Friends rescue girl at Surf City party...

Friends rescue girl at Surf City party

A Huntington Harbour girl was rescued Sunday by friends who

performed CPR after she nearly drowned at her home.

Katie Glavinic, 10, was sitting in a Jacuzzi during a party at her

home on Seascape Drive when her hair got sucked in the tub’s filter.

The suction pulled her head underwater, police said. Katie’s brother

tried to pull her out, but was unable to, and yelled for adults to

help.

Police were called at about 7:30 p.m., and officers in a

helicopter were the first to reach the area. Huntington Beach Officer

Rick McNaughton could see Katie from the air and Sgt. Tom Arnold

landed the helicopter at the cul-de-sac on Seascape Drive.

Before paramedics reached the home, family friends Phil Burtis and

Ted Squilanti managed to pull Katie out of the water, and Burtis

performed CPR. He restored Katie’s breathing and she was taken to

Long Beach Memorial Hospital for observation.

“I’m very thankful the Lord was with us and we were able to get

her breathing again,” Burtis said. “I’m not the hero type and all

that.”

Burtis is a member of the city’s Community Emergency Response

Team, an all-volunteer group trained by the Fire Department to give

first-aid in emergencies. He encouraged all owners of Jacuzzi’s or

whirlpools to be aware that children can be trapped underwater and

that it is important to know where the shut-off switch is. He also

recommended that people take first-aid classes.

Man pleads not guilty to murder

John Angel Salcida will stand trial for the murder of Sergio

Ojeda, his estranged wife’s boyfriend.

Salcida is accused of stabbing Ojeda to death in a Huntington

Beach apartment on Nov. 6, 2003. He will also stand trial on charges

of kidnapping, spousal rape, attempted spousal rape and sexual

penetration by foreign object by force.

Salcida could face life in prison or the death penalty if

convicted.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Simmons filed a special circumstances

charge on July 29 at Superior Court in Westminster that alleges

Salcida planned in advance to kill Ojeda.

Simmons said he could not discuss what led him to file the special

circumstances charge. The decision on whether or not to seek capital

punishment has not yet been made.

On July 29, Salcida waived his right to a preliminary hearing and

pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is scheduled to begin

Monday in Superior Court in Santa Ana.

Another arrest in alleged murder plot

A second arrest was made in connection with the murder of a Surf

City man in Garden Grove.

Gary Dwayne Woodside, 29, of Cypress was detained on July 21 on

Cedar Street in Stanton by an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who knew

Garden Grove Police were looking for Woodside in connection with the

murder of 26-year-old Eric Robertson. Robertson was shot to death

outside of a Garden Grove convenience store on July 15 and police

believe the homicide was part of a conspiracy.

Police say Woodside lured Robertson to the market. And while he

sat in a car with his girlfriend, one man punched him in the face

before the shooter reached in the car and fired.

“[Woodside] is one of the guys that helped get the victim to the

scene,” Lt. Mike Hanfield said.

Steven Jimenez, 35, of Anaheim, was arrested one day after the

shooting and was charged with homicide. Woodside was charged with

homicide, conspiracy and parole violations. Police are still looking

for other suspects, including the shooter.