December 27, 2010 (Lakeside) - It's rare to view a helicopter hoist rescue from the victim's point of view.  East County Magazine videographer Billy Ortiz has posted a dramatic video shot by his hiking companion, Pam Wilmers,  chronicling his rescue off El Capitan Mountain following a rockslide yesterday.

View this remarkable video here:  http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v1/yg/r/_g3DSzyCT-K.swf?v=12552852...

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 17, 2010 (Jamul)-Jamul Drive was shut down this afternoon after a passerby found a dead man at 1:45 p.m. The body , which had blood on its face, was lying face-down in the 14000 block of Jamul Drive. California Highway Patrol officers responded and determined that the death did not result from a traffic accident, then summoned Sheriff’s homicide detectives.

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.

 December 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –In a continuing effort to reduce the number of people killed and injured in alcohol related crashes. The Sheriff’s Poway and Santee Stations will be deploying deputies on saturation patrols and DUI/driver’s license checkpoints tonight and tomorrow.

“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.

County declared disaster area; top disaster official seeks state disaster declaration--a move that would waive environmental laws

By Miriam Raftery
November 30, 2010 (Escondido) – An Escondido home described by a prosecutor as a “bomb factory” will be burned down to destroy the largest cache of homemade explosives ever found on U.S. soil. Protective barriers will first be erected around the property at 1954 Via Scott.

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.

November 23, 2010 (La Mesa) – A 17-year-old has been arrested after attempting to rob the Yum-Yum Doughnut store for the second day in a row.

Yesterday 10:50 a.m., the teen stole a tip-jar from the store at 7550 El Cajon Blvd. According to La Mesa Police, he told the employee that he was sorry, but had no money and needed the cash. The employee and suspect struggled briefly over the tip jar, which contained about $10.

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.

November 5, 2010 (Santee) – The Sheriff’s Santee Station and Santee Fire Department invite you to the 12th annual Santee Pancake Breakfast this Saturday at Fire Station #4, 8950 Cottonwood (corner of Mission Gorge and Cottonwood) this Friday and Saturday, November 5th and 6th.

Money raised from the breakfast will be split. The Sheriff’s Santee Station will use its half to help families in need through the nonprofit “Spirit of Giving” organization. The Fire Department will buy automated external defibrillators for Santee schools, community centers and churches.

November 4, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Detectives at the San Diego Sheriff’s Lemon Grove substation seek the public’s help to locate a heavy set Hispanic man in his 40s driving an older two-door blue or green car. According to detective Monica Sanchez, the man attempted to expose himself to a young girl walking t La Presa Middle School on October 28 between 8 and 8:15 a.m. He later grabbed the arm of a second girl walking to school and made sexually suggestive comments.

November 1, 2010 (La Mesa)--The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department announce the arrests of Christopher James Cuerden, age 26, and Caleb Gene Halcomb, age 20, as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the US Bank, located inside of the Vons grocery store at 3681 Avocado Boulevard in the unincorporated area of La Mesa on Friday, October 29, 2010.

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.

October 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Timothy Allen Bliss of Ramona has been arrested following a chase through Lakeside, Poway and Ramona on State Route 67.

By Miriam Raftery

October 19, 2010 (Alpine) – A SWAT team has been called to a home at 19515 Japatul Road in Alpine, where an armed suspect has barricaded himself in his home after firing shots at his wife.

East County News Service

October 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Most people take out a modest cash withdrawal when they stop by a Automatic Teller Machine. But according to Sheriff’s officials, Brandon Jamaul Baker, 27, took out the whole ATM machine—three times.

Yesterday morning, detectives from the Lemon Grove Sheriff substation and East County Gang Enforcement arrested Baker, 27, at his workplace in the 400 block of Cypress Lane, El Cajon.

October 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – San Diego Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter crew assisted El Cajon Police in apprehending a suspected drunk driver following a high speed chase through La Mesa and El Cajon early Tuesday morning.

15-Year-old faces felony arraignment Sept. 28 for carrying hunting knife while jogging in rural area where kids were stalked by mountain lion

East County News Service

“My 12-year-old daughter was put against the car and she was searched by an adult male officer; the kids said they were touching their butts. My son said they put their hands up between their legs. They were crying and they were all shocked…No one in my household has ever been involved in illegal activities.” – Carmen Gomez Villeda Wagner , mother of two children stopped, including a 15-year-old boy charged with a felony

"I would never in a million years say that wearing camouflage clothing constitutes reasonable cause for anything." -- Rebecca Jones, president, Criminal Lawyers Defense Club, San Diego, who questions the legality of the stop made by Sheriff's officers.

“If they were three white children, would it have happened at all? I think it’s racial profiling.” – a concerned mother in the neighborhood who asked that her name not be published.

September 29, 2010 (Alpine) – “Alpine is experiencing Auto Burglary and Window Smashes,” Paula Dickenson, USN Ret., crime prevention specialist with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Alpine substation said in release sent to media and area residents. “It's an opportunity for the thief…When it occurs, contact Sheriff's Dispatch, 1-858-565-5200, for our Alpine Deputy to take a report,” she said, also offering tips to protect your vehicle.

September 18, 2010 (Santee) – A San Diego Sheriff’s deputy shot and wounded Pedro Galarza, 26, a documented gang member on parole. Deputies responded to a call shortly after 8 p.m. last night from his mother, who said her son was armed with a knife and was attempting to abduct a child.

September 14, 2010 (Campo) 12:35 p.m. Updated September 16th – A San Diego Sheriff’s deputy was attacked by a pit bull at 30031 Quail Road in Campo, sustaining moderate injuries. The deputy shot the dog in self defense, according to the Sheriff's Department.The deputy was attempting to serve a warrant on a juvenile when the dog attacked and bit his arm. The officer was knocked to the ground and fired one shot, striking the dog in the mouth.

Update 6 p.m.:  This dispute ended peacefully with no injuries following  a four-hour standoff.  The man, Stephen Gainder, 45, surrendered to deputies and was taken to Pomerado Hospital for evaluation.  Pomerado News reports that a neighbor called the Sheriff following a loud dispute between Gainder and his elderly mother. After deputies attempted to subdue him with a taser and beanbags, he armed himself with a crossbow.  
September 14, 2010 (Poway) 12:56 p.m. -- Negotiators from the San Diego Sheriff’s office are attempting to talk a man armed with a crossbow into surrendering. According to ECM news partner 10 News, deputies performing a welfare check in the 14000 block of Tobiasson Road were told by the man that he is armed with a crossbow and refusing to come out.

September 13, 2010 (Lakeside) -- San Diego Sheriff’s deputies rescued three hikers on El Cajon Mountain (El Capitan) in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley last night.  The rescued proved challenging due to rugged terrain and conditions.

September 12, 2010 (Lakeside) – Joseph Cantorna, 54, was arrested today in the 8800 block of Cherry Road in Lakeside for lewd acts involving a child. According to Sgt. Brent Strahm with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, a witness intervened and called Sheriff’s deputies after observing the man inappropriately touching a 9-year-old boy and attempting to expose himself.

Sheriff and East County Family Justice Center host event, invite all who want to help victims escape violence

September 12, 2010 (Spring Valley) -- Domestic violence, child abuse, teenage dating violence, and elder abuse have continued to climb alarmingly high, San Diego’s Sheriff reports. The Sheriff and East County Family Justice Center invite the public to a free program on October 5 from 6 -8 p.m. at the San Miguel Fire Station, 2850 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley.

August 29, 2010 (San Diego) – Sheriff Bill Gore announced last week that the Search and Rescue Unit and added a new component: an Urban Search and Rescue division. Urban search-and-rescue is considered a multi-hazard discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of hazards including earthquakes, storms, tornadoes floods dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases.

August 27, 2010 – Murder charges have been filed against Michael Richardson, who is accused of staging a June 29, 2010 car accident on Highway 67 in Lakeside to cover up the deaths of his wife and mother-in-law.

The bodies of his wife, Thao Richardson, and his mother-in-law, Phan Lai, were found in wreckage down an embankment, days after their deaths. As ECM previously reported.

August 27, 2010 (Spring Valley) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA-3 helicopter assisted Lemon Grove gang suppression deputies in the apprehension of a parolee at large on Wednesday night at 9:44 p.m. on Eileen Street in Spring Valley.

By Miriam Raftery

August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) -- As East County Magazine reported earlier, a San Diego Sheriff's helicopter rescued two people trapped on the face of El Capitan (El Cajon Mountain) when the fast-moving Monte fire encroached below them.

Now the Sheriff and Cal-Fire have released details of the harrowing ordeal, revealing how two deputies risked their own lives to save others.  They narrowly escaped, as flames burned so close that one rescuer leaped onto a landing skid and hung on as the chopper descended 3,675 feet to the valley floor.