Ex-Security Guard Jailed, Accused of Lying to Police About Shooting

An ex-security guard who allegedly lied about getting into an exchange of gunfire while patrolling near Gillespie Field three weeks ago was jailed Friday on suspicion of filing a false police report and other charges.

Detectives arrested Lance Wright, 22, at his Lakeside home about 12:30 p.m., sheriff's Sgt. Scott Enyeart said.

About 4 a.m. on April 5, Wright made an emergency call to report that someone in a red Chevrolet Suburban had shot at him as he was driving to the east on Woodside Avenue, near state Route 67 in Santee. He told investigators he stopped, got out of his car and returned fire as the shooter fled.

Authorities were skeptical about the story from the outset, and Wright, who worked for Bravo 3 Security, allegedly admitted under follow-up questioning five days later that he had lied about the incident and shot his own car to back up the fabrication.

Wright told detectives he had wanted to get out of the security business and felt that the phony shooting would provide him with an excuse to quit, according to Enyeart. The suspect has since been fired from his security job.

In addition to a false report count, charges of vandalism and shooting at an unoccupied vehicle were expected to be filed against Wright, who was booked into San Diego Central Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

-City News Service