On May 22, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife posted on their Facebook page that read in part that in September of 2017, their officers made a “significant over-limit bust on the captain of …
Back to profile
Stories by Mike Madriaga
On May 20th at about noon, Adrian Urenda saw a dead whale on the beach by Las Olas Hotel in Calafia (about seven miles south of Rosarito). “There were about ten others around the carcass,” …
Name: Johnny V. From: Pacific Beach Location: Mission Beach Jetty Occupation: Photographer/Videographer Johnny V. was coming out of the water by the Mission Beach Jetty when I saw him. He had the waves all to …
At about 5:20 p.m., on Mothers Day (May 13), four San Diego Police Department patrol vehicles pulled up in front of Michael’s at the Westfield Mission Valley mall. The police officers exited their vehicles, passed …
Name: Eric Elmore From: Clairemont Location: Mission Beach jetty Occupation: Water Resources Engineer Eric Elmore has been surfing at the Mission Beach jetty for about 20 years. “It’s ridiculously territorial here,” he said, “a guy …
“My husband got a pop-up on our Mac computer with a phone number to call about a virus on our computer,” said CZ. “The caller tried their best to convince him that the Mac was …
On Cinco de Mayo weekend, a handful of tattoo collectors from around the country received complimentary tattoos at the Golden Hall (inside the San Diego Concourse) on C Street downtown. “We had three winners,” said …
Name: RB Age: 56 From: Ocean Beach Location: Ocean Beach Occupation: Counselor for mental health and substance abuse I saw RB on the north side of the Ocean Beach Pier on Feb 3. He just …
On May 4th, the Chula Vista Police Department posted a warning-tweet on their Twitter account. “REMINDER concert @MattressFirmAmphitheatre this evening w/@LuisMiguel: starts at 8pm expect significant traffic delays well in advance! #StaySafeCV” Fans from both …
“They are putting underground [cables] in, which means that they shut the power off periodically,” said John M. “Literally, like ten minutes ago, a guy from SDG&E was giving out handouts to everybody …. but …
On April 28, John purchased a Howard the Duck comic book at the San Diego Rocket-Con. For the month of April, this was the third comic book and toy show in San Diego County. Like …
Name: Alfredo Ramirez Age: 44 From: Mission Valley Location: Ocean Beach Occupation: Mortgage advisor Alfredo Ramirez was surfing out at Avalanche in Ocean Beach riding his 5’9″ Sub-Driver performance board made by Lost/Mayhem Surfboards. “It’s …
“They want the neighborhood to look pretty from the back too,” said Pete Suarez, “now that’s a crock.” Suarez bikes from south San Diego through Imperial Beach to get to Coronado. On April 28, I …
El Día Del Niño came 4 days early to some of the Central American kids that were part of the caravan into Tijuana last Wednesday and Thursday. Ricardo, from Chula Vista, was outside of the …
“What are they doing there?” asked a driver that pulled over before I did. We were on the shoulder of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard before it turns into Regents Road. “I have no idea,” I responded, …
Name: Scott Age: 59 From: San Diego Location: Imperial Beach Pier Occupation: Staff at Sharp Grossmont Hospital “I went over a wave and I heard a crack,” said Scott, as he snapped his fingers and …
“I’m burning one for George [Clayton Johnson],” said Storm, as she lit up her three-inch brass pipe filled with “Skywalker” weed. “Oh, snap,” I said, then motioned over to the security guard at the Frankenstein …
Eastlake was considered by some San Diego residents to be refuge from the criminal activity that occurs elsewhere in our county. But in the last year, the would-be suburban utopia, which is about 12 miles …
When Toys ‘R’ Us announced that they were closing 800 of their U.S. stores, a handful of San Diego grown-ups that hang out at the Chula Vista VFW, were bummed-out. “It’s the end of another …
Name: Beth Colton Age: 34 From: National City Location: Ocean Beach Pier Occupation: Staff at the San Diego Humane Society Beth Colton just got done surfing with her nine-foot Sunova board inlaid with balsa wood …
“I did not see him until the last second,” said Andy McMillin, “and it was the closest call I had. The fans down there in Baja California stand next to the race course and we …
On the morning of April 8, many of the visitors inside the Carlsbad Flower Fields were distracted, despite the flowers still being in bloom. "OMG," yelled a teen taking a selfie with her friend inside …
This year marks the 80th anniversary of San Diego Chicken Pot Pie Shop being in business. “After the Peking Restaurant (circa 1931) closed last year,” said Lisa Townsend, “we became the fourth oldest restaurant that …
“It is estimated that the typical dog excretes between one half to three quarters of a pound of waste per day,” according to the City of San Diego website. “In San Diego alone, there are …
Name: Adam Hiscock Age: 29 From: Coronado and Utah Location: Coronado Beach Occupation: Geologist Adam Hiscock was surfing behind the high rises south of the Hotel Del Coronado when I saw him. He was coming …
Lydia Horne received a free haircut and a toiletry bag – at the Age-Less Beauty (Blessing our Seniors) gathering on March 31. The event happened at about noon in the courtyard of the Southern Highland …
“I think the WonderCon is better than San Diego Comic-Con because I have the experience from remembering the old days,” said Anastasia Hunter, “the San Diego show is not fun anymore.” Hunter, 44, drove up …
I met Chris Duenas and his son Jonah on the north side of the Imperial Beach Pier. Before our interview, the waves were about three feet, and Jonah just wiped out on his boogie board …
Matthew Philbin just turned 30 years old on March 18. He celebrated his birthday by hopping into his lifted Dodge Ram truck and picking up one of his new tenants. “I pick them up with …
Every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Brenda Nason met with about eight others to play Cribbage at Giovanni’s Restaurant on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Ruffin Road behind the Carl’s Jr. On Tuesday, March 13, the group …
Last year, 32,247 cigarette butts were collected from the San Diego beach cleanups, according to the San Diego Coast Keeper data numbers. The City Heights Business Association and I Love A Clean San Diego are …
Name: Timothy “Harps” Harper Age: 44 From: Pacific Beach Location: Ocean Beach Pier Occupation: Disabled combat veteran for the U.S. Army/college student I saw Harps on the north side of the Ocean Beach pier on …
Luis Villa-Lopez said that he catches over 20 patrons per day that come into the South Bay Swap Meet — without paying. “On Wednesday it’s only $1 to come in,” he said. “They sneak in …
Matt Armstrong found a booby trap in Manzanita Canyon on March 6. “It was a fishing line with two syringes across the doorway,” Armstrong said. “I noticed the trap straight away as soon as I …
On February 26, there were three auto thefts that were reported within a 2 mile radius in North Park. One theft in particular, was for the truck’s sought after motor. “The Cummins engines are valuable,” …
Name: Paloma Aguirre Bacalski Age: 40 From: Imperial Beach Location: Imperial Beach Pier Occupation: Coastal and marine director for Wildcoast Paloma Aguirre Bacalski was one of about 12 that paddled out in honor of Doug …
Name: Kian Barker Age: 13 From: North Park Occupation: 7th grade student At dusk, I saw Kian Reese Barker loading his six-foot Mitsven surfboard into his dad’s truck parked by the South Mission Beach jetty. …
Last year, NBC 7 San Diego reported that “The San Diego City Council decided [June 27] that residents will still have to pay to replace damaged trash bins, despite a county Grand Jury recommendation that …
“Lily was last seen being taken from our yard on Thursday [February 15] by a caucasian male, medium build, [in his] late 20s to early 30s,” Ivan Kanzaki said. “He then led [our Siberian husky] …
Recently, a Poway thrift-store owner made what’s being called the biggest score in local comics trading history when he bought the collection of a deceased L.A.-area hoarder. “The house is an extreme case [of a] …
Matt Armstrong and Cindi Lapio have been noticing more permanent structures being built in their neighborhood canyons and ridges. Armstrong is a 51-year-old martial arts instructor who cleaned out more than 2000 pounds of trash …
“Trip out on this, bro,” Ed said as he pulled out a Coronas Sumatra cigar box that was labeled with “stroke” on the front and “cyanide” on the side. On February 4, we were at …
On the morning of January 20th, Club Iggy’s, located at 11337 Avenida Coronado, Rosarito, was burned to the ground. “Maybe because the club was made pretty much of all with wood and logs,” said Carlos …
Name: Kali Recker Age: 17 From: Coronado Shores and Phoenix Location: Coronado Beach Occupation: Junior in high school On New Year’s day, there were hundreds of people out in the water behind the Hotel Del …
John Hartley wants the San Diego Police Department to return to the Adams Avenue storefront that he helped create in 1993. On January 22nd, he received a letter from the office of councilmember Chris Ward …
Name: Benjamin Age: 46 From: La Jolla Occupation: Real estate agent I saw Benjamin by his vehicle at Hospitals in La Jolla. It was one of the last days of 2017 and it was 74 …
Melaney and her sister heard a cat meowing atop their roof on Saturday, January 6th. “[My sister] looked up and saw the cat’s head peeking over the ledge.” The gray cat was stuck on the …
Name: Peter Ramseier Age: 47 From: Imperial Beach Occupation: Airplane mechanic Peter Ramseier rolled out to surf with his two sons and their friends just hours before the Christmas Eve festivities. They surfed by the …
“Deep crushedness is the general feel around here,” said Matt Bantelman. “I’ve gone out of the way to not mention it this evening because everyone’s trying to play [games] and have fun, and then inevitably …
At about 11:30 p.m. on January 8th, Layla, an 11-year-old girl who lives in Eucalyptus Hills (a couple miles northeast of Lakeside), smelled smoke and saw a yellow reflection on her window. She ran into …