On Sunday, March 31st, 1985, a group of young Black men drove back to southeastern San Diego after visiting Balboa Park. It was just after 6:00 PM and the sun was retreating into the horizon. As a truck driven by 23-year-old Sagon Penn pulled into a driveway on a quiet street in Encanto, they were followed by two police cars.

What happened next would leave one officer dead, another officer and a civilian ride along severely injured, a young man in a years long legal limbo and a city reeling. 

On the 40th anniversary of the incident, I have author Peter Houlahan in the studio with me. His book, “Reap the Whirlwind: Violence, Race, Justice and the story of Sagon Penn,” is a fascinating deep dive into the case, the compelling figures who drove the story and the impact it all had on San Diego and beyond. 

 

SHOW NOTES

10News Story: New book revisits the impact the story of Sagon Penn has had on communities of color in San Diego

You can find book from Counterpoint Press here: Reap the Whirlwind

Reap the Whirlwind - Violence, Race, Justice, and the Story of Sagon Penn
by Peter Houlahan

Book Description
The bestselling author of Norco ’80 returns with a riveting story of mid-1980s San Diego that placed one young Black man at the center of a whirlwind of crime and punishment that profoundly altered Southern California

CREDITS

Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego.

Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor

Bella Ross, social media producer

Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer.

Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer

 

Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County.

Become a Member: Voice Member Benefits
Join today and receive insider access.

On Sunday, March 31st, 1985, a group of young Black men drove back to southeastern San Diego after visiting Balboa Park. It was just after 6:00 PM and the sun was retreating into the horizon. As a truck driven by 23-year-old Sagon Penn pulled into a driveway on a quiet street in Encanto, they were followed by two police cars.
What happened next would leave one officer dead, another officer and a civilian ride along severely injured, a young man in a years long legal limbo and a city reeling.&nbsp;
On the 40th anniversary of the incident, I have author Peter Houlahan in the studio with me. His book, &ldquo;Reap the Whirlwind: Violence, Race, Justice and the story of Sagon Penn,&rdquo; is a fascinating deep dive into the case, the compelling figures who drove the story and the impact it all had on San Diego and beyond.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES
10News Story: <a href="https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/new-book-revisits-the-impact-the-story-of-sagon-penn-has-had-on-communities-of-color-in-san-diego">New book revisits the impact the story of Sagon Penn has had on communities of color in San Diego</a>
You can find book from Counterpoint Press here: <a href="https://www.counterpointpress.com/books/reap-the-whirlwind/">Reap the Whirlwind</a>
Reap the Whirlwind -&nbsp;Violence, Race, Justice, and the Story of Sagon Penn by Peter Houlahan
Book Description The bestselling author of Norco &rsquo;80 returns with a riveting story of mid-1980s San Diego that placed one young Black man at the center of a whirlwind of crime and punishment that profoundly altered Southern California
CREDITS
Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego.
Andrea Lopez-Villafa&ntilde;a, managing editor
Bella Ross, social media producer
Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer.
Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer
&nbsp;
Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy:<a href="https://vosd.fundjournalism.org/?amount=15&amp;campaign=701f3000001Dna8&amp;frequency=monthly"> Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County.</a>
Become a Member:<a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/member-benefits/"> Voice Member Benefits Join today and receive insider access.</a>

This is Voice of San Diego’s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.

This is Voice of San Diego&rsquo;s weekly spitfire roundup of news. We cover local and regional politics, the environment, education, the border and more. This show features our investigative reporting and interviews with lawmakers and other special guests.