PREDATOR LIKELY KILLED FARM ANIMALS

Two weeks after investigators sought help to solve what they initially suspected was an animal-cruelty case, medical examinations have revealed 10 farm animals killed in Alpine were likely attacked by a mountain lion or other large predator.

The animals were found dead the morning of Feb. 19 inside an animal pen on a property on Peutz Valley Road just north of Interstate 8, sheriff’s Lt. Anthony O’boyle said. Deputies said lambs, goats and a ram were among the livestock killed in the pen, but other farm animals on the property were unharmed.

This past week, a county veterinarian performed necropsies, the results of which “revealed some of the animals may have been attacked and killed by a mountain lion or another large predatory animal,” O’boyle said in a Friday night news release.

No mountain lion sightings have been reported in the area, but O’boyle said the Sheriff ’s Department is urging residents to be cautious.

“Do not go outside at night alone. Protect your pets by making sure they remain indoors, especially at night,” O’boyle said. “If you own livestock, make sure their pens are secure.”

The lieutenant said nonemergency mountain lion sightings can be reported to the Sheriff ’s Department at (858) 565-5200.

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

Man who died after fight in park identified

Police on Friday identified a 30-year-old man found dead Tuesday about five hours after he was gravely injured in a fight at a City Heights skate park.

Police said Zachary Vesper-gralnic and a 33-yearold companion were both seriously injured about 6 p.m. during a fight with several other men at the park, sometimes known as City Heights Skatepark, in Park De La Cruz off Landis Street.

After the fight, the wounded men drove back to an apartment on 33rd Street between Polk and Orange avenues, according to San Diego police homicide Lt. Matt Dobbs. The friend later drove himself to a hospital to be treated for his wounds and underwent surgery.

But Vesper-gralnic, who was reportedly bleeding after the fight, declined medical attention and stayed at the apartment, Dobbs said. Patrol officers were asked to check on him around 9:30 p.m., but were unable to gain access to the complex until shortly before 11 p.m., when they returned after a friend of the victim arrived to help them get in.

That’s when they found Vesper-gralnic dead. Dobbs said Wednesday that he had suffered blunt-force trauma.

Police provided only a vague description of the other group of men, believed to be in their 20s and 30s, involved in the fight.

Anyone with information about the incident was urged to call the San Diego police homicide unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

Woman, 91, seriously hurt, run over by tire

A 91-year-old woman was seriously injured in a freak accident Saturday afternoon when she was run over by her own car at a Clairemont gas station, San Diego police said.

The woman had been trying to pump gas at an Arco AM/PM station on Balboa Avenue near Mount Abernathy Avenue but had trouble reaching the gas tank, so she re-positioned her Toyota Camry to get closer to the pump, said officer Robert Heims.

When she got out of her car, though, she did so without placing the gear shift in park. As the vehicle began to roll backward, the woman attempted to get back into the car but the open car door knocked her to the ground and the left front tire rolled over her torso, Heims said.

She was taken to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a punctured lung and other injuries, which were described as life-threatening.

lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com