San Diego's top stories for August 28 at 6 p.m.

Tonight, we continue to follow the death of San Diego police officer Austin Maar and the ongoing recovery of his partner Zachary Martinez, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Marcela Lee and I'm Steve Price in tonight for Carlo Officer Matar died in a fiery crash following a pursuit through Carney Mesa on Monday night. His partner, Officer Martinez is still at Sharp Memorial Hospital where he's fighting for his life. CBS A's Shannon Handy has new information about his recovery as well as what loved ones are saying about Officer Maar. The San Diego Police Officers Association flew out Martinez's mother from Texas to be by his side. He is still here in the IC U listed in critical but stable condition. Meanwhile, the po A also met with officer matches family today to start planning his funeral. The flag outside the San Diego Police Officers Association was lowered to half staff today as a tribute to officer Austin Maar. It's hard. It's real hard. P A President Jared Wilson says the entire department is reeling from such a significant loss. You called that a door breach. See here in a 2022 video featuring the playful rivalry between ST PD and San Diego. Fire. Mache served as a mentor, often appearing in training videos and posters. The department, the 30 year old was a 5.5 year veteran on the force who worked in the city's Northern Division. He had an infectious smile and passion to serve following in the footsteps of his father. His father was a retired, is a retired deputy sheriff. And so, um, he dedicated his life to public service and we will not forget that Matar who was survived by his parents and sister grew up in Chula Vista. He attended Oay Ranch high school where he excelled in base. Well, in a statement, his cousin told CBS say it simply, I love my cousin. He was an amazing man California. Senator Steve Padilla also shared his sentiments about Matar saying he had known him for years. Adding in part, he was warm, thoughtful, gentle and kind. Austin had a bright million dollar smile that put everyone at ease. He was always willing to help and find ways to help. Matar died Monday after a suspect involved in a prior chase. I am the newest police suv his partner officer Zachary Martinez suffered severe injuries including burns. The 27 year old is a Texas native and navy reservist who moved to San Diego for his military service. Though hopeful police say he has a long road to recovery. The po A is now raising funds as they help both families navigate this tragedy. And we're very lucky as a large organization to have a huge amount of community support and to be able to be there in times of crisis like this. The goal is to raise $250,000. We do have a link to that donation page on our website. Just go to CBS a.com and click on this story. Ask for the investigation about the crash and what led up to it? The CHP has been brought in to help but that investigation is still ongoing reporting from shark memorial. I'm Shannon handy for CBS eight. Shannon. Thank you tonight. We are learning more about the owner of the silver BMW that was involved in that fatal collision. We found a young man bought the car just one day before the crash and as CBS eight, David Goffer reports, the buyer told the seller he was 19 years old. He was very polite. He seemed very mature. He told me he was 19 and he did a test drive on the car said he enjoyed it. El Cajon resident Patricia Kennedy sold her 2006 BMW 330 I on Sunday to a man who paid cash responding to her ad on Craigslist. He had $1900 on him which not everybody walks around with. She has no idea if he was really age 19 or if his real name is Alexander Cruz or if he really lives in the 3800 block of Menlo Avenue in City Heights. But that's what he wrote on the bill of sale. I did not take a his license plate, which license which I should have done. I usually do. But I am very sad about the whole thing. Sad because when police came knocking at her door at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, she found out it was her old car involved in the high speed chase and violent collision that killed a San Diego police officer severely injured another and also killed the driver of the BMW. She assumes the teenager who purchased her car was the driver who died. I am giving my condolences to the families and also to the family of the policeman. I'm a big supporter of the police departments. So I'm really said that that happened as of Wednesday night. Police have not released the name of the driver who was killed. I knocked on several doors on Menlo Avenue but nobody recognized the name Alexander Cruz. But the former owner of the BMW had this to say about police pursuits. Do not run from the cops, just pull over and he, he ran. Apparently I am so sad about the whole thing, especially the police officers though because they're just doing their jobs. I spoke to one woman in this neighborhood who recalls seeing the driver of that silver BMW speeding up and down the street here in recent days. But she did not know the family of that driver, David Gottfredson CBS eight. Thanks David. Stay with us for updates on the story. We will have the latest information posted at CBS eight.com. You can also follow us on social media or download our free CBS eight app. Right now. Crews are mopping up a fire that broke out this afternoon in Valley Center Chapter eight was overhead as it was putting up a lot of smoke near Lilac and Keys Creek roads. The fire burned about 18 acres before firefighters stopped its spread. All evacuation orders have been lifted tonight. It's still not clear what sparked the fire. A construction worker died today after becoming trapped in an open trench across the street from Scripps Ranch High School happened around four o'clock this morning. Sanga fire rescue says the victim was trapped under dirt and a large concrete pipe that crews were installing a second worker who was in the trench at the time of the accident was able to get out. The victim's body was freed around nine this morning. His name has still not been released. We got our first look at the man accused of setting his ex girlfriend on fire while she was working at a South Bay 7-Eleven. This weekend, Jose Villanueva appeared in court for the first time today as he faces multiple felonies including attempted murder, torture and arson. CBS Eight's Anna Laura was in the courtroom and learned Villanueva has a violent criminal history. The judge just told us in the courtroom that a lot of planning went into this attack. She says evidence shows that Villa Nueva filled up cups of gasoline somewhere else. Then he came over and stalked the 7-Eleven before he went inside and set Amanda Buchanan on fire. And earlier this afternoon, I spoke with Amanda's son. He says he had to make the extremely difficult decision to take his mother off life support. She didn't have enough skin to do skin grafts, you know, on her body and so on her face, she had bones exposed. Dominic Rivera is the son of Amanda Buchanan, the manager of a Chula Vista 7-Eleven store who was set on fire at work. Saturday morning, Dominic tells me he saw his mother's on again, off again. Boyfriend Jose Villanueva ambush her on the store's surveillance video, Tim rushing in. My mom had her back turned, he poured gasoline. It looked like maybe out of a cup or something like that. And then um they got into a scuffle. Um She was trying to push him off of her in a, you know, a way and then they went into the bathroom off of the camera's view and then that's when you just see the flames ignite and then you see my mom running out of there and then rolling around on the ground for her life. Late this afternoon, Dominic had to see his mother's accused attacker in court Jose Villanueva faces numerous felonies, including attempted murder, torture, and arson, anger. I mean, you know, when I, when I first heard the news, I wanted to come down here in front of myself, officers arrested Jose several hours after the fire. Saturday in Redlands, California 100 miles north of Chula Vista. He's trying to plead insanity, but there's no way that he's going to get away with insanity. He knew exactly what he's doing and my mom's biggest fear was burning alive. Amanda's co worker tried to put the flames out and got burned trying to do so. She's still in the hospital but expected to recover. Now, Dominic's mother, Amanda, the woman, so many people are coming to honor at the store where she worked for a decade will soon take her last breath. And the man accused of ruining her life is behind bars. There's just something about, you know, a son's and a mother's love, you know, it's different. Um And the fact that he took that away, I don't have words for it this afternoon. The judge said Villanueva was actually out on bail from another felony offense when he committed this crime Saturday tonight, he's behind bars with no bail out here in Chula Vista. This is Anna Lao for CBS eight. Thanks. Anna, former Chula Vista city Councilwoman on Cardenas faced a judge for sentencing after admitting she lied to the government to obtain thousands of dollars of pandemic relief funds and unemployment benefits. CBS. Kelly has all was in the courtroom. She has more on Cardenas sentence and a closer look at the separate State Political Ethics investigation. That's also now under way Andrea Cardenas avoided jail time. Instead, she was sentenced to two years of probation in order to pay restitution. Now, it's a similar sentence that her brother Jesus received when he faced a judge back in March. Now today for the first time, uh, we heard from the former Councilwoman in the courtroom and she apologized. I have received a lot of emails, um, threats on social media. Um I've been screamed out on the street in front of my house, um and pull that word come to my house. Um And I've been subjected to vital language that I have never experienced. I don't consider myself a victim. And um I, I know that this is now pretty standard in politics, but my parents are my hoover one priority and Cardenas grew emotional telling the judge she's responsible for her parents. Uh She has to take them to their doctor appointments. She's their translator. Her attorney said this is someone who is from an immigrant family that didn't have much money growing up whose parents have health issues at one point they were temporarily homeless. He argued, uh she's a first time offender who made mistakes who owned up to them. He even went on to compare her to other politicians in San Diego who have committed crimes referencing former mayor Bob Filner and pointed out he didn't serve any jail time. He also said her brother Jesus is to blame for most of this and he wasn't sentenced to jail time either. Now, prosecutors argued for 180 days in custody and told the judge, this is a grown woman. She knew exactly what she was doing and she knew it was wrong. MS Kennis is an intelligent woman. She's in her thirties. She has worked in a professional field in political consulting. She successfully got herself elected as a council member here in uh Chisa. She is not a child but the judge whoever decided not to give her jail time. Uh Meanwhile, the state's fair political practices Commission is investigating a political action committee tied to the Cardenas siblings, a spokesperson for the commission couldn't speak specifically about this case but told me in general terms, if it's determined that committed violations, there's a potential to be fined thousands of dollars. Now, as part of her sentence, prosecutors asked that Andrea Cardenas not be allowed to work with her brother. However, the judge denied that request. So Andrea will be allowed to work with her brother Jesus in some legal capacity down the road. Kelly on CBS. Kelly, thanks for the update. What we're learning about a San Diego graduate who is now heading to space that still ahead. Plus new apartment construction is set to break records nationwide what it means for San Diego County's rental market and the new parking now available at the airport. And speaking of the airport, that's the current temperature right there. 72 degrees right now for our airport for San Diego, you also have some light winds as well as some clouds starting to creep back in the forecast. We'll take a look at your complete forecast after the break.