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This year’s Fourth of July weekend proved to be a weekend of poor decision making after celebrating; 48 DUI arrests were made by local police officers. During the same window of time these arrests were made, from 6 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Saturday, one fatality was reported. The wreck that caused this fatality occurred on Thursday night in San Diego county on I-805, in the southbound lanes; south of El Cajon Blvd. The wreckage was a scene of a three vehicle affair; one of them being a semi-truck. The specific details of the crash are not yet available to report, but the unidentified driver of a sedan from the accident was sent to the hospital with extremely serious injuries – and later was pronounced dead on Friday by the Medical Examiner’s office, thus the lone fatality.

The fatality statistics are calculated county wide, but the DUI count is just based on local police arrests. The number of DUIs has increased slightly from the previous year, where CPH arrested a stunning 46 drunk drivers.

Across the state of California there were 15 fatalities and a monstrous grand total of 747 drunk drivers arrested, a huge leap from last year when 9 people lost their lives and 564 drivers were arrested for DUI. Four of the fatalities were the result of the individuals not using their seat-belt while in the vehicle. In addition to those four, two motorcyclists and a pedestrian were killed, the details of these incidents not yet released. Do not drink and drive! But if you happen to have a DUI charge already, make sure you have an awesome lawyer and check out our firm!

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A strange and chilling sentence to a murder occurred just two days ago, a case involving immense amounts of cruelty and insanity. Anthony Estrada, a 44 year-old resident in a home on Huron Avenue, brutally murdered his girlfriend of 14 years while simultaneously attempting to trap her two daughters in their rooms. Estrada stabbed his girlfriend, 46 year-old Margaret Pappas, in the chest and then in the head – over and over again. He then covered her corpse with a pile of laundry and lit it on fire, burning the room and her body. Estrada lit three fires in the house and left the premises, but before doing so he placed chairs in front of Pappas’ daughters rooms; luckily, they escaped the flaming, burning house safely. After Estrada exited the house, he walked to Clairemont High School, asking school administrators if they were police officers – obviously exhibiting odd behavior and perception. He stood there in front of them and stated “I just killed my girlfriend…I’m tired of running.” He was then taken into custody, and recently pleaded guilty to second degree murder and arson. He was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison, just two days ago on June 4, 2014; the crime occurred on February 6, 2012.

One of the daughters, Brenda Gould, told a tale of bizarre acts Estrada had begun to show in the weeks before the murder. He insisted people were watching him, showing signs of extreme paranoia. She attempted to take him to a nearby hospital to be treated, but he refused. The daughters were present in the courtroom where the sentencing commenced, but even though he was sentenced to a long stint in prison, they still feel betrayed in their hearts.

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A relationship gone wrong ended with the tragic death of 31 year-old Victor Saucedo, who was murdered inside of his own apartment. This unfortunate event occurred on October 16, 2012, but just yesterday the judge presiding over the case ruled that the victim’s ex-girlfriend must stand trial for murder. The ex-girlfriend, 25 year-old Vegas Bray, allegedly had been stalking Victor Saucedo ever since their non-mutual breakup back in late 2011, going as far as to commit random acts of vandalism to get back at him. The ex-couple had originally started dating in 2010, after the two met while serving in the Navy; only having dated approximately a year. Jealousy was the cause of their break-up, fueling Vegas Bray’s aggressive and persistent behavior an entire year later, stalking Saucedo the entire time. Bray couldn’t handle the fact Saucedo had a child with another woman, eventually pushing Saucedo over the edge enough to end the relationship. After the break-up, things went downhill fast. Bray’s vandalism to Saucedo’s possessions include popping his car’s tires and smearing peanut butter all over the front door to his home – even going so far as to chase him down when he changed apartments to escape her behavior. The straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, was a conversation between the two at his apartment the night before the murder, where there was talk of giving the relationship another shot; Saucedo declined the possibility. Bray didn’t leave his apartment until the next morning, but later returned with a .38 caliber revolver and unleashed her rage upon defenseless Saucedo, shooting him an astonishing nine times, leaving a bloody scene in her wake. Afterward, she called 911, claiming Saucedo had committed suicide – obviously thinking they were naive enough to believe a person could shoot themselves nine times without dying halfway through (or being able to angle it towards oneself, for that matter). The presiding judge ruled there is enough evidence to proceed with Bray standing trial, with her superior court date set for June 12.

Sources:
“Trial Ordered For Woman In Murder of Ex-boyfriend” – Fox 5, San Diego

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A shocking portrayal of drug using’s true potential occurred in Lakeside earlier this week. Trista Lynn Stier, a native to the area, was operating her vehicle under the influence of marijuana and methamphetamine. When an individual smokes meth, their world is full of hallucinations and perceptions completely unique to themselves; it can be very dangerous. During a stage of the drug using cycle called “tweaking,” which occurs at the end of a drug binge when the drug no longer provides a rush or a high, the user is capable of anything. Tweaking can cause a state of complete psychosis and is the stage of the methamphetamine high that can manifest itself into physical danger. Trista Lynn Stier was most likely in a similar state when she deliberately crashed head-on into a truck, killing herself and the truck driver instantly. 50-year-old Douglas M. Menegos was driving his truck on State Route 67 when Trista Stier sped the wrong way up an off-ramp, resulting in the collision of their two vehicles. Because of the circumstances of the crash, police drug tested the driver at fault and this is when it was determined 29-year-old Trista Stier tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana. Even though Stier’s actions were likely solely the result of the effects of the drugs, authorities cited her death as suicide; her deliberate head-on crash is all they have to speak as to how she felt and why it happened.

Sources:
“Deadly Crash on SR-67 Caused by Suicidal Driver” – CBS 8

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A devastating, fatal collision occurred yesterday afternoon involving a 55-year-old man from Oceanside. He was riding on his Triumph motorcycle, bobbing and weaving through vehicles as he passed them near State Route 76 in front of the Oak Knoll Campground. Witnesses told officers arriving on the scene that the crash happened around midnight, with one of these witnesses evening saying he experienced the motorcyclists reckless driving on the highway.

“He passed me,” the witness stated, “and even did it over the double-yellow line.”

it appears as if this behavior continued, leading to his untimely death. The motorcyclist tried to pass a Toyota Corolla, not seeing that the car ahead of him, the Corolla, was attempting to turn left, thus creating a recipe for a disaster collision. The motorcycle driven by the 55-year-old man impaled into the side of the 4-door, but the momentum of the cycle itself was left high enough to continue to slide underneath the car and out the other side.

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Last weekend in North Park, San Diego, a very interesting series of events took place. Apparently a 42-year-old man, his name not revealed as of yet, was driving through a liquor store parking lot and pummeled into two parked vehicles. This first event of more to follow occurred around midnight, Sunday the 25th. After scraping his Ford Escape against stationary vehicles, the driver sped away from the scene, only to get into even more trouble. About four blocks away, he floored-it through a red light and smacked into another moving vehicle, a black Saab. This unfortunate collision took place at the intersection of Park Boulevard and University Avenue.

The wreck ended up being fairly serious, with all individuals inside of each vehicle sent to nearby hospitals. The vehicles suffered significant damage, with doors having to be removed by firefighters to rescue the injured people stuck inside. The driver of the black Saab suffered a neck fracture, with his passenger also suffering minor injuries. The loose-cannon driver of the Ford Escape and his passenger also suffered minor injuries, but non life-threatening. San Diego police are running toxicology reports to determine the sobriety of the collision-happy driver of the Ford Escape, but may go ahead and initiate charges anyway. The Traffic Division is currently investigating the details of the collision.

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Heavy metal fans wept last Friday, May 16th, as the lead singer of As I Lay Dying, Timothy Lambesis, was sentenced to six years in prison. Lambesis was caught in the midst of forming a plan to have his wife murdered by a hired hit man, after their marriage had become a war zone. Lambesis was allegedly angry that his wife, Meggan Lambesis, would be getting a huge portion of his income in a divorce settlement – along with being able to restrict his visits with their three adopted children. Lambesis was first heard mentioning such a plan in the gym, where another gym member kept hearing him repeat his desire to “kill his wife.” Luckily for her, this person took the threats they overheard seriously and went to the sheriff’s department seeking help with the matter. The sheriff’s department was able to act accordingly and have it in place to where the next person Lambesis approached with his murderous ideals would be the undercover sheriff himself. When the sinister singer approached the undercover detective, thinking he was a hit man for hire, he handed him pictures of his wife, codes to her home alarm system and a measly $1,000. Timothy Lambesis was then taken into custody, his wife fortunately being unharmed in the process. Meggan’s father, however, isn’t convinced – he requested additional protection for his daughter in the future now that Timothy has a prison alibi to finish the deed he attempted to start. The judge who sentenced Timothy Lambesis to his next six years in prison agreed, granting Meggan and the children a decade of protection. Lambesis’ defense attorney is stating that the event was isolated, out of character and a result of steroid use.

As I Lay Dying was formed in San Diego in the year 2000. The band was nominated for a grammy back in 2008.

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A couple of overnight checkpoints in San Diego this weekend proved necessary, for as many as twenty-three suspected drunk drivers were pulled over to ascertain their state of influence. Driving under the influence is one of the top offenses in the United States, taking countless lives by something entirely preventable. In a study done by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), teens and young adults were tested (without them knowing it was a test) on whether they would take the passenger’s seat in a vehicle operated by a drunk driver. Shockingly, as many as 54% of them sealed their fate with a loose cannon behind the wheel.

The checkpoints this past weekend on May 17th and 18th were located on Mission Bay Drive near I-5 and 14th & G. They ran for about 4 hours, in a gap from approximately 11:00pm Saturday to 3:00am Sunday, where around 4,000 vehicles passed through in total. At 14th & G, almost 2,000 vehicles were subject to the checkpoint and screening process, with a whopping 880 of the drivers actually being screened. Of those 880, 24 drivers were detained for further evaluation and 10 additional drivers were arrested on the spot for DUI. The Mission Bay checkpoint was equally successful, with close to 1,900 vehicles being subject to screen, 772 actually being screened and 16 held for further evaluation; 13 of those held were subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

These two checkpoints and many others were funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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A San Diego woman, Tanya Lorenzo, is finally stepping out to speak her version of the truth about her husband, San Diego police officer Gilbert Lorenzo. Tanya, 24, sat down with NBC 7 and described a horrible scene of domestic violence where she legitimately felt her life was in danger. According to Tanya, her husband Gilbert Lorenzo, 31, sunk his teeth into her back and then proceeded to drag her along the carpet by her neck. In an attempt to get him to release her, she grabbed his groin area; he didn’t let up. The fight only came to a close because the neighbors ran to Tanya’s rescue and pulled Gilbert off of her. Tanya went on to describe her feelings on the matter, stating she never thought her husband could do something like that – causing her to feel her life was in danger. Gilbert Lorenzo, on the other hand, has a different version to tell. He claims to be not only guilt-free of domestic violence, but that he is victim himself! He claims his wife Tanya is bi-polar with violent mood swings, possessing prescription medication for the disorder. He also claims she has abused or continues to abuse alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamine…and it doesn’t stop there. Mr. Lorenzo filed a formal document requesting custody of his children, stating their mother is unpredictable, violent and has made threats to take the kids to Mexico. Tanya’s response to Gilbert’s allegations was simple, in which she stated she has never been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and has never used drugs. Like many women who become victims of domestic violence, Tanya kept quiet the first time her husband showed signs of it. She wanted to stand by her husband and was reluctant to tear her family apart over one incident. When it happened again, however, it was a different story; she feared for her life. At this point in time, Tanya feels she will never be able to forgive him and she can no longer help him. There has been no word on Gilbert Lorenzo’s status in the police department and if he will remain a part of the force.

Sources:

“Accused Cop, Wife Allege Physical Abuse, Drug Use in Public Feud” –

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Last Tuesday, a little over a week ago, the College Grove Walmart shoppers experienced something most of us hope we never have to go through. At approximately 10pm, a shooting occurred inside the Walmart, sending shoppers into a state of disarray and fear. A chilling image was recounted by witnesses who were actually in the scene, describing it as a cash register mini-heist. A large, African-American man with long dreadlocks was shouting, demanding one of the cashiers to open her drawer and surrender to him the money inside. After dictating his request and waiting on the cashier’s response, things started to get intense. The robber angrily fired a shot into the air; the cashier was apparently not moving fast enough for his liking. As if that weren’t enough to get things moving, the man fired another shot into the air, just mere moments after he fired the first bullet. Dozens of on-looking shoppers were petrified as they ducked behind impulse buy shelves and clothes racks. As things started to get hasty, however, those trapped inside started slinking to the various exits. Once the shoppers were in the clear and able to escape safely, they fled from the scene. The glorified purse-snatcher‘s exit was done after he extorted an undisclosed amount of cash from the unfortunately selected cashier. Authorities described his escape vehicle as a silver Mustang – possibly possessing a white door. According to eye witness recollections, he hopped into the Mustang with the cash and the vehicle sped off onto state Route 94 going 100 miles-per-hour. The San Diego police department of robbery will be investigating the case using camera footage from the property, along with witness testimonies.

Sources:
“Shots Fired At College Grove Walmart” – San Diego 6

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