| San Diego County Sheriff - January 2016 |
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Welcome to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Newsletter
Happy New Year!
An informed community is a safe community. This edition of our newsletter has information regarding the release of a sexually violent predator who committed sex crimes against women. Make sure your voice is heard at a community forum addressing his possible placement in the East County.
There are also two active shooter trainings being held in the North County. People who live or work in San Marcos and Fallbrook need not be concerned about the increased amount of deputies and emergency vehicles, as well as the sound of gunfire because these are only DRILLS.
As a new year begins, scammers are stepping up their efforts to steal your money. Posing as IRS agents, they play on your fears threatening you with a lawsuit or jail time if you don't pay up. Keep reading so you know what to watch out for and how to protect yourself.
This month's newsletter also features problem-solving programs in our continued efforts of community policing. Check out our Operation Secret Santa, Homeless Outreach Team and we hope to see you at our next Coffee with the Community.
Stay safe,
Bill Gore, Sheriff
San Diego County
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| Sexually Violent Predator Hearing
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If you live in the East County, the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has recommended the placement of Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Ural Davis at 45612 Old Highway 80, Jacumba Hot Springs.
While this address falls within the jurisdiction of the Pine Valley Sheriff's Substation, the Sheriff's Department or SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) Task Force are NOT responsible for the selection of the proposed site.
That selection process is the sole responsibility of DSH and the San Diego Superior Court.
The schools closest to the proposed address include Jacumba Elementary School and Clover Flats Elementary School.
Between 1984 and 1992 Davis was convicted in three separate cases of crimes including forced oral copulation, forcible rape, and kidnap for sexual purposes.
These crimes occurred within the County of San Diego. Each case involved the use of a weapon and in each case the victim was an adult female.
A public forum regarding the proposed location will be held before it is finalized by the court. Comments will be accepted during the hearing on:
January 22, 2016
9:00 a.m.
Department 28
San Diego Superior Court
220 West Broadway, San Diego
If you can't make it to the public hearing on January 22nd, you can send your comments on the proposed placement via e-mail or phone.
These comments will be forwarded to the DSH and Superior Court before the hearing on this matter. E-mail your comments to: sdsafe@sdsheriff.org
.
You can also call (858) 495-3619.
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If you live in the North County be aware of two active shooter drills happening in your area:
Wednesday, January 6
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
California State University San Marcos,
University Student Union
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos
Limited access to the media. Closed to the public.
Questions? Concerns? Call (760) 750-4567
Saturday, January 9
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Fallbrook High School
2400 South Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook
Drill closed to the media and public
Questions? Call the Fallbrook Sheriff's Substation
at (760) 451-3100
The drill will involve sounds of gunfire to simulate a scenario where a gunman is shooting at people on campus. You will be seeing more deputies, as well as officers and emergency personnel from other agencies.
Expect more patrol cars, ambulances with sirens blaring even helicopters flying over the training areas. There is no need for concern. IT IS ONLY A DRILL.
There will be road signs informing the public of the training. Public notification will also be done on the Sheriff's website and social media pages.
Training for an active shooter scenario is critical. The more prepared deputies are, they better they can respond to an active shooter scenario. It's also important to train with partner agencies.
The first few moments of a mass shooting are chaotic. The quicker deputies and emergency personnel can be on the same page, the more lives we can save.
We want to remind the public and students that if they hear any threats of violence or even potential violence, they can always approach our school resource deputies on campus.
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Sheriff's Deputies with the Santee Station and Lakeside Substation are taking a new approach to address homelessness in the East County.
It's called the East Region Homeless Outreach Team or East HOT in partnership with the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) and El Cajon Police Department.
Watch the above video to learn about this new program. You can also watch it by following the Sheriff's Department on VIMEO.
This is not a free ride or a handout to those in need. The goal is not just getting them off the streets, but helping them out of homelessness.
The East HOT started in September and has had contact with hundreds of homeless people in Santee, Lakeside and El Cajon.
The team offers a range of services: everything from ponchos, to blankets, to drug rehabilitation, withdrawal help, shelter beds, housing, food, healthcare, or job assistance to help the homeless rebuild and reclaim their lives.
It's not surprising for people to say no to the services being offered. East HOT is about a long and sustained approach to building bridges, one conversation at a time.
Deputies talk to the homeless and learn about their stories to establish a relationship. This connection plants a seed of trust for the next encounter which is critical in convincing people to accept services or de-escalating a situation when they are in crisis.
Homelessness is not a crime. The Sheriff's Department believes homeless people are our neighbors and neighbors help each other.
The program is a problem-solving approach to address complaints associated with homelessness, like public intoxication, loitering or public urination.
This team aims to stop the revolving door of the homeless through the jail by connecting them with services to get their lives back in order.
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If you get a call or voicemail saying you owe money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), don't let it fool you.
Scammers are continuing to harass San Diegans with the IRS scam.
The key is not to give personal information or money. Simply hang up. No government agency will ever call you out of the blue to demand money.
You will be threatened with a lawsuit or jail time. Again, these are just scare tactics. The IRS impostors are calling from another country and once you give money, it's gone.
Lieutenant Greg Rylaarsdam of the Sheriff's Financial Crimes Unit has more tips on how to protect yourself. Click on the image above to watch the news feature or follow us on VIMEO.
The IRS also has more information about these types of scams.
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Every month, the Sheriff's Department works with the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force (FTF) and Crime Stoppers to find and arrest people wanted for committing crimes.
Be on the lookout for 21-year old Courtney Lynn Deshaies. She is wanted for unlawful possession and the sale of a controlled substance. Deshaies also has a prior conviction for petty theft.
Deshaies stands 5'6" tall and weighs about 150 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She is known to hang out in the Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Penasquitos areas of San Diego County.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Courtney Lynn Deshaies is urged to call
Crime Stoppers
.
You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Call
(888) 580-8477
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Put a Star in Your Future
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The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is hiring. Click on the video above to see the varied careers you can have with our agency. You can also watch the video on
VIMEO.
Recruitment for sworn positions opens during the first business day of each month.
If you have questions about the hiring process, you can chat with a Sheriff's recruiter on:
Monday, February 1
10:00 a.m. to noon
 @SDSheriff
Just type your questions on our Twitter page and a recruiter is available to explain the application process to you.
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It's an operation designed to spread holiday cheer. Some encounters even ended in tears, bear hugs and laughter. One woman almost fainted from happiness.
Click on the above video to watch highlights from
Operation Secret Santa. You can also watch the heartwarming video by following the Sheriff's Department on
VIMEO.
Operation Secret Santa took place on
December 19
th, just days before Christmas.
Three local businessmen with big hearts offered to help those in need. They went on a ride-along with deputies in all the jurisdictions of the Sheriff's Department.
Deputies identified families in need whom they encountered during their patrols. Some are single mothers, victims of domestic violence or struggling to pay rent or utilities.
One family just found out their daughter has Leukemia. Several families were burglarized and had their holiday presents and other valuables stolen.
There are also stories of family loss, with a loved one passing away and another becoming a victim of a hit-and-run.
The Secret Santas donated more than $24,000 in cash and wished to remain anonymous. Deputies handed out between $100 to $600 in cash per family.
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Holiday Closures
San Diego County Sheriff's Department Stations, Substations and Headquarters will be closed for the following federal holidays: Friday, January 1 New Year's Day
Monday, January 18
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
All detention facilities will remain open. The closure to the public of business offices will not impact deputies in the field or employees scheduled for on-call.
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WANTED
Bank Robber - Imperial Beach
Take a good look at the surveillance photos of a woman wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Imperial Beach.
It happened on December 18th at around 4:30 p.m. at the Chase Bank located at 1101 Palm Avenue.
The robber waited in line until called by a teller. Once at the teller's station, she gave a demand note for cash. She also claimed she had a gun and threatened to use it against the teller and others. The robber left after receiving the money. No one was hurt.
If you recognize this woman, call the
Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at
You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
For a bigger photo of the suspect, follow us on
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WANTED
Witnesses - Vista Homicide
Take a good look at the photo of possible witnesses in a confrontation that led to the death of a man in Vista.
Sheriff's Homicide Detectives want to speak to these men to find out what happened to 33-year-old Francisco Castro.
Castro (pictured above) was found unconscious outside a 7-Eleven in the 900 block of North Santa Fe Avenue in Vista on May 6, 2015. He hit the back of his head on the sidewalk after a confrontation outside the store got physical.
Castro had been on life support since the incident. He was taken off life support on November 9th.
You can also call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
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Who Murdered Marisol Lopez?
On October 17th, skeletal remains were found in the 19000 block of Lake Drive near Lake Hodges in the North County.
The Medical Examiner's Office later determined the remains belonged to Lopez. The cause of her death is not yet known.
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Package Thefts
Preventing crime is everyone's responsibility. T
he Sheriff's Department always emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity.
This is exactly what happened in Encinitas in December when an alert delivery driver called 9-1-1 to report two people following him and stealing packages.
Two probationers are now facing charges of mail theft, possessing stolen property, drugs and a felon possessing a handgun.
Click on the image above to watch how the story unfolded or follow us on VIMEO.
Package theft is a crime of opportunity, it's an easy target for criminals. To avoid becoming a victim, here are some safety tips:
- Select a sign-for delivery option when ordering or sending a package. This will prevent the delivery person from leaving your package at your door.
- Track the package and try to be home when the package is supposed to arrive or you can request a specific delivery time.
- Ship the package to a location where it will be received in person such as your workplace.
For more safety tips, click
here.
If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to the Sheriff's Department by calling
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Coffee With The Community
Community outreach is a top priority for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
You're invited to join us at the following Coffee with the Community event:
Thursday, January 14
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Lakeside Branch Library
9839 Vine Street, Lakeside
Coffee with the Community gives the public a chance to chat with deputies in a casual setting and exchange ideas and concerns over a free cup of coffee.
Come out and make a positive difference in your community. For tips on how to stay safe, visit:
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Reading Day With
North Coastal Sheriff's Station
Reading is an important part of a child's life. It teaches them everything from their A-B-C's to incredible stories filled with fun and wonder.
The North Coastal Sheriff's Station invites children of all ages to attend a special "Reading Day" event on:
Saturday, January 23, 2016
11:00 a.m. to noon
Barnes & Noble
1040 N. El Camino Real Drive,
Encinitas
A Sheriff's Deputy will read to children and teach them the importance of reading. There will also be a Q&A with the deputy after story time.
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Caught On Video:
A Good Deed
A Sheriff's Deputy was recently caught on camera going above and beyond the call of duty.
To watch the video, click on the photo above or follow us on  .
Deputy Ken Newsom is assigned to the Poway Sheriff's Station. A couple who was having breakfast captured him on cell phone video connecting with kids at a parking lot.
Deputy Newsom had just cited a driver for a traffic violation. He was getting to ready to leave to continue his patrol when he noticed a couple of kids watching him. He backed up his patrol car and gave the children enough time to check out his patrol car and take photos. The special encounter ended with a high fives.
We want to thank Mr. John Rezek for capturing this moment and sharing it online. The men and women of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department thank you for your support.
Do you want to make a difference in your community? Put a star in your future and visit
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