Ted Cruz gained the endorsement of Jeb Bush for his Republican presidential candidacy on Wednesday, a move that rebuked the "divisiveness and vulgarity" of Donald Trump.

"Ted is a consistent, principled conservative who has demonstrated the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests," Bush said in a statement. "Washington is broken, and the only way Republicans can hope to win back the White House and put our nation on a better path is to support a nominee who can articulate how conservative policies will help people rise up and reach their full potential."

Bush, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race in February, called on the GOP to "overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity Donald Trump has brought into the political arena."

An American husband and wife remained missing more than 24 hours after deadly blasts rocked Brussels, family members told NBC News.

Justin and Stephanie Shults had just dropped off her mother at the Belgian capital's airport when two blasts killed at least 11 people in the check-in lounge.

"Her mom is fine but no one has been able to contact Justin or Stephanie," Justin Shults' brother, Levi Sutton, told NBC News late Tuesday. He added that the State Department told him Tuesday afternoon that the pair were not on any casualty list and both their phones were going straight to voicemail.

Justin, 30, is originally from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, while 29-year-old Stephanie is from Lexington, Kentucky, but moved to the Belgian

 Here in the United States, baseball is often called our national pass time.

We follow our hometown teams, represent mercilessly against our rivals, and bond instantly with a stranger wearing our team’s logo. Baseball is tradition.

But I know two sides to the love of baseball. For countless young athletes in countries like Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where my parents are from, baseball goes beyond loyalty to a team; it can save your life.

I spent much of my childhood in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. My grandparents lived just a few blocks away from El Centro Olympico (The Olympic Center). Every day, without fail, I watched as countless boys and young men walked over to the park carrying baseball bats made out of broom sticks, makeshift gloves crafted out of whatever materials they could find, and hand-me-down Yankees baseball caps brought back by relatives who made it to New York.

In Latin American countries, baseball is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life. The boys are raised to practice hard every single day, in hopes of making it out of their impoverished neighborhoods and providing a better life for their entire families. With every swing of the bat, they’re hoping to make it way past home plate; they want to make it to America.

Tuesday morning, the Tampa Bay Rays played against the Cuban national team in the first visit by a major league team to the communist island since 1999. El Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana, Cuba came alive for the historic game. President Obama and the first family were front row along with MLB legends like Derek Jeter and Dave Winfield. Despite all the political discourse and controversy surrounding President Obama’s visit to the island, the world watched as these two countries focused on a common passion.

I covered sports in Miami, Fla. for 6 years. One of my favorite interviews was with a young up-and-coming pitcher out of Santa Clara, Cuba: Jose Fernandez. I remember when, at 18 years old, Fernandez was on everyone’s radar with his 98 mph fast ball. Once he was signed by the Miami Marlins, Fernandez became an fan favorite, especially among his fellow Cubans in south Florida. He was an instant star and his talent was undeniable.

But his road to the MLB was trying and dangerous. Fernandez and his family attempted to flee Cuba several times. In 2008, on his fourth attempt, he finally made it out, but it almost cost his mother her life. Just last year, Fernandez was reunited with his grandmother who came to visit him in Miami from Cuba and finally got the opportunity to watch him play.

It was a similar scene for Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Dayron Varona who is now the first Cuban player to defect and return to play. Will Fernandez return to play in his native country? That depends on many factors. In an interview with the Miami Herald Tuesday afternoon, Fernandez shared his thoughts about major league baseball in Cuba saying in part, “I think the players [from the U.S.] that go to Cuba will see a lot of reality. They will see a lot of things that we take for granted here that people over there don’t. Pretty much over there, people don’t have anything. But they’re probably not going to go inside the cities and see the real life and real struggles of the people over there.”

For so many, the exhibition game in Cuba is just another line in the sand in an ongoing political argument; but for other those who know the struggle of the 12 year old boy in a third world country carrying the weight of a better future for his family on his pre-pubescent shoulders, this game represents hope of a different life.

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cuban national team 4-1. The team summed up the game in one succinct twitter post saying, “The final score favored the #Rays, but everybody won today at Estadio Latinoamericano. #MLBinCuba

The face of baseball in Cuba likely won’t change, but for every child that picks up their grandma’s broom stick and heads over to the park, the dream is very much alive.

The San Diego City Council has approved a joint use agreement that allows a field at an elementary school in North Park to be used by the general public outside of school hours.

With councilmember Todd Gloria leading the charge on the project in his district, the council unanimously approved the joint use agreement with the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) for the field at McKinley Elementary School, a campus located at 3045 Felton St. in the North Park community.

Per the joint use plan, more than 2.5 acres of park space will now be open to North Park residents outside of school hours. The SDUSD will make improvements to the field, while the City of San Diego will be responsible for operating and maintaining the joint use facilities for the entire term of the 25-year agreement.

According to Gloria’s office, improvements to the area will cost $2.2 million and will include a 2.52-acre natural turf field with irrigation and newly-planted trees for shade, a baseball backstop, a drinking fountain, a baseball backstop and an expanded asphalt-concrete play area with court markings.

The joint use area will also include a decomposed granite running path and security gates and fencing.

Per the approved agreement, members of the public will be allowed to use the rec areas inside the school fence 30 minutes after school is dismissed for the day and up until 30 minutes prior to school going into session. The area will also be open for public use on weekend and holidays.

Gloria’s office says an area outside the fence – which is popular among pet owners around the neighborhood – will remain open to the community.

SDUSD plans to begin improvements and construction on the site over the next few months. The park should be open by the end of the year.

Gloria said the agreement is a win for both McKinley Elementary students and families, as well as North Park residents.

“It is increasingly difficult to find new park space to add for the growing populations in our urban communities, so I am grateful for partnerships with the School District to optimize use of their space and make it available for all to enjoy when school is out of session,” he said in a press release Tuesday.

A man who made “comments that caused concern” was removed from an airline leaving San Diego International Airport and headed for San Francisco Tuesday.

The passenger on United Flight 662 made the comments while the flight was still at the gate.

Harbor Police were called and removed the man, according to Lindbergh Field spokesperson Jonathan Heller.

Heller did not have specifics on the comments made that prompted the incident. 

The flight departed at 7:36 a.m. It arrived in San Francisco at 8:53 a.m.

Travelers and airports around the world were on heightened alert following deadly explosions at the Belgium airport and metro station. 

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks that left at least 31 people dead today in Brussels, saying its extremists opened fire in the airport and "several of them" detonated suicide belts.

On the heels of the deadly terror attacks in Brussels Tuesday, public transit workers in San Diego County were urged to work with heightened vigilance and report any and all suspicious activity.

Rob Schupp, director of marketing and communications for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) told NBC 7 that, as a precaution, MTS would deploy its K-9 Unit Tuesday to perform bomb detecting duties around busy transit stations across the county.

Schupp said a memo was sent out to all MTS security supervisors reminding them to remain on high alert.

“The recent event in Brussels is a reminder that we must always be vigilant while performing our duties serving the public,” the MTS memo read, in part. “Remain vigilant and attentive to movement and activities of passengers during station dwell times, be observant for trespasser activity on the right-of-way, and any unusual unattended items on trains or in stations.”

The MTS memo goes on to urge security supervisors to report any concerning activity to Central Control. Supervisors are expected to discuss the topic of heightened security with other MTS employees over the next few days as the world reels from the latest dose of deadly terrorism.

MTS posted a message on its Facebook page Tuesday also reminding riders to call security if they see anything suspicious. If you “See Something, Say Something,” the post urged.

MTS also posted a similar message to its Twitter page:

Schupp confirmed there was no disruption to transit services in San Diego Tuesday and the trolleys and buses were operating as normal.

Meanwhile, Amtrak also released a statement Tuesday in light of the Brussels attacks saying the company is maintaining “a strong security posture to keep our passengers, employees and the railroad safe.”

“Partnering with local, state and federal law enforcement, robust security measures are in place at stations, on trains and along the tracks. Amtrak Police are working with state, local and federal law enforcement partners to gather and share intelligence,” Amtrak’s statement said.

“Extra officers have been deployed. We have reminded Amtrak employees to look for and report any suspicious activity and unattended items and reissued guidance pertaining to facility inspections and active shooter incidents,” the statement continued. “Individuals are encouraged to report behaviors or activities that are unusual or out of the ordinary such as trespassers and suspicious packages by calling Amtrak Police at 1-800-331-0008 or texting APD11 from a smartphone or 27311 from a standard cell phone.”

Meanwhile, San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Chief Shelley Zimmerman also released a statement Tuesday about the Belgium terror attacks and what it means to public safety locally.

“Although there are no credible threats in San Diego, local law enforcement is closely monitoring the situation, coordinating with state and federal authorities, and taking all necessary precautions,” Zimmerman’s statement noted. “We will not hesitate to adjust security measures to ensure the continued safety of our citizens. We ask everyone to remain vigilant and if you see something, hear something, or know something, please say something.”

At least 31 people were killed and scores wounded Tuesday after two explosions shook the check-in zone of the airport in Brussels and a third blast hit a metro station in an attack for which ISIS has claimed responsibility.

Thousands of supporters packed the San Diego Convention Center Tuesday evening to attend a Bernie Sanders rally. 

The Democratic Presidential Candidate stopped in San Diego for the rally more than two months ahead of the winner-take-all California primary in June.

"When we began this campaign we talked about a need for millions of people to become involved in the political process," Sanders told supporters. "Tonight in Utah, tonight in Idaho, and tonight in Arizona there are record-breaking turnouts."

Sanders stressed the importance of reform in the criminal justice system and defeating ISIS, among other issues.

He said his campaign listened to the concerns of youths, military veterans and the elderly. 

"We were considered a fringe candidacy. Now who, who in America, the media said, could believe in a political revolution? Now, 10 months later, we have now won 10 primaries and caucuses, and unless I'm very mistaken we're going to win a couple of more tonight," Sanders said to cheers at the rally.

Actress Rosario Dawson introduced the Senator, saying the candidate had bold leadership needed in the White House. 

Thousands lined up along the side of the Convention Center -- some decked out in "Feel the Bern" shirts -- to grab a spot at the rally. Some Donald Trump supporters showed up to rally wearing shirts and holding signs to protest the rally. 

Campaign officials added a second overflow room with audio and video of the event, the convention center said. The room was filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Earlier Tuesday, dozens of Bernie Sanders supporters marched through the streets of downtown San Diego.

Sanders currently trails former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the delegate count.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated the Convention Center was turning people away. Campaign officials added an overflow room. 

The third suspect in the Brussels bombings was reportedly arrested Wednesday.

Najim Laachraoui, 24, was nabbed in the Anderlecht suburb of the Belgian capital following a massive manhunt, according to Belgian media reports. His arrest comes just hours after two brothers were identified as the suicide bombers behind the ISIS-claimed attacks.

Laachraoui is known to have traveled to Syria in the past and was allegedly captured on security footage at Brussels airport with the two brothers before Tuesday's deadly blasts. He is believed to have made the suicide vests used in the November attacks in Paris, in which 130 people were killed, according to The Associated Press. It was also reported that Laachraoui's DNA was found on all of the vests that were used in Paris and in a Brussels apartment where they were made.

The bomb blasts during the terror attack on the Brussels airport Tuesday morning left American Sheerine Naraghi shaken. But she knows she will have to muster the courage to return to the airport and fly home.

Naraghi and her boyfriend Jeff Hoffman, a consultant for NATO, were both in the terminal when the initial blast occurred. Naraghi had just received her ticket after checking her bags when she turned to her boyfriend. She saw things flying behind him and heard a loud noise, describing the scene as "almost like a tornado going off."

"I'm lucky enough to be able to go home and see my family, and a lot of people aren't that lucky, so I'm just trying to keep telling myself that," Naraghi told NBC's "Today" show Wednesday, as Hoffman stood at her side. "Don't think of it as you're going back to a terrible place, think about it's your catalyst to get home."

A man clad in a gorilla mask robbed a Walgreens Pharmacy in Chollas View Tuesday evening, but he didn’t get very far.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said a 32-year-old suspect wearing a gorilla mask and hoodie walked into a Walgreens located at 602 Euclid Ave just before 6:50 p.m.

He handed an employee a demand note and then promptly left the store with undisclosed stolen items.

Officers were called to the scene and, as they approached the store, they spotted a man matching the suspect’s description. He was detained and identified as the robbery suspect by a witness.

The SDPD said the suspect, whose name was not released, was ultimately arrested for robbery and the stolen goods were recovered by police.

The incident is under investigation. It is unclear if the store captured surveillance video of the gorilla-masked crime.

A government document obtained by NBC News shows that just four months before Tuesday's Brussels attacks, Belgian officials believed they were making progress in defusing the threat posed by ISIS terrorists in Belgium. 

A confidential U.S. cable describes how the Belgian officials outlined the nuts and bolts of their aggressive new counter-terrorism program in meetings with U.S. counterparts.

During the meetings last Nov. 3-4, former U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Jake Walles -- now the State Department's senior adviser on foreign fighters -- warned Belgium that "returning fighters pose a significant destabilizing threat and noted the relatively high number of Belgian fighters," the cable said.

Frank Arnauts, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director for Security Policy, agreed, saying his country "likely has provided the largest number of fighters in Syria per capita." But Arnaut also said Belgium was slowing the flow.

Loved ones of a woman killed Saturday by the husband she feared would eventually take her life say they hope to prevent another family from going through the same heartache by sharing her story.

Kristi Bice's brother and sister say her husband Stephen isolated her and her sons, monitoring most of her interactions with others before he eventually took her life at her home in Hudson, Ohio.

"He kept her away from us for years. He was very controlling,” Kristi's brother, Ronald Kennedy, told NBC Chicago. "He listened to her phone calls. When she talked to anyone, he would tell her what to say."

“She wasn’t allowed to come to birthday parties or Christmas. She would give excuses but I’m sure it was him,” Kristi's sister Michelle Bender said. “He isolated that little family from everybody.”

Kristi's 13-, 16-, and 18-year-old sons had started Spring Break a day before they drove up at noon on Sunday to find the door of their home in the 7000 block of Ravenna Road open. Inside, the eldest son found the bodies of Kristi and Stephen. He told his younger siblings to stay back and call 911.

Before the tragedy, Stephen texted the three teens to meet at a Fun-N-Stuff amusement park in Macedonia to discuss problems within the family, police reports show. The boys debated not leaving their mother Kristi alone because their father had previously threatened to kill her.

Their 13-year-old son slept on the couch with a baseball bat since February to protect his mother, Kennedy said.

Kristi texted her adult daughter that she was suspicious of her husband’s plan.

"Boys get there and he isn't there," Kristi texted, according to the reports. "I hope he isn't planning on getting them out of the house so he can blow me up."

Stephen broke into the home with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun, according to police reports. He shot Kristi four times: once in the left thigh, once in the right leg and once in the stomach. Finally, he shot her once in the head at close range.

As he stood over her, he used his final bullet to shoot himself, according to police. 

In police documents provided to NBC Chicago, Stephen is frequently referred to as an alcoholic. Documents also show he was arrested on Jan. 14, after he threatened to kill Kristi and himself. The next day, a Summit County judge temporarily approved a protection order meant to keep him from contacting her or being close to her.

The protection order was extended the following month to last until Jan. 15, 2021.

"She was a wonderful mother to her boys and would do anything for them. I truly believe the only reason she stayed in the abusive relationship for so long is she truly believed his threats that he was going to kill her and her boys," Kennedy said.

The family is making funeral arrangements.

Ronald Kennedy told NBC Chicago Kristi's sons are "devastated." One of the boys has autism and has special needs. Money from a GoFundMe account will go to a trust fund for the teens.

Although the family is going through such sadness, they want Kristi's story heard.

“We hated that our sister was going through that and I would never want to see another family go through it,” said Ronald Kennedy, who happens to be a detective at the Akron Police Department. "The victims feel like they are trapped half the time and things need to change."

What’s in a (dog) name? In honor of National Puppy Day the social network, Nextdoor, released a list Wednesday of the top dog names in San Diego.

According to the network for neighborhoods, the No. 1 dog name among doting dog owners in San Diego is Bella. In order, other top dog names on the list are as follows:

• Lucy
• Buddy
• Max
• Molly
• Daisy
• Bailey
• Lola
• Rocky
• Chloe

Nextdoor also compiled a list of the Top Dog Names by Breed in San Diego. Those pup monikers are listed here:

• Bailey (Mixed)
• Hunter (Lab)
• Belle (Chihuahua)
• Tucker (Golden Retriever)
• Lucy (Dachshund)
• Daisy (Boxer)
• Sasha (Shih Tzu)
• Nalla (German Shepherd)
• Tallulah (Yorkshire Terrier)
• Louie (Beagle)

A Nextdoor spokesperson told NBC 7 the lists are based on aggregate, anonymous data from Nextdoor members who included pet information in their profile settings across more than 64,000 neighborhoods in the U.S. in 2015.

Nextdoor is currently used by more than 95,000 neighborhoods across all 50 states. Topics of discussion among users include local events, handyman services, babysitter recommendations, public safety alerts or even lost pets.

National Puppy Day, now in its 10th year, is a day dedicated to raising awareness for orphaned puppies across the globe and educating the public about puppy mills. It was created in 2006 by celebrity pet and home lifestyle expert and author Colleen Paige.

During a speech on counterterrorism at Stanford University Wednesday, Hillary Clinton said the U.S. needs every American community invested in the fight against terrorism.

Further, she stressed that demonizing Muslims is wrong.

"It's understandable that Americans here at home are worried. The threat we face from terrorism is real, urgent and it knows no boundaries," she said. "ISIS is attempting a genocide of religious and ethnic minorities ... We need to rely on what actually works, not bluster that alienates our partners."

Clinton's appearance at the Bechtel Conference Center at Encina Hall on the Stanford University campus comes in the wake of Islamic State-claimed bombings in Belgium that killed at least 31 people and injured 270 at an airport and transit station in and near Brussels. She was initially expected to be in the Bay Area for fundraisers. 

Clinton urged listeners to stand in solidarity with Europe in order to defeat the Islamic State group.

"We will defeat ISIS," Clinton said. "We need every American community invested in this fight."

She added that the U.S. needs to be "smart and vigilant" about how it processes people into the country.

"Our enemies are constantly adapting, so we have to do the same," Clinton told the group of students and professors. "The stakes could not be higher."

Clinton isn't the only presidential candidate weighing in on the deadly Belgian bombings. Bernie Sanders and Republican Gov. John Kasich saying they both want to destroy ISIS.

Republican hopeful Donald Trump repeated his controversial theme to Fox News, saying, "I would close up our borders to people until we figure out what's going on."

The business mogul also noted: "Water boarding would be fine. If they could expand the laws, I would do a lot more than water boarding. You have to get the information from these people."

Meanwhile, Trump's fellow GOP candidate Ted Cruz said he wants police to start patrolling Muslim communities. "Where there is an expanding presence of radical Islamic terrorism, we need law enforcement resources directed there," he said.

Clinton, however, said that what Trump and Cruz are proposing is wrong and "dangerous."

"Walls will not protect us from this threat. We cannot contain ISIS — we must defeat ISIS," she said during her speech Wednesday. "If Mr. Trump gets his way, it will be like Christmas in the Kremlin. It will make America less safe."

Former Secretary of State George Shultz was in the audience Wednesday. He made a brief comment after the speech, supporting Clinton's strategy.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Stanford's political science professor Mike McFaul told NBC Bay Area that Clinton's speech was appropriate and timely. 

"One has to have a smart strategy, a patient strategy to achieve our objectives," he said. "Defeating terrorism requires that king of strategy."

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) took a moment Wednesday at San Diego’s iconic lighthouse in Point Loma to mark exactly 125 years since the new Point Loma Light went into operation.

The “new” Point Loma Lighthouse was first lit on March 23, 1891, at its location on Cabrillo Road at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula. The old light was often obscured by fog due to its height on the cliffs at Point Loma. To fix that issue, the new light was erected at a lower elevation, 88 feet above the water.

A century-and-a-quarter later, the light still sits on that government land owned by the Coast Guard. Quarters for local Coast Guard officers are also located on the grounds.

Meanwhile, the old lighthouse still stands as a museum as part of Cabrillo National Monument. The old lighthouse has been welcoming visitors since 1855. A spiral staircase leads you to the top floor of the lighthouse.

Cabrillo National Monument is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The scenic spot is a favorite among San Diegans and tourists alike, often crowded with people walking, jogging or riding their bicycles.

Entrance fees cost $5 per person on foot or bike, $7 for motorcyclists and $10 per passenger vehicle. According to the national park’s website, 80 percent of proceeds from entrance fees support park programs at Cabrillo National Monument.

To commemorate the big anniversary of the new light, the USCG Aids to Navigation Team San Diego Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Palmer spoke to news outlets.

Beatlemania will be in full force Saturday at a North Park-based music venue during an all-day celebration known as the annual San Diego Beatles Fair.

The event revolves around all things related to the Fab Four including, of course, lots and lots of live music. It runs from noon to 11 p.m. at Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center at 3925 Ohio St.

Organizers say the main stage at the venue will showcase performances from groups like the Dave Humphries Band, The Baja Bugs and The Rollers – all covering classic Beatles tunes.

Denny Laine, an original member of the Moody Blues, will also perform. Laine is one degree of separation from the Beatles: he was a member of the group Wings with Paul McCartney from 1971 to 1981.

Musician Cody Lovaas will sing his hits, too, as well as Beatles covers.

The venue’s Simply Local Stage will also play host to musical acts. A 21+ patio area will include an acoustic open mic stage and cocktails.

Besides music, the San Diego Beatles Fair will include the Ohio Street Vendors Block – a shopping area boasting everything Beatles, including memorabilia, collectibles and records, as well as one-of-a-kind handmade items created by local vendors. A designated kids zone will include activities to keep the little ones entertained.

Local gourmet food trucks will be on-site all day so fair attendees can grab a bite and drinks.

The San Diego Beatles Fair is a grassroots event organized by fans. This marks the fourth year it has taken over Queen Bee’s in North Park. For more details, visit this website.

General admission tickets can be purchased online for right around $27. Tickets for students, military and seniors are just over $22, while tickets for children ages nine to 15 come out to $11.54. Kids eight years old and younger get in free.

Two San Diego eateries made the list of OpenTable’s Top 100 Hottest Restaurants of 2016.

Juniper & Ivy and Kettner Exchange, both in Little Italy, were named in the list.

The online reservation site rated the restaurants by considering the opinions of more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted in all 50 states, according to the website.

Described as offering “refined American food with left coast edge,” Juniper & Ivy has already been nationally recognized. It was the winner of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef All-Stars.”

Similarly to Juniper & Ivy, the upscale Kettner Exchange features “progressive American cuisine” and a robust cocktail list. The open-air rooftop lounge is popular.

In totally, 25 California restaurants are included.

The restaurants considered were sorted according to a score calculated from each spot's average rating in the "hot spot" category.

Click here for the full list.

A man was shot and killed in front of an apartment building in Oceanside late Tuesday.

The shooting happened just before 10 p.m. on South Freeman Stret, between the Oceanside Amtrak station and Oceanside High School.

One neighbor was watching television when he heard four pops. He initially thought it was just noise from construction in the neighborhood or someone working on a car.

However, Oceanside Police say they received several 911 calls about gunshots and some yelling.

When they arrived, they found a man with at least one gunshot wound.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

One resident told NBC 7 the shooting is disturbing that something like this would happen so close to home.

No further information was immediately available.

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story.

Diners got an unexpected reptilian surprise at a Studio City sushi restaurant Sunday night when a man dropped a 13-foot python on the dining room floor.

Hiroshi Motohashi, 46, of San Diego brought two small snakes to Iroha Sushi of Tokyo and began to show them off, LAPD Lt. Jim Gavin told the Los Angeles Times. When customers complained, employees asked him to take the reptiles outside. Motohashi left the restaurant and returned with an even bigger snake, authorities said.

Motohashi allegedly said, "[Expletive], you guys," before he dropped the python in the middle of the restaurant floor and walked out, Gavin said, according to The Times.

When Motohashi refused to take the reptile outside, employees called police. 

A customer capture cellphone  video of responding officers attempting to wrangle the python from behind a computer where it had gotten stuck. By 7:20 p.m., police had arrested Motohashi on suspicion of making criminal threats, a felony.

Motohashi's bail is set at $50,000, and an arraignment date has not been scheduled, officials said.

It was not immediately clear if Motohashi had a lawyer.

Animal control officials took the python away.

WATCH: Diner's video of officers trying to wrangle the snake.

It was later revealed Motohashi, originally from San Diego, was once sentenced to 15 months in jail for unlawfully selling endangered and protected species that were transported from LA to Las Vegas, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

He pleaded guilty to the felony charges in 2004 and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

In September of 1997, Motohashi sold "gila monsters," or Mexican venomous lizards, as well as San Esteban Island chuckwallas, and yellow-headed sideneck turtles, to an undercover agent, the department said.

Motohashi's case was a part of a large investigation that spanned years in Reno, Nevada.

San Diego grocery shopping may never be the same.  

Discount chains are expanding in the county and setting up an expectation for local shoppers. On Wednesday, it was a new Smart & Final "Extra" store that opened in Chula Vista, one of dozen Extra stores moving into the bankrupt Haggen locations.

But it's not just Smart & Final pushing the discount envelope. The giant size Winco opened up a store in San Marcos late last year. And the German owned Aldi chain is expanding into Southern California, including its first store in Vista by the summer.

Add these new stores to discount chains like Grocery Outlet and Food for Less and you're setting the bar for low cost food choices.

That's what drew shopper Candy Beltran to the Smart & Final Extra opening in Chula Vista. "The pricing is very competitive, very good and very reasonable," she said.

Celeste Cruz agrees: "It's like a mixture of Costco and it is really cheap and convenient."

Now some of the old Haggen locations are anything but discount. Los Angeles-based Gelson's took over three stores in the county and there is a Bristol Farms opening this summer. Some of the Haggen locations are going ethnic with both Asian and Hispanic food choices, such as the 99 Ranch store that will be moving into Clairemont.

Industry analysts wonder how the move toward discounts will influence traditional store chains like Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons.