Armed bandana-sporting bandits hit The Body Shop
Two men disguised in black bandanas and “hoodie” sweatshirts demanded money at gunpoint from employees at The Body Shop, 3776 Riley St., on July 29. According to Lt. Vince Villalvaso of the San Diego Police Department’s robbery unit, employees were inside the shop when the suspects entered the business. One of the victims looked out and saw one suspect holding a gun, said Villalvaso.
“The two suspects entered and pointed a handgun at the victims’ back. They demanded that the victims open the safe,” Villalvaso said.
The suspects took an undisclosed amount of money from the safe and placed it in a bag.
The suspects continued to rifle through the business and other office areas, Villalvaso said.
One suspect is described as about 5 feet 11 inches tall, approximately 200 pounds. The other man is described as 5 feet 8 inches. Both men wore all black with bandanas that covered their faces, Villalvaso said.
OB Town Council hopefuls to make pitch Aug. 22
Ocean Beach Town Council stakeholders will have a chance to meet with and pose questions to five community members and seven incumbents who are expressing their intent to run for the Ocean Beach Town Council Board of Directors.
The forum will take place at the council’s regular meeting at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m.
A total of eight board positions will become vacant this election cycle and ballots have already been mailed out to about 160 town council members, said council secretary Nancy Vaughn. The candidates have already submitted their letters of intent by the Aug. 7 deadline and no new letters will be accepted.
“We’re hoping that all candidates will come and be able to speak,” Vaughn said.
Ballots must be postmarked by Friday, Aug. 31. Vaughn said council members who have not yet made up their minds would have a chance to meet with the candidates during Wednesday’s meeting.
The board also received one nomination for this year’s Citizen of the Year Award, which is given out to members of the community who shows outstanding pride in their community, said election committee chair Barbara Schmidtknecht.
Election winners will be sworn in at the town council meeting Wednesday, Sept. 26, and committee members will be chosen at a later date.
The Ocean Beach Town Council meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Masonic Center. The council provides a community forum during which the community can interface with elected officials, Vaughn said.
For more information, call (619) 515-4400.
Dave Martin elected to OBMA board of directors
The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association has announced the July election of new board member Dave Martin.
Martin, who owns Shades and the newly opened Crave’s Cafe joined the board during the Aug. 9th board of directors meeting. He will serve a three-year term.
Martin replaces Genoa Dickson, who has served the board for four yers.
According to OBMA executive diector Denny Knox, Dickson is taking some time off to spend more time with family.
The OBMA’s Executive Committee was also re-elected to serve another year and manage the association. Officers are: Mike Akey, president; Julie Klein, first vice president; Heather Clarke, second vice president; Cordelia Mendoza, secretary; and Mike Stiffano, treasurer.
BBB issues warning over bridge-collapse scam
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be aware of phony charity scams following the collapse of the Interstate 35 West bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The BBB reports that scammers, often using names similar to legitimate charities and emergency relief organizations, will solicit funds by phone. Consumers are advised to ask the caller to send written information before making any donation.
The BBB also recommends asking a lot of questions, request printed literature on the charity’s programs and finances and to be skeptical of any organization reluctant to answer questions about its operations, finances and programs.
Cash donations should never be mailed or given to a door-to-door solicitor.
If a consumer has any questions about a business’ legitimacy, call the BBB at (800) 600-7050 or visit www.sd.bbb.org.
The BBB offers free consumer protection and prepurchase information on more than 101,000 local businesses.
Potential donors can also visit the BBB Giving Alliance at www.give.org for detailed reports on charities and reliefe organizations.
Police seek witnesses to hit-and-run case in PB
A hit-and-run driver seriously injured two pedestrians crossing Grand Avenue at Cass Street in Pacific Beach on Friday, Aug. 10 at 9:40 p.m.
According to San Diego Police Det. Suzi Huntington, Leslie Nunez, 27, of Pacific Beach, and Ashley Wolf, 23, of San Marcos, were inside the crosswalk but crossing against the light when they were struck by a 2000-2002 Nissan Maxima with tinted windows and custom rims.
The front right headlight assembly is broken and the exterior right side mirror is missing.
Huntington said the speed of the vehicle has not been determined.
“We have witnesses, but it’s a pretty traumatic thing and it’s hard to get a grip on the actual speed the car was traveling,” she said.
According to police reports, the car was traveling westbound on Garnet Avenue and turned northbound on Bayard Street after failing to stop after the accident.
Witnesses said a white female was driving the car with a white female passenger.
According to Huntington, Wolf suffered a fractured shoulder and fractured wrist. Huntington said Nunez was seriously injured with an open fracture on her right arm, a fractured wrist, a fractured right leg and a laceration above her eye. Both women required surgery.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Police are asking anyone with any information to call either Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division at (858) 495-7812.