Busted: Deputy Nabs Suspect in City Hall Fuel Thefts

Good old-fashioned detective work by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the arrest of a 38-year-old Santee man on suspicion of siphoning gasoline from government vehicles parked at Santee City Hall.

The suspect, Chans Milstead, was arrested June 9 and taken to the downtown jail, where his bail was set at $50,000.

Gasoline thefts from city vehicles have been a chronic problem at City Hall.

A break in the case occurred in the early morning hours on Memorial Day (May 27), when video surveillance cameras recorded images of two men prowling the City Hall parking lot. One of the suspects, a man with a goatee, was carrying a large green gas container and a section of hose. A second man, who appears to be younger, was wearing a sweatshirt bearing the name and logo of an El Cajon middle school.

A “wanted” poster made from the video images caught the attention of a Santee sheriff’s investigator, who recognized the bearded man as the person the deputy had recently arrested on various charges, including possession of illegal drugs and a felon in possession of ammunition.

After obtaining a search warrant, the deputy searched the suspect’s car and found a section of hose similar to the one depicted in the City Hall video. Also found were items authorities describe as “burglary tools.”

Investigators would like to talk to the second man in the surveillance video who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Anyone  who has information about him should contact the Santee sheriff’s station at (619) 956-4000 during regular business hours.

Fang Factor: Rattlers Get Active as Weather Heats Up

The “Rattlesnake Xing” signs posted at Santee City Hall are no joke. City Hall workers have learned to be alert and look down when walking outdoors, especially during spring when rattlesnakes emerge from hibernation.

From spring through summer, rattlesnakes occasionally wander down from the boulder-covered hills that surround City Hall in search of prey or a quiet place to sun themselves.

The pregnant female red diamond rattlesnake in this photo was captured May 2 near the Development Services building at City Hall by Nathan Hutcherson of Reptile Removal Services of Lemon Grove. The snake, which was not harmed, was relocated to a more remote area.

Photo by Nathan Edwards

“This was one of the larger ones I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them,” said Hutcherson, 31, who grew up in Oklahoma and at age 9 was taught by his father how to handle snakes.

When he was hired last year,  Hutcherson conducted four inspections at City Hall and found and removed two red diamond rattlesnakes.

Responding to snake sightings can be challenging, he said, because many times the reptiles are on the move when they encounter humans.

“I’ve spent up to four hours on a call searching,” he said.

Santee residents are advised to call 911 if they find a rattle snake on their property. The Santee Fire Department has staff members who are adept at capturing venomous snakes, and they will remove the reptile.

To learn more about rattlesnake safety, read this website article about the San Diego County Department of Animal Control.