soshimo
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed
Big Screen — Movie commentary
Blurt — Music's inside track
Booze News — San Diego spirits
Classical Music — Immortal beauty
Classifieds — Free and easy
Cover Stories — Front-page features
Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes
Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts
Feast! — Food & drink reviews
Feature Stories — Local news & stories
Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore
From the Archives — Spotlight on the past
Golden Dreams — Talk of the town
The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it
Letters — Our inbox
Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites
Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans
Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists
Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news
News Ticker — News & politics
Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated
Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna
Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated
Poetry — The old and the new
Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers
Reading — The hunt for intellectuals
Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT — Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats — Places of worship
Special Issues — The best of
Street Style — San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater — On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week — Daily event picks
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
To Felix, Yes thin blue line, blue wall, definitely the same thing. I suppose I was being a bit harsh on the Sheriff's department. To be honest, I only know the authors side of the story. I was driven by my own emotion and my own dealings with that branch of law enforcement. I agree with you that there is no murder here. There was no motive and no malice in what Doug did. I'm sure he didn't go out there with the intention to kill that poor girl. He is guilty, however, of making a really bad decision that cost a girl her life. However, the serving of papers on the anniversary of her daughters death is probably the most despicable thing he could have done. Yes, you are right, that doesn't make him a criminal, it just makes him a crappy human being. The two are not necessarily mutually inclusive.— June 9, 2008 2:57 p.m.
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
To Felix, Please point out my leap in logic. The facts of the case are: Prior history of drug usage Prior history of same behavior leading up to drug usage Prior history of drug usage, reckless behavior with minors, and sex with minors (if the witness are telling the truth) Adult with minors in car WITHOUT parents permission Reckless driving leading up to the accident I still submit that Mr Garcia has some culpability for his actions. Had he not picked up those girls, without parents permission, had not drove recklessly, and had not been somewhere with two 15 year old girls he shouldn't then Jadean would probably be here today. I also submit, that legally, and logically, a 15 year old girl is not in the proper frame of mind to make that kind of decision, nor does she have enough experience to know better. If Doug was a man, he would have called the mother and said, "I'm picking up your daughter from school". He didn't do that. Probably because he knew what he was doing was wrong. You, and the other detractors, can point out all you want about Staci getting "hammered", it still doesn't change the fact that Doug made a really stupid decision and a 15 year old girl died as a result. He should be held accountable for his actions. As you pointed out, I'm not a lawyer, but that sounds pretty reasonable to me.— June 9, 2008 1:27 p.m.
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
To BigJ, My thoughts exactly. It's definitely a "good ole boy" syndrome that affected the investigation. For all the detractors and supporters of the Sheriff department, let me ask you this. Do you think the case would have been handled differently if it was the Garcias' daughter that was killed by the Thrashers' son? I think the answer is a resounding yes. My family is all law enforcement. Both my grandfathers and an uncle are retired LAPD. I'm not unfamiliar with how things work. There is indeed a "blue wall" and if you are close friends or family of a police officer that "blue wall" is also extended to you. I've seen it happen, so I know for a fact that it goes on.— June 9, 2008 1:10 p.m.
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
Hi George, Now now, we don't have to resort to insults. I'm assuming your innuendo regarding "first year paper-chase" was a veiled attempt to discredit my choice of a phrase. Let me inform you sir, I am not a writer, nor have I taken a single journalism class, other than in High School. I am a software engineer by trade. I do happen to write a lot of documentation so please excuse my pedantry. You are correct that my main point was in support of her civil action, which, as I pointed out, has a much different burden of proof (I have been a juror on two separate civil cases so I am well aware of what the burden of proof is). Her battle with the penal system is over. She lost and she will move on. The penal system is flawed, we all know that. If you don't, just pick up a paper and read any one of the many stories about individuals who were let out of jail, sometimes after years, after they found evidence that proves their innocence. I can guarantee you it wasn't the justice department who was championing these peoples rights. I'm a firm believer though, that to hurt someone with money, hit them where it counts; In the pocket book. I'm sure the wrongful death suit is much more damaging to the "Garcias" than putting their baby in jail for a few months. For a final request, I would like for you to point out where I made this "quantum" leap in logic. Which, for your information, is the wrong usage for that word. Quantum means a discrete quantity and does not give any indication of the size of the quantity. It can be small or huge. As for etymology of the word, it comes from the Latin word "quantus", which means "how much". The common form of the word is derived from the Standard Model theory which dictates that the universe is full of quantum, or discrete, states of energy. So, making a "quantum" leap wouldn't be any different than making a regular leap as long as the quanta are the same. Have a nice day George.— June 9, 2008 11:55 a.m.
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
Dear GeorgeSD, Let's just agree to disagree on the point of where the investigation begins and ends. My main point, and the point I think you miss seeing, is that her battle with the justice system is over. It's sad how it turned out, but such is life. The person who committed this "act", however, showed absolutely no remorse, and in fact, insulted the author by serving her with a restraining order on the anniversary of her daughter's death. This was a conscious decision made by the server to have that done as the author pointed out, so it wasn't an accident, or "twist of fate". Perhaps that was the intended message. Again, a message that person had no right sending in the first place when it was his direct actions which caused the author's daughter's death. I gave my best wishes, however, for the wrongful death suit, where the burden of proof is much different. He will be hard pressed to prove how, if he had not made those incredibly stupid decisions, the author's daughter would have died anyway. He put that poor girl in that situation. The other girl had even told him to slow down. He was showing off, probably hoping to impress them so he could molest these girls later after he drugged them up with ecstasy, marijuana, and alcohol. Seems a bit different when you look at it that way doesn't it? How does the mothers actions, i.e. having a few drinks after work, have anything to do with the fact that a grown man took those children to a dangerous place, without the parents consent, and put them in mortal danger. One of them did not survive. Those are the facts of the case. You say you are a parent, so let me ask you this, as a parent, when you were 26 years old would you have two 15 year old girls in a truck on your way to get drunk/high and engage in sexual activity? Probably not, and the reason is because you realize that is wrong and you have no business with a 15 year old girl, unless you're 15. The fact that he would pick her up from school every day reveals even more about his intentions. The girl probably didn't tell her mother because she was afraid of getting a lecture or getting in trouble. She probably felt she could handle it, and be "adult" about it. He took full advantage of her naivete and therin lies the crux of the wrongful death.— June 7, 2008 2:33 p.m.
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
To GeorgeSD: I just wanted to point out that it's the investigating agencies responsibility to investigate the crime and to use all means necessary to analyze the crime scene. This evidence is then submitted to the DA at which time the DA can decide if said evidence is enough for an indictment. Again, let me emphasise the first point, it is the investigating agencies _responsibility_ to investigate the crime. This seems like a case of the Sheriffs department trying to do the DA's job and making a field decision that a crime did not occur. I'm thinking that you are PD due to the vehemence you have shown in your post, so you may be well aware of the slippery slope the officer begins to traverse when he makes that decision in the field. This was mishandled from the beginning and anyone who is not stubborn or obtuse can see that. When a death occurs on the highway a full investigation is made by CHP. Why did the Sheriffs department not show the same modicum of attention to detail in this case?— June 7, 2008 1:35 a.m.
City Auditor Says Blackwater Didn't Misrepresent Self, but Criticizes City Procedures
There are definitely some backroom handshakes going on with this deal. I can speak from experience that they give firearms instruction during basic training that covers what 95% of the sailors in the fleet need to know. There are marines on board most warships and in the event of boarding they will marshall a defense. In fact, while underway drills are enacted for this very occurrence. A sailor has no need to shoot a weapon and will be much more valuable to the ship during General Quarters manning their respective lockers or battle stations and not out roaming the decks with an M4 or 9mm handgun.— June 7, 2008 1:17 a.m.
JROTC popular in San Diego, but critics abound
Fred: Yes, unfortunately the military is probably the largest Good Ole' Boy network in the world and mustangs are usually not given the same opportunities as officers commisioned through the academy. That being said, to A Girl: I really can't believe you made that statement, that minorities should look into JROTC because that's their only chance. That is probably the most ignorant thing I've read all day. Are you trying to say that your skin color or ethnic background dictates what you can learn and do? You do realize there is this institution called a University right? And at that University you can learn to be anything or do anything you want, therefore making you, in my eyes, the best you can be. The military regulates you to a particular role, or billet, that they have a need for. They sometimes try to match your skillset but that's not always the case. If they have to fill a billet recruiters have been known to stretch the truth somewhat. So, that being said, in the military your worth is dictated by the needs of the miltary. I wouldn't call that personal growth. Bootcamps are hard for a reason, or at least they used to be. The general idea is to stress you to the point of breaking and see how you handle it. We had more than one person flip out in the first week crying for their mommy - literally. If the military decides to just push through people in an assembly line fashion what is going to happen when the crap hits the fan, as it were? Bedlam, thats what. Don't get me wrong, the military taught me valuable lessons. Some good, some bad, but they all worked to formulate a specific discipline and state of mind. Some people have that naturally though and are self-motivated. They don't need the military to teach them self-discipline and motivation. Therefore, I submit, the miltary is NOT for everyone.— June 6, 2008 12:13 p.m.
JROTC popular in San Diego, but critics abound
Fred - never have I read such truer words. I also went the same path you did and just recently finished paying of over 100k of student loads and financial aid. I got the GI bill but the limitations of that particular "perk" make it all but unusable. What it boils down to is that it may pay for half of your books. There is still tuition, room and board, and the rest of the supplies you need (including the other half of the books). I was an AT in the Navy. I worked IM on the ship but that doesn't mean I didn't have my share of encounters with pilots. The technicians favorite running joke while I was on the ship was that pilots misunderstood the meaning of the On/Off switch. We would joke that the pilots thought that Off was yet another Navy acronymn that meant On Full Force. That's the level of intelligence that non-commmisioned personel, who probably had little to no college, attributed to the pilots who were all officers and as such, had at least 4 years of college. This, of course, doesn't count Warrant Officers who are usually mustangs anyway. Those guys are usually the most respected.— June 5, 2008 3:01 p.m.
A rollover truck on Pamo Road in Ramona
I'm disgusted by how the Sheriff's dept handled, or mishandled as it were, this case. It screams of the kind of kick back or under the table dealings that are so prevalent in law enforcement today. It is certainly interesting that the perpetrator's family paid his bail, in cash, the day he was arraigned. A 100k bail mind you. Not the kind of money normal people have tucked away, at least not to the point that it can be liquid so soon. I'm willing to bet my very small salary that this guys family has political ties somewhere. I do wish the author luck in her wrongful death suit, especially in light of how the perpetrator has treated her so far. Instead of showing dignity or at least expressing some form of regret for what he did, he serves the writer a restraining order on the anniversary of her daughter's death. Very crass indeed.— June 5, 2008 2:33 p.m.