Daily Briefs


Santa Maria meth dealer steals alcohol sting money

An alleged methamphetamine dealer offered to buy alcohol for a Santa Maria police operative and then attempted to walk away with the booze. [KEYT] On Friday, police failed in their attempt to catch liquor stores selling alcohol to minors and... (Continue reading)

Lompoc police officer shoots teenager

A Lompoc police officer shot a teenager who was under care for mental health issues on Saturday. On Friday afternoon, the teen’s parents called Santa Barbara County mental health services for help with their 17-year-old son who was fighting with... (Continue reading)

Frequent filer sues 6 SLO County businesses

A disabled Arizona man with a criminal past and a vast history of litigation filed six lawsuits against San Luis Obispo County businesses on Jan. 30. [Tribune] Robert McCarthy, 59, has filed more than 250 suits under the Americans With... (Continue reading)

Cal Poly fraternity president pleads no contest to drug charges

The former president of Cal Poly’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity pleaded no contest Friday to charges of felony possession of marijuana for sale. Gear McMillan, 22, faces a maximum sentence of one year in the San Luis Obispo County Jail.... (Continue reading)

Train strikes San Luis Obispo woman

An Amtrak passenger train collided with a woman in San Luis Obispo Friday evening, leaving her in critical condition. Shortly after 8 p.m., the northbound train struck the woman about a half-mile south of Orcutt Road, according to the San... (Continue reading)

Seitz survives another performance review

South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District legal counsel Michael Seitz appears to have the support of the majority of his agency’s board, despite the release of documents showing he gave legal advice that benefitted his own firm while costing... (Continue reading)

Unions battle local contractors over Cuesta College contracts

More than 100 people attended Wednesday’s Cuesta College Board of Trustees meeting to voice their opinion over whether contractors hired to do the jobs should be required to hire union workers. In November, San Luis Obispo County voters approved a... (Continue reading)

Baseball star cuts deal with SLO prosecutors

Former professional baseball pitcher Ted Lilly has agreed to a plea deal with San Luis Obispo County prosecutors that will keep him out of jail despite admitting to insurance fraud. Lilly, a 39-year-old Edna Valley resident, pleaded guilty to a... (Continue reading)

Planning commission rejects Santa Margarita quarry

The San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission has turned down a permit for a proposed rock quarry, which two longtime Santa Margarita residents would like to construct on the outskirts of their town. Mike Cole and Steve Souza are vying... (Continue reading)

SLO County’s repeat hash lab exploder?

What comes around apparently goes around for a Los Osos resident with a liking for manufacturing hash oil in his apartment. The man severely burned in a hash lab explosion on Tuesday was convicted in 2010 of manufacturing oil in... (Continue reading)