La Jolla crime and public safety news: Torrey Pines Elementary update; stabbing; lifeguard activity; blotter

Torrey Pines Elementary update

The case of three juveniles suspected of making Molotov cocktails on the campus of Torrey Pines Elementary School in La Jolla has been submitted to the San Diego County district attorney’s office, San Diego police Lt. Matt Botkin said during the La Jolla Town Council meeting April 11.

At about 12:45 a.m. March 30, officers responded to an alarm on campus and reported finding “components to make numerous Molotov cocktails.” Three minors tried to flee to a nearby canyon but were found and released to their parents, police said.

A Molotov cocktail is an incendiary weapon usually consisting of a breakable container such as a bottle filled with a flammable substance such as gasoline and equipped with a fuse. The device is then thrown at a target after the fuse is lit in order to cause a fire.

According to police radio audio posted on social media, officers said there were nine potential Molotov cocktails and that three were loaded with gasoline.

“Fortunately, none of the Molotov cocktails were lit,” Botkin said. “There was a little bit of damage to the gym … from a fire extinguisher that made quite a mess.”

He said there was no continuing threat to the school. The juvenile district attorney “will be evaluating [the case] to see what they are going to do next,” he said.

Stabbing at Black’s Beach

A person was stabbed after a confrontation at Black’s Beach in La Jolla on April 10, police reported.

A couple who were sunbathing nude were approached at about 5:30 p.m. by a man who began videorecording the female. The male who was with her confronted the man and told him to stop recording. The man left briefly as the couple began packing their belongings, but he returned and stabbed the male in the torso with a knife, according to police.

Police rendered aid to the stabbing victim, who suffered serious injuries. The suspect was apprehended a short distance away. The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover, police said.

Lifeguard activity

San Diego lifeguard Lt. Lonnie Stephens said at the Town Council meeting that there were about 230 water rescues between Ocean Beach and Black’s Beach in March.

“We have had a lot of visitors during spring break, but also that summer storm activity with the large waves has taken away sand from our rock beaches, so rip current activity is really high,” Stephens said.

He described a cliff rescue that had taken place earlier April 11, when a kayaker “had a mishap in Emerald Cave” under The Cave Store in La Jolla and had to be extricated.

“Lifeguards initially made contact in the water, performed a basic life support assessment, met with our fire department partners and performed a cliff rescue,” Stephens said. “Everything worked out as planned as far as extricating the person back up to the top [of the cliff].”

Police blotter

Further details were unavailable from San Diego police.

March 15

• Vehicle break-in/theft: 8200 block Camino del Oro, 1:30 p.m.

March 27

• Felony grand theft: 1000 block Nautilus Street, 8:30 a.m.

March 28

• Felony grand theft: 1300 block Torrey Pines Road, 10:15 a.m.

March 29

• Residential burglary: 5400 block Soledad Road, 5 a.m.

April 3

• Minor in possession of alcohol: 200 block Marine Street, 2:06 p.m.
• Felony vehicle theft: 300 block Sea Ridge Drive, 4:45 p.m.
• Residential burglary: 1200 block Skylark Drive, 10:49 p.m.

April 8

• Petty theft: 1300 block Torrey Pines Road, 11:50 a.m.
• Felony vehicle theft: 7000 block La Jolla Boulevard, 3:40 p.m.

April 9

• Petty theft: 600 block Tourmaline Street, 6:15 p.m.
• Vehicle break-in/theft: 5600 block Calle Miramar, 8:45 p.m.
• Vehicle break-in/theft: 6300 block Castejon Drive, 9:40 p.m.

April 10

• Felony vandalism: 6600 block Michaeljohn Drive, 2:18 a.m.
• Vehicle break-in/theft: 5200 block Vickie Drive, 3:15 a.m.
• Vehicle break-in/theft: 1600 block El Camino del Teatro, 2:30 a.m.
• Threatening crime with intent to terrorize: 7500 block Girard Avenue, 7 p.m.
• Sex crime: 700 block Pearl Street, 9 a.m.
• Driving under the influence (alcohol): 700 block Agate Street, 9:28 p.m.

April 11

• Vehicle break-in/theft: 5300 block La Jolla Boulevard, midnight
• Driving under the influence (alcohol and/or drugs): 1100 block Virginia Way, 9:14 a.m.
• Battery: 1000 block Prospect Street, 10:10 a.m.
• Vehicle break-in/theft: 1100 block Kline Street, 3:40 p.m.
• Vehicle break-in/theft: 8300 block La Vereda, 3:50 p.m.

April 12

• Felony shoplifting: 7800 block Girard Avenue, 5 p.m.
• Assault with a deadly weapon: 1100 block Prospect Street, 5:21 p.m.

April 13

• Disorderly conduct (alcohol): 800 block Prospect Street, 11:50 a.m.

— Compiled by Ashley Mackin-Solomon from police and other local reports ◆