Crime & Safety
Brush Fires; Fatal Train Crash: La Mesa, SD County Police Log
A look at some of this week's police, fire and courtroom stories from around La Mesa and across San Diego County.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The following is a collection of police, fire and courtroom stories from this week across San Diego County.
Carlsbad Fire Burns 4 Acres, Evacuations Lifted
The blaze sparked off the 1900 block of Palomar Oaks Way, near McClellan-Palomar Airport, according to the Carlsbad Fire Department.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
7 Charged In San Diego County Robbery Spree, SWAT Standoff
Charges were filed this week against seven robbery suspects who allegedly took part in a series of holdups throughout San Diego and La Mesa.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Woman Sentenced For Wrong Way Freeway Crash That Killed Driver
Lauren Ashley Freeman was sentenced to prison for killing another motorist by driving the wrong way while drunk on a San Diego freeway ramp.
Fire Guts Garage At Lakeside Home
Flames tore through a garage at a Lakeside home late, wreaking extensive structural damage but causing no reported injuries.
Carlsbad Photographer Pleads Guilty To Molesting Teen Models
Robert Koester, 52, agreed to a 25-year-prison term in return for his guilty pleas to all charges brought against him in San Diego County.
Family Displaced After Fire Damages Escondido Home
A fire damaged an Escondido home and displaced a family of three – two days after a water main break caused damage to the same home.
The suspicious object was reported outside Job Options Inc., 4015 Avenida de la Plata, according to police.
Bicyclist Fatally Struck By Amtrak Train In Carlsbad
An Amtrak train struck and killed a person Thursday evening in Carlsbad.
Willow Fire Threatens Homes, Prompts Evacuations In Lakeside
The Willow Fire sparked off the 14000 block of Willow Road in Lakeside, north of Lake Jennings, according to Cal Fire.
Wildfire 21% Contained In Dehesa Area Of San Diego County
A fast-moving wildfire that burned around 200 acres of brush near Sycuan Casino is now 21% contained, fire officials said Wednesday.
Memorial Held In North Park On 41st Anniversary Of PSA Flight 182 Crash
A memorial was held in North Park to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the deadly 1978 Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 crash.
A fire possibly sparked by a candle damaged a Mount Hope duplex Wednesday morning and displaced four residents.
Pedestrian Fatally Struck On Escondido Roadway
A pedestrian was struck and killed while walking on a street north of Lake Hodges in Escondido, authorities said.
Unarmed Man Tries To Rob Bank In Point Loma Heights Area
A man attempted to rob the Wells Fargo bank on West Point Loma Boulevard using a demand note but left empty-handed.
VA Doctor Pleads Guilty To Sexually Assaulting Patients
An Oceanside physician pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and exploiting female patients referred by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Motorcyclist Gravely Hurt In Flinn Springs-Area Crash
A 20-year-old man was severely injured in a motorcycle crash in a neighborhood near Lake Jennings.
Victims Give Statements To Woman Facing Prison For Fatal Balboa Park Crash
Alondra Selena Marquez, 22, of San Diego, pleaded guilty last month to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Judge Grants Temporary Suspension Of Mira Mesa Dentist's License Over Fraud
April Rose Ambrosio is accused of collecting more than $300K for procedures that never occurred and defrauding eight insurance companies.
San Diego Legion Release Player After Sexual Assault Conviction
The San Diego Legion Major League Rugby team announced it released recently signed player Steffon Armitage.
Wildfire Burns 200 Acres In Dehesa Area Of San Diego County
The Dehesa Fire sparked off Sloane Canyon Road, east of El Cajon and near Sycuan Casino Resort, according to Cal Fire.
Brush Fire Erupts Beneath Fletcher Hills Homes
A brush fire alongside I-8 in the Fletcher Hills area briefly threatened homes Tuesday afternoon until crews were able to subdue the flames.
A man died in a hospital Tuesday after crashing a pickup truck while in the throes of an apparent medical emergency, authorities said.
3 Injured In 3-Vehicle Crash In Mission Valley
Three people were injured in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 805 in the Mission Valley area of San Diego.
Escondido Main Break Leaves Some Without Water, Causes Sinkhole
A water main break created a sinkhole that sucked in a parked vehicle, shut down an intersection and left 26 customers without water.
Man Convicted In Killing Of Man At Oceanside Construction Site
A triathlete and former Marine who fatally stabbed a plumber-in-training at a construction site in Oceanside is facing life in prison.
Tips Sought On Thief Who Broke Into 3 Vehicles In Mission Valley
Authorities asked the public's help in identifying a thief who broke into three vehicles at a Mission Valley parking garage.
More than 22,000 people died in San Diego County last year, and 8,346 of those deaths were investigated by the Medical Examiner's Office.
Prison Inmate Sentenced For Drug Smuggling Conspiracy
An inmate who, from his cell, ran a ring that smuggled drugs and phones into a prison in San Diego County, was sentenced Monday.
6 Displaced After Fire Destroys Trailer, Damages Home
Six people and two dogs were displaced when a fire tore through a trailer and damaged part of a Mountain View house, authorities said.
Man Seriously Injured After Being Hit By Pickup In Encinitas
A pedestrian suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a pickup truck near an Encinitas intersection, authorities said.
Man Shot In Abdomen At Park In Clairemont Area
A 19-year-old man was hospitalized Monday after he was shot in the abdomen at a park in the Clairemont area, police said.
The mom of a toddler who died after being found unconscious in a vehicle outside their Tierrasanta home was charged with felony child abuse.
Woman Charged With Gross Vehicular Manslaughter In Crash
Jaqueline Castillo, 36, is charged in the March 18 death of Brenda Lee, 62.
Abducted Child Returned, Mother Arrested In South Bay: Police
A 10-month-old abducted from her grandparents' home was safely returned over the weekend and her mother taken into custody, police said.
Armed Suspect Who Tried To Rob Liquor Store In San Diego Arrested
Officers arrested a man who they said tried to rob a liquor store in the Clairemont Mesa East community of San Diego at gunpoint.
Car Hits Patrol Vehicle In Poway; Deputy Injured
A deputy suffered minor injuries over the weekend when a passing car hit his patrol car in Poway, sheriff's officials said.
A gunman wearing a clown mask robbed a mini-market over the weekend in Chula Vista, police said.
Knife-Wielding Man Arrested In Balboa Park Robbery
Police found the suspect near Redwood Circle and arrested him on suspicion of armed robbery.
Robbery Suspects Named In City Heights SWAT Standoff
Between Aug. 23 and Sept. 19, 22 robberies occurred in the Mid-City, Central and Eastern areas of San Diego, and in La Mesa and Chula Vista.
Suspect Arrested In Connection With December 2012 Stabbing Death
Authorities arrested a man in New York in connection with the December 2012 stabbing death of a man inside a home in Spring Valley.
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