Several Power Poles Fall Into The Roadway

Photo by Heartland Fire Chief Rick Sitta.

EL CAJON—Residents in the 500 block of Mollison Avenue lost power Thursday after eight power poles had fallen on a roadway. Heartland Fire and Rescue crews found the poles, all in a row, damaged on the west side of Mollison Ave. Five of the power poles were in the roadway, another had fallen onto the [...]

Mobile Home Fire Injures Resident

SPRING VALLEY–Two residents escaped from their mobile home after it was engulfed in flames on Tuesday, fire officials say. The fire broke out at the mobile home, located in the Avalon Estates on the 1200 block of Grand Avenue in Spring Valley. Two of the family’s four residents were home when the fire broke out. [...]

Fire Damages Condo In La Mesa

LA MESA–A early morning structure fire in the 5700 block of Baltimore Drive damaged a condo in La Mesa. As firefighters arrived on scene, the flames were seen coming from the roof area of a two-story condo unit at 5715 Baltimore Drive. The end unit was unoccupied and in the process of being renovated, the [...]

County Health Issues Boil Water Order In Tecate

SAN DIEGO–The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Tecate Vista Mutual Water Company in Tecate effective immediately. This public water system serves two residences, commercial businesses and the Tecate Mission School. The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria [...]

Feds Searching For Red Menace Fugitives

WANTED

EAST COUNTY–The East County Regional Gang Task Force (ECRGTF) is seeking the public’s assistance to locate three fugitives who were charged with 30 other defendants on federal charges of possessing and distributing methamphetamine. The 33 defendants were charged with federal indictments—conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On February 12, [...]

Dozens Arrested Following Year-Long Investigation Of Major Meth Traffickers

EAST COUNTY–Early Tuesday, a contingent of 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials arrested 28 people and seized 19 firearms—including fully automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles, silencers, and high-capacity magazines—in connection with a year-long investigation of major methamphetamine traffickers. Many of the defendants were scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Bartick [...]

Nine Charged With Conspiracy And Bribery Involving Southern CA DMV Offices

EL CAJON–A manager who supervises the Licensing Registration Examiners at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in El Cajon was charged in a criminal complaint for his involvement in a bribery conspiracy that resulted in the production of fraudulent driver licenses for applicants who had failed—or not taken—the required driver license tests. According to [...]

Sisters To Be Honored At Upcoming Council Meeting

EL CAJON–Two local girls will receive commendations from the El Cajon City Council at the February 12 council meeting for their efforts on behalf of the El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services (ACES) Foundation. Lialla and Audrey Sass organized a bake sale at their school to raise money for the ACES Foundation. Muffins, [...]

Ramona Man Arrested For Possession Of Stolen Property

RAMONA–Sheriff’s Detectives from the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation served a search warrant on the residence of Mark Ertman in Ramona. The property, known as the “Chicken Ranch,” was used by a burglary ring operating in the east county to conceal and dismantle stolen property. The ring is believed to be responsible for over twenty burglaries during [...]

Man Arrested In Connection With Church Fire

By Gina Yarbrough EL CAJON–An arsonist was arrested today in connection to a fire that damaged Saint Gregory of Nyssa Greek Orthodox Church in El Cajon. Darin Williams was identified as a person of interest in connection to fire, Sheriff’s Deputies said. He was contacted by investigators and arrested for arson, burglary and a hate [...]