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Fan Shells Out Record Amount for NBA Finals Tickets: Report

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What would you buy with $133,000?

One fan with deep pockets decided on two courtside tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Oakland Monday night. That astronomical amount marks the most expensive seats ever purchased in NBA history, according to ESPN.

Broken down, that's $66,500 per seat. If the game lasts a traditional 48 minutes, that buyer is shelling out about $1,385 per minute for just one seat. For both seats, that's roughly $2,771.

The eye-popping tickets were sold Sunday by a season-ticket holder to the buyer using the team's resale site, according to ESPN. The $133,000 price tag also included $17,000 worth of buyer fees.

Early Monday, two floor seats were still available for a cool $48,725.50 each, but they have since been nabbed, according to StubHub. Say the game lasts two hours and 30 minutes, the buyer is forking over about $325 per minute. Double that number to $650 per minute if they bring a friend.

For those not wishing to completely break the bank, the cheapest seat in the house as of Monday morning was hovering just above $600 for a spot in the upper deck behind the baskets, according to StubHub.

Game 5 is scheduled to tip at 6 p.m. PST. Golden State can close out the series and capture its second title in three years with a victory.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

US Cancels New Protection for West Coast Whales

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The Trump administration on Monday threw out a new rule intended to limit the numbers of endangered whales and sea turtles getting caught in fishing nets off the West Coast, even though the fishing industry had proposed the measure.

The National Marine Fisheries Service said it decided the new protection was not warranted.

The action is one of the first by the Trump administration targeting protections for threatened species off the Pacific coast, said Catherine Kilduff, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity conservation group.

The regulation was designed to reduce the numbers of humpback whales, leatherback sea turtles and other large creatures that accidentally become tangled in mile-long nets set adrift by commercial fishermen overnight to catch swordfish off California and Oregon.

The regulation allowed for shutting down swordfish fishing with the drift nets for up to two fishing seasons if too many of the endangered animals were getting caught in the nets.

The rule applied to endangered fin, humpback, and sperm whales, short-fin pilot whales and common bottlenose dolphins, as well as endangered leatherback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, olive-ridley sea turtles and green sea turtles.

Some of the communities of whales that would have been protected under the rule have dwindled to the low hundreds, Kilduff said.

The fishing industry's Pacific Fishery Management Council had proposed the new regulation in 2015. Federal officials began implementing it the next year.



Photo Credit: AP

Police Chase Leads to Arrests in National City

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An eight-minute police pursuit that began on Interstate 94 West ended in National City with two arrests Monday morning.

At approximately 3:20 a.m., police said they began pursuing a vehicle on the I-94 in Lemon Grove when the vehicle transitioned to the southbound Interstate 805.

With La Mesa Police, California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Department in pursuit, the driver of the vehicle attempted to do a U-turn on the freeway, but instead crashed over the side of the freeway into large bushes.

Police said both vehicle occupants, a male and female, were taken into custody.

The driver of the vehicle is undetermined at this time.

 No further information was available. 

Cabinet Members Take Turns Praising Trump at Unusual Meeting

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President Donald Trump opened his Cabinet meeting Monday the way many might expect him to: listing the administration's accomplishments and criticizing Democratic "obstructionists" for hindering his agenda.

But CNBC reports that the meeting took an unexpected turn when Trump asked Cabinet members to name their positions and give their thoughts on the administration one-by-one.

"Start with Mike," Trump said, referring to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president's introduction began a succession of praise and gratitude for the president, which included comments from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer and his aides mocked the meeting's unusual format in a parody video posted on the senator's Twitter account captioned "GREAT meeting today with the best staff in the history of the world!!!"



Photo Credit: Olivier Douliery/Getty Images

New Carlsbad Trampoline Park to Open in July

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A new Carlsbad trampoline park will be hiring more than 60 employees as they prepare to open in July. 

The House of Air, a 32,000 square foot trampoline park, will have 4,000 square feet of open trampoline space and two dodge ball courts when it opens, according to a statement from House of Air General Manager Dave Ogilvie.

The park will also feature a 30-foot rock climbing tower and free-fall zone, among other elements. 

“We’re very excited to bring something this awesome to North County,” said Ogilvie in a statement. “Our motto is safety first. Awesome second. And we will have plenty of both.”

House of Air caters to recreational, fitness, and group activities, including birthdays and corporate events, according to its website.

Ogilvie said the House of Air is in the process of hiring staff and is looking to bring about 60 new jobs to the Carlsbad area.

More information can be found at the House of Air website.



Photo Credit: Courtesy of House of Air

Cold Case Solved 31 Years Later With DNA Testing

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Thirty-one years after a man's fatal stabbing in Lemon Grove, homicide detectives have arrested a suspect using advanced DNA testing, San Diego County Sheriff's deputies (SDSO) announced Monday. 

Stacy Littleton, 52, of San Diego, has been charged with a single count of murder in the death of Cyrus Jefferson, deputies said. Littleton was already in custody at the San Diego Central Jail on unrelated charges at the time of his arrest.

On Oct. 11 in 1986, just before 7:30 a.m., deputies found the body of Jefferson stabbed to death in a field on the 2500 block of 69th Street in Lemon Grove, according to the SDSO.

The victim was 20-years-old at the time.

Deputies from the Lemon Grove Station were called to the scene and identified the victim as Jefferson, a San Diego resident. 

An investigation was underway with the Sheriff's homicide detail team. At the time of the initial investigation back in 1986, Littleton was arrested on a murder charge, but he was later released. 

In the following years, the case went unsolved. 

However, Sheriff's detectives recently relaunched the investigation into the case. 

Detectives re-evaluated evidence found at the crime scene. Thanks to the advancement of DNA technology, detectives were able to link Littleton to the crime. 

Deputies obtained a warrant and arrested Littleton shortly after.

Littleton was being held for drug possession and drug paraphernalia possession, on a bail amount of $12,500. Now, with the murder charge, he is also being held on a bail amount of $1,000,000.

Anyone with information related to this case can call Homicide Detail at (858)974-2321.

Poway Couple Accused of Hoarding 180 Yorkies Pleads Guilty

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A Poway couple, accused of hoarding more than a hundred Yorkie dogs inside their homes and a restaurant pleaded guilty Monday, confirmed prosecutors.

Christine Calvert, 62, and Matt Vattimo, 73, will be placed on three years of probation at their sentencing on July 11, said prosecutors.

Calvert and Vattimo previously pleaded not guilty in March.

Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy says it's most important that the defendants get help, in order to make sure this never happens again.

The defendants must undergo counseling and are not allowed to own any pets, as part of their plea agreement. They also will transfer the ownership of a 31-foot motorhome to the Humane Society as restitution in the case, said prosecutors.

After 18 months of probation, Vattimo and Calvert may apply to have their felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors, according to Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis.

Back in January, the Humane Society received a report from a concerned veterinarian that suggested the Poway couple was keeping 180 dogs in deplorable conditions. The dogs were kept in dark, unsanitary rooms filled with feces, urine and mice at the defendants' home.

When Humane Society officials went to the scene, they were prevented from entering the home, said Reedy. Within a few days, they were able to come in and 94 dogs were removed from the defendants' home within the next eight hours.

Later, 29 dogs were also seized from a restaurant the couple owned and nearly 50 dogs were taken from a motor home when Calvert was arrested last February in Primm, Nevada, according to prosecutors.

It was unclear why the couple kept so many dogs in terrible conditions, Reedy said. All the animals had health problems, ranging from ear infections to severe matting.

The couple was charged with 10 felony counts, including animal abuse and neglect, and one count of resisting an officer.

The dogs were placed in the care of the San Diego Humane Society. 

More than 1,500 adoption applications were submitted for the Yorkies, prompting the organization to close the adoption process earlier than planned.



Photo Credit: San Diego Humane Society

Are Your Allergies Worse Lately? Experts Explain Why

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Medical experts say allergies may be worse for people living in San Diego lately. The reason why might have to do with the drought.

"Now that we are out of the drought and there's been more rain and water it is easier for plants to grow," said Dr. Eric White, an optometrist with VSP Network, based in San Diego. "That puts a lot more allergens into the air like pollen."

Dr. White said those with allergy symptoms might experience dry and itchy eyes, runny nose, coughing, sore throat or other symptoms.  

“We’re having a lot more frequency of people coming in with allergy attacks," said Dr. White.

Dr. White said there are over the counter remedies for allergies. For example, taking an anti-histamine can help with symptoms of sneezing, dry eyes and coughing.

Dr. White also added for dry eyes, it is important to use eye drops, which can offer instant relief.


City Council Votes Against Holding Special Election

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The City Council on Monday voted against holding a special election in November, just days after San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer used his veto power to restore funding

A special election would have placed a hotel tax measure and the controversial SoccerCity proposal on the ballot in November. The hotel tax hike would be used to fund a Convention Center expansion, street upgrades and homelessness programs, according to Faulconer.

“Our city deserves better than what happened today. To every San Diegan bewildered by the Council’s inability to carry out the simple task of calling an election, your disappointment is understandable, but we must move forward," Faulconer said in a statement. "I remain determined to doing what it takes, including working with the community and City Council, to expand our convention center, help our homeless and tackle the civic issues facing our city.”

Last Monday, in an 8-1 vote, the City Council blocked funding for the $5 million special election but approved the overall $3.6 billion budget for the Fiscal Year 2018.

Following the vote, Faulconer announced he would use his veto authority to override the City Council's decision--which he did on Thursday. 

During a meeting Monday, the council voted 5-4 against holding a special election.

The Tourism Coalition released a statement in response to the vote, which read, in part:

"The tourism coalition is disappointed some council members chose a narrow special interest today instead of doing what's best for San Diego. They turned their backs on 184,000 San Diegans employed by the tourism industry, and 5,000 men, women and children living on our streets. Without an alternative, they turned down a plan that included a billion dollars for homeless services and a billion more for road repairs, not to mention the city services a modern and expanded convention center would pay for in every neighborhood."

Empty Storefronts Line Once Bustling Horton Plaza

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Saturday’s deadly shooting at Horton Plaza is the latest development in what seems to be a dark cloud hanging over the once-prized shopping mall in Downtown San Diego.

In the last three years, many of its tenants have left, while there are no new businesses filling the empty spaces.

“I was walking through the mall today. I thought it was kind of sad to see the transition," said Luke Dawson of Golden Hill.

Dawson used to work at the Express store in Horton Plaza and said he remembers going there as a child with his family.

“It was a great time, and I don’t understand what changed,” he said.

In the three and a half years since Jimbo’s opened its Horton Plaza location, store manager Phillip Balderrama said he has seen at least five stores close.

“Gradually stores are closing and spots aren’t getting filled up,” Balderrama said.

Balderrama noticed an increase in closures after Nordstrom shut down its location last August, making it the last original anchor of the mall.

“All that’s left is 24 Hour Fitness and Jimbo’s and a bunch of little shops,” Balderrama explained.

Adjacent to Horton Plaza Mall is Horton Plaza Park, which has had its share of issues since it reopened in May 2016.

The park shut down for three years during a $18 million renovation project by the City of San Diego. Westfield is responsible for operating the park for 25 years, they are also the operator of Horton Plaza Mall.

“I don’t really see any people besides homeless in the park area,” said Stephanie Meyer.

Meyer is the server manager at Spike Africa, a bar and grill across the street from Horton Plaza Park.

The reason her owners chose to start a restaurant on Fourth Avenue and Broadway, Meyer explained, is precisely because of the park and all the city promised to downtown investors.

But since it’s opening, Meyer said the city’s promises have fallen short.

“We haven’t been seeing the profitable promises that we were told,” Meyer said. “We’re hoping that now that [the park] is open, they will start scheduling the 200 plus events they said they were going to start doing."



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Deadly Drug Sales Rise Online Among Kids: DEA

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As the country's opioid crisis worsens, the internet is playing a large role in the trade of deadly drugs with sales of fentanyl growing at an alarming rate.

Drug dealers in Southeast Asia are using the dark web to sell fentanyl and synthetic opioids to U.S. drug users, sometimes in the form of a dangerous nasal spray, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Law enforcement officials have noticed a rising trend of arrests and overdoses from drugs being bought online from dealers in China. The shipments arrive on the doorsteps of drug users across the country via the U.S. Postal Service.

In San Diego, California, the biggest threat continues to be opioids coming across the U.S.-Mexico border, but synthetics are being sold to kids over the dark web, according to DEA spokesperson Amy L. Roderick.

"A lot of these drugs are being seized, and they're actually a nasal spray," Roderick said. "So, if you're a parent here in San Diego County, you should be opening any mail that your child gets, and if it's nasal spray that could be something really bad and parents need to be concerned about that."

Utah teenagers Grant Seaver and Ryan Ainsworth, both 13-year-olds, died last Fall after buying a synthetic opioid called U-47700 or "Pinky" from another teenager who bought it on the dark web. The kids used Bitcoin to make the purchases from a dealer in China.

Bitcoin is an online currency children can access by winning online video games, among other ways.

Deadly dosages of fentanyl can come in the form of a nasal spray, but the drug is also sold as powder, pills and even counterfeit pills fraudulently marketed as prescription Xanax or Oxycontin.

"So, they will take the fentanyl, press it into a pill press and make fraudulent Xanax, hydrocodone and oxycodone, and then sell those on the street to pill seekers who believe they're getting an oxycodone or hydrocodone product. In reality, they're getting a pill that has fentanyl in it," Roderick said.

"The cartels do not care about the fact that they put a lethal dose into one of these pills," added Roderick.

Just a few flakes of fentanyl can be deadly. Their potency makes them perfect for online sales.

Enough fentanyl to get nearly 50,000 people high can be delivered to a person's doorstep in a standard size first-class envelope.



Photo Credit: Drug Enforcement Administration

County Seeks $25 Million to Fund Affordable Housing

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Two supervisors unveiled a major initiative Monday aimed at providing affordable housing for low-income seniors, vets, families and homeless people in San Diego County.

Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Ron Roberts said their plan would establish a $25 million pool to fund affordable housing construction. Their hope is to jump-start the building, renovation and acquisition of housing and stem the growing tide of homelessness.

They would also consider 11 properties in San Diego County to use as potential affordable housing units. Currently, eight of those properties are located in the City of San Diego.

“This is a regional initiative. Nobody's ever done it before, so I'm hoping that if this is successful, which I think it will be, that we will be able to expand this program into the future,” said Jacob.

California grants would provide the funding for this initiative, according to county officials. The supervisors’ plan will be presented next week.

A new study from the National Multifamily Housing Counsel shows that San Diego will need nearly 73,000 new apartments to keep up with demand.

“We are trying to make a difference,” said Roberts. “This couldn’t be happening at a more important time.”

Tanya Cravero, a portfolio manager for SENTRE Living, said that while her company offers more traditional units the demand is even stronger for their smaller studios.

“It’s not surprising at all. All of our properties stay between 97 and 100 percent full,” said Cravero.

Increased demand for housing is coming from recent college graduates as well as older couples hoping to downsize their housing arrangement, said Cravero.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Fourth Death Linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak in County

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A fourth person has died as a result of a hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) said Monday.

Since the outbreak, 120 people have been hospitalized and there have been 160 total cases of the virus in the county.

According to the HHSA, the outbreak has not been linked to a common food, drink or drug source.

But many of the individuals who became sick from the virus are homeless and/or used illegal drugs.

There were 12 reported cases of the virus in county detention facilities. The following is a list of possible exposures.

-George Bailey Detention Facility:

  • Area 1A: from April 10 to April 24
  • Area 2A: from May 17 to June 5
  • Area 3A: on April 24
  • Area 3C: from April 24 to May 1, on May 5, and from May 15 to May 18

-San Diego Central Jail

  • Area 4A: from May 8 to May 10
  • Area 7B: from April 24 to May 26
  • Area 8C: from April 24 to May 7

-East Mesa Detention Facility from May 6 to May 8

Anyone who may have been exposed to the virus can develop symptoms up to 50 days after the exposure.

“We strongly encourage people who are at risk to check with their healthcare providers and get vaccinated for hepatitis A,” said public health officer Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H.

The virus can be prevented if a vaccine is received within two weeks of the exposure, according to the HHSA.

Those most at risk for getting hepatitis A are those in the homeless community, illegal drug users, and people with chronic liver diseases.

The vaccine is also recommended for anyone who frequently works with homeless people and/or illegal drug users.

Hepatitis A can also be spread by having sexual contact or sharing drugs with someone who is infected.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A include: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and light-colored stools.

Hepatitis A can sometimes cause liver failure and even death.

California Democrats Push to Change Recall Election Rules

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California Democrats moved Monday to change the rules governing recall elections, potentially hampering the campaign to remove a Democratic state senator from office.

Under the proposal, people who sign a recall petition would have 30 days to rescind their signatures after they have been submitted to election officials. It would also give lawmakers an additional 30 days to weigh in on how much a recall election would cost. It was introduced Monday as part of a budget bill in an effort to protect Democratic Sen. Josh Newman of Fullerton, who is facing a recall effort over his vote to increase the gas tax.

Democrats will lose their supermajority in the Senate if Newman is recalled.

Democrats say the changes are needed because the campaign to recall Newman has misled voters when gathering their signatures. Backers of the effort must collect more than 60,000 signatures to trigger a recall election. The leader of the recall effort calls the charges false.

"You want to recall me, that's fine," Newman said. "But do it fair and square."

The recall organizers are misleading people to believe signing the petition will reverse the gas tax, Newman said. If a special election to recall Newman occurs, the gas tax would not be on the ballot. Voters should be able to withdraw their signatures once they've been submitted to election officials, Newman said.

Carl DeMaio, the radio talk show host leading the recall campaign, denies that signature gatherers are misleading voters. The campaign has collected more than 35,000 signatures, DeMaio said, although they have not been officially verified.

DeMaio, a former San Diego city councilman, said he plans to challenge the proposed rules in court.

"This is an unconstitutional effort to strip California citizens of the right of recalling their politicians," he said. "It is a brazen abuse of power."

If the recall campaign is successful, the proposed rules could draw out the process long enough so that Newman is on the June or November ballot in 2018, rather than in a special election.

Democrats hold supermajorities in both houses of the Legislature. The recall rule-change proposal comes as Assembly Democrats are set to lose Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, who was elected to represent Los Angeles in the U.S. Congress last week. Assembly Democrats will no longer have a vote to spare on supermajority bills once Gomez leaves for Washington.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Future of Pot Industry: Robotic Security

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The new security guard doesn't need sleep. It doesn't need a bathroom break. It won't be distracted by cellphones. It doesn't get tired.
 
It's like RoboCop without the gun.
 
It's autonomous robotic security, and it's going to be used to guard pot farms in California. The first robots are rolling out in the coming months at Southern California marijuana farms in Desert Hot Springs, said Todd Kleperis, the CEO of Hardcar Security, which is leasing the robots to several marijuana farmers in the region.
 
"It gives a visible, offensive tool to growers," Kleperis said. "When you have something coming up on you at a high speed and it's blaring horns and it's screaming at you and telling you it's calling the police, it's a pretty big deterrent."
 
Outfitted with two-way communication, a camera system, a siren and GPS, the Sharp INTELLOS Automated Unmanned Ground Vehicle is ready for service. At nearly 5 feet long, 3 feet wide and standing just over 4 feet, it looks like a police bomb squad robot, but it's white and goes just 3 mph. It'll go just about anywhere and it can handle just about any cold-or-hot weather environment, all the while streaming back video to a command center with human security guards who can respond in an emergency.
 
The belief is that it won't put humans in harm's way in the high-risk marijuana industry that still operates largely with cash because weed remains illegal under federal law. Each unit can cost up to $300,000, but there are leasing options for companies interested in using them.
 
The idea is the brainchild of Kleperis, a U.S. Army veteran and his partner, Jeffrey Breier, a former cop. Kleperis pitched the idea for robot patrols at pot farms at a meeting with Sharp executives in November. They initially were cool to the idea. But when Kleperis told them the move could put them ahead of the pack in the cannabis industry, they were receptive.
 
"They loved it," Kleperis said. "I flew one of the executives out to (Desert Hot Springs) and Jeff showed him the area. All 200 parcels had been sold. Only one was up and going, and we asked them to demo it there. They said yes, and the rest is history."
 
Five marijuana growers have signed on for robots: three in Desert Hot Springs, a fourth in Santa Barbara and a fifth in Calexico.
 
Greta Carter, who's set to open the indoor pot farm Freedom Flower in Desert Hot Springs this summer, just signed the paperwork and issued deposits for a robot.
 
"A guard can only be at one spot. After 10 hours it gets a little monotonous," she said. "I like the idea of using equipment that's not going to get tired, experience fatigue or heat and not be subjected to exhaustion and monotony."
 
The robot can do a lot. But it has limits.
 
You can't get Wi-Fi everywhere, and you might get 12 hours on full battery charge at most. They're not meant to replace humans.
 
Human security guard Patrick McCluan, the chief operations officer of Front Sight Security, which employs 146 guards to protect medical marijuana businesses and apartment complexes in the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas and Florida, is cautiously optimistic.

"They're definitely another set of eyes," he said.



Photo Credit: Sharp Electronics

Pursuit Nabs Suspects in Latest BevMo! Smash and Grab

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Suspects pursued from a burglary at a BevMo! store are being investigated for possible connections to a series of high-dollar smash and grabs that have targeted the big box wine and spirits chain.

The latest to be hit is the Culver City BevMo! on Sepulveda Boulevard.  An estimated $7,000 worth of acoholic beverages was taken during the break-in shortly after midnight Monday morning, according to police.

Responding officers pursued a Dodge minivan to the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles, and made three arrests there. During the pursuit, many of the bottles were tossed out of the van, police said.

"Bevmo specifically has been experiencing a rash of robberies," said Capt. Sam Agaiby of the Culver City Police Department.

Investigators are now in contact with other agencies, sharing notes and comparing security camera images, in an effort to determine if the three arrested were involved in other burglaries, Agaiby said.

Police described the three as men in their forties with extensive criminal records — one currrently on probation — but declined to disclose their names, citing the ongoing investigation.

Responding to a burglar alarm, officers discovered a smashed front window, and around back found a Dodge minivan pulling away, nearly striking on officer, according to Agaiby. He said the officer fired, but no one was struck, and the van led officers on a pursuit that ended some six miles to the east on Jefferson Boulevard near 10th Avenue.

The van stopped in the parking lot of an apartment building, and the men dispersed, one of them scaling the fence into the back area of the adjacent Harold and Belle's Restaurant.

Security camera video showed the man running frantically through the yard trying to elude police, before climbing onto a storage shed and then onto the roof of the banquet hall annex.

"He tried to hide behind the air conditioning. But it's a flat roof — there's no place to hide," said Ryan Legaux, the restaurant's owner, who was working late in his upstairs office when he heard the commotion.

Two other suspects were also arrested, including a man hiding in a trash barrell, Agaiby said.

In recent months, there have been burglaries reported at BevMo! stores in Whittier, San Diego and San Luis Obispo, among other locations in Southern California.

The section of glass shattered at the Culver City store was located behind a protective barrier known as a bollard.  Police do not think the van was driven through the window, but instead some kind of implement was used to break the glass.

Staff at the BevMo! Culver City store and the BevMo! corporate office declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

Undocumented Student Released Amid Rally in San Diego

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An undocumented college student arrested in southern California was released from an immigration detention center in San Diego Friday.

Outside the detention center, a band played Mexican-style ranchera and dance music for a small rally of supporters, according to the Associated Press.

Claudia Rueda, 22, will apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that shields immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, according to AP. She’s been in the country since she was six years old.

The woman was released while the U.S. government seeks to deport her, reported AP. A judge rejected arguments she should wear a monitoring device because she was arrested while protesting in support of undocumented immigrants.

After leaving the Otay Mesa detention facility, Rueda released a video.

“I was just released from ICE custody. I was there for over three weeks,” said Rueda.

On May 18, Rueda was detained by immigration authorities in LA. Her friends believe the arrest was retaliation by immigration authorities after Rueda led a vocal campaign to release her mother, Teresa Vidal, from custody.

Rueda does not have a criminal record and is an immigration activist, according to the AP. She was arrested twice during peaceful demonstrations to support people in the country illegally, but did not face charges.

Vidal is also undocumented and was detained in connection to a drug smuggling investigation.

“Claudia's mom was cleared of criminal involvement but she was taken into immigration custody solely because of an immigration violation,” said Monika Langarica, an immigration lawyer. “If we look to the immigration system which is not punitive, it's a much less forgiving one.”

When Rueda was detained, her friend Jessica Gonzalez says it was already a chaotic, stressful week for the students.

“They took her during the middle of finals. For any other student it’s already hectic,” said Jessica Gonzalez, a friend of Rueda.

Rueda plans on going back to Los Angeles. There’s still a possibility she could be deported later. Her case has sparked several protests in Southern California.

One resident in Chula Vista, Rick King, told NBC 7 that he is upset by undocumented immigrants who aren't making an effort to gain their documents legally.

“People who come over here and live here for years and never even try to get legal. That upsets me. I think they should be deported,” said King.

President Donald Trump’s administration has promised to crack down on illegal immigration. However, activists say immigration enforcement is nothing new.

“This was our reality even before Trump, with President Obama,” said Gonzalez.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

20-Year-Old Motorcyclist Dies in Crash in Mission Valley

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A 20-year-old motorcyclist died in a crash Monday after he lost control of his bike and fell off in Mission Valley.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the crash happened at 6:22 p.m. on Friars and Mission Center roads.

The motorcycle was going eastbound on Friars Road when he lost control and fell off.

He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



Photo Credit: Metro

Victims Tied Up, Forced to Sit in Bathtub During Robbery

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A City Heights man and his girlfriend were tied up and forced to sit inside a bathtub after two men broke into their home Monday, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed.

The home invasion robbery occurred at 3:15 p.m. on the 4100 block of 43rd Street near University Avenue.

Two suspects knocked on the victims' door and entered the home when the victims' answered. They then tied up the man and his girlfriend and began to ransack the home.

Police said one suspect stayed with the victims in the room while the other suspect ransacked the rest of the home.

When they were leaving, the suspects forced the victims to get inside the bathtub in the bathroom. The victims complied and the men shut the bathroom door before leaving the house.

According to police, it is unknown what was stolen.

Both victims were not hurt.

The suspects were described to be between 20 to 40 years old, dressed in black.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

Victim in 1986 Cold Case Wanted to Start a 'New Life':Sister

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The victim of a 1986 cold case was someone who had wanted to start a new life and had moved to San Diego just two weeks before he was found stabbed to death in a field in Lemon Grove, his sister told NBC 7 Monday.

On Oct. 11, 1986, just before 7:30 a.m., deputies found Cyrus Jefferson's body in a field on the 2500 block of 69th Street in Lemon Grove, according to the SDSO.

"He wanted to start a new life. He said 'I am going to go there. I might be a chef'," said Jefferson's sister Sidra.

Thirty-one years later, the suspect, 52-year-old Stacy Littleton, was charged with a single count of murder in Jefferson's death.

“This person has been roaming the streets all these years. He started his own family living his life," Sidra said.

Sidra told NBC 7, back then, Littleton and her brother had been making plans to share an apartment. 

During the initial investigation, Littleton was arrested on a murder charge but was later released, according to SDSO.

For more than three decades, the case went unsolved.

Littleton was charged after detectives re-evaluated the evidence using advanced DNA technology.

San Diego Sheriff's Lieutenant Kenn Nelson called Sidra Jefferson with news of the arrest.

"There are people out there on both sides who believe nothing was ever going to happen,” Nelson said.

Nelson told NBC 7, the break in the case came when a cold case detective tested for DNA a glove that sat in evidence for 31-years.

“They were able to find two profiles on that glove and those profiles belonged to our victim, Mr. Jefferson, and our suspect, Mr. Littleton,” Nelson said.

Littleton has already been serving time at San Diego County Central Jail for drug and drug paraphernalia possession--he is now charged with one count of murder.

Sidra said her brother was someone who was always nice to everyone, even strangers.

"It never left me because he was a good person,” Sidra said.

She used to live in Oceanside but now resides in Houston, TX. The rest of the family is in Louisiana.

But the case goes to trial, Sidra said those who are able to, will come to San Diego to see justice done.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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