SAN DIEGO — Police have made an arrest in a fatal hit-and-run in North Park. Jail records show the suspect is a woman from City Heights named Donna Chapman Jacobs, age 76.
The victim of the fatal hit-and-run collision Stephen DeBow, 42, was struck as he crossed the street at the intersection of Utah Street and Polk Avenue on November 21. He died in the hospital six days later, police said.
Neighbor Christian Pineda witnessed the woman get arrested. “About four or five cops, two cars, and from what I saw they just escorted her into one of the cruisers and then they just hauled her away,” Pineda said.
Jail records showed Jacobs was booked Thursday on felony counts of hit-and-run causing death and gross vehicular manslaughter. She has since bailed out of jail. Nobody answered the door at the woman's house Friday on Home Avenue in City Heights.
Neighbors said the woman drove a blue, Hyundai Ioniq, the same type of vehicle police have been looking for in connect to the North Park hit-and-run. Neighbors noticed, a few days ago, Jacobs started driving a different vehicle, which was a rental car. “She got the Hyundai fairly recently. And then she switched it to the rental. And I wasn't really sure why,” said Pineda.
A growing memorial at the scene of the crash in North Park included a photo of DeBow with his beloved dog, Griff.
On Friday, CBS 8 caught up with a close friend of DeBow who has been taking care of Griff since the tragic collision. He asked that his name not be included in this report.
“Steve and I have been friends for a few years now. We used to work together. You get to know Steve and he just becomes your best friend,” said the man. “He always found a way to make you laugh. Just had a big heart. He genuinely cared about you. Even if he only met you five minutes ago.”
The friend said he has not decided whether to adopt Griff, as he already owns another dog. But there have been plenty of offers from friends on Facebook, he said. “Griff was his kid for all intents and purposes, Griff’s was his child. So he is like family, too,” said the friend.
News of the arrest of an elderly woman has left the victim's friend with mixed feelings. “Tragedy all around. A lot of lives got ruined because of this tragedy. It's not going to bring Steve back. But, some closure, I guess,” said the friend.
It will now be up to the San Diego County District Attorney's office to decide what charges, if any, will be filed. An arraignment date has been set for December 7 in downtown court.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the DeBow family.
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