Update: Commenter SYNiCal (and how appropriate a name is that?) points out that I've been had on this post from a couple of days ago. The BBC page is fake, and no California papers mention anything about the story; nor does the San Diego PD mention it on its webpage.
A clever little publicity stunt, then. Two points that the prankster might want to consider: I don't know anything about California law, but it just might be that publishing false information about police inquiries qualifies as public mischief. Maybe I should email and find out.
I would also think that if the person named is for real and if he was named for malicious purposes, he would have cause for a libel suit.
My apologies for printing this in the first place. I'll try to be more careful in the future.