Sharp Grossmont Hospital has admitted to putting surveillance cameras at the women's health center.

Sharp says that in May 2012, they noticed that drugs were disappearing from anesthesia carts in operating rooms.

The hospital says it set up the surveillance to help determine how the drugs were disappearing.

Motion-activated cameras were installed in computer monitors near the carts.

Hospital officials say on 12 separate occasions, cameras observed one doctor taking items from the operating room and putting them in his pocket.

Sharp insists patient safety was the primary reason for the video surveillance,and that only Sharp investigators have access to the film.

The hospital says any footage of patients taken in the background will be destroyed after the case is closed.

A busy street in Hillcrest will transform into a traffic-free zone this weekend with a four-day festival catered to pedestrians and bicyclists.

The free event – dubbed “Re-Imagine Normal Street” – aims to turn a portion of Normal Street near the Hillcrest Pride flag and University Avenue into a car-free public space best enjoyed on foot.

Organizers say the outdoor community fest will include oversized board games and lawn games, live art, food trucks and an interactive virtual reality booth. SANDAG, through a mini grant program, will fund bike valet services for the four-day affair.

The event kicks off Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with “Pechakucha Night,” where creative community members will share their ideas in 20 images in 20 seconds.

The fun continues Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. with family-friendly activities including a “Bike-In Movie” screening of the classic flick, “E.T.”

On Saturday, Hillcrest Brewing Company will host a Craft Beer Crawl from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by a free concert under the stars. The event concludes Sunday with the Hillcrest Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to make the idea of the car-free public space on Normal Street a reality.

A pup named Bamboo is on a roll on social media.

The dog based out of the Solana Beach area loves to skateboard everywhere he goes. And he’s rolled right into the hearts of thousands of fans online.

Bamboo has nearly 14,000 fans on Facebook and has a burgeoning audience of hundreds on YouTube and Instagram.

A recent video posted to Bamboo's Facebook page shows the pup skating through the streets of Solana Beach and has amassed about 1.7 million views.

Bamboo belongs to Mike Bolaris, who also serves as the dog’s videographer.

Check out the skateboarding dog in action.

A local community is coming together to honor and remember a U.S. Navy SEAL killed during combat in Iraq.

Charles Keating IV, 31, was a Coronado-based SEAL. He was killed May 3rd near Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city that has been under ISIS militants since 2014.

In his honor, a processional will go down 6th Avenue in Coronado at approximately 12 p.m. Friday.

The processional is open to the public.

A memorial service will be held at Tidelands Park in Coronado by the Naval Special Warfare on Thursday. Only family, friends and Keating’s teammates from SEAL Team One will be allowed to attend.

Keating will be buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Friday.

His mother, Krista Keating-Joseph said her son wanted to be burred close to his beloved SEAL Team One instead of Arlington National Cemetery.

Vista community members said a woman who stole tens of thousands of dollars from Vista Pop Warner created a "living nightmare" for the countless parents, coaches and players affected by the theft.

At a sentencing for Rachel Marie Owens, who previously pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement, grand theft and identity theft for filing a loan application in the name of the league president, victims spoke of the pain and suffering they endured as a result of her actions.

Owens was sentenced to one year in prison, five years probation and ordered to attend consumer counseling. She will have to pay back the $114,000 she stole when she was volunteer treasurer of the youth football organization. 

"Rachel Owens’ actions created a living nightmare for myself and others directly involved not only in the investigation, auditing and repairing the damage she left behind," said Gaby Blas, president of the organization, during victim impact statements in court.

She described the pain and sadness when the organization discovered the loss during a crucial time for the players. 

"I heard children asking parents if they were still going to have money to travel to final competitions, hold end-of-season banquets and if the program would still be around for them to play in 2016," said Blas.

The 41-year-old Vista resident stole the funds from Vista Pop Warner Football and Cheer between October 2013 and November 2015.

Deputy District Attorney Anna Winn said there were checks totaling $111,000 made out in Owens' name. 

Blas said Owens stole her identity in an attempt to get several loans. She said even now, she doubts Owens feels any remorse. 

Owens was arrested February 24 at Guajome Park Academy where she was working as a math teacher. The school district superintendent described Owens as a non-permanent teacher on probation. She was placed on administrative leave.

Defense attorney Peter Liss said his client feels "tremendous guilt and shame" about what she did.

"When she was interviewed by the probation officer, she told the probation officer she knows she betrayed the kids' trust and that she’ll spend the rest of her life not forgiving herself for what she did," Liss said.

Her son, he said, was one of the victims. Though she is barred from contacting the league and anyone associated with it, she wanted Liss to convey her apologies. 

"She has told me personally that if it takes her her entire life she will pay it back," he said.

Two of the kids on the team said they didn't think Owens got the correct sentence. 

"She stole from kids, and I think that's really wrong, and I think she should get at least five years in prison," one 13-year-old player said. 

"She was our team mom and I thought I trusted her," the other player said. 

After three years and 720 miles between them, a New Mexico man and his beloved pooch, Brownie, were reunited in San Diego County.

The 7-year-old Labrador retriever was spotted wandering the streets last week in the Otay Mesa area when someone scooped him up and took him to the County Animal Services’ care facility in Bonita.

Animal Services workers traced his microchip to the dog’s owner in Santa Teresa, New Mexico: Ricardo Dominguez.

Dominguez was alerted to the amazing discovery late last week when his girlfriend called him.

“She said, ‘They found Brownie. I say, ‘What? Where is he? San Diego? Do I want to keep him? Hell, yeah,” according to a news release from County Animal Services.

Dominguez said Brownie disappeared several years ago from his horse ranch even though the dog owner had someone watching the pup.

Last Friday, Dominguez drove 720 miles nonstop through the night from a job site in El Paso, Texas, to pick up Brownie in Bonita.

Dominguez said Brownie is healthy, but seems more protective and territorial than three years ago. It wasn’t clear how the dog got all the way to San Diego County.

Still, Dominguez said he’s happy to have Brownie home. When he picked him up in Bonita, the pooch bounded over to him, jumping in his arms.

“He looks up through the door at me in my cowboy hat and his eyes were, ‘Wow, is that you?,’” the Animal Services news release said.

A husband and wife from Texas pleaded guilty in federal Tuesday to concealing the death of the wife’s father to continue receiving his Social Security retirement benefits.

Terry Lee and Melanie Jane Anderson admitted they hid the death of Melanie’s father, Mervin Hartman and stole approximately $100,000 from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Court documents show Hartman died while living in the Philippines in 2002.

The SSA stops sending payments after a retiree has died but in this case, no death certificate was submitted to the organization. Therefore, the SSA continued to directly deposit money into Hartman’s bank account.

Hartman’s death was discovered by the SSA in 2013 following an investigation.

The investigation showed the Andersons had kept the bank account active after Hartman’s death. They had access to his account and withdrew funds for their own use over the years.

The Andersons had been living in southern California at the time.

Both entered guilty pleas Tuesday, admitting they knew Hartman’s retirement funds should have ceased after his death and they stole the money for themselves.

As part of their plea agreement, the couple agreed to pay $95,877.78 in restitution money to the SSA.

Terry Lee and Melanie Jane Anderson are scheduled to be sentenced on August 15.

Two people are dead after a stabbing and shooting at a mall and a home in Taunton, Massachusetts, and their attacker has also been killed after being shot by an off-duty police officer, state police said.

Massachusetts State Police and Taunton Police responded to a report of a shooting and stabbing at the Silver City Galleria Mall on Galleria Drive and a related crime scene at a home on Myrick Street at about 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Investigators determined the assailant, identified as 28-year-old Arthur DaRosa of Taunton, was shot and killed at the mall by an off-duty officer.

According to sources, the officer is with the Plymouth County Sherrif's office who rushed into help.

The officer shot DaRosa once.

DaRosa was taken to Charlton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Sources tell necn the two victims who were stabbed inside the home on Myrick Street were a mother and daughter.

They were both taken to Morton Hospital where one of the women, an 80-year-old, succumbed to her injuries. The other victim suffered serious injuries.

The relationship between the suspect and the victims in the house is also unknown.

The other four stabbings occurred at the mall after DaRosa crashed a car into the front of Macy's, police said.

DaRosa assaulted multiple people inside the Macy's then went to Bertucci's where he armed himself with a knife and stabbed four people.

All four victims were taken to Morton Hospital where one of the victims, a 56-year-old man from Taunton, succumbed to his injuries . Some of the other victims are suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Police said DaRosa was involved in an earlier car crash on Myrick Street before the stabbings.

Sources tell necn FBI counterterrorism is "not concerned" right now. The suspect's motive remains under investigation.

The Taunton Mayor spoke alongside the Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn on Tuesday night.

The Mayor said, "tragedy has certainly hit the city of Taunton this evening" and thanked law enforcement officials for their help.

Police said there is no continuing threat to the public. No further information is being released at this time. The Bristol County District Attorney's Office is now handling the case.

The San Jose city council announced Tuesday it will not fight the reinstatement of a cop accused of posting threatening tweets against supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Officer Philip White was fired last October but quietly reinstated after a closed independent arbitration hearing in February. The 19-year veteran officer on Monday apologized for his actions in an exclusive interview with NBC Bay Area. He also released a public apology in the form of a letter.

• MORE: Read White's Letter Apologizing for Controversial Tweets

The council received some community pressure to fight the reinstatement before deciding not to with very mixed emotions.

After a closed session Tuesday, San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle announced there would be no legal fight to once again fire White.

In Monday's exclusive interview with NBC Bay Area, White said his comments were actually in response to threats he had received.

The tweets — which some believe took aim at a movement launched after a string of deadly police shootings — sparked outrage around the country.

"Threaten me or my family and I will use my God-given and law-appointed right and duty to kill you #COPSLIVESMATTER," one tweet read.

Another said: "By the way if anyone feels they can't breathe or their lives matter I'll be at the movies tonight...off duty..carrying my gun."

White said he apologized immediately to the police chief, the department and community leaders. He also submitted a letter of apology to the city manager, which he said shows he has "been remorseful from the start."

Councilman Charles Jones said the apology helped.

"I know personally I'm willing to forgive and move on," Jones said. "And I'm pretty confident the community will as well."

But not everyone agreed.

"Behavior like that really relegates somebody to a position where they shouldn't be wearing a badge or a gun in our city," Mayor Sam Liccardo said.

Before the Twitter controversy, White had an untarnished record with the police department and had received numerous accolades throughout his career.

Police officials have acknowledged White had no prior disciplinary problems and had high marks for his work in various roles, including starting a program in schools to steer children away from gangs.

"I don't want people to judge me just on the messages," White said on Tuesday. "I want them to judge me on the totality of my career. Judge me on my career moving forward."

The number of homeless people living in Santee has more than doubled over the last year, according to the Regional Task Force of the Homeless in San Diego County.

Many of the homeless are living at Santee riverbed, just south of Sportsplex USA in Santee. The area looks similar to a jungle and it’s off-limits.

Now, it has become a campsite for many homeless people.

“It depends on the time of year. During the summer we can have 45 people in the river bottom. Sometimes it will go up to 60 but they're generally transients,” said Santee Mayor Randy Veopel.

The Regional Task Force of the Homeless reported from 2015 to this year, the number of homeless people in Santee increased to 63 homeless people. That number is more than double the count from last year.

Mayor Veopel says there is a park full of kids nearby and it’s a cause for concern.

“They're here to do drugs, to sell drugs and that's a danger to our youth,” he said, speaking of the homeless living in the riverbed.

Lieutenant Damon Blankenbaker, from the Santee Sheriff's station says some of the transients feel safer in the riverbed because they see less violence than in the city.

But they are also seeing a higher percentage of calls related to homeless activity and crime.

“We've had strange occurrences in Santee because of violence in the lower river bottom toward San Diego,” he said.

“Over the past year, over 14% of the calls to us has related to transient or drug or homeless activity in the city. So, that's a huge number as far as what of our resources are dedicated to this."

The homeless outreach team sweeps through the Santee riverbed every week. For those who want help, the Sheriff's station is also involved in a regional enforcement assistance program.

“We offer it to them on the spot. We'll literally drive them from the location we spot them and take them wherever they need to go,” Blankenbaker said.

He says it’s not a crime to be homeless. But there are criminal activities going on among transients and that is what the Sheriff’s station wants to address.

Rancho Bernardo residents say a bad parking situation has gotten worse since a popular BBQ joint moved in, with no foreseeable solution in sight. 

Parking off West Bernardo and Botero Drive has always been a struggle, resident Greg Birch told NBC 7 San Diego. He's struggled with it for 30 years. 

"Oh my Lord, it's changed radically," Birch said. 

Birch cited two recent changes that have made parking a nightmare for locals: when nearby complex Waterbridge Luxury Condos changed from apartment-style to condo-style living, and when popular BBQ restaurant Phil's BBQ moved in.

Robin Kaufman, a Rancho Bernardo resident for 40 years and president of the RB Community Council, said the complex's overflow parking is on the streets. NBC 7 San Diego contacted Waterbridge, but they did not respond to requests for comment. 

"As an apartment complex, anyone could park wherever they wanted to," said Kaufman. "Once it became a condo complex, the owners and their Board of Directors decided to give designated parking spots per unit. And if you have two bathrooms, then you get two parking spots. If you have one bathroom, you get one parking spot."

City Councilmember Mark Kersey's office said the city cannot force the condo complex to add more parking. 

"The biggest frustration of all is the fact that Waterbridge has not done anything about it for over 10 years," Birch said. 

When Phil's BBQ moved in, residents say, it made a bad situation worse. 

"It's been an ongoing issue, but I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back," Kaufman said.

At the end of April, the restaurant opened a new location, and their overflow employee parking, according to Kaufman and Birch, is the neighborhood. 

"By and large the Phil's employees are polite and congenial all but they don't really have any place to park," Birch said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Phil's BBQ said in part, "In an effort to help eliminate parking issues, Phil's BBQ has made alternate arrangements for employee and guest overflow parking on two surrounding private properties."

The city says these are public streets, but a spokesperson for councilman Kersey says residents are asking for something to be done, so they are working to find a solution.

One community group is collecting signatures for a resolution whether it be no overnight parking, timed parking, or residential permit parking only. Residents are looking for whatever will open their street parking for them and their guests.

But for local residents, the change cannot come soon enough. 

"As a resident of being here almost 30 years, I don't feel it's okay," said Birch. 

Both the UC-San Diego and San Diego State women’s water polo teams advanced to the NCAA championship bracket Tuesday after winning play-in games hosted on UCSD’s campus.

In the first play-in game, SDSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Wagner College and swam away with a 7-4 victory. 

Nicole Ferrari helped drive the SDSU offense with 2 goals and 3 assists. 

San Diego State goalkeeper Rachel Mitchell finished with 11 impressive saves.

UC-San Diego bested Whittier 11-7 in the second part of the doubleheader. 

Laurel Kistler and Julia Kirkland each tallied 3 goals for UCSD. 

Tritons senior goalkeeper Courtney Miller collected 11 saves.

The Tritons advance to play the 24-4 UCLA Bruins Friday at noon in the first round of the NCAA championship bracket.

The Aztecs will also play Friday and will face top-seeded and undefeated USC at 3:30 p.m. PT at the Spieker Aquatics Center on the campus of UCLA.

Both the Aztecs and Tritons are just 3 wins away from claiming the national title and if each team wins two more times, they would go head-to-head for the championship.

There’s no shortage of documentation for the alarming condition of San Diego's public infrastructure.

From potholes to broken water mains, and crumbling bridges to aging fire stations, the city’s deferred maintenance and delayed building backlogs are estimated at $5 billion.

Could city Proposition H on the June 7 primary election ballot boot up an effective program of fixes?

The measure is aimed at raising $4 billion over 25 years to tackle all the problems -- but not by way of new taxes or tax hikes.

The funding mechanisms to underwrite the remedial projects would be current city revenue sources: sales tax proceeds, growth in general fund revenues and pension cost savings.

But critics worry about shifting too much of those money streams away from other budget needs, and economic downturns that would short-change allocations toward the infrastructure priorities.

Prop. H was put on the ballot by a seven to two vote of the City Council.

It has major backing from the business community, and opposition from several organized labor groups.

City Councilman Scott Sherman, a leading backer of the measure, says the problems have been left to get worse for all too long.

As he told NBC 7 in an interview Tuesday: “This is one to say to taxpayers, 'We heard you , we can live within our means, we can do better, we can give you more bang for the taxpayer dollars you send down here -- and we can get this fixed."

Councilman Todd Gloria, a leading Prop. H opponent thinks the issues might be better addressed with a comprehensive tax measure.

"Seventy-five percent of people want some real change; I think they're willing to embrace change. The difference is, with Prop. H they're told they can have their cake and eat it too. That they can solve this problem and it won't cost another dime," Gloria said.

Among the big-ticket infrastructure deficits that are high-visibility landmarks: Balboa Park, strapped with $300 million worth of deferred maintenance.

And City Hall, 60 years old – and on a listed of municipal buildings considered to be in extremely poor condition.

Replacement cost?

Unknown, but one proposal several years ago carried a price tag of $340 million.

The Padres came close to knocking off the best team in baseball Tuesday.

But even an unlikely grand slam couldn’t prevent the Cubs from winning their 8^th straight contest, this time by a count of 8-7.

Chicago improved to 25-6, which just so happens to be the best record for any MLB team through 31 games since the Detroit Tigers’ hot start in 1984.

The Padres fell behind 5-0 in the 3^rd inning when the top part of the Cubs lineup went to town on young pitcher Cesar Vargas. 

Former USD product Kris Bryant smacked a 2-run double and later scored on a single by Ben Zobrist. Zobrist finished 4-for-4 while Vargas only lasted 4 innings and gave up 6 runs on 10 hits.

The highlight of the game for the Friars was a pinch-hit grand slam by Alex Dickerson in the 8^th inning.

The “Poway Padre” got his team back in the ball game to make it 8-7. But the Padres could not get any closer after that.

"A special moment for me and all the work I've put in to this point," said Dickerson, who was promoted from Triple-A El Paso just last week.

The fact that it happened at Wrigley Field - which opened in 1914 - meant a great deal.

"This is really a historic place," Dickerson added. "A very big spot in baseball, so many famous players have played here and it's such an old park. It's really special to be able to make my mark in my career at a place like this."

Melvin Upton Junior hit a solo homer to give him 3 jacks on the year and Jose Pirela added 2 hits and started at second base. 

Shortstop Alexei Ramirez also left the game with a leg cramp after hitting a RBI double in the 5th inning, but manager Andy Green said afterwards that Ramirez “gave a thumbs up” at the chance of being in the lineup on Wednesday. 

Hopefully that is the case because otherwise San Diego would be without 4 of its infielders. Cory Spangenberg (quad), Yangervis Solarte (hamstring) and Jemile Weeks (hamstring) are all currently unavailable while nursing injuries.

San Diego will send Colin Rea to the mound in game one of the scheduled doubleheader at noon PT. Lance Hendricks gets the nod for the Cubs. 

Game 2 will feature Padres starter Drew Pomeranz against Jon Jay’s former Cardinals teammate John Lackey.

San Diego County Animal Services has an unusual mystery to solve after a ball python ended up in a South Park apartment unit last Thursday.

The snake was found last Thursday evening inside a bathtub at the Beech Street Knolls Apartments.

It did not come from the canyon thicket surrounding complex but more likely from another apartment in the same building.

The real concern for the other residents is whether there are more of them in the drain system.

The families of Lincoln Military housing are on alert. The enemy, in this case, is a foot-long ball python.

"I didn't know if it had venom in it or if it was going to attack us. I don't even know how long the snake was in the bathtub,” resident Michelle Lomas said.

Visiting cousin Stephanie alerted Navy Logistics Specialist Michelle Lomas and her husband to the intruder. Stephanie discovered the snake curled around the drain when she went to preheat her water for a bath.

“I thought she was lying. I was like, there is no possible way,” Lomas said.

Her husband kept the python at bay with using a broom handle while she called animal services.

Deputy Director of Animal Services Dan Desousa told NBC 7, he suspects the snake is a pet. It probably traveled through the building's drain system and ended up in the Lomas’ bathtub.

“This snake is not tall enough to have scaled the side of the bathtub and then fallen in on the other side,” Desousa said.

He says the snake appears to be just a couple months old and underweight.

This would be the second time a snake has been found in a drain incident in 17 months. A four foot boa constrictor was in the toilet of the bathroom in a downtown San Diego Public Relations Firm January 20-15. It was a tenant's escaped pet.

This most recent discovery leaves Beech Street Knolls residents unnerved.

“I was thinking that I was looking around hoping there was no snake in here,” neighbor Kevin Hooks said.

Residents are questioning what they might be sharing their private time in the bathroom with.

Animal Services say if the snake isn't claimed by tonight, they put it up for adoption tomorrow.

Days after the interrogations and collection of evidence ended inside an unincorporated El Cajon Mobile Home Park, two lingering questions remain: who killed 84 year old Jose Campos and perhaps even more perplexing, why?

Campos’ son returned to his home Saturday night to find his elderly father covered in blood.

"I was the one who left him last and I left him fine. I even shut the door on him and when I got back his door was wide open and just blood all over the floor," said Juan Campos.

The former gardener from Guadalajara Mexico turned U.S. citizen, moved in with his son’s family last year.

Jose Campos didn't speak much English according to his son, but enjoyed sitting in an old office chair out front watching the local kids play.

"He would say hi, bye, have a nice day. Other than that, he was a pretty quiet man," said Campos.

Saturday night, he watched T.V. in bed and his son shut the door to his bedroom as he left for what he estimates was just a little more than an hour.

Sheriff’s homicide investigators say the 911 call came in at 9:46 p.m. on with a frantic Campos asking for help as he repeatedly attempted CPR on his dad who had severe trauma to his upper body.

With a killer on the loose, Sheriff's investigators sealed the autopsy report and haven't released any details on a possible suspect or motive.

"I would like to know who did it and make sure he gets what he deserves. Justice,” said Campos.

An NYPD officer is suing the department after she said she was disciplined for speaking in Spanish to a coworker.

Officer Jessenia Guzman, originally of the Dominican Republic, said in a suit filed Monday that she was reprimanded for violating the department’s English-only policy after speaking casually with a coworker at a precinct in 2013.

The suit claims that the department violates her civil and constitutional rights and seeks unspecified damages.

Anthony Miranda, the chairman of the National Latino Officers Association, has been advising Guzman in the case and said that the conversation amounted to little more than a casual “how are you” conversation.

He disagreed with the NYPD’s policy and called it “pure racism.”

In a statement to the New York Post, the department said that "with over 50 different languages spoken by employees of the Department, our Office of Equal Employment Opportunity has established guidelines for members to speak English when they are conducting business for the department, unless speaking a foreign language is necessary to perform his or her duties."

The Post also reports that a lieutenant at the department said that Guzman "continually" spoke in Spanish with another officer. 

On Tuesday, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton defended the policy on Tuesday.

“She's wrong,” he said. “We're gonna win. See you in court."

A woman getting ready to take a bath last Thursday was shocked to find a ball python resting in her bathroom drain. 

The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (DAS) officer DJ Gove responded to the rescue on May 5 in San Diego's Golden Hill neighborhood. 

When the woman went to preheat her water for a bath, she looked down and saw a snake in her drain. 

Residents told Gove their apartment was secure and they have no idea how the snake got into the home or the tub.

A man with a club was watching over the snake when Gove arrived, she said.

The officer identified the critter as a ball python and Gove snaked it out of the drain. The python was taken back to the DAS animal care facility. 

Last week, DAS staffers performed a different bathtub rescue and helped save pug mix Mr. Ruffles when his paw got stuck in a bathtub drain in a rare rescue operation. 

Students, faculty and staff now have an opportunity to de-stress with therapy dogs, thanks to the MIT Puppy Lab.

Dog owner and graduate student in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Stephanie Ku, created the proposal this past fall.

After receiving a grant from the MindHandHeart Innovation Fund, Ku started the project.

Visit sessions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (3-5 p.m.) on May 10, 11, 17 and 18. The lab can be found in the Lobby 10 Community Lounge.

Playing with puppies is said to be a stress-reliever and nerve-calmer.

The opening of the lab coincides with final exams and National Mental Health Awareness Month.

A supervisory drug counselor at a California prison used bags of chips, packages of cookies and coffee cans to smuggle drugs for inmates in her rehabilitation programs, federal officials alleged Tuesday.

Angela Carr worked in an inmate substance abuse program at the Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County before her arrest in August 2015.

Carr is among eight defendants who have been indicted in an alleged conspiracy to bring drugs and cell phones into the prison, according to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

The items smuggled in by inmates had a prison value of $1.2 million, Duffy said.

Three arrests were made Tuesday in Lancaster, West Covina and Los Angeles. Two defendants are already in custody. Two remain at large, according to officials.

Among the defendants are inmates who were participating in Carr's substance abuse programs. One of the accused also served as a mentor to other inmates, Duffy said.

"No matter what role or part you play in a criminal smuggling conspiracy, you will be held accountable," Duffy said.

Carr would allegedly get the drugs from three civilian women who had relationships with the inmates.

Sometimes Carr would bring the drugs into the prison inside bags of chips or cans of coffee in exchange for money, Duffy alleged. She received approximately $3,500 in return, officials claim.

The illegal drugs included marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, Xanax, Valium Norco and Soma.

FBI and the CDCR Internal Affairs employees helped in the investigation.

"It’s very rare for employees to engage in this type of behavior," a spokesperson for CDCR Internal Affairs said at the media briefing on Tuesday.

Carr has pleaded not guilty and is currently out on bail.