Crime & Safety
Fatal Fall; Drug Smugglers: 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.
Man Killed After SUV Slams Into Tree In El Cajon
A man was killed Friday morning when his SUV slammed into a tree, then caught fire near an El Cajon intersection, police said.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Donovan Prison Inmate Dies; Case Deemed Homicide
An inmate who was grievously injured in a beating at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility last spring died in a hospital this week.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Drivers, Infant Injured In Head-On Crash Near Mount Helix
A sedan and a school district truck collided head-on at an intersection near Mount Helix Friday, injuring three people, including an infant.
Two Men Stabbed Within One Block Of Each Other In North Park
Two men were stabbed Friday morning within a block of each other in North Park, police said.
Border Patrol: Drug Smugglers Use Children As 'Diversion'
Agents caught suspected drug smugglers with loads of meth in vehicles in which their children were riding, according to the Border Patrol.
Woman Killed In Solo Vehicle Crash In La Mesa
A 67-year-old woman was killed when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a cement wall in La Mesa, police said.
A 30-year fugitive who fled to Mexico after shooting his friend in a dispute over a woman was sentenced to nine years in state prison.
Man To Stand Trial In Fatal East County Frying Pan Attack
Brad Masaru Payton is accused of allegedly killing a fellow resident with a frying pan at an East County independent-living facility.
Poway Synagogue Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
John T. Earnest pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of murder, attempted murder, arson and hate crime allegations.
Teenage Boy Wounded In Drive-By Shooting In Linda Vista
A 17-year-old boy suffered a minor bullet wound Thursday in a drive-by shooting near Tecolote Canyon in San Diego.
Man Arrested For Allegedly Punching Police Officer In Ocean Beach
A homeless man was jailed Wednesday after he allegedly punched a San Diego police officer in the nose while being handcuffed in Ocean Beach.
A 53-year-old woman suffered serious injuries when her bicycle was struck from behind by a hit-and-run driver near a Ramona intersection.
Gas Leak Forces Evacuations In Mission Beach
Excavation workers accidentally ruptured an underground pipeline in Mission Beach, causing a natural gas leak that prompted evacuations.
San Diego Lab Tech Accused Of Sex With Students On Paid Leave
A San Diego City College lab technician was put on paid leave while the district reviews accusations he had sex with students.
Helicopter Makes Hard Landing At Carlsbad Airport
A hard landing at McClellan-Palomar Airport left a light helicopter toppled onto its side Wednesday afternoon, but nobody was hurt.
Pedestrian Struck, Seriously Injured By Car Near Liberty Station
A 60-year-old man suffered severe head injuries when he was struck by a car near Liberty Station, police said.
Man Seriously Injured In Motorized Bicycle Crash In Barrio Logan
A man was hospitalized with serious injuries he suffered when he crashed his motorized bicycle in the Barrio Logan area, police said.
Dark-Web Vendors Plead Guilty To Cryptocurrency Money Laundering
Two San Diego men admitted in federal court to conspiring to launder dark-web proceeds.
Auto-Theft Suspect Arrested After San Diego Police Chase
An auto theft suspect was arrested after leading officers on a brief pursuit in an Oak Park-area cul-de-sac, police said.
Pedestrian Killed In Chain-Reaction Crash In South Bay
An 81-year-old man was killed and three other people suffered minor injuries when a work truck crashed into parked vehicles in Chula Vista.
Suspicious Death Investigated In Fallbrook-Area Neighborhood
A person was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a rural community in the far northern reaches of the county, authorities said.
22 Displaced After Fire Hydrant Floods University City Apartments
A driver crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant in University City, causing water to rush into a nearby apartment complex, police said.
Fire Destroys Mozy Cafe, Other Businesses In Encinitas
A two-alarm fire tore through Mozy Cafe in Encinitas Monday, destroying the cafe along with two other businesses inside the building.
Jury Hears Opening Statements In Clairemont Robbery/Murder Trial
Ahmed Hassan Mumin, 34, is charged with murder, robbery, burglary, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Sailor Who Died In Fall Aboard USS Nimitz In Coronado ID'd
Juan Jose Garcia-Herrera, 21, of Chicago, died after falling from an aircraft elevator aboard the USS Nimitz in Coronado.
Teen Killed In San Diego's Sherman Heights Neighborhood
A 19-year-old man was found dead at a home in the Sherman Heights neighborhood, police said.
Man Fatally Struck By Pickup While Crossing Encinitas Street ID'd
David Goodblatt, 76, of Encinitas, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla where he was later pronounced dead.
Man Shot, Wounded In Parking Lot Near Mission Bay
A man was hospitalized with wounds to his leg and hand after he was shot by another man in a parking lot near Mission Bay, police said.
Man Pleads Guilty In Deadly Smuggling-Related Crash
A man who led Border Patrol agents on a high-speed pursuit that killed three people near Boulevard plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
3 Drivers Arrested At DUI Checkpoint In Santee
Deputies arrested three drivers at a DUI checkpoint in Santee, sheriff's officials said.
Arson Suspected In Three Rubbish Fires
Three suspected arson fires were set in a three-mile radius over the weekend in the Ocean Beach and Point Loma areas, fire officials said.
A U.S. Navy sailor died after falling from an aircraft elevator aboard the USS Nimitz in Coronado, officials said.
Prius Crashes Into Amtrak Train In San Diego
A Toyota Prius smashed into an Amtrak train in San Diego but the car's driver escaped the crash uninjured, a sheriff's sergeant said.
Woman Arrested In Serious-Injury Hit-And-Run In San Diego
A possibly drunken woman was arrested in connection with a serious-injury hit-and-run in Clairemont Mesa East, police said.
Man Jailed After Police Chase In South Bay
Chula Vista police jailed a man on suspicion of evading police, narcotic possession and DUI after a wild vehicle chase, a lieutenant said.
High-Speed Pursuit On I-15 Ends In Crash, Arrest In North County
A driver being pursued for 40 minutes on San Diego roads and freeways crashed and was taken into custody on I-15 in Rancho Bernardo.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
