The U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego sector has a new chief patrol agent, a 25-year veteran who got his start in Imperial Beach, the agency announced Monday.

Justin De La Torre, a San Diego native, replaced acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker in the top job. Stalnaker will remain on as deputy chief patrol agent.

“The men and women of San Diego sector have profoundly shaped my leadership by exemplifying our motto of ‘honor first’ in every aspect of their service,” De La Torre said in a statement. “Their dedication to the common good of the American people, both here in San Diego and across the nation, has strengthened my commitment to our mission.”

After beginning his career at the Imperial Beach station, he then went on to serve in various assignments in San Diego, including in the all-terrain vehicle unit, the alien smuggler identification and deterrence program, the public affairs office, the air mobile unit and the tactical unit, officials said.

De La Torre has also worked at Border Patrol headquarters in Washington, D.C., and was previously the chief agent in the Yuma sector, officials said.

As the top executive in the region, De La Torre will command around 2,000 Border Patrol agents along the 60 linear miles of border with Mexico, as well as the entire coast of California.

POWAY, CA — An 18-year-old wanted for various weapons violations in San Diego County was arrested Saturday in Oklahoma, authorities said.

Cameron Johnson fired a rifle in an open field Tuesday near Hidden Valley Drive and Birch Lane in Poway, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. Johnson, who was dressed in military-style fatigues, was in possession of a rifle that did not have a serial number when he was contacted by deputies.

“At this point, Johnson ran from deputies into an area with dense vegetation,” sheriff’s Lt. Colin Hebeler said. “Despite an hours-long search involving deputies, sheriff’s ASTREA (helicopter) and sheriff’s K-9s, Johnson was not located.”

Deputies found firearm parts without serial numbers and body armor when they served a search warrant at Johnson’s home, Hebeler said.

Johnson was wanted on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, possession of an un-serialized assault rifle and violation of a gun violence restraining order, Hebeler said. The San Diego Superior Court issued a warrant for his arrest Thursday.

Johnson was located and arrested Saturday in Oklahoma City. He is expected to be booked into Oklahoma County Jail and returned to San Diego, Hebeler said. He is expected to face charges of illegal possession of an assault weapon and six counts of illegally possessing a firearm, ammunition, gun parts and magazines in violation of a gun violence restraining order.

Chapter 10 in the San Diego State football team’s climb to the top of the Mountain West standings will be titled “Redemption in the Rain.”

SDSU defensive coordinator Rob Aurich offered the hopeful suggestion during warmups before the Aztecs played Boise State in a first-place showdown on a crisp, wet Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

After a lopsided loss to Hawaii last week amid a steady rain in Honolulu, Aurich was eager to see his defense respond against the Broncos on a rare rain day in San Diego.

Boise State’s strong running game got its yards (164 of them), but the SDSU defense stood firm when it mattered most in the Aztecs’ 17-7 win before an announced crowd of 29,201 (15,804 turnstile), which weathered a night of intermittent rain that didn’t dampen the spirits of those in attendance.

SDSU took a 14-10 halftime lead and all but decided the matter on Gabe Plascencia’s 47-yard field goal with 10:51 remaining in the game.

While the Broncos put up some rushing yards, they paled in comparison to the 277 yards piled up by SDSU. Running backs Lucky Sutton (25 carries, 150 yards), who went over 1,000 yards for the season, and Christian Washington (9 carries, 98 yards) did most of the damage.

Those who braved the elements watched the Aztecs take control of the conference. SDSU (8-2, 5-1 MW) assumed a one-game lead in the Mountain West with two games remaining in the regular season. Boise State (6-4, 4-2) fell into a five-way tie for second place with Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico and UNLV.

The Aztecs close out the season with a home game Saturday night against San Jose State and a road game the day after Thanksgiving against New Mexico.

Boise State and SDSU have two of the better running teams around, and this contest set up as a ground-and-pound game even before weather put a premium on ball handling. For one thing, Boise State wanted to take the pressure off quarterback Max Cutforth (12-for-18, 108 yards), who was making his first start in place of the injured starter Maddux Madsen. Cutforth had fewer than 40 yards passing before a last-ditch drive that ended with Colton Boomer’s missed 41-yard field goal.

SDSU opened the scoring with a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Washington rushed five times for 79 of the yards, most of them coming on 41- and 26-yard runs that advanced the ball to Boise’s 1-yard line. SDSU quarterback Jayden Denegal (6-for-10, 17 yards) took it from there, pushing across the goal line for the final yard and a 7-0 lead with 13:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Boise State responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that included 13 rushes. interrupted only by a 6-yard pass by Cutforth. Broncos running backs Dylan Riley (21 carries, 79 yards) and Sire Gaines (13 carries, 78 yards) took turns moving the ball down the field before Riley evened the score on a 9-yard touchdown run with 5:29 remaining in the half.

Then it was SDSU’s turn again, and the Aztecs assembled an 11-play, 71-yard drive with running back Lucky Sutton handling the workload. Sutton rushed seven times, collecting 50 yards. Denegal attempted to pass twice, losing two yards on one attempt while the other was incomplete, before scoring on a 8-yard draw up the middle with 1:10 remaining in the half.

SDSU wide receiver Jordan Napier was the target on the sidline incompletion. He was injured on the play with 4:14 remaining in the half, heading to the treatment tent with a lower left leg injury. Napier did not return. No immediate update was available on his condition.

Linebackers Owen Chambliss and Mister Williams led the Aztecs with eight tackles apiece. The defense was boosted by cornerback Chris Johnson, who returned to the lineup after missing last week with a lower leg injury.