MBWC raises $16,000 A fundraiser held by the Mission Beach Woman’s Club (MBWC) on March 27 raised more than $16,000 for the city’s Junior Lifeguard Program. The event, which was held on the deck of The Pennant at 2893 Mission Blvd., included a silent auction, refreshments and games with prizes. “Without the help of all the local businesses that so graciously contributed, though they continue to struggle in a tough economy, we would not have had the success we had,” said MBWC fundraiser co-chair Sheryl Norris. “Every year, our local businesses and our beach neighbors come out and support this event, and to those businesses and individuals, we are so very grateful.” PTO seeks donations Friends of Pacific Beach Elementary Schools, a non-profit parent/teacher organization created to support Pacific Beach Middle School and Mission Bay High School, is seeking donations for its annual silent auction. Organizers are requesting donations for services, certificates and merchandise that can be auctioned off at the event, as well as direct financial contributions to the organization. All donations are tax deductible and 100 percent of proceeds will be used to fund school programs. The event will be held May 23 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Mission Beach Women’s Club. Those interested in making donations can contact Pat Hom at [email protected]. Robber strikes bank Police report that on March 20 a man entered San Diego National Bank at 1945 Garnet Ave. and demanded cash from the teller. He left with an undisclosed amount of money. No weapons were seen and no injuries were reported. Police are still looking for the suspect, who is described as a 5’6″ Hispanic male in his 20s. He was wearing black sunglasses, a black mask over his face, gloves, a blue hoodie and jeans. Man convicted of murder A jury on March 22 convicted Ian Alex Suazo, 23, of Pacific Beach, of second-degree murder in the 2008 stabbing death of his roommate, Ocie Raines, 39. The same jury began hearing psychiatric testimony on March 24 in the sanity phase of his trial as Suazo has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Suazo’s attorney, Richard Gates, told jurors his client cut himself severely that night in a “psychotic break” in which “Ian lost all touch with reality.” Suazo suffers from schizophrenia and said he heard voices repeatedly before he killed his roommate on Sept. 24, 2008, in their apartment in the 800 block of Agate Street, Gates said. Suazo remains in the central jail downtown on $1 million bail. — Neal Putnam Drunken driver sentenced A sentence of eight years in state prison was handed down March 18 to Quinton Dickens, 27, a drunken driver who crashed into a tree in Pacific Beach, causing the death of 19-year-old passenger Nikko Maeva while Dickens was driving erratically at 2:32 a.m. on April 8, 2008. Dickens, who had been free on $100,000 bond, was remanded into jail after San Diego Superior Court Judge David Danielsen denied probation and fined him $1,660. Dickens pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and drunken driving with serious injuries to others. — Neal Putnam