Ben J. Costas

The Customs and Border Protection agency is mourning the death of AMO Agent Jeffrey Kanas, who died in a helicopter crash in east San Diego County earlier this week. In a solemn social media post from cbpgov, CBP asked for thoughts to be kept for "his family, friends, and colleagues." Kanas had been serving as an Air Interdiction Agent since October 2008.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said that a San Diego business owner has admitted to attempting to bribe an IRS officer in a scheme to eradicate his significant tax debt. Wahead Raz pleaded guilty to offering an IRS revenue officer $35,000 to dismiss his half-million-dollar tax liability.

Alvin Ray Quarles, known as the "bolder-than-most" rapist, has been ordered to be conditionally released to a non-fixed residence in Campo, as San Diego Superior Court Judge Marian Gaston ruled on Thursday. Quarles, 62, who was convicted for a series of rapes in the 1980s, has completed a prison term of 25 years and approximately another decade in sex offender treatment at Coalinga State Hospital. According to NBC San Diego, his release includes stringent surveillance conditions such as 24/7 GPS monitoring and continuous presence of security personnel or law enforcement.

Carlsbad Police successfully secured an arrest after drawn-out negotiations near a local hotel. The suspect, who was wanted on two active felony warrants and was already on probation, was spotted by Officer McKiernan during extra patrols in the area. The vehicle linked to the individual had a known history relating to past narcotics and illegal firearms cases, according to a social media post by the City of Carlsbad Police Department.

Southern California is bracing for varied weather conditions over the holiday season, with some areas set to face treacherous beach conditions while others can expect gusty winds and light rain. According to NWS San Diego, inexperienced swimmers are urged to stay out of the water due to expected strong rip currents and high surf.

An armed robbery took place early yesterday morning at a 76 Gas Station located on Market Street in Stockton, leading to a manhunt for the suspect, who remains at large. According to the San Diego Police Department, the suspect, described as a Hispanic male in his twenties to thirties, threatened the cashier with a firearm and demanded items before fleeing the scene in a black Dodge truck.

The Escondido Police Department confirmed that Abraham Hernandez, the senior citizen reported missing yesterday, has been found and is now safely back with his family. The update was provided via a social media post, following an earlier appeal to the public to help locate Mr. Hernandez after he vanished around the 1200 block of North Broadway last Friday.

In an encouraging turn for San Diego's long-standing battle with homelessness, the tide appears to be shifting. Fox 5 San Diego reported that, in November, the number of people who exited homelessness and secured housing reached 950, surpassing the 894 individuals who entered the homelessness system for the first time. This news marks a notable reversal of a nearly three-year trend of new homelessness cases outpacing housing placements that have plagued the region since March 2022.

A duo accused of a home burglary in Carlsbad, while the homeowner was out of town, has been arrested following a multi-agency investigation. The Carlsbad Police Department reported on social media that the suspects were apprehended after committing a string of burglaries.

A tragic incident occurred on the 1000 block of Industrial Blvd in Chula Vista last night when a pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle. The Chula Vista Police Department reported that at approximately 6:14 pm, they received a call regarding a collision involving a black 2014 Toyota Camry and a pedestrian. The driver of the vehicle, a 44-year-old male from San Ysidro, stayed at the scene and cooperated with authorities.