San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

In San Diego a stabbing of a passenger that took place inside a sport utility vehicle on Saturday leaves him in critical condition, said Police.

According to witnesses, the driver of a white SUV allegedly stabbed a 32 year-old passenger who was riding in the backseat of the vehicle when the San Diego assault occured around 11:35 p.m. Friday at 1600 K Street near Petco Park, according to San Diego police Officer Brad Ruff.

The driver of the sport utility vehicle drove away after the victim got out of the car and found his way to the curb.

The wounded man was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery after sustaining a stab wound to the chest and cuts to his left arm. His injuries were not life threatening although he remains in critical condition.

The stabbing suspect and another passenger were later arrested and taken into custody for the violent crime after police spotted his SUV a short time later.

Driver Stabs Back Seat Passenger, San Diego 10News.com, June 27, 2009

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A bank in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego was robbed Thursday, the suspected bank robbers led police on a chase that ended when San Diego police caught the two men fleeing on foot after jumping out of their car.

The San Diego theft crime occurred at the Rancho Bernardo branch of the U.S. Bank when the robber demanded money from the bank teller, according to police.

The thief escaped into a Jeep Cherokee getaway car driven by his accomplice with his undisclosed loot and fled onto the freeway. Officers got into a high speed chase shortly after seeing the SUV on State Route 163.

The SUV exited the freeway and led police through city streets before running over a spike strip that flattened their tires on Broadway and Buena Vista Avenue in Lemon Grove.

The suspected thieves then fled on foot but officers subdued them. The two men were arrested and taken into custody.

Bank Robbery Suspects Nabbed After High Speed Chase, San Diego 6 The CW, June 25, 2009

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In San Diego’s East Village a 28 year-old man was stabbed in the torso, his attacker was later arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, said a San Diego police sergeant.

The San Diego violent crime happened around 7:00pm on Tuesday in the 900 block of Park Boulevard where the victim was standing when Bennie Rentie, 42, came up to him started yelling at him then allegedly stabbed him with a knife. The victim was not aware of who the attacker was, according to San Diego police Sergeant Bob Dare.

After the stabbing took place Rentie ran away from the scene. He was later taken into custody after being found on a San Diego city bus. He was taken to county jail where he is held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

If he is charged with misdemeanor the maximum punishment Renie could face is 1 year in county jail, if it is a felony charge the maximum he could be facing in state prison is 2, 3,or 4 years.

Man Accused Of East Village Stabbing Arrested, San Diego News10.com, June 24, 2009

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Off the coast of Imperial Beach, two men were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol Agents on suspicion of transportation of marijuana into the United States Thursday with the drugs attached to their surfboards.

The two men that were here from Mexico illegally were suspected of smuggling 141 pounds of marijuana that was bundled and strapped to surfboards with duct tape; according to the Border agents the marijuana was valued around $84,600.

The 27 and 30 year old smuggling surfers were spotted by a helicopter about 200 yards off of Imperial Beach with their illegal drugs, according to Customs and Boarder Protection.

Earlier this month the United States Border Patrol agents arrested another 30 year-old man who was caught attempting to smuggle in marijuana from across the border. Again, he was on a surfboard holding on to a blue duffle bag which he released into the water. The bag which was carrying almost 25 pounds of marijuana was inspected by the U.S. Border patrol and turned over to an anti-drug task force.

Marijuana-laden surfboard seized off coast, San Diego 6 The CW, June 19, 2009

Border Patrol Nets Surfer Hauling Dope, 10 News.com, June 8, 2009

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A La Mesa Pick Up Stix restaurant manager was robbed at gunpoint when he was leaving the restaurant in his car to make a cash deposit, according to a San Diego police lieutenant.

The San Diego crime took place around 9:00am at 8025 Fletcher Parkway on Monday . The manager was about to leave the restaurant parking lot when a car, which was said to be a grey or silver Volkswagen Passat pulled in behind him and stopped, La Mesa police Lt. David Bond said.

The La Mesa robbery suspect then pointed a semi-automatic gun at the restaurant manager and demanded the cash that was in a bank deposit bag he was holding. The thief also wanted the keys to his car.

The victim of this theft crime not hurt. The bandit drove off with a male passenger and an undisclosed amount of cash. He was described as a 30 year-old man of Latin decent, shaved head and goatee. He was wearing a striped green and red polo shirt.

Restaurant Manager Robbed While Leaving with Receipts,San Diego 6 The CW, June 15, 2009

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A man who had just robbed a convenience market in San Diego’s El Cajon, and hid in a trash receptacle was found by police and taken into custody along with his getaway driver, according to a sheriff’s sergeant.

Just before 1:00pm on Sunday at 981 Greenfield Drive in El Cajon, a Quick Corner Market was held up by a man holding a gun and asking for money, said San Diego County Sheriff’s Sgt. Russell Shimmin.

The thief then escaped into his getaway car with an undisclosed amount of money. The Quick Corner cashier immediately called 911 and gave a detailed description of the suspected thief and his getaway car: a white Ford Explorer.

A sheriff’s deputy saw the vehicle near the 1000 block of Broadway when the white Explorer stopped and the robbery suspect escaped on foot to a nearby dumpster where he was hiding. The driver of the getaway car was immediately arrested.

The robber was found hiding in the dumpster by a K9 dog and arrested.

Alleged Robber Caught Hiding In Dumpster, San Diego News10.com, June 8, 2009

Deputies: Robber caught & cash recovered, Sign on San Diego, June 7, 2009

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In San Diego a man pleaded guilty to robbery and evading police Thursday after being suspected of robbing four banks and leading police on chase.

Thomas Edward Lavalle, 61, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of robbery for robbing four banks in Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook and Carmel Mountain Ranch, reckless driving while evading police, two counts of possessing a concealed weapon and carrying a loaded gun..

After robbing a Bank of America on Carmel Mountain Road, Lavalle led police on a high speed car chase that lasted about 40 minutes before a CHP patrol car bumped into Lavalle’s Honda Civic which caused his vehicle to spin out of control on the ramp of the 163. No one was injured.

If convicted the robber could be facing six years and eight months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled on July 16, by Judge David Danielsen at the San Diego Superior Court.

Man pleads guilty to bank robberies, Sign on San Diego, June 4, 2009

Man Pleads Guilty To North County Bank Robberies, 10 News.com, June 4, 2009

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A man who is suspected of strangling his boyfriend to death was arrested Wednesday night at his City Heights home, according to San Diego police.

Jorge Luis Munos, 24, was taken into custody and remains in county jail without bail on suspicion of murdering Pedro Ramirez, 36, according to homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney.

When Ramirez failed to show up to work, a few of his friends and co-workers from the restaurant in Little Italy, who were concerned about him, went to his apartment on 38th Street where the violent crime occurred and found him dead in his bedroom about 12:30 a.m., said Lt. Rooney.

The two men who both worked at San Diego Restaurants had been romantically linked for about four months and had been together for several hours before Ramirez was choked to death.

A motive for the murder has not been released. Munoz who is facing murder charges will be arraigned on Friday.

Suspect arrested in City Heights strangling, Sign on San Diego, June 4, 2009

Police: Man Strangled Boyfriend In Apartment, 10 News.com, June 4, 2009

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San Diego County Crime was down in 2008 in most areas of crime according to the FBI.

The federal law enforcement agency said that San Diego violent crime decreased 4.5 percent in 2008 from the previous year and property-related offenses declined 8.6 percent.

Even though statistics show that crime was down in San Diego, forcible rape increased by 27 percent and burglary increased by 1 percent in 2008 from the prior year. Although in Chula Vista violent crime fell 9.7 percent and property crime went down 10.5 percent, said the FBI.

In the North County area of San Diego, the number of violent crimes in Escondido dropped 13.7 percent and property offenses fell by 3.4 percent, burglary went up by 11 percent.

Oceanside saw a decline of violent crimes by 11.2 percent and a 9 percent reduction in property crimes in 2008. They had a total of five homicides, 2 more than in the prior year.

FBI: Most County Crimes Decreased In 2008, 10 News.com, June 1, 2009

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