Crime & Safety
Arson Spree; Brush Fires; Helicopter Crash: SD County Police Log
A look at some of this week's police, fire and courtroom stories from across San Diego County.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The following is a collection of this week's police, fire and courtroom stories from across San Diego County.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Cary Jay Smith, a convicted molester, spent 21 years at a State Hospital for fantasizing about raping, torturing and killing children.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Mariusz Czas, 43, who worked for the San Diego Police Department for 18 years, pleaded guilty to a felony stalking charge.
Man Charged With Killing Officer Testifies At His Murder Trial
Jesse Michael Gomez, 60, faces a potential death sentence if convicted of the murder of Officer Jonathan "J.D." De Guzman, 43.
Woman Charged For Allegedly Striking Flight Attendant On Plane
Federal charges were filed against a woman who allegedly struck a flight attendant during a flight to San Diego.
Video Released Of Southcrest Traffic Stop Under Police Review
A cell-phone video has emerged showing a San Diego Police Department traffic stop that is now under internal investigation.
ACLU Asks Court To Reinstate Order For Asylum Seekers
The ACLU asked an appellate court to reinstate a San Diego federal judge's court order requiring access to legal counsel for asylum seekers.
Search Continues For Crew After USN Copter Crash Near San Diego
Five crew members remain missing after a military helicopter crashed off the coast of San Diego on Wednesday.
Imperial Beach DUI Checkpoint Set For Friday Night
Sheriff's deputies in Imperial Beach police will be looking for impaired and unlicensed drivers this weekend.
Find out where La Mesa Police will have a checkpoint set up this weekend to catch drunk drivers.
La Mesa Man Dies After Vehicle Hits Concrete Pillar
A 31-year-old man from La Mesa died after crashing a 2001 Honda Civic into a concrete pillar near Spring Valley Academy, the CHP reported.
Driver Jailed In Fatal Crash Of SUV Into La Mesa Building
Daniel Joseph Corona of La Mesa was booked into San Diego Central Jail.
Man Sentenced For Camp Pendleton Marine's Overdose Death
An Escondido man who sold fentanyl-laced pills to a Camp Pendleton Marine, leading to the victim's fatal overdose, was sentenced to prison.
Patrols To Target Maritime Human Smuggling Over Labor Day Weekend
Federal authorities announced hey will conduct increased patrols along the coast of San Diego over the Labor Day weekend.
One crew member has been rescued and five others remained missing, according to the U.S. Navy.
Motorcyclist Crashes Into CHP Officer On I-5 In North County
The man on the Harley-Davidson motorcycle and the California Highway Patrol officer were hospitalized, authorities said.
Synagogue Shooter Slated To Plead Guilty Next Month In Fed Case
John Timothy Earnest previously pleaded guilty to murder and other state charges in connection with the April 27, 2019, shooting in Poway.
Chaparral Fire At San Diego-Riverside Line 80% Contained
All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted for the 1,427-acre Chaparral Fire in San Diego and Riverside counties.
Retired Naval Officer Pleads Guilty In 'Fat Leonard' Scandal
A retired U.S. Navy chief warrant officer involved in the wide-ranging "Fat Leonard" bribery scandal pleaded guilty to federal charges.
A woman was found dead in the wreckage of a car alongside a rural road a few miles west of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Man Critically Wounded In South Bay Shooting
The shooting happened in the 2000 block of Rachael Avenue in National City, according to police.
Navy Helicopter Crashes Off San Diego Coast
The helicopter crashed while "conducting routine flight operations" about 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego, according to the Navy.
Motorists Wounded In 2 Car-To-Car Freeway Shootings
Two motorists were wounded within 15 minutes of each other in possibly related car-to-car freeway shootings in Lincoln Park and Lemon Grove.
Nonprofit Asks CA Supreme Court To Review County COVID-19 Outbreak Data Case
An appellate court denied a request for public disclosure of the specific locations of COVID-19 outbreaks in San Diego County.
Crews Work To Contain Chaparral Fire At San Diego-Riverside Line
As of late Tuesday morning, crews had the burn area of the 1,427-acre blaze about 50% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Wildfires Prompt Closure Of Cleveland National Forest
The order closing all the forests in the Pacific Southwest Region will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and extends through Sept. 17.
Wrong-Way Driver Dies, Injures Motorist In Spring Valley
A man died when he veered into an oncoming car in Spring Valley, seriously injuring the other motorist, the California Highway Patrol said.
2 Injured In 4-Vehicle Collision In San Diego
Two people were injured Monday, one seriously, in a four-vehicle collision in the Sigsbee Row neighborhood.
Man Shot In Mount Hope Neighborhood: SDPD
San Diego police Monday were investigating a drive-by shooting in the Mount Hope neighborhood that sent a 55-year-old man to a hospital.
Neuroscience Ph.D. Holder Pleads Guilty To San Diego Bank Robbery
A former postdoctoral neuroscience researcher at UC San Diego pleaded guilty to carrying out a series of credit union heists.
Lightning Culprit In Small Vegetation Fire Near Warner Springs
A lightning strike sparked a vegetation fire that burned a quarter of an acre Monday near the community of Warner Springs.
Cal Fire: Border Fire Spread Stops
The spread of a brush fire along the U.S.-Mexico border in the Otay Mountain BLM Wilderness has stopped, Cal Fire said.
Drug Trafficker Who Used Teens As Couriers At San Diego Border Sentenced
A Tijuana-based drug trafficker who used teens as drug couriers was sentenced by a San Diego judge to more than seven years in prison.
Inmate Dies Of Unknown Cause At San Diego Central Jail
The death of an inmate at San Diego Central Jail was under investigation Tuesday.
Surveillance cameras captured images of the man believed to have set the four fires.
California's National Forests To Close Ahead Of Labor Day Weekend
The closures, affecting all but one of the state's 20 National Forests, will last until Sept. 17.
Chaparral Fire In Cleveland National Forest 13% Contained
The Chaparral Fire straddling San Diego and Riverside counties has burned 15,000 acres.
Prosecutors Won't Seek Death Penalty For Chabad Of Poway Shooter
John Timothy Earnest, 22, who pleaded guilty last month to murder and other state charges, could have faced capital punishment.
City Attorney Alleges Scripps Unlawfully Discharged Patient
The San Diego City Attorney's Office alleged that Scripps Health illegally discharged a schizophrenic patient in 2019.
One man was stabbed and another man's arm was slashed during a fight in the Midway District, police said.
Woman Fatally Struck By 3 Vehicles In San Diego
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Man Charged In Deaths Of Smuggled Migrants Found In Car's Trunk
Saad Ali Awan, 23, was arrested on suspicion of placing ads on Craigslist to enlist someone to smuggle people across the U.S.-Mexico border.
More Treatment Requested For SVP Once Proposed For Release
A sexually violent predator once proposed for placement into a residence in Borrego Springs will not be housed at the home at this time.
Woman Seriously Hurt After Falling Off Limo Bus In National City
A female passenger in a limo bus suffered life-threatening injuries when she opened the rear emergency door and fell into traffic.
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