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8-Year-Old Boy Choked by Stranger: PD

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Oceanside Police Department released a sketch of a man who they say choked an 8-year-old boy last month.

The incident happened on June 22 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in Oceanside.

Police said the child the playing behind his home on the 4000 block of Olive Drive and the Sprinter Tracks near Oceanside Boulevard when the suspect, believed to be a man in his 20s, approached him. The suspect talked to the child for a few minutes before grabbing him around the neck.

He then ran away from the area.

Police said the suspect held the child with enough force that he could not breathe or yell. The suspect may possibly be a homeless man who lived in a nearby field.

They believe this appears to be an isolated incident. 

The young boy suffered minor injuries.

The suspect is described as a man in his 20s, approximately 5-foot-7, with a heavy build and short hair. 

Anyone with information or may have seen the suspect is asked to contact Detective Steve Stracke at (760)435-4703.



Photo Credit: Oceanside Police Department

Series of Spot Fires Near I-15 Border Checkpoint

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Crews are working to put out a series of spot fires that broke out just off Interstate 15, near the border between San Diego County and Riverside County.

The spot fires stem from a brush fire in unincorporated Temecula County that broke out around 1:56 p.m. Monday. 

Crews on scene found six to seven spots fires spread along the northbound shoulder of Intersatte 15 when they arrived on scene. Three of those fires spread 20 feet by 20 feet.

A Sig alert has been issued for I-15 northbound just south of State Route 79 in Riverside County. The number four lane will be closed for several hours as crews work. 

Heavy traffic has been reported from SR-76 to SR-79. 

Additional units are heading to the Temecula Creek Inn for structure protection. In NBC 7 San Diego viewer video, thick smoke and flames could be seen rising above the nearby gold course. 

Cal Fire Riverside, Cal Fire San Diego and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers are responding. 

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 



Photo Credit: Tai Navares

Uber Hits 2 Billion Rides

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Pedal to the metal seems to be Uber's new philosophy.

After taking nearly six years to accomplish 1 billion rides, the ride-hailing mogul based in San Francisco reached the 2 billion number just six months later, as reported by The Verge.

The milestone ride occurred on June 18. Well, technically, it was 147 rides that all started at the exact same time across 16 countries, according to CEO Travis Kalanick's Facebook page.

Not only is Uber celebrating the achievement, but those 147 riders and drivers will be gifted with $450, a number symbolizing Uber's operation in 450 cities around the globe, Kalanick said.

Monday's announcement breeds optimism for Kalanick.

"It took five years to reach our billionth trip, six months to reach the next billion ... and we'll hopefully reach our third even more quickly," he said on Facebook.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area
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Evacuations Lifted as Feather Fire Holds at 133 Acres

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Evacuations have been lifted for residents living near the 133-acre brush fire burning in Barona, dubbed the Feather Fire. 

The fire broke out around 1:15 p.m. Monday near Featherstone Canyon Road in Barona in the Four Corners area. The area is just east of the Barona Resort and Casino in San Diego's East County, 32 miles northeast of Downtown San Diego.

As of 9:30 p.m. Cal Fire officials reported the fire was holding steady at 133 acres and 50 percent contained.

For several hours, Cal Fire crews said the brush fire was threatening homes in the Barona Mesa community. San Diego County Sheriff's (SDSO) deputies worked on scene to help those in the area evacuated. As of 4:46 p.m., the evacuation advisory has been lifted. 

No other evacuations have been issued at this time. 

A temporary evacuation center was set up at El Capitan High School, located at 10410 Ashwood Street in Lakeside. Pets are welcome. Large animals could be taken to the San Diego Country Estates Equestrian Center located at 16911 Gunn Stage Road in Ramona.

According to Cal Fire, crews will be there through the night and tomorrow to fully contain the fire.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Red Cross Issues Emergency Request for Blood Donations

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The American Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood and platelet donations, asking those eligible to donate as soon as possible.

According to the Red Cross, someone in the United States is in need of blood every two seconds. Currently, the Red Cross has less than a five-day supply of blood on hand.

It is the first time in eight years that the Red Cross has issued an emergency donation request.

Eligible donors are asked to schedule an appointment to donate by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting the Red Cross online or calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Individuals who are 17 years of age or 16 with parental consent in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.



Photo Credit: Jody Lane/American Red Cross

32 Years After McDonald's Massacre

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Decades later, July 18 will long be remembered as a horrific day in San Diego’s history. Now, the director of a new documentary hopes his movie will help San Diegans know and remember the victims, survivors and unknown heroes of the 1984 McDonald’s massacre.

Thirty-two years have gone by but the events of that day are still fresh in the mind of survivors like Wendy Flanagan.

”I don’t want to relive that day ever again," she said.

But sadly, she says she remembers everything whenever she hears news of another mass shooting.

“I go through it over and over. I relive it every time," she said.

On July 18, 1984, Flanagan was 16 years old, taking orders behind the register at a McDonald's in San Ysidro. At some point, she walked away from the front counter to get more ice.

And that’s when she heard the gunfire.

James Oliver Huberty opened fire inside the McDonald's, killing 21 people and injuring 19 others.

But director Charlie Minn says you won't see or hear the shooter's name anywhere in his new documentary about the tragic mass shooting.

“This coward’s name will not be in the film, but what he did that day was beyond comprehension.”

Instead, the focus of the movie is on the several victims of all ages who lost their lives, the untold stories of heroes who shielded others from the spray of bullets and the survivors who continue to live with the scars from that day.

Minn interviewed people like Flanagan for the documentary. 

But Flanagan says she won't be joining other at the theaters when the film is released.

“I won’t watch the movie because it’s vivid already in my mind. And I don’t need to relive that. I have taken these 32 years trying to forget that day.”

The movie lasts 77 minutes, the same amount of time between the first call to police at 4 p.m. until the moment a SWAT marksman fired at single shot at the gunman, killing him.

On Monday, flowers adorned the memorial site in San Ysidro where the McDonald’s used to stand.

The movie will first open to people in San Diego on Friday, September 23. It will run at the Ultrastar Mission Valley-Hazard Center for at least a week.

Minn says he doesn’t hold back in the movie so many may find the images disturbing.

Veterans Fill VA Waiting Rooms for Hearing Loss Help

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Veterans in need of hearing aids are not getting them in a timely manner, according to a 2012 Veterans Affairs audit. 

The audit found that hearing loss was the second most prevalent service-connected disability for veterans after Tinnitus. Over the course of the study, veterans ordered 665,000 hearing aids and components and 394,000 hearing aids were repaired. 

According to the audit, the VA was not timely in issuing new hearing aids to veterans and in meeting its 5-day timeliness goal. Thirty percent of hearing aids were also delivered more than 30 days late to veterans.

Larry Patterson, a Lieutenant in the Army in Vietnam back in 1967, served as an artillery forward observer, responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire onto a target.

“I was near the guns quite a bit and also near explosions on the other end quite a bit,” he told NBC 7.

Patterson was awarded two Bronze Stars for his actions when his Battalion came under hostile fire.

The award reads, in part: "First Lieutenant Larry Patterson was instrumental in suppressing the enemy mortar fire and thwarting mass ground attacks going on to say putting him directly in prime position as a target."

The only VA benefit that Patterson said he uses is having his hearing aid serviced.

“You kinda dread the time when you're going to have to go in.”

Patterson told NBC 7 the San Diego VA Medical Center clinic stopped taking appointments for hearing aid repair and he just had to show up and wait.

“You don't know to go in a half hour before they open and try to be one of the first or wait til a dead time, whenever that is," he said.

Patterson said the waiting room is always full and it would usually take over an hour. He said he feels is frustrated that after spending time serving his country, the VA can't take the time to make an appointment for him.

“They’ve taken a step backwards at a time when you think they would take a step forward.”

A VA spokesperson said that veterans should be able to walk-in or make an appointment as part of the VA’s new open access program. However, NBC 7 contacted the audiology clinic and were told that the way to see someone was to just walk-in.

The San Diego Medical Center is looking into what they say maybe a communication issue.

If you would like to share your experiences with programs for veterans, email Bridget Naso.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

1 Detained in Suspicious City Heights Apartment Fire

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Officials detained a woman for questioning in City Heights Tuesday morning after a suspicious fire sparked at an apartment, forcing two families out of their homes and sending a child to the hospital.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) said the blaze broke out just before 3:30 a.m. at a two-story apartment complex in the 3800 block of Van Dyke Avenue.

Two families were displaced, including five adults and three children. SDFD officials said one child suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital for treatment. Four other residents were evaluated by medics at the scene. Red Cross arrived at the complex to help the displaced families find temporary housing.

Officials said one woman was detained in connection with the fire. Arson investigators were at the scene for several hours collecting evidence.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. NBC 7 spoke with the son of the woman detained at the scene who said his mother allegedly started the fire.

He said she once started a fire at another apartment in which they lived and said she needs help, as her actions are putting everyone around her in danger.

The suspect’s son said he and his father will be staying at a motel until they are allowed to return to their home.

No further details were released.



Photo Credit: SDNV

LIVE: Pitbull

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Pitbull took a bite out of Sleep Train Amphitheatre on July 16, with his wild, high-energy live show and huge hits.

Photo Credit: Alex Matthews

Skateboarder Struck by Car in Pacific Beach

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A 22-year-old man was critically injured Monday night when he rode his skateboard across a crosswalk against a traffic warning and was hit by a car, police said.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said the skateboarder was riding southbound on the west sidewalk of Ingraham Street in Pacific Beach just after 9 p.m. when he crossed Felspar Street against a “Don’t Walk” signal. He was struck by a driver in a Prius as she made a left turn onto the street.

Police said the man on the skateboard suffered a severe head injury. He’s not expected to survive. The driver was not injured in the accident.

No further details were released.

WATCH: Whale Bumps Paddleboarder in California

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A professional flutist going for a spin in the Pacific on a paddle board was bumped by a humpback whale last week.

But Viviana Guzman, 52, of Montara, California, said she wasn’t scared at all. In fact, she said she thinks the juvenile mammal was more scared of her, as she was standing atop of a paddleboard, her plastic flute tucked in her wetsuit.

“It just really caught me by surprise,” Guzman said on Monday, en route to her native Chile to perform in one of the 80 or so concerts she’s asked to play in each year. “I do this all the time, but this one came just a little closer.”

She shot some of the video with a GoPro attached to her chest, while her friend took a second video with a GoPro attached to her head. The two go out regularly to swim, paddleboard and whale watch near the Miramar Beach Restaurant in Half Moon Bay, which is where they spotted the whale last Thursday or Friday. Since Guzman is a flute player, she also always brings her instrument.

Guzman said she started coming to this beach last year, and has continually been seeing the whales coming closer and closer to shore.

As a flutist, she thought she would cool to bring her music and a plastic version of her beloved instrument out to the sea to play for the giant creatures, Pied Piper-style.

The video also shows a whale diving under Guzman's paddle board as she played the flute. 

“I felt maybe they would like it,” she said. “It’s kinda fun.”

Music on Guzman's video is from her song "Native Soul." 



Photo Credit: Viviana Guzman
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Teen Hurt in Drive-By Shooting Near Belmont Park

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A 17-year-old was wounded in a drive-by shooting near Belmont Park in Mission Beach overnight when a passenger in another vehicle opened fire, police said.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the victim was with three other young men traveling in a Honda Civic around 1:30 a.m. near the beachfront amusement park in the 1300 block of West Mission Bay Drive.

A teal colored vehicle – possible a Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger – passed the group in the Honda on the left and a passenger in that vehicle fired a gun out of the window.

The round pierced the rear driver’s side door of the Honda, striking a 17-year-old passenger in the hip, police said.

The shooting suspect’s car then fled the area, and was last seen taking the Sunset Cliffs Boulevard off-ramp from West Mission Bay Drive. The SDPD said the shooter was wearing a fitted red hat, but a more detailed description was not immediately released.

After the shooting, the group in the Honda drove a few miles to Mission Valley Resort off Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley where they called police for help. 

The victim was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive. No other injuries were reported.

The drive-by shooting is under investigation. As of 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, no arrests had been made.

NBC 7 spoke with locals and visitors in Mission Beach Tuesday who said the shooting is concerning, especially in an area that is filled with people daily.

"It's very discomforting," Tierrasanta resident Pam Lamarsh told NBC 7. "You feel unsafe in any place today -- to even go grocery shopping. You never know what's going to happen."

Phoenix resident Franki Leonard is on vacation in San Diego for two weeks and said it's frightening to hear of an incident like this happening in the beach community. Her children are teenagers.

"It makes me nervous to have my kids out now," said Leonard. "Now I'm afraid."



Photo Credit: SDNV

Hillcrest Businesses Hire Private Security

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Small businesses in Hillcrest have banded together to hire private security officers to patrol the streets as the community deals with safety issues stemming from homelessness.

According to the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA), homelessness is the No. 1 problem in the neighborhood, causing concern among business owners and patrons.

According to some businesses, some of the homeless who frequent the area have gotten aggressive in their panhandling, making customers and employees feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

Troy Merritt, who worked at the Rite-Aid on Robinson Avenue in Hillcrest, said a homeless man once asked him for change as he was leaving work. When he didn’t give him money, a woman got involved and the encounter turned violent.

“In the end, they tried to jump me,” he told NBC 7. “I’ll never forget it; cops came and everything.”

Benjamin Nicholls with the HBA said Merritt’s incident is an example of why the HBA signed a $75,000 annual contract with the security company, City Wide Protection Services.

“[The homeless] are panhandling aggressively and if you don’t give them money, they’re following you. They’re following you into stores,” said Nicholls. “The business community is pretty upset.”

Nicholls said the HBA agreed to cut community programs to afford this private security in the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the City of San Diego said it has been battling homelessness in the area and continues to do so.

In a statement to NBC 7, San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria wrote:

"Private security can help address issues like crime and trespassing on private property, but being homeless is not illegal. My office has dedicated funding for social services and outreach in Hillcrest over the last few years and will continue to invest in compassionate and proven efforts to address homelessness.”

Nicholls said small businesses need more street-level support. And, while the solution of hiring private security isn’t idea, he said the HBA feels, at this point, there is no other choice.

For now, two private security officers will patrol on foot from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. After 6 p.m., one car patrol will be in the area overnight, until 6 a.m.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

San Diego City Council Votes to Ban Plastic Bags

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Plastic bags will soon be banned in the city of San Diego, under an ordinance passed Tuesday by the San Diego City Council.

Councilors voted to ban single-use plastic bags. The new ordinance will take effect in September after a second reading of the ordinance later this summer.

The ordinance will include a six-month grace period for grocery stores and pharmacies; convenience stores and smaller markets will have one-year grace period.

As part of the new ordinance, shoppers who don’t bring their own bags will have to purchase paper bags for 10 cents.

Restaurants, newspaper delivery and bags for transporting produce, meat, poultry, dry cleaning and laundry are not included in the city ban.

San Diego’s new ordinance came after a statewide proposal to ban plastic bags in 2014 failed to go into effect.

Community Meeting Held Following Attacks on Police

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A community meeting about the recent violence against police officers following the police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota became heated Tuesday evening in Encanto.

The meeting was held at 6 p.m. in the George L. Stevens Senior Center on 570 S. 65th Street.

In a statement, Fourth Disctrict Councilmember Myrtle Cole said that as an "African American woman, a former police officer" she hopes to establish trust between communities in San Diego and law enforcement.

“In light of all the event that have happened, the loss of life, we just want to make sure that it does not happen in America’s Finest City. We don’t want that to happen here in San Diego,” she said.

Alton Sterling, 37, was shot and killed by police two weeks ago in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In St. Anthony, Minnesota, Philando Castile, another black man was shot and killed by a police officer.

The shootings sparked protests nationwide for the "Black Live Matter" movement, including San Diego.

Three police officers were shot and killed in Baton Rouge Sunday. In Dallas, Texas, five officers were killed and seven others were injured by a sniper on July 7.

Cole said the effort to establish trust between law enforcement and communities in San Diego was personal.

But the meeting quickly became heated.

Gwenlyn Martin, a volunteer at the Encanto Recreation Center said she's been giving her grown son the same speech since he was a child.

"Don't turn up your music. If police stop you, be respectful. How many of you guys are giving your children that speech," Martin said.

Superior Court Judge Michael Washington also spoke, saying he's the only African American judge in the North County. He said he agreed with residents about keep ing police accountable but also wanted to hold community members accountable.

"If you hear an invitation to add a police officer to our police force, then apply or talk to brothers and sisters to apply," Washington said. "Because if we wait for them to solve our relations, it's not going to get get there." 

Cole says Tuesday's discussions will be one of the many this community will have, followed by one on Thursday.

On Monday, law enforcement officials from across San Diego County also held a conference asking members of the public for support in wake of the Dallas and Baton Rouge attacks.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Tiffany Trump: 5 Things to Know About Her

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Donald Trump's daughter, Tiffany, will take center stage at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night.

The 22-year-old recent college graduate, the only child from Trump's six-year marriage to Marla Maples, has been much less visible on the campaign trail than her older half-siblings, all of whom have acted as surrogates for their father over the past 13 months.

Following Melania Trump's address at the RNC Monday night, which appeared to lift entire passages from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention speech, the campaign is facing heightened scrutiny -- especially Trump's family members, who will be speaking throughout this week, NBC News reports.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cases of Aggressive Prostate Cancer on the Rise

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Cases of aggressive prostate cancer appear to be on the rise, researchers reported Tuesday.

The good news is it's still rare for prostate cancer to spread, NBC News reported. Just 3 percent of cases have already started spreading when men are diagnosed and prostate cancer overall has not become more common, the team found.

However, they found that cases of metastatic prostate cancer — the type that has started to spread in the body — nearly doubled in men aged 55 to 69 since 2004. The reason is not yet clear.

"One hypothesis is the disease has become more aggressive, regardless of the change in screening," said Dr. Edward Schaeffer, chair of urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine, who led the study.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Cultura RF

Local GOP Leaders Skip Republican National Convention

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Some prominent GOP leaders from San Diego are not attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Republican National Convention headed into its second day on Tuesday with Donald Trump cinching the nomination for president. 

Many local Republican leaders, such as past presidential nominee Mitt Romney, made it clear that Trump is the reason why he’s staying away from the convention.

Ryan Clumpner, a political consultant in San Diego is deeply involved with the local Republican Party. He told NBC 7 that he didn’t have any interest in going to the convention this year.

Similar to Romney and Republican State Assemblymember Rocky Chavez, for Clumpner, the issue was also Trump.

“Until the party stands for something I can connect to and I can relate to again, it’s not something I want to be in the middle of,” he said.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer had also announced that he would not vote for or endorse Trump because of the Republican nominee’s controversial comments about Latinos and Mexico.

But Trump is not the only reason by some leaders have opted out of making the trip to Cleveland. For Congressman Duncan Hunter, one of Trump’s supporters, the reason is family.

NBC 7 requested an interview with Hunter. His Chief of Staff Joe Kasper sent us the following statement:

“Representative Hunter was one of Trump's first supporters and remains active in support of the GOP nominee, but he's also a family man with a wife and three kids and he knows there are plenty of others who are eager to attend the convention. Family time is important and being gone for months at a time makes time at home and in the district with voters all the more valuable.”



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Fox News Nearing Decision on Roger Ailes: Sources

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Fox News Channel is nearing a decision on CEO Roger Ailes' future at the network, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday evening, amid allegations of sexual harassment by a former network anchor.

21st Century Fox, which owns the network, disputed reports Tuesday that a decision had been reached, saying in a statement: Roger is at work. The review is ongoing. The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement."

But sources told CNBC that Fox is nearing a decision, and the decision is likely to result in his departure from the network.

Ailes, who has been with the network since its launch in 1996 and has been credited with building the it into a powerhouse, was accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Impact Report for Controversial North County Proposal

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County Supervisors have voted to order an impact report for a proposed controversial development in San Diego's North County. 

The Lilac Hills Ranch project is a 600-acre development that would build more than 1,700 homes along the Interstate 15 corridor that stretches into Valley Center and Bonsall.

It would also include schools, a hotel, office and commercial space.

An initiative by the developer Randy Goodson to put the project on the ballot has the required number of signatures to be places on the ballot. 

The proposal was sent to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors once the signatures were verified. Supervisors had the option to adopt the ordinance, place it on the ballot, or order an impact report. 

Tuesday, supervisors voted unanimously to request the impact report. The report will be prepared by County staff employees.  

The proposal has been subject to heated to debate from those living in the area. Those for the project, which has been in the works for more than five years, say it would have a small-town feel while incorporating the latest green technology, making Lilac Hills Ranch self-sufficient.

But opponents like Jack Shu with the Cleveland National Forest Foundation say the county’s rural areas should not be subjected to developments that belong in a city.

The report will be available to the public on Friday, July 29. The Board will take up the issue again at their Aug. 2 board meeting, when they decide whether to put the issue on the ballot or approve the ordinance. 



Photo Credit: LilacHillsRanch.com
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