SAN DIEGO: A San Diego County sheriff's deputy who was arrested last week on suspicion of sexually assaulting a prostitute was being treated at a local hospital after attempting to commit suicide Friday, authorities said.
Thomas J. Sadler, 47, was arrested at his Santee home Thursday afternoon on five felony charges and released hours later after posting $250,000 bail, authorities said.
Sheriff's officials said he tried to kill himself Friday afternoon, but they declined to provide details.
Sadler, a 20-year veteran of the department who works as a detective out of the Lemon Grove station, was placed on unpaid leave after his arrest.
He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on charges that include sexual battery by restraint, assault and battery by an officer, and false imprisonment.
San Diego police said Sadler forced an admitted prostitute into his unmarked Ford Taurus while on duty the morning of Feb. 6 and drove her to a parking lot in Mission Valley.
He then forcibly groped her until three witnesses intervened and she escaped, said San Diego police acting Assistant Chief Jim Collins.
–K.D.
Woman who was missing feared for her safety
EL CAJON: A woman who went missing from her home and was found by police late Friday said that her boyfriend, who is suspected of kidnapping her, threatened her and that she stayed with him out of fear. Her boyfriend was arrested on several charges, authorities said.
Frances Jean Agan, 21, and Maynard Whitfield, 20, were found walking near his apartment complex on Saturn Drive in Nestor about 11:40 p.m.
When Whitfield saw detectives, he started running but was captured after a short chase, El Cajon police said.
Agan, who had last been seen at her home Wednesday night, told police that Whitfield broke in and threatened her with a knife. She said she stayed with him for the past two days because she feared for her safety.
El Cajon and San Diego police found them after receiving several phone calls about 9:30 p.m. that the couple had been spotted near Whitfield's apartment complex.
Agan's 2000 Ford Ranger had been found the night before on Struedle Court, near the complex.
Whitfield was booked into jail on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment and burglary, police said.
–K.D.
La Mesa man arrested after pursuit, two crashes
LA MESA: A La Mesa man was arrested Friday night after leading officers on a pursuit down residential streets and crashing twice, police said.
An officer tried to stop the driver of a Toyota Camry for a traffic violation about 8:45 p.m. on Normal Avenue near La Mesa Boulevard. The driver, with three male passengers, sped off westbound at 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, police said.
The Toyota driver turned onto Grape Street, hit a parked car and kept going. As he approached a “T” intersection at Maple Avenue at 50 mph, he couldn't make the turn, police said. The Toyota skidded across the road and hit a palm tree in the front yard of a house.
The impact knocked down the tree, and the car came to rest on top of it. The 18-year-old driver was arrested. He and his passengers were not injured.
–P.R.
Man taking test drive turns into a carjacker
SAN DIEGO: Two men were held at gunpoint in Grantville on Friday night by a man who stole their car during a test drive, San Diego police said.
The carjacker called the owner of a white Mitsubishi Eclipse for sale and said he wanted to drive the car. They met at 40th Street and University Avenue in City Heights and got in the car, along with the owner's brother.
At Friars and Santo roads, the driver stopped and got out, saying he wanted to check the lights. He drew a handgun and ordered the brothers out. He took their wallets and cell phones before driving away in the Eclipse, police Sgt. Rich Nemetz said.
The victim called police about 8:30 p.m. The carjacker was described as a thin Latino in his early 20s, with short black hair. He wore a blue jacket and black pants.
–P.R.
Staff writers Kristina Davis and Pauline Repard contributed to this report.
