East County News Service

July 29, 2020 (San Diego) – Yesterday morning, Tuesday, deputies and investigators from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, assisted by San Diego and Chula Vista police officers, served search warrants at five illegal marijuana dispensaries in Spring Valley, Lakeside, and Chula Vista. Search warrants were also served at two related residences in Jamul and San Diego, as well as a storage facility in Spring Valley, says Sergeant Zheath Sanchez with the Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators seized more than 1.1 million dollars in cash, as well as more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana, marijuana edibles, concentrated cannabis, suspected Psilocybin mushrooms, and twenty firearms including three semi-automatic rifles.

November 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Chula Vista Police seek public help to locate a missing mentally disabled man who had written “El Cajon” on a notepad shortly before he was last seen at 7:18 a.m. this morning at the H Street trolley station. 

Heriberto Tari, 48, was last seen wearing a burnt-orange dress shirt, black dress pants and black shoes.  He has a hunched-over posture and communicates by writing on a notepad that he carries.

September 11, 2011 (Lemon Grove)—Chula Vista Police have issued a bulletin asking the public to be on the lookout for Francisco Ramirez, 34. The Lemon Grove resident is suspected of abducting his son, 11, and two daughters, one 9 years old, the other 1 year 9 months. He may have taken them to Mexico in a silver GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle.

Swift action by Police and Border Patrol  canine patrol led to capture of two suspects; Robbery may be part of a series of storefront “smash and grabs”

Update 7:15 p.m.:  The two suspects arrested have been identified as Johnny Chenda, 25, and Melissa Ortiz, 21.  Both are charged with commercial burglary and conspiracy. The third suspect, who died, has not yet been identified.  The security guard has been identified as Jose Jimenez, 58, with Security Industry Specialists in Culver City.

April 4, 2011 (Otay Mesa) – Chula Police Chief David Bejarano has provided an interview with East County Magazine moments after returning from the scene of a fatal shooting at Otay Ranch Town Center shopping mall. He disclosed chilling details of a brazen robbery attempt that ended with one suspect dead following a hail of bullets and a massive response by law enforcement to seal off and search the neighborhood.