Police

Breaking News, Police, Police/Fire December 30, 2015

Wrong-way Highway 78 embankment flip near Metcalf kills driver on New Year’s Day

Just 10 days after a deadly Highway 78 crash killed four people; a wrong-way, single-vehicle crash on a nearby stretch of Highway 78 sometime before 3 p.m. killed another man, according to California Highway Patrol officers. The wrong-way 2003 Chevrolet Suburban headed west on eastbound Highway 78, presumably from Broadway, plunged off the road near Metcalf Street killing the driver, CHP officers said. Nobody called…

Police December 21, 2015

Escondido Police give lucky people $10K in Benjamins thanks to Secret Santa donation

Escondido Police officers went around town this month giving $10,000 in $100 bills to lucky people, all made possible by a donation from an anonymous person. Here is the video and  (somewhat) tongue-in-cheek titled news release issued today by EPD… Escondido Police Department Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Escondido Police Officers had an opportunity to spread holiday cheer. Please watch this short video…

Police December 21, 2015

Police seek stabbing suspect from Sunday brawl near Bear Valley Middle School

Another whodunnit has caused Escondido Police to reach out to the public for help identifying a stabbing suspect from large fight just after midnight Sunday, Dec. 20. The brawl took place just outside Bear Valley Middle School near the intersection of Bear Valley Parkway and Canyon Drive. The fight was one for the ages, or at least young adults, in the 2800 block of Bear…

Police December 21, 2015

San Marcos 14-year-old shot dead last month identified, killer or killers at large

His name now is known. His killer or killers remain at large. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office Monday appealed to the public for help in solving what has become a disturbing mystery. Fourteen year old Brandon Gonzalez was found collapsed on a sidewalk in the 3500 block of De Leone Road around 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gun shots around the…

Police, Police/Fire December 21, 2015

Escondido, San Marcos public safety allocations revealed by SANDAG report

Escondido led San Diego County jurisdictions this fiscal year in the percentage of overall public safety funding allocated in the city budget. The city allocated 43 percent of its budget to law enforcement, a similar percentage as El Cajon. Otherwise, the nine incorporated cities in the county spent an average of 33 percent of budgets on law enforcement. Not all the Escondido funding came from…

Police December 11, 2015

Body found two months ago at Lake Hodges identified as San Diego woman

Her name was Marisol Lopez. She was 29 years old. She was from San Diego. She was the woman whose decomposed body was found nearly two months ago at the shore of Lake Hodges by some dogs accompanying a trail runner. Technically speaking, Lopez was found in the 19900 block of Lake Drive in the community of Del Dios. She was wearing a distinctive ring,…

Courts/Law, Police, Police/Fire December 6, 2015

Wild times in world of people behaving badly (Updated Dec. 10)

People were behaving exceedingly badly this month and it wasn’t due to the full moon, was there a full moon? North Escondido woman dead, husband flees scene, later discovered dead by suicide (Editor’s Note: Juan Garcia was found dead by police at his North Broadway home late Wednesday, Dec. 10. San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies entering the home to clear it of clues in order…

Police, Police/Fire November 22, 2015

Police seek hit-and-run driver; EPD blotter: 6 new crimes reported for Dec. 6

Now, on to current incident reports. For more details click on “Map It.” CRIME ALERT! 5 new crimes Type Description Case # Location Agency Date Map It TAKE VEHICLE W/O OWNER’S CONSENT/VEHICLE THEFT (F) – 900 E BLOCK MISSION AVENUE Escondido Police 12/2/2015 10:00:00 PM Map It DRUNK IN PUBLIC: ALCOHOL, DRUGS, COMBO OR TOLUENE (M) – 1200 W BLOCK VALLEY PARKWAY Escondido Police 12/1/2015 2:46:00 PM…

Courts/Law, Escondido, Police November 3, 2015

Alice in Wonderland scenario continues for former Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher

Former Escondido Police Chief’s Jim Maher’s contentious employment end game finished in a swirl of controversy in 2012 that just got curiouser and curiouser on Monday. Maher had filed a breach-of-contract suit last year contending he was owed $75,000 of a negotiated $150,000 job buyout. On Monday, his attorney told a reporter that the suit had been dropped. Rick Pinckard, Maher’s current attorney — Robert…