Police release man arrested after neighbor’s death Police investigators have released a man arrested following the Nov. 16 death of his Mission Beach neighbor pending further investigation, according to Lt. Kevin Rooney with the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Division. Paramedics and officers were called to Christopher Ross Connor’s home in the 3600 block of Bayside Lane after his roommate arrived home and found him unresponsive. According to Rooney, Connor’s roommate called a neighbor earlier in the night, Brandon Callanan, 29, and asked Callanan to check in on Connor, 21. The original statement released by the police said that Callanan and Connor became involved in a fight, ending with Connor becoming unresponsive and Callanan leaving the house. Rooney said the roommate returned home around midnight and called paramedics. Paramedics attempted lifesaving measures but pronounced Connor dead at 12:28 a.m. Callanan returned to the Bayside Lane home approximately an hour later and was arrested and transported to the county jail. Rooney said Callanan was later released pending additional investigation. He said the cause of death is listed as undetermined while investigators wait for the results of toxicology and other tests. Parolee with five DUIs gets 12 to life for fatality An intoxicated motorist who was on parole for his fifth drunken-driving conviction was sentenced Nov. 12 to 15 years to life in prison for the death of a grandmother whose family was driving to Sunset Cliffs on Interstate 8 to watch the sunset. John Joseph Taskey, 47, said nothing before San Diego Superior Court Judge David Danielsen gave him the maximum term for second-degree murder in the Sept. 13, 2007 death of Rosa Degerman, 76. Deputy District Attorney David Grapilon said Taskey was convicted four times of drunken driving and had received probation for each case before being sentenced to prison for his fifth conviction in 2006. His blood/alcohol level was 0.10 percent the evening of Sept. 13 when he was arrested near the exits of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and West Mission Bay Drive. The legal limit for felony drunk driving is 0.08 percent. “I doubt that Mr. Taskey can understand what pain he has cost us. Nothing can replace her,” said Gregoria Vigil, Degerman’s daughter. “I hope his sentence is as long as possible so other families (won’t have to suffer losses).” Danielsen gave Taskey credit for already serving 426 days in jail since his arrest. Grapilon said Taskey, of La Mesa, was previously convicted of three felony and two misdemeanor charges of drunken driving. Taskey pleaded guilty Oct. 14 to the most recent second-degree murder. In return, charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two counts of drunk driving with injuries were dismissed. Degerman was riding with her son in a Ford Focus about 6:30 p.m. the night of the accident. Taskey’s adult son received a mild concussion and Degerman’s 11-year-old granddaughter suffered a fractured shoulder. Taskey was also injured. PBTC seeks nominations for best decorated house Does your front lawn look like a winter wonderland? The Pacific Beach Town Council (PBTC) is looking for nominations for the best decorated homes for the holidays with prizes awarded for the top three decorated homes. Nominations can be sent to the PBTC office by mail, fax or email. Include name, address and telephone number. The PBTC office is located at 1706 Garnet Ave., phone (858) 483-6666, fax (858) 272-7782. The deadline for nominations is Monday, Dec. 15. The winner will be announced in the Tuesday, Dec. 22 edition of the Beach & Bay Press. Santa scheduled to stop at the Hilton for tree lighting Santa Claus is making an early stop at Mission Bay to light the 35-foot-tall tree at the Hilton San Diego Resort Sunday, Nov. 30, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The tree lighting is co-sponsored by Vons and Easter Seals Southern California and organized to raise awareness to people living with disabilities. Following the tree lighting, Santa and his wife, along with some of their elves, will join the guests for cookies and warm cups of hot chocolate and cider while carolers and dancers entertain the crowd. The event is free to the public but reservations are required. Call (800) 511-3737 ext. 85 for reservations or information. The Hilton is located at 1775 East Mission Bay Drive. Sandbags available for areas prone to flooding With weather forecasters warning of an approaching storm, the city announced that sandbags are available to residents and businesses located in areas prone to flooding. Sandbags can be picked at Fire Station 21, 750 Grand Ave., and any lifeguard stations in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. City officials said beach sand can be used to fill the bags. There is a limit of 10 bags per household. Armed men hold up Mission Bay hotel Two men armed with handguns attempted to rob the Inn at Mission Bay Friday, Nov. 21, at 11:51 p.m. The suspects ordered the manager to open the safe, and when she couldn’t, they took her personal cash and car keys before fleeing.