Daily Briefs


Camino Fire burns 325 acres in rural Arroyo Grande

BY KAREN VELIE Fueled by dry and drought stressed conditions, the Camino Fire has burned 325 acres in the Huasna area of rural Arroyo Grande as of Wednesday morning. Firefighters have achieved 30% containment and report that no structures are... (Continue reading)

Pismo Beach man convicted of sexually abusing multiple children

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A Pismo Beach man could face a life sentence after a jury convicted him on Tuesday of molesting three minors under the age of 14. Todd Anthony Hortillosa, 44, sexual abused the children over a nine-year period.... (Continue reading)

Four people injured in rollover crash at the Oceano Dunes

By KAREN VELIE Four people were injured in a single-vehicle crash at the Oceano Dunes on Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after noon, a 19-year-old was driving an off-road vehicle on a 15-foot dune when the vehicle rolled. The crash left four... (Continue reading)

Brush fire east of Arroyo Grande grows to 200 acres, threatens structures

By KAREN VELIE A brush fire burning in rural Arroyo Grande off Huasna Road on Tuesday has scorched over 200 acres. Shortly after noon, a caller reported a fire burning in the 8400 block of Huasna Road. The fire quickly... (Continue reading)

Fire that threatened dog kennel in Paso Robles fully contained

By KAREN VELIE A vegetation fire in Paso Robles resulted in a call to evacuate 40 dogs from a nearby kennel, shortly before firefighters contained the blaze and the evacuation was called off. At 11:18 a.m., a caller reported a... (Continue reading)

Vandalism and fire at elementary school in Orcutt

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating whether vandalism at an Orcutt elementary school is connected to a fire that broke out on the campus several days earlier. [KCOY] On the afternoon of June 19, a caller... (Continue reading)

Arroyo Grande woman ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution

By KAREN VELIE A 57-year-old bookkeeper from Arroyo Grande was ordered on Monday to pay restitution of $1,304,524 to Rick Machado Livestock. Late last year, Ginger Lee Mankins was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement. Mankins stole more... (Continue reading)

SLO officers seeking to identify two stabbing suspects

By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo Police are asking for the public’s help identifying possible suspects in two recent stabbings. Shortly before 2 a.m. on June 19, a caller reported a stabbing at the Library Bar on Higuera Street. Officers... (Continue reading)

Is Central Coast shark the world’s largest great white?

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The shark that attacked a Central Coast swimmer in Monterey Bay last week may be one of the largest great whites in the world. [Newsweek] Shortly before 11 a.m. on June 22, the shark attacked Steve Bruemmer,... (Continue reading)

Robbers shoot and stab victims in Santa Maria

  By JOSH FRIEDMAN Robbers allegedly shot and critically injured one person and stabbed another in Santa Maria early Sunday morning. At about 3:30 a.m., a caller reported a shooting in the area of Knudsen Way and Western Avenue. The... (Continue reading)