Local Briefs

A South City man was arrested for raping his former girlfriend in his car early Monday morning, police reported yesterday.

At approximately 11:40 a.m., a woman contacted South San Francisco police to report her ex-boyfriend Enrique Jimenez came to her residence at about 3 a.m. and banged on her bedroom window and front door. The victim opened the door and he allegedly grabbed her by the hair and pulled her approximately 200 feet to his vehicle where he raped her, according to a report by the South San Francisco police.

She was able to take the car keys and flee to her home, police said.

Jimenez was arrested for false imprisonment, kidnapping to commit rape and rape, according to police.

SFO gets $1 millionin federal funds

SFO will get $1.425 million in federal support for runway and lighting improvements, U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, announced yesterday.

The new federal funding to San Francisco International Airport will be used to rehabilitate a major runway, adding a pavement overlay that will help reduce the risk of objects on the ground damaging the aircraft as they take off and land. Funds will also be used to improve another runway's lighting by replacing the undersized high-voltage power distribution cables now in use there.

Through the Airport Improvement Program, the Federal Aviation Administration provides grants to agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports.

CHP to offer classes for older county drivers

The California Highway Patrol will continue its series of free driving safety classes for older San Mateo County residents this fall, San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier announced.

In partnership with Tissier’s office and Mills-Peninsula Health Services, the CHP will offer five seminars beginning Thursday and continuing through Dec. 7.

All classes take place on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will be held on the following dates at these locations:

• Sept. 7: San Bruno Senior Center, 1555 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno;

• Sept. 21: Peninsula Volunteers Little House, 800 Middle Road, Menlo Park;

• Oct. 26: San Mateo Senior Center, 2645 Alameda De Las Pulgas, San Mateo;

• Nov. 9: Burlingame Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Road, Burlingame;

• Dec. 7: Pacifica Senior Center, 540 Crespi Drive, Pacifica.

The older driver safety seminar program, which began in August 2005, has conducted classes in seven Peninsula cities thus far.

To register or for more information, call Tissier’s office at (650) 363-4572.

Child annoyance trial begins

A 43-year-old man accused of asking a 13-year-old girl for her phone number and saying she "would make a great porn star” began trial Tuesday for allegedly annoying a child under the age of 18.

Stephen Suvaco has pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor count of child annoyance and remains free from custody on a $20,000 bail bond.

Suvaco allegedly approached the girl March 10 as she waited for the SamTrans bus in Half Moon Bay. After the bus passed her by, Suvaco allegedly offered the girl a ride and asked for her name and phone number. He also reportedly said she would "make a great porn star.” She gave him false information and later alerted authorities. Sheriff’s deputies staked out the area and reportedly found Suvaco several days later still in possession of the fake phone number.

DUI arrests up

California Highway Patrol officials reported four people died in the Bay Area in accidents attributed to drunken drivers during the Labor Day holiday that started 6 p.m. Friday and ended at midnight Monday.

A total of 125 law enforcement agencies reported making at least 534 arrests for individuals suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within the same period, the CHP reported.

Last year in the Bay Area during the same period, CHP officers arrested 443 people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and there was one death attributed to a drunken driver.

Across the state, CHP officers arrested 1,749 people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs throughout the same Friday night through midnight Monday period. A total of 46 people lost their lives in traffic accidents statewide during this period.

Last year across the state CHP officers arrested 1,493 people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during this time and a total of 34 people were killed in crashes during the same time period.

Solano and Sonoma counties reported fatalities that are currently under investigation, as CHP officials believe alcohol or drugs may be a factor.

Santa Clara County reported 88 arrests of individuals suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while Napa County reported10 such arrests.

The CHP reported that all counts of arrests and traffic deaths are provisional at this time.<