Ordinary citizens are heroes, too
Published: January 16, 2005
Each year, heroic citizens, everyday people who have put themselves in jeopardy to do the right thing, are honored by local law enforcement and community leaders. Their deeds, recounted at a luncheon this week, are a needed reminder of the goodness in people.
Two passers-by, Ahmed Omar and Jose Lopez, heard screams coming from an apartment. Through a window they could see a woman being stabbed. They climbed over a fence, got into the home and struggled with the assailant, her husband. After wresting away his knife, they kept him immobile until police arrived.
An Oceanside woman who observed comings and goings at odd hours and other suspicious activity at a couple of “vacant” houses in her neighborhood alerted authorities. Her call led to the bust of the largest indoor marijuana-growing operation in San Diego County history. Twenty-four people were arrested and 3,100 plants were seized, as were six luxury vehicles and $120,000 in cash. The name of the witness is not being made public at this time.
Two Wal-Mart employees, Arturo Aguayo and Ruben Garcia, thought they recognized the description of a man suspected of molesting a 3-year-old girl in the store’s toy aisle. It sounded like a frequent customer, they said. When the man came into the store a week later, the two immediately notified authorities. A registered sex offender, the man was arrested, pleaded guilty and is serving a 12-year prison sentence.
John Locklar was exiting I-5 on Mission Bay Drive early one December morning when he spotted a San Diego police officer running after a man in handcuffs. Locklar pulled over, leaped from his car and tackled the man, who had jumped out of a moving police car. The man was a suspect in a vehicle theft and burglary. Turns out that about 30 years ago, when Locklar was a Marine, he came to the aid of another SDPD officer making an arrest. “I have an uncanny ability,” Locklar said, “to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Dominic Camacho, a Chula Vista elementary school teacher, also saw a pursuit, tackled the fugitive and held him for police. Camacho later learned the man was armed and wanted for the attempted murder of a police officer. There were also charges of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm and child abuse. Camacho explained that he feared that the man had hurt a student, so he acted instinctively. “It’s either in you, or it’s not. That’s what you do when you care about people.”
One of the younger honorees, a 10-year-old boy, was not present for the ceremony because his family is divided over his action, which led to the arrest of his mother on burglary and felony child abuse charges. He “did the right thing and came to court and testified against his mother – a very hard thing for a little boy to do,” praised San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. “He was very brave.” His great uncle accepted the award for him.
On a lighter note…
Bring local law enforcement officers together and friendly rivalry is sure to surface. Sheriff Bill Kolender announced to Dumanis, “I hope you noticed that they introduced me as the chief law enforcement officer in the county.” Not about to let that pass, Dumanis suggested that Kolender was introduced first as a sign of respect for elders.
San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne kidded Kolender about occupying a prime spot right behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during the televised State of the State address last week.
Kolender, eyeing the impressive gathering of sheriff’s deputies, police and prosecutors at the Rotary-sponsored event, offered the most telling observation:
“This is a pretty safe place to live – even though you can’t afford it.”
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