Author Archives for Ben Cheeks

Kidnapping and rape warrant SWAT standoff

Wanted felon takes 6 hours to come out of North Park apartment surrounded by San Diego SWAT officers.

Pedestrian hurt in hit-run, driver arrested

A man delivering Coca-Cola products in the Mountain View neighborhood was hurt in a hit-and-run crash Tuesday, and the suspected driver was arrested shortly after he ran away, police said. 

The suspect, a 22-year-old man, was booked into jail on hit-and-run and DUI-related charges, San Diego police...

Man gets 10 years in prison for trying to force teens into prostitution

A 21-year-old man from Chula Vista was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for trying to force two 15-year-old girls into prostitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. 

Eric Watkins, also known as “Crank Moe,” previously pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. 

Local heroes honored at annual event

In a harrowing 10 minutes on July 4 in Carlsbad, California State Lifeguards Cole Magro and Jeff Knapp headed into a massive rip current to rescue 19 people, many of whom were screaming for help and one who was unconscious and being held aloft by a friend. The two lifeguards prevented multiple...

Longtime federal appeals court judge to be honored

Veteran federal appeals court Judge J. Clifford Wallace will receive an award recognizing his work on behalf of a national legal organization at a ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court in November. 

The award recognizes someone who has contributed  “distinguished, significant and exceptional leadership”...

Man falls from Barrio Logan pier, dies

A man, possibly in his 70s, fell from a pier in Barrio Logan and his body was found floating in the bay Monday evening.

He may have tripped or slipped and fallen accidentally, San Diego Harbor Police Lt. Dominick Boccia said.

The man’s name was not released.

Workers on a private pier leased by...

Kidnap suspected arrested after pursuit

A man wanted for kidnapping led sheriff’s deputies on a chase from the Valley Center area to Bonsall, where he was arrested Tuesday, authorities said.

The San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force was looking for the man, whose name was not immediately available.

Task force members, led by the U.S....

Blood found, but no victim, after East Village shooting

Police found blood and shell casings but no victim after what may have been a shootout in East Village early Tuesday.

Officers pursued and stopped an SUV on Interstate 5 near Palm Avenue, detaining the driver and passenger for questioning. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the two were witnesses in...

Camp Pendleton Marine shot, gravely wounded in L.A.

A 19-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine was gravely wounded after he was shot in the head during a weekend trip to Los Angeles, authorities said. 

The young man was identified as Carlos Segovia Lopez by family and friends, who said his mother decided Monday night that she would take him off life-support...

Motorcyclist dies in crash near Descanso

A 54-year-old man died after he crashed his motorcycle into a gate at the end of a road near Descanso Sunday, authorities said. 

His westbound Suzuki motorcycle struck the gate that blocks off Wildwood Glen Lane, a county-maintained private road off state Route 79, about 5:30 p.m., according to...