08/03/2026
July’s Caper of the Month recipient is a detective assigned to the La Mesa Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit. Due to the undercover nature of the detective’s assignment, their identity is being withheld.
While working a special crime suppression detail on July 17th, the detective contacted a male outside the Bank of America at Grossmont Center for a municipal code violation. A records check revealed the suspect was on probation for assault with a deadly weapon. Pursuant to the terms of the suspect’s probation, the detective searched his property and discovered two debit cards belonging to other individuals, three checks from a local landscaping company, a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue, and a glass vial containing fentanyl concealed in a necklace the suspect was wearing.
The three checks were made payable to the suspect and two other individuals, each bearing a different signature. After contacting the landscaping company, the detective learned the checks had recently been stolen during a vehicle burglary. The business owner also confirmed that several of the stolen checks had already been fraudulently cashed, including the one made payable to the suspect. The suspect was ultimately booked into jail on multiple felony charges, including a probation violation.
Through proactive police work and thorough follow-up investigation, the detective not only took a repeat felony offender off the streets, but also helped protect a local small business from further financial loss, safeguarded the victims whose debit cards had been stolen, and prevented additional fraud and identity theft. The arrest also removed dangerous narcotics from the community, making La Mesa safer for residents, visitors, and businesses. Congratulations to this month’s Caper of the Month recipient on this outstanding work and commitment to protecting our community.
