Local News

June 4th, 2009

Tip leads Police to two Pounds of Marijuana and Cash

On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, members of the Escondido Police Department's Special Investigations Unit responded to an anonymous tip of a person suspected of dealing narcotics from a home in the 200 block of W. Vermont Avenue.

Detectives ultimately conducted a search and discovered approximately two pounds of marijuana, scales, packaging material, paraphernalia, and $12,075 in cash. Detectives arrested Joseph Thomas Carillo III, 22, a resident of Escondido. Carillo was charged with Possession of marijuana for sale, Possession of marijuana, more than an ounce. Carillo was booked into the Vista Detention Facility. The street value of the marijuana is estimated at approximately $7,000.

Our local tip line number, (760) 743-TIPS (8477) and web based tip program: www.escondido.org/police are additional options that Escondido residents can use to communicate tips anonymously.

Two Alarm Fire Damages Escondido Laundromat

Arriving firefighters saw flames shooting through the tile roof of a Laundromat at 431 W. 13th Avenue as they arrived on scene late in the afternoon last week; a second alarm was called immediately.

The original report was called into Fire Dispatch at 4:30 pm after sparks were spotted near the ceiling inside the business. According to witnesses, there were between 12 and 15 customers inside at the time, ranging from small children to adults, many of whom attempted to remove their laundry from washers and dryers rather than immediately evacuating. In the confusion, two children were reported missing but Escondido Police officers were able to locate them outside the building, unhurt. In spite of the delay, everyone escaped without serious injury although the last person to come out, a teenaged boy who was assisting others, received a minor injury to his shoulder due to a falling piece of debris. He was treated and released to his parent on scene.

Firefighters were on scene within five minutes of the original call and although they knocked down the fire in only nine minutes some fire, smoke, and water damage extended throughout the common attic to several other businesses located in the strip mall. Damage is estimated at approximately $300,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A total of six fire engines, two aerial ladder trucks, and three ambulances responded along with a Battalion Chief, Division Chief, Fire Investigator, Public Information Officer, and the Senior Volunteer Incident Support Team. Other agencies responding to the fire included the San Marcos Fire Department and the Escondido Police Department.

Ron Nehring, Chairman of the California Republican Party, to be Guest Speaker for The Escondido Republican Club

Aggressively building the Republican Party in Escondido, in San Diego County, and across California as a top priority is the message Ron Nehring will deliver to The Escondido Republican Club on Monday, June 15th. The club meets at Cocina del Charro, 525 North Quince, with sign-in at 11:30am, lunch and program at noon. The meeting is open to the public.

Nehring will present a California Republican Party Briefing on "Party Building in the Digital Age."

Facebook, Twitter, Web 2.0 and other important applications will be covered in this primer for everyone from beginners to power users.

To RSVP for the meeting, please call Sharon Wood at (760) 741-5060.

North County Voice Goes Digital

The North County Voice, a widely respected North County community newspaper has announced a major change that involves converting from printed copies of their monthly paper to a daily availability on their new website: <http://www.northcountyvoice.com>

Publisher Mary Beth Francis says the Voice, which was established in 2004, says, "The format has changed, but the content tone and the focus of the paper will remain the same," says Francis. "This change will mean a greater North County presence for our advertisers and a larger readership for the newspaper's diverse community-related content."

While the paper has been available online for months, July 1, 2009, marks the official launch of the full-featured site: www.NorthCountyVoice.com. Soon the website will be updated twice a month, with a later, permanent move to provide weekly updates for their current and future site visitors.

Said Lyle Davis, editor and publisher of The Paper, “Mary Beth Francis is a class act; I’ve admired her for years. She’s a good newspaper person, and she presents her news in an easy-to-read format. We wish her all the best in her new website format.”

For more information, contact publisher Mary Beth Francis, 760-944-4517; mbfrancis@mbfcommunications.net.

Escondido Art Association News

Every month the Escondido Art Association hosts a prominent artist, who demonstrates their techniques for the benefit of the members. On June 10th they will also provide $900 in scholarship awards to deserving high school seniors!

The Escondido Art Association is also adding a new location for its monthly rotation of art! The Fencing Post in Escondido offers classes in the art of fencing and sword skills. The EAA will provide visual art for this location beginning this month! If you have interest in the Fencing Post, please contact Vickie at (800) 459-7207 or (760) 746-7007. If you are considering joining or sponsoring the EAA, please contact the Artist's Gallery, at (760) 489-0338, or at 121 W. Grand Ave. Escondido. Contact is Bjarne Nicolaisen.

“I’m Taking the Fifth” Says Woman Who Was Shot by Cop

The woman who was shot by an off-duty San Diego police officer last year in Oceanside invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a hearing yesterday, making it unlikely she will testify during the officer's upcoming jury trial.

Rachel Silva, 28, called for the Fifth when asked by prosecutor Jeff Dusek whether she had been drinking or doing drugs the day of the shooting, March 15, 2008.

Officer Frank White, 29, is charged with one felony count of grossly negligent discharge of a firearm and one misdemeanor count of exhibiting a firearm. Jury selection in White's trial began yesterday.

Authorities say Silva was the aggressor in a road-rage incident that culminated when White shot her twice in her right arm and her then-8-year-old son once in his left leg. Silva, who was driving on a suspended license, had nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in her system. She has pleaded guilty to felony child endangerment and misdemeanor drunken driving and is scheduled to be sentenced July 23.

Her attorney, Michael Pancer, said she is in a treatment program where she will remain through her sentencing.

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