Daily Briefs


Assailant with scissors arrested at park in San Luis Obispo

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo police officers arrested a 30-year-old man on Tuesday evening who was threatening another park goer with scissors. Shortly after 5 p.m., several 9-1-1 callers reported a male at Laguna Lake Park who was threatening... (Continue reading)

Officers identify drunk driver who killed Nipomo woman

By KAREN VELIE Investigators identified the drunk driver who killed a Nipomo woman Saturday evening in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Maria as 30-year-old Juan Ortiz Mendoza. Shortly before midnight on Saturday, a vehicle crashed into 46-year-old Maria Juarez Moreno... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man accused of sexually abusing children

By KAREN VELIE A 63-year-old Santa Maria man was arrested Saturday on charges he sexually abused several children. On Saturday, a patrol officers contacted Jose Luis Diaz regarding an outstanding arrest warrant related to lewd acts with a child. As... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach appoints new assistant city manager

By KAREN VELIE The City of Pismo Beach on Tuesday announced the appointment of Silas Clarke as the city’s new assistant city manager. Clarke’s experience includes serving as city administrator for Ouray, Colorado and as city administrator and economic development... (Continue reading)

Free clinic helps SLO County residents clear criminal records

By KAREN VELIE The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office and other community organizations are working to assist eligible individuals clear their criminal records, District Attorney Dan Dow announced today. The goal is to help reduce barriers to employment... (Continue reading)

Morro Bay fisherman settles civil enforcement action

By KAREN VELIE A man running a commercial fishing operation out of Morro Bay has agreed to pay a fine and to operate legally after California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers caught him taking customers to fish in restricted... (Continue reading)

Investigators identify Nipomo woman killed in crash

By KAREN VELIE Investigators identified the Nipomo woman killed Saturday evening in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Maria as 46-year-old Maria Juarez Moreno. Shortly before midnight, a vehicle crashed into Moreno as she walked across the intersection of Bunny Avenue... (Continue reading)

Second person killed by hit-and-run driver in Santa Maria

By KAREN VELIE For the second time in less than 24 hours, a hit-and-run driver crashed into and killed a person near the intersection of Bunny Avenue and Blosser Road in Santa Maria. Shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday, a hit-and-run... (Continue reading)

Firefighters battle two arson fires in Santa Maria

By KAREN VELIE Firefighters battled two suspected arson fires at apartment complexes in Santa Maria on Saturday afternoon, police said. Shortly before 3 p.m., a caller reported a fire burning at the Twin Palms Apartments on E Bunny Avenue. Firefighters... (Continue reading)

Person injured in rollover crash at the Oceano Dunes

By KAREN VELIE One person was injured in a rollover crash at the Oceano Dunes on Saturday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol. At approximately 6 p.m., a caller reported the crash at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation.... (Continue reading)