San Diego Criminal Attorneys Blog

San Diego Man Arrested After Evading Arrest & Firing at Police Officers During Vehicle Chase

Published on: March 21, 2010 | by Leslie Legal Group

In Escondido, North County San Diego, around 6p.m. Friday, police officers pursued a vehicle in a long and violent car chase. Initially, the officer observed the car driving suspiciously so he ran the license plate number and found the vehicle was reported stolen Honda Accord out of Chula Vista. The driver then sped off in the car and the chase ensued. Shortly after the pursuit started, the driver of the stolen vehicle fired several rounds through the sunroof of the car at a police helicopter that was providing aerial support to the to police units on the ground. The driver of the stolen Honda Accord also fired several shots at police units. The driver while evading arrest used a variety of weapons including a handgun and shotgun to fire at pursing officers.

In addition, the driver fired several rounds at the police K9 unit. One shot pierced the windshield passing just over the officers right shoulder and going through the seat almost hitting his dog partner in the back. Lucky neither the officer nor his partner were injured in the firing however other rounds fired disabled the vehicle, blowing out the front two tires. The pursuit continued at speeds ranging from 5 to 130 miles per hour.

At one time during the chase, an officer on foot unsuccessfully tried to deploy a spike strip but was fired at several times. The officer was not hit but the bullets hit other vehicles. Once again no one was injured by the reckless and dangerous firing done by the driver of the stolen vehicle. As the driver approached Westfield’s North County Mall parking lot, he exited the vehicle and laid down on the ground before officers had the opportunity to approach him. Lt. Craig Carter, said “I don’t know why he stopped, he obviously knew we were there.” The pursuit stopped here as the man was taken into custody.

San Diego’s North County DUI arrests at Poway checkpoint for St. Patrick’s Day

Published on: March 19, 2010 | by Leslie Legal Group

As you know from the previous blog, San Diego County Police Departments had been scheduling Police Checkpoints to keep a watchful eye for drunk drivers this St. Patrick’s Day. Three people were arrested at the Poway checkpoint and taken to jail, two with suspicion of drinking while under the influence of alcohol and the other was arrested due to warrants. About 600 vehicles were checked at the Poway checkpoint, in the 13300 block of Twin Peaks Road, during the checkpoint hours, which consisted of Wednesday 7:00pm to Thursday 3:30am.

Not only were three people arrested, but also several people cited for various crimes. A total of eight people were cited for driving with a suspended license, or without a valid drivers license. Out of the eight people, a total of six cars are to be impounded, resulting in at least a 1,500 dollar output by the cited driver. Another person was cited for driving with an open bottle of alcohol in the car. Make sure you toss out that extra alcohol, even if it isn’t yours as the driver and belongs to your friend in the passenger seat, no open alcohol bottles should be in a car.

The checkpoint received its operating costs from a grant issued by the state Office of Traffic Safety. As a future note to drivers out there, the city plans to have at least three more checkpoint in the next coming months, so take the extra precaution and get a designated driver.

North County San Diego DUI Enforcement For St. Patrick’s Day

Published on: March 17, 2010 | by Leslie Legal Group

This St.Patrick’s Day North County police officers are going to be on heightened alert looking out for drunk drivers in Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar. The time of alertness will between 7:00pm Wednesday through 3:30am Thursdays, Saint Patrick’s Day itself and the following morning. Officers will be confiscating any unregistered or unlicensed vehicles they pull over for at least 30 days. Not to mention this will all be at the drivers expense; at a price of at least 1,500 dollars. San Diego Police department is asking anyone to call 911 so they may report drunk drivers providing the cars model, license plate number and the location of the vehicle.

Time to designate a driver, cause its not worth the trouble this St. Patrick’s Day of getting pulled over, and losing your car for possibly 30 days.

DUI enforcement Scheduled, North County Times, March 17, 2010

In Carlsbad A 14 Year Old DUI Suspect Tased After Chase

Published on: July 11, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In Carlsbad a fourteen year old was taken to a hospital after he fell and injured his head. How did he fall? Well he was shot with a Taser gun by a California Highway Patrol officers during a dui investigation. In the early morning around 1:20a.m. CHP officers stopped a 2000 Toyota Corolla on Carlsbad Blvd. near Tamarack Ave. for suspected dui when the driver and passenger took off running.

The CHP officers shot the driver with a Taser gun near the stairs at Tamarack Beach and he fell and hit his head. The teen was later transported to Tri-city Medical Center for his injures. During the investigation, the officers learned that the car had been stolen earlier from Vista and also located alcohol and drugs in the car. Officers also learned that the teenager was an at risk runaway. When the teen is released from the hospital he will be arrested and most likely be charged as a juvenile for auto theft, dui, and evading arrest when he ran after the traffic stop. This teenager will need an experienced juvenile and dui criminal lawyer to help him and his family through these tough days ahead. The passenger was not apprehended.

What’s also interesting about this case is the CHP’s comment about the use of a Taser gun in these situations. “The Tasers, the stick, the pepper spray -it’s meant to incapacitate someone so they don’t hurt themselves, hurt us or get away. It may seem extreme, but it’s what we deal with every day.” However, at the time the CHP officer tased the teen, he had only been stopped for a vehicle infraction and the officer didn’t know at that time the car had been stolen. So is it CHP’s policy to tase every driver if they flee from a traffic stop? More to come on this one.

San Diego Women Sentenced in Two Unrleated Crimes

Published on: July 10, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In San Diego and Vista, two women were recently sentenced one for voluntary manslaughter and the other for stealing from her murdered grandmother. San Diego Superior Judge Robert O’Neill imposed an 11 year stipulated sentence to Jule Reynolds A stipulated sentence is an agreed upon sentence between the prosecutor, the criminal defense attorney and the client/defendant. Ms. Reynolds was initially charged with murder and was accused of smothering her newborn hours after the child was born for unknown reasons. An interesting note is that part of the stipulation [agreement] was that Ms. Reynonlds who already has six children will not be able to have conjugal visits while in custody.

In the other case, Vista Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein sentenced Amy Jo Mitchell to 2 years in state prison for burglary and accessory after the fact when she stole or withdrew about $70,000 dollars from her grandmother’s bank accounts. The grandmother was killed by Ms. Mitchell’s boyfriend, Steve Nolan, who later shot and killed himself inside his car in Riverside County on September 5, 2008.

Mom who smothered newborn gets 11 years in prison, North County Times, July 11, 2009

Six Indicted In San Diego For Bribery In Exchange For Contracts

Published on: July 8, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

Another White Collar Crime and Corruption case in San Diego! This time involving Department of Defense employees and others steering $5 million dollars in contracts to a computer company. Gary Alexander and his wife, Kelly, allegedly took bribes for a period over eight years from Technical Logistic Corporation.

Obviously, Mr. Alexander and his wife were suspended form their jobs at the government research organization Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command after the bribery, fraud and corruption indictment. handshake

Also indicted were Elizabeth Ramos, Jackie Godwin, Sinthia Nares, Louis Williams and Mr. Alexander’s alleged mistress. Mr. Godwin was the working for Kratos Defense Security Solutions Inc. based in San Diego.

San Diego Home Invasion Robbery Nets 2 Arrests

Published on: July 5, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In Imperial Beach, San Diego County, two gunmen, Jason Wootton and Jason Ladrillono, were arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery-a strike offense! The home owner of the residence was allegedly pistol-whipped. Two other suspects have not yet been apprehended.

The four men broke into the house around 3:30p.m. wearing black ski masks and were armed with firearms and pepper spray. A female resident at home was forced to the ground and her hands were bound behind her back with tape. The male resident resisted the four suspects at which time he was peppered sprayed and hit on the head with a gun causing his head to bleed. He eventually escaped calling 911 from a neighbors’ house.

Sheriff deputies responded to the home and as the four suspects fled they caught Mr. Wootton who was on foot. Both the woman and man positively identified Mr. Wootton as being involved in the robbery. When questioned by the police, he told them of Mr. Ladrillono’s involvement who was then later arrested in South San Diego on the robbery charges. Both men were held at the San Diego Central jail without bail.

San Diego CHP Reports No Fataliteis But 36 DUI Arrests

Published on: July 5, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

On the bright side, in San Diego, the California Highway Patrol has reported no fatality accidents over the first 12 hours of the July 4th weekend. On the not so bright side, the CHP reports 36 driving under the influence “dui” arrests over the same time period!

However, throughout the State dui arrests were up from last year. This year the dui arrests were 454 compared to 342 last year. Traffic accident deaths statewide was 5 which is one more than last year.

Locally, in Escondido, police arrested three people on suspicion of dui and also impounded 46 cars at a dui and drivers license checkpoint on Friday night from 6:00p.m to Saturday morning at 1:00a.m.. Over 3,000 cars drove through the checkpoint and nearly 1600 drivers and cars were screened. Police impounded sixty-six cars, forty two of which the drivers were unlicensed.

No Fatalities So Far on San Diego County Roads, July 4, 2009, KFMB Talk Radio
3 DUI arrests, 46 impounds at checkpoint, North County Times, July 5, 2009

San Marcos Adult Man Arrested For Sex Crime With Vista Teenager

Published on: July 4, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In San Diego County, Vista, 28 year old Eduardo Martinez Cruz was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on allegations that he was having a sexual relationship with a 13 year old girl. These are serious charges and can result in long prison sentences if not properly handled by an experienced criminal defense attorney.

San Diego County Sheriff deputies began the investigation early Thursday morning when the teenager was reported missing from her Vista home. During the investigation, it was allegedly learned that the young girl had a boyfriend in his late 20’s who provided her a cell phone so they could arrange late night meetings at which time they would engage in sexual relations.

Police Say San Marcos Man Had Sex With 13-year-Old, North County Times, July 4, 2009

Oceanside Teenagers Arrested For Residential Burglary Break-In

Published on: July 4, 2009 | by Leslie Legal Group

In North San Diego County, Oceanside, three teenagers aged 16, 17 and 18 were arrested on suspicion of residential burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of a loaded firearm. Two of the teenagers are from Vista and the other from Oceanside.

The two younger minors will most likely be tried in juvenile court and the 18 year old will be tried as an adult at the Vista courthouse. Witnesses claim the three were wearing masks and bandanas and were armed with rifles when they were seen fleeing a home around 10:00a.m.

Police stopped a Ford Explorer believed to be involved and found the three teenagers along with three shotguns and a backpack that allegedly belonged to the homeowner. All three teens were allegedly positively identified as the ones fleeing from the residence. Remember, these teens are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt!