Crime & Safety
Missing Tourist; Pilot Killed: Oceanside, SD Co. Police Log
Puppies dumped, beach stabbing, carjack try at hotel, DNA link to machete murder, and other crime and fire news this week from the area.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The following is a collection of police, courtroom and fire stories from this week across San Diego County.
Puppies Stuffed In Sealed Bag Found In Escondido Park
- Hunt now on and reward offered to find the person who dumped these nine Shar Pei mixes, the San Diego Humane Society said.
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- The unidentified man was discovered Friday morning under a Forester Creek bridge in Santee, officials said.
Airplane Pilot Killed In Oceanside Plane Crash ID'd
- The 58-year-old died Tuesday when aircraft went down near SR-76. Surviving passenger said wreckage was trapped for hours before discovery.
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- The accusations "do not involve students from EUHSD," Escondido school officials said.
Graffiti Threats Prompt Security Increase At 2 No. County Schools
- The graffiti was discovered in boys' restrooms at two Vista schools, officials said.
Suspect Attempts To Carjack Vehicle From Hotel Valet: Police
- Authorities said a man was found and arrested after the incident in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.
Imperial Beach Bank Robbed By Masked Man: Deputies
- FBI took over investigation and is searching for the suspect, officials said.
- Michal Marcin Krowczynski missed his return flight to Poland and was reported missing Jan. 18, police said.
SDPD Officer Charged With Domestic Violence, Assault With Gun
- Officer Timothy Allan Romberger, 39, who faces up to nine years in prison if convicted, was arrested in Santee, officials said.
2006 Machete Murder: Oregon Man Pleads Not Guilty
- Police said genetic genealogy test linked the suspect to the murder of 47-year-old Scott Martinez in La Mesa.
Pedestrian Seriously Injured In Hit-And-Run
- The driver, who fled the scene in San Diego, possibly was driving a beige, older-model car, police said.
2 Pizza Restaurants Robbed By Masked Gunmen
- The Little Caesars stores in La Mesa and San Diego are about 4 miles apart and were held up within 30 minutes of each other, police said.
- Police said four suspects fled in a dark-colored SUV.
Man Stabbed In Neck At Lemon Grove Restaurant
- The 50-year-old victim was taken to the hospital following the incident at the eatery on Broadway, officials said.
O-side Man Sentenced For Stealing Benefits From Military Widow
- For more than a decade, the 57-year-old pocketed $145,000 of the woman's spouse benefits, officials said.
Navy Petty Officer Denies Driving Drunk In Fatal Bridge Crash
- Serviceman Richard Sepolio's truck plunged off Coronado Bridge and landed in a park, killing 4 and injuring 7 in 2016, prosecutors said.
2 Killed In Four-Vehicle Wreck On SR 76 ID'd
- The car of the women, 48 and 25, was struck from behind, which set off a crash series while at intersection in nearby Vista, officials said.
- A boater noticed the overturned kayak at the Lakeside reservoir on Saturday morning and informed authorities, officials said.
Pedestrian Killed In University City Identified
- The 38-year-old died Thursday evening while crossing an I-805 ramp, officials said.
Driver High On Marijuana In Scripps Ranch Fatal Crash Convicted
- Jurors found Hyun Jeong Choi, 36, guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter, but deadlocked on second-degree murder charge.
10 DUI Suspects Arrested At Pacific Beach Checkpoint
- The operation was held Saturday night to early Sunday on Mission Bay Drive near I-5, officials said.
Family Of 5 Displaced In House Fire
- The Campo-area blaze is under investigation, officials said.
East County Man Killed In Crash Involving Stolen SUV ID'd: Police
- K-9 units were dispatched to look for other possible victims as officers were unsure if the man was the vehicle's only occupant.
Suspect Jailed For Colina Del Sol Park Homicide
- The 20-year-old was arrested this week for the shooting that occurred shortly before Christmas, San Diego police said.
Gas Leak Prompts Road Closures Near Hotel Circle
- Individuals in the area of the construction site at the Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley were told to shelter in place.
3 Injured in Motorcycle Hit-And-Run In Gaslamp District
- The driver ran from the crash, leaving behind his Harley, officials said.
Home Fire Displaces Family Of 4 In North County
- No one was inside the residence at the time of the blaze, officials said.
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