A June 7 preliminary hearing was confirmed last week for the driver of a vehicle who drove towards an El Cajon Police officer who fired four shots, killing a female passenger.
A murder charge was filed against Geoffrey Hayden Sims, 34, for the Jan. 16 death of Kelsey Hauser, 25, of Conifer, Colorado, inside a stolen car in El Cajon. It is alleged that Sims caused her death by causing an officer to fire shots at the car by Sims driving towards him.
A June 7 preliminary hearing was confirmed last week for the driver of a vehicle who drove towards an El Cajon Police officer who fired four shots, killing a female passenger.
A murder charge was filed against Geoffrey Hayden Sims, 34, for the Jan. 16 death of Kelsey Hauser, 25, of Conifer, Colorado, inside a stolen car in El Cajon. It is alleged that Sims caused her death by causing an officer to fire shots at the car by Sims driving towards him.
Sims is also charged with assault upon a police officer, resisting an executive officer, evading officers with reckless driving, auto theft, and receiving a stolen vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty in El Cajon Superior Court and remains in jail on $2 million bail.
Sims, of Golden, Colorado, is suspected of stealing a red Toyota compact in Denver in Aug., 2015, according to police. On Jan. 16, Sims was driving the vehicle at 1:25 a.m. in the 1300 block of E. Main St. when officers attempted to stop the car.
Sims drove away and reached a speed of 90 mph onto Interstate 8 and was followed by officers with sirens. Sims left the freeway at the West Main St. exit and drove to the 300 block of South Pierce St. in El Cajon where the incident occurred.
El Cajon Police said the officer feared for his life. The car missed the officer, but it crashed into another police vehicle. Sims was holding a pit bull on his lap which was also killed. Sims is also wanted by Colorado authorities on two arrest warrants. Two men in the back seat, both from El Cajon, were detained and later released.
Lakeside man pleads not guilty in murder case
Lance Alyn Benson, 29, of Lakeside, has pleaded not guilty to murdering another Lakeside man, Trammell Rizzuti, 35, with a knife on April 24.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 23 in El Cajon Superior Court. A newspaper delivery person called 911 after discovering Rizzuti’s body at 4:20 a.m. near a sidewalk in the 10400 block of Aquilla Drive in Lakeside.
Rizzuti had been stabbed to death. Benson lived across the street from where Rizzuti was found and was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on April 24. Benson has pleaded not guilty and remains in the central jail on $2 million bail.
Preliminary hearing set for former Uber driver charged with raping an El Cajon woman
A June 21 preliminary hearing is set for a former Uber driver who is charged with raping an El Cajon woman inside a vehicle.
John David Sanchez, 52, of San Diego, has pleaded not guilty to rape of an intoxicated person in a Feb. 26 incident. Since the incident, Uber has suspended Sanchez from working.
Court records say an El Cajon woman called Uber for a ride in North Park after saying she had drank too much alcohol to drive home herself. Sanchez arrived and took her close to her home, but allegedly raped her in the back seat of the vehicle.
The woman afterwards called El Cajon Police after she was inside her residence. She reported the incident and Sanchez later admitted to police he had sex with her, according to an arrest warrant declaration.
Sanchez was arrested March 29 following an investigation. He posted $100,000 bond and remains free.
