Daily Briefs


Purse snatcher stabs man in San Luis Obispo

Late Friday night, a 24-year-old man attempting to help a San Luis Obispo woman battle a purse snatcher was stabbed in the upper body, police said. Elizabeth Key and Christopher Sebastian were walking along Madonna Road near Los Osos Valley... (Continue reading)

Missing Paso Robles teen found

A 13-year-old girl who ran away last weekend has been found safe and returned home to her father in Paso Robles. Paso Robles police working in conjunction with Kern County Sheriff’s deputies discovered Siera Tharp in Ridgecrest at the home... (Continue reading)

Paso Robles teachers’ paychecks slashed

Teachers in the Paso Robles School District will absorb a big paycheck hit this summer after agreeing to help balance the district’s stressed budget. Teachers’ union president Jim Lynette said a cut of 9.72 percent over the next two years will... (Continue reading)

Deputy sues sheriff’s department for retaliation

A former San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputy says in a lawsuit that he was retaliated against and eventually terminated after he reported multiple abuses of policy by department heads. Dale Strobridge filed the civil suit March 13 in San... (Continue reading)

Cambria man suspected of sexual abuse of a child

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputies arrested a Cambria man twice this month for charges of sexual assault of a child and domestic violence. Deputies first arrested  Enrique Merlos, 45, on March 8 for allegedly committing numerous sex crimes involving... (Continue reading)

Police searching for missing Paso Robles teen

Paso Robles police are looking for a 13-year-old girl who ran away on March 17. Siera Tharp left her father Christopher Tharp a note saying she was running away because of ongoing family disagreements. Police do not suspect foul play,... (Continue reading)

Medi-Cal records public, judge says

Public records disclosure laws were broken last year by a state agency when it refused to disclose data on Medi-Cal budget reductions, a Sacramento judge ruled this week. [Sacramento Bee] Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connolly, a former lawmaker, said the... (Continue reading)

No more methyl iodide distribution in U.S.

A years-long battle by environmentalists to halt the use of methyl iodine as a fumigant for strawberries and other crops ended abruptly when the company producing it said it would no longer deliver it to the United States. [LATimes] Methyl... (Continue reading)

Salinas school counselor accused of creating child porn

Police arrested a Salinas High School drug and alcohol counselor suspected of creating child porn in his office at the high school on Monday. [MercuryNews] Salinas police first arrested Gilbert Olivares, 34, last week after a student’s relatives told police... (Continue reading)

Teen files claim of rape against officer

The teenager who allegedly had a sexual relationship with Santa Maria police Officer Alberto Covarrubias Jr. has filed a claim against the city that alleges department officials knew about the illicit relationship as far back as New Year’s Eve. [KCOY]... (Continue reading)