Pacific Beach Crime Report for September 2019
Sex-crimes detectives investigating assault
San Diego police are looking for a man who entered a Pacific Beach home through a window early Monday, Aug. 26 and sexually assaulted a woman.
The victim told police she found a stranger wearing a hoodie inside her bedroom around 5:15 a.m., said police spokesman Billy Hernandez. The intruder apparently entered through a window of the home on Grand Avenue near Olney Street, which is near Mission Bay High School.
The victim was assaulted and then ran to her roommate’s room to call for help.
The roommates locked themselves in the room and called 9-1-1. Responding officers helped pull them out the window and searched the home, but no one was inside, said police Sgt. Robert Hawkins.
The suspect was described as a white man, in his late 20s to early 30s, about 6 feet tall and was last seen wearing a red and black sweatshirt. Detectives from the sex-crimes unit are investigating the incident. —The San Diego Union Tribune
Man sentenced for stabbing uncle in apartment
A man who fatally stabbed his 66-year-old uncle during an argument in their Pacific Beach condominium was sentenced last month to 15 years to life in state prison.
Randy Bautista Baisa, 39, pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge in connection with the 2018, killing of Merlino Bautista. Authorities said the defendant and the victim lived together.
Baisa previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but withdrew that plea in May.
A neighbor at The Plaza Condominiums complex on Diamond Street called 9-1-1 in the early morning hours of Jan. 17, 2018, after the mortally wounded Bautista knocked on the door asking for help. — City News Service
SANDAG report: Teen marijuana use at 19-year high
Marijuana use in the San Diego region is at its highest rate since 2000 and remains the drug of choice for youth in the juvenile justice system, according to a report released by the SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division, last month.
The SANDAG report, “CJ Bulletin: 2018 Juvenile Arrestee Drug Use in the San Diego Region” found that only 11 percent of youth perceive marijuana use as harmful compared to other gateway substances such alcohol and tobacco.
Other findings include: 58 perent of juveniles interviewed tested positive for at least one substance; more than two thirds reported having tried all three “gateway” substances (alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana), and the average age of first-time use was age 12; 57 percent admitted to abusing prescription or over-the-counter drugs; of the youth who abused prescription or over-the-counter drugs, 86 percent reported taking painkillers such as Codeine or Percocet and 83 percent used tranquilizers
The SANDAG report also saw a decline in the use of the drug Spice. View the report at bit.ly/drugusereport
BBB: Top 5 scams targeting college students
Almost 20 million students will either begin college or return to university this month. Many are leaving home for the first time and will face new challenges on their own. Some of these challenges include fraudulent practices that attempt to prey on their financial livelihood.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) shares the five riskiest scams reported that scholars should be aware of:
1) Employment Scams: Unsolicited job offers mentioning “no experience necessary,” “work from home” or a “high pay” are almost always too good to be true. If asked for any personal or banking information and offered an on-the-spot job, exercise caution and visit bbb.org to determine an employer’s trustworthiness.
2) Fake Checks: The BBB study found the largest group of victims of fake check frauds are in their 20s with losses hitting harder, as they are not used to this payment method. One strategy scammers use is to overpay for a product or service with a check. The scammer will then tell the student to send him or her the difference by wire transfer. When depositing a check from an unknown entity refrain from spending until the check has been verified. Be immediately suspicious of overpayments and never wire or send money to someone you do not know.
3) Online Purchase Scams: This may occur when students go online and find a book or school supplies offered at a huge discount. The student will place an order through the website but never receive the purchased items. Students must look for the “s” at the end of “https” to verify a site’s security and research all businesses at bbb.org before making a purchase.
4) Rental and Roommate Scams: These are particularly prevalent through online classified websites. Fake “roommates” offer to provide rent upfront, often in the form of a check or money order, despite living out of town. Similar to the fake check scam, the student will receive a payment, higher than required, be asked to cash the check and wire back the difference. Unfortunately, the original check or money order will bounce and they will be held responsible for any money transferred. Meet roommates in person and never wire money to a stranger.
The second form of rental scam may occur when students search for housing off-campus. Some rental properties posted online are not real. Making a visit to the rental, before making any deposits or using a reputable rental company can help avoid potential fraud.
5) Student Loan Scams: When seeking a private loan, know who you are doing business with and what the terms are. Students should not pay a fee for help in finding money for college, as this information is provided by the government.
Scammers also target those graduating with loans, promising debt forgiveness and lowered interest rates. Do not pay up front, fall for promises of immediate relief, debt cancellation or believe claims of a special connection with federal student loan programs.
The U.S. Department of Education provides help for free. Just call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1(800) 4-FED-AID or visit the government’s student loan website.