Crime Beat

COLORADO THEATER MASSACRE DRAWS INTENSE LOCAL REACTIONS

Did a violent film trailer trigger shootings by San Diego man? Preview depicted an attack on a movie theater 

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Friends and neighbors reacted with shock at news that former San Diegan  James “Jimmy” Eagan Holmes, 24, is under arrest for the mass shooting earlyl this morning of 71 people in a Colorado movie theater. 

A night of fantasy turned deadly when Holmes allegedly burst into an Aurora, Colorado movie theater where a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises,” a Batman movie was playing.


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LA MESA POLICE SEARCHING FOR ROBBERY SUSPECT: ADVISE STAYING INDOORS

 

July 18, 2012 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police searching the area of La Mesa Blvd. & Grossmont Blvd. near Grossmont Center for a robbery suspect; air support and K9 responding as of 10:20 p.m.  Police advise that you avoid this area. Remain indoors if possible due to K-9 unit searching area. 


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TEACHER’S AIDE ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES IN LA MESA

 
July 17, 2012 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police yesterday arrested Chrystina Delrosario, a teacher's aide at Reflections Central School, for unlawful sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old male student. 
 
Officials at the school notified the police department after receiving information that the student may have had sex with the teacher’s aide. The patrol officer was assisted by detectives, who conducted the preliminary investigation. 

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“BE COOL” BANDIT WANTED FOR COMMERCIAL ROBBERY SERIES

 
July 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) --  San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit detectives, in cooperation with detectives from the National City and El Cajon Police Departments, are investigating a series of commercial robberies that began in May, 2012. 
 
The same suspect is believed to be responsible for at least 9 commercial robberies throughout the county.   Four cases occurred in San Diego, four cases occurred in National City and one case occurred in El Cajon.

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SAFE LIGHT PROJECT: FREE SOLAR MOTION-ACTIVATED LIGHTS FOR QUALIFYING SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS

 
July 13, 2012 (San Diego)--The City of San Diego and the nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together San Diego, have developed a program to increase lighting in several areas within the City. 
 
Rebuilding Together San Diego has coordinated purchase and installation of high powered, motion-activated L.E.D floodlights which are battery-operated and charged via solar panels. These lights and their installation are free of charge to qualifying residents.

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BASEBALL SCAM ARTIST ARRESTED

 

July 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Seth Tucker, 22, was arrested this morning for a scam in which he allegedly asked Santee residents for donations to send a local high school baseball team to Maui for a championship game.

“Investigators learned that Tucker had been doing this scam for several months in several different neighbors,” said Sgt. Tom Poulin.  “He would always represent himself as a player for the local high school team of the area he was in.”


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FORMER HELIX TRACK STAR ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPED MURDER OF WIFE

 

July 11, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch reports that Roshawn Lamar Broadnax, 20, a former Helix Charter High School track and field star, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and spousal abuse.  


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“STEAM POWERED GIRAFFE” MUSICIAN REPORTS MUGGING IN LA MESA

 

By Monica Hampton 

 
July 12, 2012 (La Mesa)--Michael Reed, a member of a local band, “Steam Powered Giraffe,” reported that he was mugged in downtown La Mesa and “knocked unconscious.”  According to Reed, he was “hit on the back of the head” on La Mesa Blvd. on Saturday, July 7 between 11 p.m. and midnight. 

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BABYSITTER ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN RAMONA

 

July 9, 2012 (Ramona)—David Humberto Ortiz, 19, has been arrested for the murder and assault of 8-month-old Liliana Velasquez. 

According to Lt. Larry Nesbitt with the San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Detail, Ortiz was babysitting the infant in the 2600 block of Southern Oak Road in Ramona when the fatal assault occurred on July 4 at 11:27 a.m.


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SCISSORS-WIELDING SUSPECT ROBS AM/PM STORE IN LA MESA

 

 
July 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – This morning at 1:46 a.m., La Mesa Police responded to a report of a robbery at the AM/PM at 4925 Spring Street in the city of La Mesa.

According to the police, the clerk told officers that he was working behind the registers when the suspect walked into the store and demanded cash. When the clerk told the suspect that he didn’t believe he had a gun, the suspect pulled a pair of scissors from his pocket and walked behind the cash register counter. 


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OFFICER SHOOTS ARMED WOMAN IN EL CAJON

July 8, 2012 (El Cajon)—A crisis negotiation with a woman brandishing a shotgun ended with an officer firing three rounds, striking the suspect.  The woman, Jamie Fitzgerald, is hospitalized for treatment of her injuries.


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TRANSIENT ARRESTED FOR THROWING EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AT TROLLEY IN LA MESA

July 6, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police today announced the arrest of Darron Willams, 19, a transient accused of hurling a bottle bomb at a trolley station in La Mesa on July 3 shortly before 8 p.m. The device, a 16-ounce plastic bottle filled with magnesium and water, exploded at the Spring Street Trolley Station at 4250 Spring Street.   


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DEA/NTF SEIZE 41,000 MARIJUANA PLANTS IN SUNSHINE SUMMIT

 
Largest Outdoor Marijuana Grow Seizure on Private Property in San Diego County History
 
July 6, 2012 (Warner Springs) – On June 30 and July 1, 2012, DEA/NTF (Narcotics Task Force) conducted a marijuana eradication operation in the unincorporated area of Warner Springs called Sunshine Summit. A State of California search warrant was obtained for the 40 acre parcel of private property which concealed the marijuana plants.

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SHERIFF ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM FOR KIDS: OPERATION CHILL

July 5, 2012 (San Diego)--FREEZE! Do a good deed and get a cool treat from Sheriff's Deputies.

Sheriff's Deputies are issuing a different kind of "ticket" to children this summer.

Don't be alarmed if deputies stop you along a bike path or sidewalk or call you over to the patrol car, a release issued by the Sheriff’s office cautions. This summer, deputies will "ticket" kids caught in the act of doing a good deed with Slurpee© beverage coupons.


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SHERIFF INVESTIGATING SERIOUS INJURY OF CHILD IN RAMONA

July 5, 2012 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s Child Abuse unit, Homicide Detail and Crime Lab are investigating the serious injury of a 7-month-old child.

Ramona deputies received a call at 11:27 a.m. yesterday to assist fire department paramedics in 2600 block of Southern Oak Road.  The child, injured inside the home, was transported via air ambulance to Rady Children’s Hospital but is not expected to survive, said Lt. Larry Nesbit with the Sheriff's Homicide Detail.


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BOTTLE BOMB HURLED AT TROLLEY EXPLODES IN LA MESA

 

July 4, 2012 (La Mesa) –A bottle bomb thrown at a passing trolley at the Spring Street station (4250 Spring Street) exploded shortly before 8 p.m. last night.  There were no injuries and the trolley was not damaged. 

Police seek tips to identify the individual who committed this crime.


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MOST RESIDENTS UNAWARE OF KEY UNDERAGE DRINKING LAWS, “SOCIAL HOST” ORDINANCES

 

July 3, 2012 (San Diego) –In recent months, police and community groups have stepped up efforts to educate residents about an important law to prevent underage drinking – the Social Host law, often called the house party law.

The awareness push is needed, according to local health professionals. Social Host Laws have been in place throughout the San Diego County for close to a decade. Despite this, many residents are still unaware of the laws – and penalties they hold for those who host underage drinking parties.


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DEPUTIES ARREST SUICIDAL POWAY MAN WITH ARSENAL OF GUNS

 
July 3, 2012 (Poway) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Poway station responded to a report of an armed man trying to kill himself yesterday afternoon at his home in the 13700 block of Powers Road. The man, a convicted felon, told deputies he would not be taken into custody alive and that he had booby-trapped the inside of his home with explosives.

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ARRESTS MADE AFTER THIEVES DRAG VICTIM 50 FEET

 
July 3, 2012 (La Mesa) – Thanks to a witness who photographed a crime in progress, La Mesa Police have arrested two suspects who  allegedly stole a laptop computer from a man, then dragged him 50 feet from a vehicle.

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SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF BRIAN HAMMETT IN SPRING VALLEY

 
July 1, 2012 (Spring Valley ) --  Arren William Dangler, 29, has been arrested for the murder of Brian Hammett, 29. Hammett was found lying in a driveway with multiple wounds on June 15 around 12:30 a.m. in the 8600 block of Troy Street in Spring Valley. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died shortly before 2 a.m.

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LA MESA POLICE SEEK “DANGEROUS” SUSPECT; RESIDENTS WARNED TO STAY INDOORS

 

June 30, 2012 (La Mesa) --La Mesa Police along with the Sheriff's helicopter and K9 officers are looking for a “dangerous person” in the area of Culowee and Clearview tonight. The suspect may be armed, Incident Page Network states.

He is a white male wearing a black hat and black shirt. Please call 911 if you see him.


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7 ARRESTED IN EAST COUNTY “OPERATION OVERWATCH”

June 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- Deputies from the Santee Community Policing and Problem Solving Unit (C.O.P.P.S.), Santee Detectives, and Officers from the San Diego Probation Department conducted "Operation Overwatch" in Santee, Lakeside, and Unincorporated El Cajon at 6 a.m. on June 27.  The purpose was to conduct compliance checks on subjects who were released early from custody under Assembly Bill 109, also known as the "Public Safety Realignment Act."


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NEARLY 80 JUVENILES RECOVERED IN NATIONWIDE OPERATION TARGETING UNDERAGE PROSTITUTION

Seven pimps arrested and two juveniles recovered by San Diego Innocent Lost Task Force and assisting law enforcement agencies 

June 27, 2012, (San Diego) -- Hundreds of FBI special agents partnered with thousands of local police officers, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, and other law enforcement personnel throughout the United States this past week, arresting those responsible for exploiting underage children through prostitution.

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SAN DIEGO MAN ARRESTED AS PART OF TWO-YEAR FBI UNDERCOVER "CARDING" OPERATION TO STOP CYBER-CRIMES

 

June 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- Pursuant to a federal arrest warrant issued out of the Southern District of New York, Mark Caparelli, aka, "Cubby" was arrested yesterday morning in San Diego by FBI Agents. The arrest was one of 24 arrests made in eight countries as part of a two-year international cyber crime takedown operation. Caparelli was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center. The undercover “carding” sting protected over 400,000 potential cyber-crime victims and prevented over $205 million in losses, according to a press release issued by the FBI. 


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CRIME PREVENTION VACATION TIPS

 
 
By Paula Dickenson, USN Retired
Crime Prevention Specialist, Alpine and East County Rural Sheriff Substation
 
June 25, 2012 (San Diego's East County)We plan, look forward to and want to enjoy that much deserved time.  It's a vacation!  Whether it's for a couple of days or weeks, don't let yours be ruined by crime.
An empty house is a tempting target and opportunity for a burglar.  On the road, you may become a prime opportunity for the criminal with identity theft, auto burglaries and fraud.

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WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT AFTER TRYING TO TAKE CHILD

 
June 24, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)— Katarzyna Johnson, 28, violated a domestic violence restraining order by entering  a residence in the 200 block of Lilac Drive in unincorporated El Cajon last night at 7:19 p.m., armed with a knife in an effort to take her child.  According to a Sheriff’s news release, Johnson had previously made statements about taking her daughter with her to heaven to see her father, who died recently.  

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SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN RAMONA BURGLARIES; STOLEN PROPERTIES RECOVERED

 
 
June 23, 2012 (Ramona) -  This morning, San Diego County Sheriff’s detectives in Ramona, with assistance of the Poway Criminal Apprehension Team and other Sheriff's deputies, served four search warrants simultaneously in the Ramona area. The warrants were served as a result of a hot prowl series occurring over the past several months in the San Diego Country Estates and Ramona.

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EAST COUNTY MURDER SUSPECT TURNS SELF INTO POLICE

 

June 23, 2012 (La Mesa)—Manual Morales Rodriguez, 28, is under arrest after turning himself into the Chula Police headquarters Friday night. Rodriguez told officers that he was wanted for the murder of Jesse Nader, 26.  Nader, a resident of Spring Valley, was stabbed to death in the 4200 block of Mars Way in Rancho San Diego on June 17.


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POLICE SEARCHING FOR STOLEN SILVER NISSAN PICKUP IN LA MESA: LICENSE 8V91560

 

June 23, 2012 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Police and El Cajon Police with assistance from San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter are currently involved in a police activity in the Fletcher Parkway/Dallas vicinity.. The public is advised to avoid the area.  Officers are looking for a stolen vehicle, silver Nissan Pickup Plate 8V91560

If you see this vehicle do not approach, contact 911.


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SHERIFF ARRESTS 13 JUVENILES AND 2 ADULTS IN EAST COUNTY

Curfew and social host ordinance sweeps to continue this weekend
 


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