A carving left behind for police.
It’s been a few years since the public spotlight has been shown on McGonigle Canyon, in San Diego, but the ‘dirty secret’ has returned and the illegal migrant camp is complete with prostitution. The underbelly of San Diego has again reared its ugly head.
Many of the illegal migrants hail from the Mexican state of Oaxaca where they live in a very similar environment in shanty towns along the sides of the hills.
“This is not a lot different than how many of them live back home in some of the poorest parts of Mexico,” says Jeff Schwilk founder of the San Diego Minutemen. “They don’t mind living rent free in the canyons; it allows them to send all their earnings back home to their families.”
Area resident who has been affected by this situation before, Julie Adams, explains many of the workers who call McGonigle Canyon home make more than $100 per day or $2,000 per month, tax free. “They could easily afford an apartment if they wanted to.”
Law enforcement disagrees. “If they are not legal, they lack the proper documentation to secure an apartment,” says Capt. Miguel Rosario of the San Diego Police Department.
This is where the barriers begin. Concerned citizens take a hard-line approach and want the illegal immigration problem and crime in the canyon dealt with by law enforcement, period. Most agree that many American’s simply do not want to know what is going on in canyons like McGonigle. It’s just too unpleasant.
However, law enforcement looks at this issue much differently. Capt. Rosario believes the canyon dwellers have no choice in their living situation and looks to the lack of low-income housing in the region as a problem.
“There is no dialog about the migrants living in the canyon,” he said.
Immigration activists like the Minutemen couldn’t disagree more; they feel their efforts to assist a cash-strapped police department with credible intelligence are mostly ignored and even criticized due to the strong influence of the Mexican activists in the San Diego city government.
As far as the victims in most recent case, most agree it would not be the suspected illegal pimp/john and prostitute.’ J.C. Playford a freelance video journalist was charged Saturday evening with a misdemeanor assault after he called authorities.
“These two admitted they were illegally in this country and the girl said she was a prostitute who charged $30. I have the tape to prove it,” he explains. Playford makes the credible point that it would be awfully hard to chase the alleged criminals, continue filming 30-40-feet behind and take the time to beat up the illegal male.
But officers who arrived on the scene saw things differently. Police stated falsely accusing Playford was a member of the Minutemen, something he and Schwilk both deny. There was also a third person on the scene, who also was charged along with Playford who may have been a member of the San Diego Minutemen, but was unable to be reached for comment.
The outrage here seems to fall into the smear the messenger category.
Not so, says Capt. Rosario. After stepping back and reassessing the situation, he believes there may have been a case against the two men.
“When our officers made the initial contact they found two cans of Mace and a stun gun,” Rosario said. “If they knew there was danger in the canyon why did they go looking for it?”
In an earlier statement Capt. Rosario claimed the two men had sticks, but in an interview today Rosario said “he may have been mistaken on the sticks or walking canes.”
He continues to explain that if the group called ahead of time and said they heard about some illegal activity taking place things might have turned out differently.
Playford insists he called Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who called SDPD, who asked the group to walk up the canyon to meet the authorities.
So why the charges against the whistle blowers?
“This is an on-going case and nothing is finalized,” Rosario said. “I concede things could have happened as Playford described, which is why my officers let both men walk with a misdemeanor ticket.”
This is now an official investigation where all parties will be contacted and it will ultimately be up to the District Attorney’s office whether they will pursue this case.
Lost in all this seems to be the suspected illegal immigrant prostitute and pimp/john.
“We have their identification and addresses and cannot discuss them any further,” Rosario noted. However, if these two were considered victims and not criminals, it is unlikely that they ran any immigration checks or deported.
Adams has seen this movie before. “Back in 2006 the canyon was home to 300-500 migrants which included make-shift homes, stores, roach coaches and other illegal activity including prostitution.”
“I harken this to the city’s graffiti policy. You don’t notice it anymore because it’s now allowed,” she said. “If we make it harder for those living in the canyon, they’ll leave.”
There is also the nearby crime taking place that Adams points to. “I’ve had my home robbed and I’m not the only one. Why are the police not protecting the people who live here legally?”
“SDPD has been blatantly protecting the illegal canyon dwellers in McGonigle for over 3 years since we first starting exposing the horrors there,” Schwilk said. “My home was raided in 2007 on an illegal search warrant and several other activists have been charged with false crimes because they dared to expose the truth about the crime and dangers in the migrant camps.”
“Even though we have exposed all over the internet the city's covering for the illegal alien squatters, their vicious attacks on concerned citizens continue to this day. The city still refuses to allow ICE to remove the illegal aliens and send them home."
Capt. Rosario also claims this is a highly-charged issue and until the federal government policies change, no one will be able to address the situation.
“The bigger problem is this takes place out of the public view. It’s part of the continued demand for cheap labor which drives the market,” he said.
As far as tackling the serious problems that plague McGonigle Canyon, Rosario states Lt. Rudy Tai, of the Vice Dept., has committed resources to the canyon in order to follow up on the allegations of prostitution.
“We will find out if this is individual or organized prostitution.”
The Vista Community Clinic may be providing the prostitutes with free condoms. John Monti, another concerned citizen, reported he found a flyer left behind in the canyon which stated where and how to obtain the contraceptives.
“These activities are being done with federal and state money,” Monti said.
The SDPD will now conduct helicopter flyovers in the canyon day and night to ensure there are no fire threats in the region.
That may be of comfort to some area residents, but not John Bautista, who says he sleeps with one-eye open now.
Radio talk show personality, Rick Roberts has called for a ‘camp out’ in McGonigle Canyon. His show did this back in 2006/07 when the first problems sprung to the surface and was successful in getting the authorities to bulldoze the mini-city and clearing out the canyon – for a while.
In the end there are no winners here. The migrants continue to be in a tough situation, prostitutes will move along to a new location and the residents will be left to pick up the pieces.
The lesson here is the law must always reside with the legal U.S. residents.
For video of the scene from the SDMM follow this link; www.youtube.com/watch
For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Comments
Are you kidding me? I'm calling my Congressman and demanding action on this. This is corruption at the highest degree. Mayor Sanders should be run out of town! Who is he working for?
In order to win the war against the cult of enablement, you must get them to fight each other. Your answer to this problem is the financial disincentive of sicking the EPA on the city.
What the Hell????
Lets have a campout at the mayor's office! See how he likes it! These aliens travel up and down my street at all hours of the night with their cases of beer, talking to the kids. I've called the cops and they tell me there is nothing they can do. Excuse me??? What about that oath they took to enforce ALL laws?
I'm moving out of this corrupt cesspool just as soon as the housing market comes back. I'm moving back to America - screw Jerry Panders and his corrupt police force!
This "article" can not be called journalism. This "reporter" repeatedly calls the migrants living in the canyon as illegals, a loaded term favored by anti-immigration activists. Granted, most (but certainly not all) of the people in that canyon crossed into the country illegally, they are no more "illegal" than someone who steals or drives drunk or speeds on the freeway.
Capt. Rosario seems to have an excuse for everything to protect the illegals except why he won't enforce the law. Maybe that Mexican sounding name has something to do with it. Typical of police nowadays to be politically correct and protect illegals instead of doing their jobs. This guy should be fired or voted out of his job. The fine people of San Diego need to contact your representatives and pressure them to do something.....or nothing will be done. The Captain has all but assured that. He obviously cares more about the illegals than protecting legal citizens.
My opinion is that Capt. Rosario needs to find another city to be in charge of, his lack and failure to SERVE & PROTECT has gone way beyond what the public wants and needs. This place should be on every cops beat and regularly patrolled. Crime in this canyon is beyond what the citizens of SD want or deserve. Capt. R, time to start packing your bags.
The migrant camps in Deer Canyon left behind a beautiful trail system under cover of the scrub oak trees there. This system was used and cherished by mountain bikers, hikers, and joggers. The committees for the park along with the city banned access to these trails last December. Once public access was gone, so too was the eyes, ears and cameras on the ground that reported incidents to the park Rangers. During the time these trails were in use there was no migrant encampments in that area, nor was there the extensive damage wrought by 4x4's, dirt bikes, parties, and now we also know of an organized marijuana farming operation that may involve a drug cartel here as well (Karern Billings, Carmel Valley reader broke the story).
The Rangers and the Police cannot contain this problem. It will just come back again. The best way to rid the area of these issues is to open the trails again for public access. It is a proven way to keep the area clean. Legal use deters illegal abuse.
This issue is bigger then Rosario, and Mayor Sanders. Illegal immigration and the issues it creates is a national problem.That we the people have to work to fix. I trust that both the Capt. and the Mayor are going to do what they can. I do believe that both of these men go to work everyday, to make SD a better place, I thank both for that. There is more to SD then illegal immigration. I wish this issue could be over 200 yrs ago. As long as there are people in this world there is going to be immigration issues and the fight for land and a better life.
I would like this cnyn cleared so family's can feel safe, and sleep with both eyes closed, and the health issued cleared. SD can be fixed one Cayn at a time. What happens in that canyon, so close to those families needs to be fixed. I am willing to bet that , everyone involved is paying a lot closer attention, and I urge everyone to work together.
I thank Kim for having honest reporting, on this, and hope that
SD WORK TOGETHER.
Jerry Sanders is the most useless hispanic pandering piece of garbage this city has ever had for a Mayor. This Capt. Rosario is an obvious racist whom has a long history of defending illegal aliens vs American citizens. Hence the arrest/citation of two innocent citizens while the real criminals were let go scott free and on purpose. This is disgusting and outrageous behaviour by a so-called public servent, sworn to uphold the law and protect American citizens. This illegal squatting by illegal aliens is a major problem throughout San Diego County and Jerry Sanders has made sure that absolutely nothing will be done about it.
Any and every elected or appointed official who refuses to honor their sworn oath of office and our laws should be charged with dereliction of duty, removed from office and, when appropriate, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"There is nothing we can do" is interpreted as, "There is nothing we want to do.... that might interfere with the kickbacks/benefits we receive, which are far more profitable than the salary we receive from the taxpayers for doing a job we refuse to do."
Hang all the traitors and hang them high! This country was born in revolution and the second one is coming soon.
This problem has been going on for to long. American citizen's being ignored my the politicians they elected. I just got to know why there is NO WILL from SDPD to stop this. I was told by an SDPD officer in 2006 ( his frustration ) that the high ups say that if the migrants are having sezx in the canyons with prostitutes then the are less likely to be raping the generl public. The officer was deeply saddened, but what else was he suppose to do.
I huys if your illegal and a woman in the eyes of SDPD, your not worth protecting.
Does it not matter to you that women are being abused in the canyon. Does it not matter that the police will not investigate the underaged girls that multiple witnesses over the years have seen go in and out of this canyon. Legal or not they are still women and should not be subject to prostitution EVER!!
are the environmentalist now. Your precious canyon is falling prey to trash, chemicals , car batteries and filth. But hands off to political correctness, isn't that right?!
More proof against the tree huggers that global warming is a hoax or they would step up and scream their heads off about the environmental disaster going on in McGonigle!!!
Capt. Miguel Rosario seems awfully interested in letting illegal aliens reside in the U.S. Wonder why. It would be an interesting subject for a real reporter (not our modern-day "repeaters" who pass for old-time reporters) to look into.
I am in shock about the audacity's you are all saying. Who do you think you are. Did you ever stop and think that maybe just maybe this girls are not there on their own will. What you are all saying about the Mayor and the Captain is an outrage!!! Are you all really serious? Because if so there is something wrong with you in the head! What is being AMERICAN? not having a heart? Being animals? Being ignorant? not having common sense? You are representing Americans as trash by saying all this belongia!! We are a land made of immigrants you are an immigrant too!!! You are squatters too!! Do not fool yourself look how many homeless people live in downtown San Diego!! ALL OF THEM AMERICANS and guess what they also get prostitutes they also commit crimes and are also living in bad conditions. Stop pointing the finger unless you have looked in the mirror.
Jerry sanders is a pandering peice o crap. I gave up any hope for him when he anounced July 8 as "La Raza Day" in San Diego. He's an open borders, arrogant, classless.....gahhh.....I could go on and on. This issue will NOT go away until there is some political will to secure the border.
I live near and ride a horse in Calavera Hills in Carlsbad. I'd love to have Ms. Dvorak come over there to see all "immigrants" and how they live. A few years back some young hispanic hookers got caught up in the creek in thier car after a rainstorm . The two in the back seat died. About a year ago another illegal drowned in one the smaller lakes out there....right in front of all his drunk buddies. You see, there is NOTHING good about illegal immigration! The ony ones who profit from it are big business....Americans be damned. They get treated with kid gloves by law enforcement and politicians-...and we get to pay for them!
Common Sense says:
I am in shock about the audacity's you are all saying. Who do you think you are.
Common Sense, maybe if you were a home owner near this canyon you might feel the same way too. How would you like to go to bed at night and wonder if that canyon will go up in flames because a bunch of drunk illegals who DONT BELONG here were messing around near the camp fire? How would you like it if a loved one was killed by a drunk driving illegal alien WHO DOES NOT BELONG HERE??
How DARE you criticize others for for speaking out against an OBL mayor and a police officer who both seem bent on encouraging them to keep breaking our laws. YOU are the one who needs to grow a brain! Luckily people of your mindset are starting to be come few and far between as more Americans wake up.
We have enough losers,leeches and crooks that are Americans - we don't need to import any more!!!!!!! I will (and DO) grow my own damn lettuce!
To Fah-Q,
Fah-Q as well! You insolent piece of garbage. Funny you are right we do have enough idiot Americans (like yourself) here. If only we can send them back as well... Sh..it to bad our mayflower is not still around. You know not all Illegals are bad, just like not all Americans are bad. You are all Racists, if not you would not just be saying "Mexican, and "Hispanic" it would be Somali and Middle Eastern and Canadian and the list goes on. Bet you there are more American drunk drivers then illegal drunk drivers! Its all the same sh it any way, you are so worried about one group of people who you just cant take on oh yeah and take your lettuce and shove it as far up your as* as your head is! Maybe they should all go back home and close their borders as well too and I would love to see one of us cleaning each others crap.. Oh doing our landscape, cleaning our houses, working construction,Fighting in Iraq (Or did you think they didn't?)
Oh by the way, if you have not looked around there are a lot of Mexicans and Latinos and everything else in between. They are here, not going any where and more are on their way. You can close down the border secure it, what ever you want to it, but they will always find a way around it because one thing these "illegals" do have is perseverance, some have given up their life to come give their children a better life be it here, Mexico, Africa, Cuba, Iraq, Etc.. They will always be here. We are here are we not? Does is make your stomach hurt to know we come from a line of illegals? Sleep on that one, who was it? your great great grandmother? grandfather? Guess we all need to pack our s hit and get out too. Oh by the way did you also know we are paying for Millions upon Millions of Iraq refugees/Illegals? All coming to San Diego because Detroit wants no more. What a nice surprise that will be for you right? And to top it all off you get to pay for it. hahaha =D Suck that
Capt. Rosario showed his statist hand when he takes issue with law abiding citizens having the legal means to defend themselves with non-lethal weapons. It is outrageous that he would infer that mere possession of a weapon indicates intentions of wrongdoing. He would have really freaked out if the Open Carry groups showed up there as a protest, eh?
Hey, "Common Sense" (which name belies your comments, which are NOT 'common sense'!
I am NOT the child of illegals...nor are most CITIZENS in this country! My ancestors came here LEGALLY - through Ellis Island. they HAD to learn English, they HAD to pass health screenings, they HAD to get a LEGAL job and support themselves! they were NOT ALLOWED to live on the public dole...and they WANTED TO BE AMERICANS - not change America to be like the place they came from!
change your name, kiddo, because NONE of what you spout is common sense! You obviously do NOT know history - nor have you bothered to learn the TRUTH!
This is terribe. The police should be protecting the tax payers of the city not the illegals! I can not believe this is allowed in the USA! What has this state come to? And we can't even depend on our city officials/police to do something about this? If I lived in this city I would be at the police station everyday with complaints until something got done.
Billy,
you are a joke. The Illegal alien invasion has sparked an imported crime wave. Interesting that you mention drunk driving. Mexican Illegals bring a culture of drunk driving with them that statistically makes our home grown DUI problem look like small potatoes. Illegals have killed more than 30 times as many Americans as the terrorists on 9/11. The imported Illegal culture also does not value sanitary habits, thus resulting in new disease epidemics at levels we haven't seen in half a century. Our schools are performing abominably because there is no value to education, nor any background of literacy in the imported 'culture'. Not to mention the fact that apparently having to speak English at all produces nausea in the invasion population. Add the burdens on the rest of our Social structure from the impact of debased property tax revenue when you have 3 to 5 families in one dwelling and you have a train wreck on your hands. Enforce the Laws!
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