Here is a series of updates on major stories that have enveloped those of us who have paying attention:
3rd Victim Dies from Series of Attacks on Homeless – Suspect Is Now an Alleged “Serial Killer”
Another victim of the vicious attacks on San Diego’s homeless has died. Dionico Derek Vahidy, 23, died at a San Diego hospital just before 1 p.m. Sunday. Police said he was a local San Diego homeless person. Two others had already passed away.
The main suspect, Anthony Alexander Padgett, 36, was arrested Thursday in Chula Vista. Padgett is supposed to appear at Felony Arraignment Court today, Monday, July 11th, at 1:30 p.m. He has been jailed on a no-bail hold under charges of suspicion of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and one count of arson.
Presumably, the death of Vahidy will up the ante for Padgett. Using the police’s definition of “serial killer” being charged with 3 or more homicides, Padgett is now a suspected serial killer. And legally, he is eligible for the death penalty. CBS8
Sunset Cliffs Are Still Dangerous
Coming less than a week after a man fell to his death off Sunset Cliffs, a woman on Sunday afternoon, July 10th, was found at the bottom of the cliffs and had to be air-lifted by helicopter off the beach. Lifeguards and other first responders had to climb down the cliffs to get to the as yet unidentified person and administered CPR.
Her condition is not known. And authorities haven’t figured out yet whether she fell from the top or was climbing up. This occurred in 800 block of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. abc10
The OB Rag has been chronicling deaths and serious injuries or accidents at or near Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach and Point Loma since 2005. Over that time there’s been an average of 3 deaths or serious injuries a year – and 2015 was the worst year yet.
Black Lives Matter Supporters Marched in San Diego on Sunday
If you were in downtown San Diego on Sunday, July 10th, you could very well have seen or heard Black Lives Matter supporters marching around Petco Park. Nearly a hundred people held a rally first at the Convention Center near 5th Avenue. Organizer Nate Howard spoke and San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman made a big gesture of embracing the protest. The marchers took off down 5th Avenue to Market Street, around Petco, and ended up on Park Boulevard. Fox5 and CBS8
Protests Continue Nation-Wide
Doug Porter over at SD Free Press has updates on protests that occurred across the country over the weekend. Here’s a quote:
Street demonstrations protesting police violence were held in New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Mineapolis, Salt Lake City, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and, yes, San Diego. In fact, you can search Google News for just about any large city with “BLM [city name] protest” and chances are you’ll find a story.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Yikes!! I just read on the channel 8 website, that this murderous kook Padgett guy, was released, without arraignment!
Yikes is that people think just because they watch CSI that they’re suddenly an expert in law enforcement and criminology so they already pass judgement and sentence a man who might actually be innocent.
Umm, no. Yikes, is that the police arrested someone, with a history of lighting a sleeping, homeless person on fire, thinking they “had their man.” Apparently he had a ALIBI, so he was released. Now they are back to square one.
FYI: I’ve never watched CSI, in my life, nor do I care to.
Nice try. You referred to him as a murderous kook. He served his punishment for his previous crime and in that incident, no one died.
Re — Sunday afternoon’s rescue at the Cliffs. Closest thing to the story I know is that a woman was with friends on the rocks near that beach, 800 block, got knocked off the rocks by a wave. Then was having trouble in the water and the tide was rough. This was all told to me by a witness to the beginning of the rescue. Somebody who was there and saw her struggling in the water jumped in to try to rescue the woman before the lifeguards arrived. Lifeguards then arrived by air, land, and sea. I heard the helicopter and wandered over to see what was going on. Tons of people were there watching. Lifeguard repelled in to the beach from a helicopter. Rescue gear was lowered to the beach. Boats and jetskis on the water. Ambulance, lifeguard crane, and trucks on land. Rumor was that CPR was administered for at least 20 minutes. Nobody really knew what was going on except for the CPR going on. Some people said 2 people were rescued. Some people watching said just the woman was being rescued.