Lt. Hartman to Rotarians: Deputies fight crime proactively

Crime and homelessness are at least somewhat intertwined in town, said Ramona Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jerry Hartman, who shared insights into tackling a recent spike in criminal activity at a recent Ramona Rotary Club meeting.

Hartman said Ramona’s increasing crime rate is the result of more petty thefts, which are in part attributable to the homeless population. Examples he gave of crimes occurring locally include taking quarters out of washing machines at laundromats, and laundering stolen antiques by trading them for other antiques, then selling the swapped goods at a different antiques store.

Although sheriff’s deputies are sometimes considered the “bad guys” for warning or arresting homeless people, Hartman said the Ramona Sheriff’s Department Substation has also made efforts to connect the local population to helpful services.

Two sweeps of the Santa Maria Creek from the staging area on Montecito Road to the ballfields at Aqua Lane were conducted by deputies in January. On both occasions, deputies offered the homeless information about how to contact the county Health and Human Services Agency and the Veterans Administration and explained how they could access food stamps and housing resources. During the second sweep, a nurse was available to provide free hepatitis A and flu vaccinations.

Hartman said the county of San Diego also put a portable shower and bathroom down the street from the library on 12^th Street for six months and even paid for security officers to guard the facilities.

“Unfortunately, the majority of them don’t want the services,” Hartman said, adding that the homeless often prefer a lifestyle without rules or repercussions. “Unfortunately, where they choose their domiciles, they can’t live there.”

Nine people living at Santa Maria Creek encampments were arrested by deputies on charges of trespassing March 8. A concerted effort to clear the creek of overgrown brush was also been made this year by the Ramona Parks and Recreation Association as tenants of Ramona Municipal Water District property in the area.

Hartman said obstacles to clearing the rest of the creek bed include the fact that most of the parcels in the area are privately owned, which means the county is not responsible for clearing it, and sensitive plants and wildlife are protected from being disturbed most of the year. He said the Ramona Trails Association is making headway on a proposed Santa Maria Creek Greenway project that could eventually lead to county cleanup efforts if easements for a trail are provided.

Most of the petty thieves in town are opportunists, said Hartman, who advised Rotarians to lock their doors at home and lock valuables in the trunk when they’re out and about. He said 25 percent of residential break-ins occur when a door is unlocked.

“They don’t care about days or weeks from now,” he said. “They’re looking for the next opportunity. If they have an addiction, they have to get their next bag of drugs.”

He cautioned that residential burglaries are still relatively low, with only about two houses broken into each month compared with several dozen per month in other communities. Even rarer are homicides in town, with several occurring the past six months: one involving a fight at a gas station, another labeled a murder-suicide, and the April 15 shooting of a 20-year-old at a Wood Rock Lane residence. Hartman said the most recent shooting is still being investigated but with few leads from witnesses.

“We don’t believe it was a random shooting,” he said. “Something drew the shooter or shooters to the house.”

Before concluding his talk with the Rotarians, Hartman shared his own solution to home security, which is a high-definition camera in his doorbell. The device is connected to Wi-Fi, enabling Hartman to monitor his property remotely from his cell phone.

Other presenters at the April 17 Rotary Club meeting were Bob Denny and Dave Richardson of In His Steps Recovery. The Christian-based nonprofit in Ramona helps men and women overcome obstacles to being productive members of society.

Denny and Richardson accepted a $200 check from Rotary. The money will go toward sponsoring a woman entering the program who is restricted from working her first 30 days at IHS.

IHS Pastor Director Denny, who is 32 years sober, and IHS General Manager Richardson, who is 10 years sober, shared information about how their program helps low-income people, some with alcohol and drug addiction issues, get back on their feet. In His Steps offers residential and non-residential programs, with three men’s homes and two women’s homes currently housing 18 men and 14 women, with a maximum capacity of 50 residents.

Denny said most of the people seeking assistance don’t have any means of income, but In His Steps helps put them to work. Several churches also lend support, with some of the pastors offering guidance since the nonprofit’s inception in 1995. Non-Christians are sometimes referred to secular programs and women escaping abusive situations are often sheltered in secure places.

“We help them find jobs so they can start to pay their own way and get back in the community,” said Denny, adding that many In His Steps participants can be seen working in town at places such as Denny’s restaurant, Stater Bros. and Albertsons. “They have to work hard at staying honest.”

Richardson said In His Steps will respond to requests typically handled by churches. Other than addiction recovery and job placements, assistance includes counseling for teenagers and providing transportation out of state.

“If we can’t help them, we usually can find someone who can,” Richardson said. “The community helps so much. It’s a wonderful place for it to all come together.”