California / IN BRIEF : SAN DIEGO : Arrest in Slayings Spurs Reward Claims

The arrest of a 23-year-old Alabama man in the serial slayings of five San Diego women has spurred a series of claims on the $30,000 reward established in the case. San Diego Police Officer Kelly Shay said she has begun sifting through thousands of tips received by police in the case and has received telephone calls from people who believe they earned the money. The Crime Stoppers program, which operates a telephone hot line to field anonymous calls, generally offers up to $1,000 rewards for information leading to the arrests of suspects in criminal cases. But because of the notoriety over the serial killings, the Police Department and private concerns have pledged the entire reward fund.