An elderly man and woman were found dead in their Santee home Sunday by San Diego County Sheriff‘s deputies.

The deaths in the 300 block of Lantern Way were reported around 11:25 a.m., according to Lt. Michael Krugh.

Both victims suffered head trauma, Krugh said. Their names were being withheld pending notification to the next of kin.

Krugh said there is no outstanding suspect and no danger to the community.

Anyone with information was asked to call homicide detectives at (858) 285-6330 or after hours at (858) 565-5200, or anonymously contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

City News Service contributed to this article.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced plans for a DUI and license checkpoint in Poway on Friday night.

Deputies will be stopping drivers from 8 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location to check for alcohol or marijuana impairment as well as proper licensing.

The department said the checkpoint location would be chosen based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests.

Checkpoints are frequently announced in advance because of the deterrent effect on people who might drink or smoke to excess and then get behind the wheel.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

One man was killed and another man injured in Escondido on Saturday night when a possible gang fight ended in stabbings, authorities reported Sunday.

The stabbings occurred around 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of North Ivy Street, near Lincoln Elementary School, according to the Escondido Police Department.

“Officers arrived and located two males suffering from stab wounds. Escondido Fire paramedics transported one victim to Palomar Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. The second victim was transported to Sharp Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition,” the department reported.

A large group of males was seen fighting in the middle of the street and then fled the area before police arrived, authorities said. Detectives were investigating the possibility that the incident could be gang-related.

Two suspects reportedly fled on foot and were still at large. No descriptions were immediately available.

The San Diego Sheriff‘s department dispatched a helicopter to search for the suspects.

Authorities urged anyone with information regarding the incident to call the EPD at 760-839-4722 or Detective Chris Zack at 760-839-4404.

Updated at 11:25 p.m., Sunday, April 27, 2024

City News Service contributed to this article.

A wrong-way driver on South Santa Fe Avenue in San Marcos crashed into two vehicles on Sunday night, seriously injuring himself and a family of three.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department said the collision occurred just before 8 p.m. on South Santa Fe Avenue east of Las Flores Drive and near North Rancho Santa Fe Road

Witnesses called 911 after seeing a blue Honda SUV going the wrong way on the eastbound lanes of South Santa Fe Avenue. The wrong-way driver collided with a red Honda SUV and a white Toyota car.

A family of three was in the red Honda. The 24-year-old father and 22-year-old mother were taken to Palomar Medical Center with serious, but not life-threatening injuries. Their infant was secured in a car seat and was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital for a medical evaluation.

The 46-year-old driver of the Toyota was evaluated by paramedics on scene and released without injuries. 

The wrong-way driver of the blue Honda was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla with major, but not life-threatening injuries.

Alcohol is being investigated as a factor in the collision.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department announced plans for a DUI and license checkpoint somewhere in the city limits of Encinitas on Friday night.

Deputies will be stopping drivers from 7 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday to check for alcohol or marijuana impairment as well as proper licensing.

The department said the location of the checkpoint would be chosen based on where previous drunk-driving crashes have occurred.

“The amount of DUI related arrests and collisions that occur along the coastal region are among the highest in the County of San Diego,” the department noted.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

A predawn domestic dispute in a Santee apartment on Friday led to a nearly eight-hour law enforcement standoff that ended in the arrest of a man wanted on unrelated drug charges.

The 31-year-old suspect refused to exit a home in the 8600 block of Fanita Drive when deputies arrived in response to a reported disturbance there at about 2:30 a.m., according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Lt. Chris Galve told reporters the suspect had a felony warrant for narcotics, was believed to be armed and was not allowing a woman to leave the residence.

After the suspect, whose name was not immediately available, refused repeated orders to free the woman and exit the home, a SWAT team was called in, Galve said.

Crisis negotiators eventually persuaded the man to allow the woman to leave the home.

“The (woman) exited the residence unharmed,” the lieutenant said. “She was escorted to safety by our deputies out here in the field.”

The suspect continued refusing to surrender until late morning, when he finally complied after deputies set off a concussion grenade and tear-gas dispensers in the apartment.

The incident resulted in no injuries, the lieutenant said.

City News Service contributed to this article.

A male pedestrian was struck and killed by a Coaster train on the bluffs in Del Mar, authorities reported Monday.

The crash occurred at about 9:50 p.m. Sunday just north of Torrey Pines State Beach, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff’s officials said.

The sheriff’s Transit Enforcement Unit is investigating the crash and urged any witnesses to call the non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

The name and age of the victim will be released by the Medical Examiner’s Office pending notification of his family.

City News Service contributed to this article.

Deputies took a suspect from Los Angeles into custody after a man was shot and killed at a Fallbrook gas station, authorities said Monday.

The shooting occurred at 8:42 p.m. Sunday at a Shell station in the 100 block of Ammunition Road, according to San Diego County Sheriff‘s Lt. Joseph Jarjura.

Paramedics took the wounded man to a hospital, later identified as Humberto Melecio,
32,  where he was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m., Jarjura said.

Aided by witness information, deputies found the suspected shooter, 46-year-old Glenn Wesley Rosales, and apprehended him a short time later.

Officials released no suspected motive for the deadly gunfire and did not disclose the relationship, if any, between the suspect and victim.

Rosales was being held in county jail in Vista without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Updated at 3:11 p.m. Feb. 12, 2024

City News Service contributed to this article.

A man who was earlier arrested for allegedly carrying a concealed firearm now faces felony vandalism charges after allegedly ramming his pickup truck into a gate at the San Diego County Sheriff‘s station in Ramona, officials reported Sunday.

Jorge Aguilar, 21, was first arrested around 3 a.m. Saturday after deputies investigated a gathering at La Brea and Ramona streets and allegedly found him and two others to be in possession of concealed weapons and narcotics. Aguilar was released with a notice to appear in court.

At 7:30 a.m., Aguilar allegedly returned to the area, ramming his pickup truck into the back gate of the substation, then fleeing the scene.

Detective Thomas Sutton said residents who witnessed the collision identified Aguilar as the driver. Deputies later found Aguilar’s damaged truck parked at his home in Ramona.

He was arrested without incident and booked in the San Diego County Jail.

San Diego Sheriff‘s deputies will be out in force on Super Bowl Sunday in an effort to prevent injuries and deaths from drunk driving.

Increased patrols begin prior to the kickoff at 3 p.m. and will continue through 5 a.m. on Monday.

Deputies will be watching drivers for both alcohol and marijuana impairment.

During Super Bowl Sunday in 2023, 33 people were arrested for impaired driving throughout the county. Three of those arrests were made by sheriff’s deputies.

The sheriff’s department offered four tips for staying safe on Sunday:

• Plan a safe way home before the game begins
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, ride share, or public transportation
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 immediately