reports.