Top 10 San Carlos Crime Stories of 2010

As 2010 approaches its end, San Carlos Patch has compiled the year's biggest crime stories:

1. Mentally Ill Man sprays fast food employees with bear repellent.

On the outskirts of San Carlos lays a quiet creek. Serene for some, the creek is ideal for birdwatching or jogging a trail.  The creek is also home to many of the mentally ill transients of the city, who lay low and away from public view, said attorney Mark Hroziencik. 

On an otherwise unspectacular day in late spring, one such transient, Hroziencik's client, Robert Allen English, a 52-year-old unkempt homeless man diagnosed with delusional disorder, wandered into a Carl's Jr. at 1800 El Camino Real.  

Inside the restaurant, after ordering a black coffee, English told police he heard employees talking about poisoning him, a symptom of his paranoid thoughts. Enraged, English pulled out a can of bear repellant and sprayed it at the employee, causing significant injuries. The spray - designed to be sprayed at bears from a distance of 25 feet - hit two other employees. English then walked outside and sprayed another pedestrian before feeling the scene. 

The next day, May 4, he was found by San Carlos police and arrested. 

2. Jennifer Lynn Dickerson flees from the Redwood City courthouse:

Jennifer Lynn Dickerson fled the Redwood City courthouse after a guilty verdict was handed down from the jury after a five day trial.

After deliberating for just under two hours, the jury returned and handed Judge Barbara Mallach two guilty pleas: one for residential burglary and the other for felony car theft.

Instead of immediately ruling on a motion made by prosecution after the guilty please to have bail revoked and the defendant remain in custody, the court instead took a morning  break. Dickerson used this break to flee the courthouse. Her attorney, Steve Newbould, refused to comment on the situation.

After a half hour of waiting for Dickerson to return, the court forfeited the posted bail and issued a bench warrant for Dickerson's arrest.

3. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White ruled Friday that two San Carlos police officers "acted illegally" after they barged into the home of Bruce Hopkins 

Anthony Boskovich, Hopkins' attorney, said Hopkins is living with friend in West Virginia, and while he is aware of the national attention his lawsuit has received, Boskovich insists Hopkins is "oblivious."

"He was curled up in the fetal position when those two officers barged into his home," said Boskovich in an interview. "He is traumatized."

On a calm mid-August day in 2003, Hopkins was involved in a minor traffic accident. The driver of the car Hopkins hit followed him home and called the San Carlos police and told them she smelled alcohol on Hopkins' breath, according to court records.

The officers, Armand Bonvincino and David Buelow, spoke with the woman and then proceeded to knock on Hopkins' door. Hopkins was living with his aunt at the time, who has sinced passed away.

After receiving no response, the officers barged into the home, down the stairs, with guns drawn, according to records. They found Hopkins in the fetal position and made an arrest. 

A San Mateo County judge later dismissed driving under the influence charges against Hopkins. Hopkins then countersued the officers for damages, claimng they acted illegally and entered his home without a warrant. 

4. Twenty-five MacBooks and 30 iPod Touches stolen from 

Twenty-five MacBooks and 30 iPod Touches were stolen from over the Thanksgiving weekend, said today.

The thieves broke into the school sometime between Wednesday evening and this morning, Police Lt. Pat Halleran said.

The computer equipment stolen is estimated to cost about $50,000, Halleran said.

Police are reviewing security footage from the school's cameras and are analyzing physical evidence. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Police Department at (650) 595-7400 or the Police Tip Line at (650) 598-3000. Callers may remain anonymous.

5. Two Men Go On Burglary Spree In San Carlos

 Danny Allan Hamilton and Shawn Joseph Reilly were allegedly involved in a series of burglaries throughout the Peninsula, including San Carlos, where they were finally caught by San Carlos police. 

San Carlos cops caught the two men after they were seen fleeing a dry cleaning business with a cash register.

6. Attempted robbery at gunpoint on Cedar Street:

Just after dark on Thursday night, on a hardly lit Cedar Street, a resident was approached by a young black man, who was dressed warmly on the chilly December night in black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, and holding a semi-automatic hand gun, according to police descriptions and reports.

The suspect demanded the San Carlan's wallet. When the resident refused, the gun-weilding man turned and walked back to his grey car - possibly a Mercury - where his friends were waiting. 

According to police reports, the victim began yelling and never handed over his wallet.

The three subjects fled in the vehicle northbound on Cedar Street just after 7:30 p.m.

7. Two teenagers fatally shoot 21-year-old man in a suspected gang related shooting

An 18-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were taken into custody as part of an investigation into the homicide of Redwood City man Julio Cuevas, who was shot just before 8 p.m. in the 400 block of Madison Avenue, police Detective Sgt. Sean Hart said.

Cuevas had been shot once when responding officers found him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Investigators believe as many as eight suspects could have participated in the shooting, which appears to be gang related.

8. Man steals purse from Carlos Club

The Carlos Club was busy for a Sunday night in late February. A woman danced with her friends on the dance floor under dimmed house lights while music blared. It was almost morning. 

Vito Bill Mitchell entered the club and allegedly stole the woman's purse she left on her chair near her drink. Spotted by patrons, the police were called.

Mitchell was caught by San Carlos police in a parking lot and was in possession of a purse, and also had the woman's credit cards in his pockets. He was arrested and charged with a felony count of possessing stolen property.

The incident occurred, Povah said, in an area that had been plagued by several commercial burglaries around that time.

Sentencing will take place on Dec. 17. Mitchell faces a potential 32-months in prison. 

9. Man breaks into San Carlos house and steals cell phones, video games

Late August of last year, Dean Goble Jr., 18 at the time, befiended a 17-year-old San Carlan, according to the District Attorney, whose house he later broke into, stealing two cell phones, video games, game controllers, and more than $200 in coins.

Goble was arrested by San Carlos police at a Redwood City bank the next summer day as he attempted to trade the coins in for cash.

Goble pleaded no contest to felony charges on July 10 on the condition that no state prison sentence would be sought by the District Attorney.

Attorney Richard Keyes refused to discuss the case.

10. Cell phone traffic citations double

Cell phone traffic citations have doubled in the past year, according to San Carlos Police Department statistics.

Cell phone violations have increased to 1121 from August 2009 to August 2010 from 560 over the same period in 2008 to 2009.

The current cell phone law, enacted in July 2008, prohibits drivers from using a cellular phone while driving unless a using a hands-free device. In January 2009, electronic text messaging while driving was banned as well.

Patrol Commander Mark Robbins of the San Carlos Police Department stated that the citation increase is due to stricter enforcement in general, rather than a directed effort on cell phone violations.