Thursday, May 21, 2026
Crime reports, fire, emergency, and law enforcement updates for Santee and East County.
The wind-driven Tusil Fire burned 1,000 acres near Campo and forced evacuations and Interstate 8 lane closures. Cal Fire reported 25% containment Wednesday morning, with all evacuations downgraded to warnings.
Via KPBS / Cal Fire
Water service is back in Julian after an outage and boil-water advisory, but district officials say the mountain town's 60-year-old pipe system remains vulnerable to more breaks. The issue matters across East County because Julian's small businesses and Main Street tourism depend on reliable water service.
Via East County Magazine
Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three men before taking their own lives nearby, authorities told The Associated Press. Police said the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.
Via The Associated Press
MTS says a Transdev work stoppage is limiting MTS Access and 14 minibus routes as of Friday, May 15. Santee-area riders who use paratransit or connect through the affected routes should check trip status before leaving.
Via MTS / NBC 7 San Diego
A Spring Valley traffic stop turned into an hour-long pursuit across San Diego County, according to sheriff’s officials. Deputies said the driver was wanted on several felony warrants before he was arrested near Interstate 15.
Via ABC 10News
An 80-year-old woman died after being struck by a vehicle outside the La Mesa Costco on Wednesday, according to La Mesa police. The driver stayed at the scene and investigators say drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors.
Via East County Magazine
An 18-year-old El Cajon man died early Wednesday after his SUV went off La Cresta Road, overturned and caught fire, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash is a sober reminder for East County drivers as CHP investigators work to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role.
Via East County Magazine
La Mesa is set for a second hearing Tuesday on whether to restrict e-bike riding for children 11 and under. The debate is drawing interest across East County because Santee is among the cities NBC 7 reported already have child e-bike restrictions in place.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A weekend earthquake swarm near Brawley produced a 4.7-magnitude quake that was felt across parts of San Diego County, including Santee. Officials reported no-to-light damage from shaking, but more aftershocks are expected.
Via Patch
San Diego Superior Court officials are warning residents about a new wave of scams using fake missed-court-date texts, spoofed court phone numbers and urgent payment demands. The warning matters in Santee because the messages are countywide and can look convincing enough to fool people into paying before they verify.
Via East County Magazine
San Diego County’s Vector Control Program is starting its 2026 aerial larvicide schedule, with several Santee waterways and standing-water areas listed as potential treatment sites. The drops are meant to reduce mosquito breeding and lower West Nile virus risk before peak season.
Via East County Magazine / County of San Diego Vector Control
La Mesa Police added Officer Lauren Craven’s name to a department monument this week, marking the first line-of-duty death in the agency’s history. The ceremony drew hundreds as East County prepares for National Police Week.
Via Times of San Diego
A 22-year-old suspect has been jailed in connection with an April 30 assault in La Mesa that left a woman hospitalized in critical condition. Police said the motive and relationship between the suspect and victim remain under investigation.
Via NBC 7 San Diego / City News Service
A three-day wildland fire preparedness drill is bringing about 750 firefighters and law enforcement personnel to the Barona area this week. Residents near Wildcat Canyon Road should expect traffic delays while agencies run simulations focused on wildfire response, communications and structure defense.
Via East County Magazine
An East County stabbing investigation ended with a woman arrested after police said she fled across Interstate 8 while armed with a knife. The suspect was booked into Las Colinas in Santee on multiple felony charges.
Via Patch
San Diego County prosecutors say scammers are increasingly sending couriers to collect cash directly from victims, especially seniors. The warning matters in Santee, where older residents should be alert for anyone asking to pick up money, gold bars or ATM cards in person.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
Police are asking for help identifying a man sought for questioning after a woman was found unconscious and bleeding near Lake Murray. The case is being investigated in La Mesa, with Crime Stoppers offering a reward for tips.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A driver was killed early Tuesday in a single-vehicle rollover crash on westbound Interstate 8 near state Route 67 in El Cajon. The crash closed at least two lanes during the morning commute, a key route for Santee and East County drivers.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
More than 500 animals are being evaluated and cared for after a massive rescue operation at Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings in Julian. The San Diego Humane Society says many animals need urgent medical care, and the influx is affecting shelter capacity countywide, including East County.
Via East County Magazine
Two passengers died Sunday evening in a rollover crash on Interstate 8 near Jacumba, according to East County Magazine. CHP said preliminary information points to driver fatigue, with investigators still looking at whether drugs or alcohol played a role.
Via East County Magazine
A 14-year-old girl was killed and an 18-year-old pedestrian was injured Sunday after a vehicle left Navajo Road near Cowles Mountain and hit a tree, according to East County Magazine. The crash happened just west of Mission Trails, a route familiar to many Santee drivers heading toward San Carlos and Lake Murray.
Via East County Magazine
California health officials and the state attorney general have filed a legal complaint against a Santee-based kratom manufacturer, alleging the company violated a state embargo and continued making and distributing products. The case centers on products state officials say pose public health risks.
Via CBS 8
Santee recorded one of the county’s steepest year-over-year drops in unsheltered homelessness, according to newly released Point-in-Time Count results. The countywide total barely moved, but the local number matters for residents watching riverbed, park and encampment concerns.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A wildfire preparedness tour in Mt. Helix highlighted defensible space, ember protection, access for fire crews and evacuation planning. The message for East County homeowners: preparation has to happen long before smoke is in the air.
Via East County Magazine
A three-day wildland preparedness exercise will bring hundreds of firefighters and law enforcement personnel to the Barona area May 6-8. Officials say residents should expect traffic delays on Wildcat Canyon Road as crews practice emergency communications, structure defense and other wildfire response skills.
Via Patch
A new San Diego River Park Foundation census counted 195 people living along the San Diego Riverbed from Ocean Beach to Walker Preserve in Santee, down nearly 23% from last April. The count gives local agencies a fresh snapshot of where outreach and housing work is making progress — and where gaps remain.
Via KPBS Public Media
Sheriff’s officials say a 64-year-old man was arrested in Spring Valley after deputies found methamphetamine, cash, money orders and items believed to be stolen. The case is a reminder for East County residents to report suspected stolen property if they recognize anything tied to the investigation.
Via ABC 10News / City News Service
The California Highway Patrol will run a 24-hour maximum enforcement period from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 5:59 a.m. Wednesday. Santee drivers heading onto SR-52, SR-67, SR-125 or I-8 should expect officers to focus on speeding and unsafe speeds statewide.
Via ABC 10News / City News Service
Santee residents now have a new number for non-emergency sheriff’s calls: 858-868-3200. The Sheriff’s Office says the automated system is meant to route routine calls faster while leaving 911 for immediate threats, crimes in progress, fires and medical emergencies.
Via ABC 10News / City News Service
Authorities have identified two people who died in an April 4 crash on State Route 78 in Julian. East County Magazine reports both pickup trucks overturned multiple times before the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Via East County Magazine
A San Diego snake removal specialist says warm weather has rattlesnakes moving earlier than usual, while California has already recorded multiple snakebite deaths this year. The advice for Santee residents is simple: watch where you step, avoid thick brush and call a qualified professional if a snake is on your property.
Via Patch
A La Mesa woman says scam callers reached her hospital room while she was recovering from surgery at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. The case is a timely warning for East County families helping older relatives navigate medical stays.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A dispute over parking in Lakeside escalated into violence Sunday, leaving a 64-year-old man with serious leg injuries. Authorities told NBC 7 the accused man faces a felony battery charge while prosecutors review the case.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $50,000 rewards for information that helps solve several San Diego County cold cases. One involves the 2021 killing of Navy sailor Corneilius Brown in La Mesa.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
El Cajon is preparing a pilot program that would send written warnings to drivers caught going more than 20 mph over the speed limit. The warning system is expected within six weeks.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
La Mesa leaders approved a grant application for a proposed drone first responder program and real-time crime center. Supporters say it could improve response times, while some residents raised privacy concerns.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 33-year-old Lemon Grove resident after a man was found shot at a home on El Dora Street. Investigators said the case appears isolated, with no known threat to the community.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
Residential outdoor burn permits will be suspended countywide starting May 1 as Cal Fire points to heavier vegetation, rising temperatures, low humidity and seasonal winds. For Santee and East County homeowners, the message is simple: clear defensible space now, before conditions get worse.
Via Patch
The Sheriff's Office will collect unwanted and expired prescription medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, including at the Rancho San Diego station. The service is free, anonymous and excludes sharps and needles.
Via Patch
Sheriff's deputies say a Spring Valley search warrant uncovered an un-serialized short-barreled rifle, ammunition and gun parts in various stages of manufacture. A 52-year-old man was arrested in the case, according to Patch.
Via Patch
A vegetation fire in Ramona grew to five acres Tuesday before firefighters stopped its forward spread. Officials said nearby structures were threatened as crews continued work at the scene.
Via East County Magazine
Santee-area residents will have a nearby option to safely get rid of expired or unwanted medications Friday during the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The free event includes a Rancho San Diego drop-off site and year-round disposal options through sheriff's stations.
Via Patch
Sheriff's deputies say a child abuse investigation at a Spring Valley home led to three arrests and the discovery of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Via Patch
San Diego County is opening its first Crisis Stabilization Unit in East County on Monday, adding a 24/7 behavioral health facility in El Cajon. County officials say the site is designed to give people in psychiatric or substance use crises a faster option than an emergency room or jail.
Via East County Magazine
A Santee business owner was arrested after deputies said he fired a gun near North Magnolia Avenue and later threatened law enforcement. Investigators recovered a handgun and shell casings from the business, according to authorities.
Via Patch
Sheriff's deputies say a Santee business owner was arrested after a standoff at a Rockville Street suite where investigators found a handgun and shell casings. The case unfolded near North Magnolia Avenue and led to SWAT serving a search warrant later that morning.
Via East County Magazine
La Mesa just joined the growing list of San Diego County cities using a new state pilot program to crack down on unsafe e-bike riding. The vote matters in Santee too, where local leaders have already moved on similar restrictions and regional enforcement is clearly picking up.
Via East County Magazine
A Santee business owner was arrested after deputies said he fired a gun near North Magnolia Avenue, then threatened to shoot responding deputies from inside his Rockville Street business suite. Authorities say investigators later recovered a 9mm handgun and shell casings during a SWAT-assisted search.
Via Patch
A Santee business owner was arrested Saturday after deputies said he fired a gun near North Magnolia Avenue and later threatened law enforcement from inside his suite. Investigators said they recovered a 9mm handgun and shell casings during the case.
Via Patch
Santee residents still have time to attend Monday afternoon's Community Oriented Policing Committee meeting at City Hall. The 2 p.m. session appears on the city's public calendar for 10601 Magnolia Ave.
Via City of Santee
San Diego County residents are being asked to comment on a draft wildfire protection plan that could shape mitigation priorities, grant funding and preparedness work over the next five years. The update has clear implications for East County communities in fire-prone areas.
Via East County Magazine
Fire crews stopped forward progress on a brush fire in Santee late Sunday, according to Patch. Authorities advised people to avoid the area while crews worked.
Via Patch
Detectives are asking the public for help identifying a suspect in a Spring Valley shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers.
Via San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
Santee Fire and the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Services Authority have added a new Basic Life Support ambulance, aimed at keeping advanced paramedic units available for the most critical calls. The unit, known as BLS 5, began service April 1, according to East County Magazine.
Via East County Magazine
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run collision that killed a pedestrian in San Marcos in February. The pedestrian was identified as 62-year-old Carey Faust of Vista.
Via San Diego County Sheriffs Department
Authorities are asking for the public's help to identify a suspect who shot and injured two juveniles in the Hidden Meadow Apartment complex in September 2025.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Department
A new Basic Life Support ambulance officially entered service in Santee on April 1, expanding the city's emergency medical response capabilities.
Via East County Magazine
In response to a growing number of violations, the Santee Sheriff's Station conducted a targeted enforcement operation focusing on the illegal use of e-bikes and electric motorcycles, resulting in multiple citations and impounded vehicles.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Department
A driver who refused to stop for a traffic stop Monday in a Santee parking lot led deputies on a sprawling hour-long chase through East County before a suspect was arrested miles away in Ocean Beach. The incident began on Mission Gorge Road when a deputy tried to pull over a Dodge Charger with no license plates.
Via Times of San Diego
A man was struck and killed by a Ram pickup truck Saturday night on Woodside Avenue near Lindo Lake in Lakeside. The victim crossed into the truck's path on an unlit stretch of road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A California appellate court has vacated the sexual misconduct conviction of a former Granite Hills High School teacher, finding insufficient evidence on one charge and a trial error on another. Gerald Lopez, 54, could face retrial on the remaining count.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
San Diego County homicide investigators arrested 33-year-old Luis Alvarado of San Marcos on Sunday in connection with a fatal residential fire that claimed two lives near Lacebark Street. He faces two counts of murder and one count of arson.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A fast-moving vegetation fire broke out Sunday evening in the river bottom near Town Center Parkway, forcing the evacuation of Walmart, Michaels, and other nearby stores. Fire crews from the Santee Fire Department stopped the forward spread at five acres by roughly 8:30 p.m.
Via NBC 7 San Diego / East County Magazine
A Jeep traveling at high speed on State Route 54 in Chula Vista flew off a freeway interchange bridge and landed in the Sweetwater River early Sunday, killing both occupants. Authorities suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
Via CBS 8 San Diego
A late-night house fire on Lacebark Street in San Marcos left two people dead, prompting the Sheriff's Homicide Unit and Bomb/Arson investigators to treat the scene as a potential crime. One person was detained near the residence as the investigation got underway.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
San Diego County Sheriff's officials did not investigate at least seven reported sexual assaults at the privately run Otay Mesa immigration detention center in 2025, according to records obtained by CalMatters. A 2020 memorandum gives CoreCivic's warden authority to decide whether to investigate rape allegations at the facility.
Via East County Magazine / CalMatters
U.S. Customs and Border Protection received 15 horses transferred from Army posts at Fort Irwin in California and Fort Huachuca in Arizona, saving an estimated $105,000. Several of the horses have been assigned to the San Diego Sector, which covers East County's rugged backcountry border corridors.
Via East County Magazine
The El Cajon City Council voted unanimously to fund a major reconstruction of Heartland Fire's Station 7 in Fletcher Hills, a station originally built in 1960. The $7.2 million project will add a second apparatus bay, nearly double the station's square footage, and improve wildfire response times for East County.
Via East County Magazine
San Diego County public health officials are looking for anyone who may have had direct contact with two wild bats found at separate Escondido locations, both of which have since tested positive for rabies — marking the fourth and fifth confirmed cases in the county this year. If you were near White Oak Villas or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on or around March 21-22, health officials want to hear from you.
Via East County Magazine
An American Airlines flight from Dallas reported a potential engine fire Saturday morning, triggering a ground stop at San Diego International Airport and delaying hundreds of travelers — including East County residents heading home from spring break trips.
Via National Today
A suspicious camouflage backpack left near the front entrance of the Santee Sheriff's station Thursday triggered a Bomb/Arson response and temporary street closures. Deputies later determined no crime was committed — but it was a reminder to call first.
Via East County Magazine
The Santee Sheriff's Station conducted a major enforcement sweep Thursday targeting unlawful e-bike and electric motorcycle use, resulting in 10 impounded vehicles and fines that could top $1,400 per rider.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
A city audit released in March 2026 has found that a protocol change made by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) back in 2019 has significantly slowed emergency response times — and may have cost lives.
An 18-year-old was hospitalized Wednesday after leading Santee Sheriff's deputies on a brief pursuit in a stolen Jeep Wrangler that ended in a crash into parked cars near Magnolia Avenue and Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. The suspect faces vehicle theft and evading charges.
Via Patch
A motorcyclist was rushed to a trauma center Monday afternoon after a suspected DUI driver in a pickup truck struck the rider at North Magnolia Avenue and the SR-67 on-ramp in Santee. A bystander helped deputies apply a tourniquet to control the rider's bleeding before paramedics arrived.
Via Patch
A juvenile was struck by a motorist on Mission Gorge Road in Santee on Monday afternoon and transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver fled before deputies arrived, and witnesses say a group of kids on e-motorcycles had been riding dangerously in traffic before the crash.
Via East County Magazine
E-bike injuries at San Diego County trauma centers jumped 54% in 2024, with Rady Children's Hospital treating more than 250 juvenile e-bike patients last year alone. Santee is one of six cities that passed stricter age-limit rules — but doctors and lawmakers say teenage reckless riding remains the core problem the ordinances don't fully address.
Via inewsource
A juvenile rider was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver on Mission Gorge Road in Santee. The incident exposed a broader problem with unlawful e-motorcycle riding in the area — deputies witnessed multiple additional juvenile riders flee the scene by crossing center medians into oncoming traffic.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
The San Diego County Medical Examiner has identified the man found dead on an El Capitan trail Sunday as Johnathan Gorbea, a 40-year-old San Diego resident. Gorbea had been reported missing by his family after failing to return from a hike Saturday morning. A cause of death has not yet been released.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
On World TB Day, county health officials revealed that San Diego's tuberculosis rate is more than double the national average and has risen for five straight years. With an estimated 175,000 residents carrying latent infection, East County families should know the warning signs.
Via East County Magazine
A 40-year-old man who went missing Saturday while hiking El Cajon Mountain in Lakeside was found dead Sunday evening after an extensive search by Sheriff's Search and Rescue. The San Diego County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A La Mesa man who was helicoptered out of the backcountry near Campo after suffering heat exhaustion while motorcycling is speaking out with a message for East County outdoor lovers: hydrate far more than you think is necessary. The story hits close to home as local temperatures continue running above seasonal norms.
Via 10News
A man convicted of first-degree murder in El Cajon was sentenced to life without parole. An ex-Christian Youth Theater employee pleaded guilty to a sex crime with a teen. Two men and a juvenile were arrested in connection with a 2025 Lemon Grove transit center robbery. And a shooting victim died after arriving at an East County fire station.
Via Patch / City News Service
A La Mesa man nearly died from heat exhaustion while off-road motorcycling north of Campo last year — and he's speaking out as East County heads into another punishing heat wave this weekend. Doctors say even fit, experienced outdoor recreationists are at risk.
Via 10News
A man was shot and killed near Jamul this week, arriving at an Alpine fire station before dying of his injuries. The week also saw multiple stabbings, robbery arrests, and a guilty plea in a Christian Youth Theater sexual abuse case.
Via Patch
Two men and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with a knifepoint robbery at a Lemon Grove transit center last October. Investigators linked the suspects to the crime using video footage from the Metropolitan Transit System.
Via Patch / SDSO
A former employee of the El Cajon-based Christian Youth Theater has pleaded guilty to committing lewd acts on a 13-year-old girl who was a student in the program. David Hott, 39, is one of several former CYT employees accused of sexual abuse in criminal or civil proceedings.
Via Patch / City News Service
A 25-year-old man convicted of first-degree murder for shooting a sleeping El Cajon man through his bedroom window has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case took nearly five years to resolve and a second suspect still awaits sentencing.
Via Patch / City News Service
A brush fire dubbed the Crosley Fire broke out Thursday near the San Diego-Riverside County border during the peak of this week's record heat wave, burning about two acres before firefighters halted its spread. The incident serves as an early reminder that fire season has effectively arrived.
Via Times of San Diego
Michael Burke, a Fallbrook resident, has been arrested for murder and attempted murder following a March 16 shooting that killed one man and wounded another on E. Mission Road. Deputies say the shooting followed an argument.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office has identified the man who died in custody at the San Diego Central Jail on March 15 as Drahkee House, 45, who had been convicted of murder, attempted murder, and robbery and was scheduled to be sentenced in May 2026.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Paul Aurelio McClain, a former San Diego State University police sergeant, pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing more than 600 files of child sexual abuse material. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and sentencing is set for June 24.
Via Los Angeles Times / U.S. Department of Justice
San Diego County public health officials are warning anyone who visited the Sharp Memorial Hospital Emergency Department on March 11 of a potential measles exposure. The case comes as California and the nation see a significant spike in measles activity.
Via East County Magazine
San Diego County Vector Control is launching its first aerial mosquito treatment of the year on March 24, targeting up to 50 waterways with larvicide drops. The county says the treatment is safe for people, pets, and wildlife.
Via East County Magazine
A new 666-page military investigation has concluded that a rare ammunition defect — estimated at one in a million — caused an artillery shell to detonate prematurely over Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton in October, striking two CHP vehicles. No Marines were found negligent.
Via AP News
A man was shot early Wednesday morning at a Jamul residence on Loose Creek Road and later died at the Alpine Fire Protection District station. Sheriff homicide detectives have taken over the investigation and a suspect has been detained for questioning.
Via East County Magazine
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office is hosting 'Coffee with the Community' events at two East County locations this morning, March 18, giving residents a low-key chance to connect with local law enforcement. Both events run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
The Southern Pacific rattlesnake is officially on the move as temperatures climb across East County. San Diego County Animal Services is urging Santee residents to take precautions — especially pet owners whose dogs face far greater risk than humans.
Via East County Magazine
An internal investigation into the October 2025 live-fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton has concluded that a rare, one-in-a-million fuze defect caused an artillery shell to explode over Interstate 5, according to a report released by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Via Task & Purpose
San Diego County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a possible homicide in Fallbrook after responding to an assault with a deadly weapon call Monday evening. One victim was found and one person was detained, though no arrest has been made.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
A 45-year-old man in San Diego County Sheriff custody died Sunday after experiencing medical distress in the San Diego Central Jail dayroom. Homicide investigators are conducting a standard in-custody death investigation, and the Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board has been notified.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Deputies and a Palomar College officer opened fire on a passenger who allegedly raised a gun during a tense 90-second standoff on Feb. 18. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office released body camera and witness footage Friday identifying the man killed as Andre Raphael Mendez, 33, of Oceanside.
Via Times of San Diego
A San Diego man faces federal charges after allegedly selling millions of fake postage stamps sourced from China, pocketing more than $6 million — and using a "significant portion" of the proceeds to buy a home in San Diego.
Via Patch / U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office will deploy specialized impaired driving patrols starting 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, through 6 a.m. Wednesday. Santee and East County communities are in the coverage zone — plan ahead if you're celebrating.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office ran a DUI sobriety checkpoint on North Magnolia Avenue in Santee this past weekend, stopping 905 vehicles and arresting three drivers on suspicion of drunk driving.
Via Patch / San Diego County Sheriff's Office
A stolen truck chase that began Tuesday night on Interstate 8 ended with the suspect fleeing on foot into a drainage canal in El Cajon, where he was located with the help of a Sheriff's helicopter.
Via Patch / El Cajon Police Department
A man was stabbed near Lemon Grove Academy Middle School on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a dramatic multi-city vehicle pursuit that ended on Interstate 8 just before the El Cajon Boulevard exit. The suspect faces attempted murder charges.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
A dead crow found in North Park tested positive for West Nile virus, marking the first detection of the disease in San Diego County in 2026. County health officials are ramping up mosquito surveillance and urging residents — including those in East County — to eliminate standing water and use insect repellent as warmer weather accelerates mosquito activity.
Via CBS 8
A crash on westbound State Route 52 near Santee triggered a SigAlert Wednesday morning, blocking two lanes and snarling traffic for commuters heading toward the city. CHP crews responded quickly to clear the roadway.
Via Patch / CHP San Diego
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office netted three DUI arrests and 14 unlicensed driver citations during a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday night in Santee, with 905 vehicles passing through the operation.
Via Patch
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon, one day after the bishop pleaded not guilty to 17 felony counts of embezzlement and money laundering. The Vatican accepted the resignation in February but delayed the announcement, with observers noting the Holy See appeared to have waited to avoid interfering with the criminal investigation.
Via Times of San Diego
San Diego reported a 6.3% drop in overall crime in 2025 — the fourth consecutive year of decline — with murders at their lowest level since the late 1960s. The data points to a safer region, including East County communities like Santee, El Cajon, and La Mesa.
Via CBS 8
A speeding vehicle veered into oncoming traffic on Jamacha Road in El Cajon Sunday evening, triggering a violent collision that severed one car in half. Two teenagers and an adult were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Via Hillstone Law / El Cajon Police
Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral pleaded not guilty Monday to 17 felony counts including embezzlement and money laundering. He was arrested last week at San Diego International Airport as he allegedly attempted to flee the country.
Via CBS 8
Two brush fires broke out across San Diego County Sunday under hot, windy conditions — and Cal Fire is warning that this week's forecast brings more of the same. Santee and East County residents are being urged to clear dead vegetation before the heat returns.
Via CBS 8 San Diego
A routine traffic stop for expired plates on State Route 125 near Jamacha Road early Monday morning turned into a drug bust when deputies found a passenger carrying enough methamphetamine to trigger a felony arrest. The driver was cited and released.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
A social media post showing federal agents gathered in the public parking lot of a San Diego County Sheriff's station in Encinitas sparked community concern Monday. The Sheriff's Office quickly clarified it had no prior knowledge of or involvement in the operation.
Via Patch
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office launched a new AI voice system this weekend to handle the roughly 400,000 non-emergency calls it receives each year. Here's what Santee residents need to know before they dial.
Via Times of San Diego
A woman was arrested for driving under the influence Friday night after crashing on Spring Street in La Mesa, a stretch of road that local officials have identified as one of the city's most dangerous — with 57 crashes recorded over a 70-month period spanning January 2020 through October 2025.
Via ABC 10News
A second rideshare driver with a pending asylum claim and valid work authorization was detained by ICE at Camp Pendleton’s gate on Saturday, raising new questions about enforcement at military installations near San Diego.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A potentially deadly brain parasite has been found for the first time in San Diego County, including opossums in La Mesa. Health officials are urging residents and gardeners to take precautions now.
Via East County Magazine
A San Diego couple was found guilty of second-degree murder Thursday for the 2021 death of their 3-month-old daughter Delilah, who weighed less than 4 pounds when she died — about half her birth weight. Sentencing could come as early as April.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A former math teacher at The Learning Choice Academy in La Mesa was sentenced Thursday to three years in state prison for an unlawful sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student. Michael Davis, 35, must also register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
San Diego County Sheriff's deputies arrested Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta at San Diego International Airport Thursday as he attempted to flee the country, charging him with eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and aggravated white collar crime. He is being held on $125,000 bail.
Via East County Magazine
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office will operate a DUI checkpoint in Santee this Saturday evening, running from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. The location is undisclosed, as is standard practice for sobriety checkpoints.
Via Patch
Federal agents intercepted 944 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden in 29 buckets inside a commercial truck's fuel tank at the Otay Mesa Import Cargo Facility. The driver, a 26-year-old Tijuana man, faces life in prison.
Via U.S. Attorney's Office / NBC 7 San Diego
A stolen car pursuit that began in Santee ended in a crash outside an El Cajon hotel early Wednesday morning. The driver was hospitalized and no deputies were injured.
Via CBS 8 News
A federal jury on Tuesday convicted former SDSO deputy Aaron Russell on charges related to the 2020 fatal shooting of an unarmed man outside San Diego Central Jail. The conviction comes after Russell's first federal trial ended in a hung jury.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
San Diego police released body camera footage Monday showing the moment an officer shot a fleeing auto-theft suspect in Spring Valley after the man reached for what turned out to be a novelty cigarette lighter shaped like a pistol. The suspect survived with non-fatal wounds.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A Romanian national is in federal custody after authorities say he helped steal nearly $160,000 from public assistance recipients, with at least 43 EBT accounts compromised in San Diego County alone. East County residents who use EBT benefits could be among additional victims investigators have yet to identify.
Via CBS8
A motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries Monday afternoon after a collision with a pickup truck near the State Route 67/52 on-ramp in Santee. Drugs or alcohol are suspected as contributing factors, and the Santee Sheriff's Traffic Unit is investigating.
Via San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Alexander Tito Oroz, 22, pleaded guilty Thursday to gross vehicular manslaughter in a 2024 Escondido crash that killed a 13-year-old boy in his vehicle. He faces 12 years and eight months in state prison.
Via Patch / City News Service
The San Diego Police Department has placed officers on heightened alert following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with increased attention on religious institutions and cultural centers across the city.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
As San Diego County heads toward another fire season, Cal Fire crews in East County are deploying the Flailbot — a remote-controlled brush-clearing machine designed to access steep terrain where heavy equipment can't reach.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
The City of Santee has secured $7.2 million in federal funding to clear invasive vegetation and create defensible space along 300 acres of the San Diego River corridor — a fire-prone stretch running through neighborhoods, parks, and sensitive habitat.
Via City of Santee
Federal prosecutors in San Diego have indicted an alleged high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel lieutenant with narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges, offering a $5 million reward for his capture. The suspect is accused of controlling fentanyl and drug routes through Tijuana.
Via Patch / City News Service
Dozens of covert license plate reader cameras are logging vehicles on backcountry roads through East County, including near Jacumba Hot Springs and the Golden Acorn Casino in Campo. Privacy advocates and civil liberties groups are pushing California to pull the plug.
Via CalMatters / Los Angeles Times
Following the death of an 11-year-old boy struck by a car while walking to school, the San Diego City Council is poised to approve sweeping safety improvements along Jackson Drive — a heavily traveled corridor used daily by East County commuters.
Via East County Magazine
La Mesa Police are warning East County residents about a surge in high-tech Jeep thefts. Criminals with electronic hacking devices can reprogram key fobs and drive away in minutes — and many stolen vehicles end up across the border.
Via East County Magazine
Nine active-duty U.S. Navy service members are among 10 suspects arrested this week in connection with a violent assault at a Jamul house party last May. The suspects, several tied to criminal street gangs, were taken into custody at multiple Navy bases and facilities across San Diego.
Via CBS 8 San Diego
A motorist has died from injuries suffered in a two-vehicle collision on State Route 94 near Dulzura, the California Highway Patrol reported. The crash occurred Feb. 23 on a stretch of road west of Little Tecate Road in the rural East County community.
Via East County Magazine
A man pursuing his dream of opening a coffee shop in Oceanside was detained by federal agents while dropping off a rideshare passenger at Camp Pendleton, rattling his family and raising questions about enforcement at military base entry points.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
The San Diego County Sheriff's Fraud Unit has confirmed it is actively investigating Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of El Cajon's Chaldean Catholic Eparchy after a published report alleged more than $427,000 in missing church funds and other misconduct.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
Despite a statewide California ban on kratom and synthetic kratom products linked to overdose deaths, a Santee retailer is still openly advertising the products online and falsely claiming they are legal to purchase. An investigation by East County Magazine found illegal kratom for sale at shops across every East County city.
Via East County Magazine
A San Diego juvenile court judge denied the release of Charles "Andy" Williams on Monday, keeping the convicted 2001 Santana High School shooter in state prison while his resentencing case winds through the appellate courts. The ruling came as the school district superintendent publicly joined the District Attorney in opposing his potential release.
Via CBS 8 San Diego
A passerby intervened Saturday morning when two women were being attacked in Spring Valley, injuring the suspect and enabling deputies to make an arrest. Andres Sandoval, 47, is now facing multiple charges.
Via Patch
A reported threatening phone call sent Monte Vista High School into lockdown Monday afternoon, with sheriff's deputies responding and later determining the threat was not credible — a pattern linked to similar hoax calls across California and Idaho.
Via Patch
San Diego police are warning parents and students about the popular 'Senior Assassins' game after gel blasters used in play were found to look nearly identical to real firearms. An officer demonstrated how difficult it is to tell the difference, urging players to use obviously non-realistic water guns.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
A man killed in a solo motorcycle crash in Descanso on Feb. 8 has been identified as Fernando Omar Herrera, 39, of San Diego, according to East County Magazine.
Via East County Magazine
Joshua Cantor, 46, who owned Evolve Custom Automotive Restoration in Santee, was sentenced Friday to 23 years and four months in state prison after an El Cajon jury convicted him of more than a dozen counts related to sex acts with minors.
Via Times of San Diego
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and two San Diego County supervisors were turned away Friday from the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where detainees have reported harsh conditions including inadequate food and medical care. County officials say they'll sue over the denial.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
El Cajon police have announced a DUI checkpoint next Friday night on East Main Street. Drivers in the area should know the details — and the consequences of impaired driving.
Via Patch
James Mendias, 29, was sentenced Friday in El Cajon Superior Court for driving drunk the wrong way on Broadway in Lemon Grove, striking a family vehicle head-on and killing 36-year-old Tonia Silva in front of her teenage son and fiancé.
Via San Diego Union-Tribune
The City of San Diego was forced to release water from the 108-year-old Lake Hodges Dam last week after this month's storms pushed reservoir levels beyond a state safety threshold — highlighting the strain recent rainfall has placed on aging regional infrastructure.
Via NBC 7 San Diego
Yolanda Marodi, 54, faces a June murder trial after a judge found sufficient evidence she stabbed her wife — a 30-year Cal Fire veteran — and fled to Mexico. Ring camera footage captured chilling final moments at their Ramona home.
Via Patch / City News Service
A 29-year-old man was arrested after an hours-long standoff with sheriff's deputies following an armed robbery where he stole a horse in Spring Valley.
Via Patch
This week's police and court activity across San Diego County includes a freeway pursuit, a deadly hit-and-run, a serial flasher arrest, school threats, and a dramatic bridge rescue in Oceanside.
Via Patch
An 8-year-old boy was approached by a man in a white pickup truck near El Cajon Thursday afternoon. Authorities are asking Santee and East County residents to be vigilant.
Via NBC San Diego
After an infected traveler visited Southern California hotspots, health officials urge Santee families to check vaccination status — some adults born before 1968 may need boosters.
Via East County Magazine
A 30-year-old El Cajon woman crossed into oncoming traffic on La Cresta Road, striking a Volkswagen Jetta head-on and killing the driver. CHP says alcohol appears to be a factor.
Via Patch
San Diego Sheriff's deputies deployed their quadruped robot to clear a Spring Valley home before discovering a cache of over 20 firearms, military-style armored vests, fentanyl, and a fraud lab.
Via Patch
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