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Local Fishermen to Shuck Oysters for Charity

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San Diego fishermen and women will roll up their sleeves and shuck some oysters next week for a charity event that will help get a new generation of anglers out into the water.

On Aug. 8 – just a few days after National Oyster Day (Aug. 5) – Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy will host its 4th annual charity-driven dining event, the “Shuck-a-Thon,” featuring the shucking skills of the fishing pros make the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market happen week after week.

From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., local fishermen and women will take turns shucking oysters behind the raw bar at Ironside alongside the eatery’s executive chef, Jason McLeod. Oyster enthusiasts are invited slurp the seafood, which will sell for $1 a pop.

One-hundred percent of sales from each oyster shucked that day will benefit the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, a charity that gives special needs children a chance to enjoy a day outdoors, learning how to fish.

Last year, when female chefs took over the restaurant’s raw bar, the Shuck-a-Thon raised more than $5,600 for charity. Organizers expect this year’s event to match or surpass that fundraising target.

In past years, top-notch local chefs have shucked for charities like Fundacion Luz, Project Wildlife, Children International, Waves of Water and Rady Children’s Hospital. The inaugural event in August 2014 raised $2,565 for local charities.

The event is free to attend; walk-ins are welcome. Ironside Fish & Oyster is located at 1654 India St. As its name suggests, the eatery is known for its oysters and fresh seafood dishes.

The fishermen and women of the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market set up shop every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the pier at 598 Harbor Lane near Seaport Village.

At the pop-up, open-air market, patrons can purchase fresh-caught seafood directly from local fishermen and aquafarmers, all working toward minimizing the carbon footprint through sustainable fishing practices. The Dockside Market has been running since 2014.




Photo Credit: Ironside Fish & Oyster
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Chargers May Have Lost Another Player to Injury

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The Chargers may have lost another player to an injury Wednesday, reported NBC Sports.

Rookie guard Forrest Lamp was carted off the field after an apparent right leg injury, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It's a serious blow to the team, as the Chargers are already without their first-rounder Mike Williams. 

Lamp was brought in as an immediate starter for the Chargers, according to NBC Sports. The team was hoping to upgrade their offensive line this offseason.

They haven't given up on Williams yet, although the team acknowledged he could miss the entire season due to back problems.



Photo Credit: Getty

ME ID's Toddler Who Drowned in La Mesa Pool

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The San Diego County Medical Examiner (ME) has identified the toddler who drowned in a La Mesa pool Tuesday. 

Jack Ferguson, 2, was found in the pool around 9 a.m. Tuesday on the 7200 block of Princeton Avenue in San Diego, police said. Authorities have ruled the drowning accidental. 

The parents put the young boy to bed last night, and when they went to check on him this morning, they discovered the child was not in his bed, La Mesa Police Lt. Chad Bell said. 

The initial investigation led officials to believe the boy snuck out of his bed sometime Tuesday morning and went out to the pool through a glass slider, Bell said. 

The parents believe they locked the slider, Bell said, so it is unclear how the door was opened. 

When the parents found their son in the pool later that morning, they immediately began CPR, Bell said. 

Paramedics arrived and took the boy to Grossmont Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. 

Bell said accidents like this are "absolutely, 100 percent avoidable." 

"It is very important that if you have a pool with toddlers, to secure your house before you go to bed at night and to ensure to have that fence around the pool," Bell said.

No further information is available. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Man's Screams Uncover Human Smuggling Attempt

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Shulin Zheng thought he was going to die.

Zheng’s decision to scream for help led to his rescue. The Chinese national had been stuffed inside the hidden compartment of a pickup truck for hours without water.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say Zheng described the experience after he was taken into custody Saturday in San Diego.

Zheng said a man in Mexico agreed to smuggle him into the U.S. in exchange for nearly $60,000. He told agents it took him 40 minutes to get into the crawl space behind the driver’s seat.

He was told he would only be in there for 10 minutes, according to the federal complaint.

The Toyota Tundra carrying Zheng crossed into the U.S. at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry at 1:19 a.m. according to federal records.

About half an hour later, a San Diego police officer pulled over the pickup for a traffic stop at Interstate 15 and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Salvador Vera, Jr. was behind the wheel, CBP officials said.

Upon finding Vera was driving with a suspended license, the officer called to have the pickup impounded.

The truck was towed to Road One Towing on Ruffner Street. More than 90 minutes after the traffic stop, a tow yard employee heard Zheng’s cries for help.

The employee described banging sounds coming from inside a locked compartment of the truck.

San Diego police and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were called. By 4:45 a.m., Zheng had been rescued from the small space and placed in CBP custody.

Vera is facing several charges of human smuggling and a weapons charge, according to the federal complaint. Vera, who told CBP investigators he is a U.S. citizen, allegedly had $6,376 in his possession.

Investigators also say they found a 9mm Beretta with ammunition in the pickup.

Zheng is a Chinese national who has no immigration status in the U.S., federal officials said. He is currently awaiting deportation.




Photo Credit: NBC 7

5 Things Jared Kushner Told Interns in Leaked Speech

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In a speech Monday, which was later leaked to the press, Jared Kushner boasted that details of his Middle East negotiations have not been leaked to the press.

An audio recording of President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser giving the off-the-record talk to congressional interns was obtained and published by Wired magazine Tuesday.

Besides addressing his role as the White House's envoy to the Middle East, Kushner also joked about collusion and discussed serving as publisher of the New York Observer.

NBC News verified the transcript, originally obtained by Wired, and reached out to Kushner's representatives for comment.

Here are some highlights from the recording:

NO LEAKS ON MIDDLE EAST TALKS
Kushner, who was tapped by Trump to broker peace in the Middle East, visited the region in June to meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"Nothing’s leaked out, right?" Kushner said about the talks. "Nothing has leaked out, which I think gives the parties more trust and more ability to really express and share their viewpoints."

Netanyahu is a family friend of Kushner's and someone he has known since childhood.

He added that the lack of leaks can only help him in negotiations, which he has also conducted with Jason Greenblatt, a special representative for international negotiations.

"I think you need to be able to probe people in private for them to have confidence that it’s not going to be used against them and that it’s not going to leak out in the press, which would be very, very hurtful," he said. "But I think we were able to keep things quiet."

UNCLEAR WHAT'S 'UNIQUE' ABOUT HIS STRATEGY
Kushner told the interns he isn't sure what's unique about his approach to the challenge of brokering a peace deal in the Middle East, and he isn't sure if the problem has a solution.

"I’m sure everyone that’s tried this has been unique in some ways," Kushner said. "So, what do we offer that’s unique? I don’t know."

Later, he added: "There may be no solution, but it’s one of the problem sets that the president asked us to focus on."

He also emphasized that he would rather focus on trying to understand the decades-long relationship between the two sides.

"Everyone finds an issue, that 'You have to understand what they did then' and 'You have to understand that they did this,'" Kushner told interns. "But how does that help us get peace? Let's not focus on that. We don’t want a history lesson. We’ve read enough books. Let’s focus on, How do you come up with a conclusion to the situation?"

WHITE HOUSE 'CAN'T COLLUDE' WITH ITSELF
Kushner told interns that the Trump campaign was too disorganized to have colluded with Russia during the election.

"They thought we colluded, but we couldn’t even collude with our local offices," he joked.

Kushner has come under fire for four meetings with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign and transition, though he maintains that he discussed nothing improper in those meetings -- and that no one in the campaign colluded.

During a question-and-answer session, one intern asked about an investigation into the campaign's potential ties to Russia and questions about Kushner's security clearance. In response, Kushner said, "We don't know where it's going."

In Kushner's SF-86 form, which is required to apply for security clearance, he initially did not report contact with some foreign nationals -- including a now-infamous meeting with Donald Trump Jr. and an attorney tied to the Kremlin.

"There are 127 pages on the SF-86, but there are only two you guys have to worry about," he said about the form. "Make sure you guys keep track of where you travel."

BUYING A NEWSPAPER WAS 'DUMB'
Kushner, who worked primarily as a real estate developer, bought the New York Observer, a newspaper focused on New York City real estate and society, for $10 million when he was 25. He became CEO of Kushner Companies two years later.

"We had a family situation where I needed to come to my companies -- my family business -- much earlier than I thought," he said. "Along the way, I did a lot of dumb things. I bought a newspaper, which was … very interesting."

He left his position as the newspaper's publisher in January for his role at the White House, selling his stake in the paper to a Kushner family trust.

'COMFORTABLE' BECAUSE OF LACK OF PRESS
"I’m a lot more comfortable talking to you guys today ’cause there isn't any press," Kushner said.

But the speech made it to the press anyway, despite a warning from Katie Patru, deputy staff director for member services, outreach and communications.

"To record today’s session would be such a breach of trust, from my opinion," she told interns before Kushner's speech. "If someone in your office has asked you to break our protocol and give you a recording so they can leak it, as a manager, that bothers me at my core."



Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Medics Resuscitate Point Loma Victim

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Medics were able to revive a victim injured near a busy shopping complex just south of Interstate 8 in Point Loma. 

Police first responded to the intersection near Ollie Street and Venus Street Wednesday afternoon. The streets are right off Sports Arena Boulevard, by the Midway Towne Center. 

The call first came in as an accident with major injuries, but officials were able to revive the victim. 

No further information is available. 

Woman Last Seen Leaving for Church Found Safe in Tijuana

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A San Diego woman reported missing by her family Sunday has turned up safe, police confirmed Wednesday.

Authorities will evaluate Chappel's medical condition and assist in transporting her to the U.S. border.

The Oak Park woman disappeared after she went to pick up her children from church.

Jonathan Chappell said his wife, Crystal Chappell, was with police in Tijuana, Mexico. According to the SDPD, concerned citizens who saw her missing person flyer noticed Crystal sitting on a street in downtown Tijuana alone and called the Mexican authorities.

She did not request any help from police. Callers helped direct Mexican authorities to the woman.

Jonathan filed a missing person report for his wife who he last saw at 11:39 a.m. Sunday. She left Octapharma plasma center, located at 3232 Duke Street, in San Diego's Midway area and was on her way to Mission Valley to pick up their kids from church, but never arrived, her husband said.

Jonathan got a call from one of the kids waiting at the church, saying that Crystal was not there. He tried to call her phone, but she did not answer. 

He went to pick up the kids and returned to their home, where he did a search for Crystal's phone. 

Jonathan said he was able to trace his wife’s phone to southbound Interstate 805 near Plaza Boulevard.

Her husband told police Crystal suffers from health conditions which require her to take medications. However, she did not take any medications with her. 



Photo Credit: Family photos
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UCSD Begins Construction on Complex in East Village

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UC San Diego and the Holland Partner Group broke ground Wednesday on the construction of a new apartment complex and campus extension in downtown San Diego.

Construction is underway for the innovative project in the heart of East Village.

The space will help students and the surrounding community, according to a spokesperson for UCSD. Middle and high school students from the area will be able to attend educational programs at the new facility. There will be many research and volunteer opportunities to promote civic engagement as well.

At the moment, it's just a dirt-filled construction lot on Park Boulevard and Market Street. In just a few years, there will be a 34-story residential tower and four-story urban facility with retail, restaurants, an art gallery and open ampitheater. The whole project encompasses 66,000 square feet.

According to the university, the Historic Remmen House will be restored and kept as a restaurant.

The complex will hold 426 units, including 85 rent-restricted affordable units for very low-income residents. University officials said students and staff will host community engagement events and develop their own businesses.

University officials hope this new space will help students reach higher levels of achievement. The project is slated to open in 2021.

The university chose this location because it's close to the UCSD Blue Line, which runs from San Ysidro to University City and connects with its main campus in La Jolla.

Holland Partner Group is the project's developer.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

6 Hurt, 1 Dead in Big Rig Crash on SR-125 in La Mesa

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One person was killed and six others were hurt – including at least one child –when a big rig crashed on State Route 125 in La Mesa Wednesday, drifting across lanes in both directions before coming to a halt in a jackknife position.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials said the big rig went from northbound to southbound lanes on the freeway, crashing at eastbound Interstate 8 near Murray Drive just after 2:30 p.m. For now, that portion of the freeway is closed to traffic.

The big rig plowed into at least two cars along the way: a black SUV and dark green vehicle, both mangled from the impact.

Heart Fire & Rescue Department spokesman Mark Casey said seven people were hurt in the crash. One adult died. Six others, including two children and four adults, were taken to local hospitals, including Rady Children's Hospital.

News helicopter video showed dozens of first responders flooding the crash site, tending to the many victims. Pieces of the wrecked vehicles were strewn about the shoulder of the freeway.

The front end of the jackknifed big rig pressed up against the back end of the green car. The car was smashed, its rear window was blown out. The front windshield was shattered.

Several other cars were stopped along the shoulder near the crash site, including a gray sedan. Just before 3:15 p.m., a firefighter could be seen carrying a small girl at the crash site and comforting her. He walked with the child over to a fire engine and eventually put her down. Moments later, she was back in his arms, resting her head on the firefighter's shoulder.

The big rig had the Swift Transportation logo on its side.

No other information was available.

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



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

2 Killed, 6 Injured in La Mesa Big Rig Crash

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Photo Credit: NBC 7

Doc. With History of Drug Abuse to Continue Treating People

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A San Diego doctor with a history of drug and alcohol abuse and a felony conviction for prescription fraud can continue practicing medicine, after settling her discipline case with the Medical Board of California.

According to a 22-page settlement and disciplinary order that took effect July 28, Dr. Leonor Alcaraz Ordonez can still practice but must abide by strict conditions of probation for six years, including drug testing, attendance at drug addiction support groups, and paying an independent physician to supervise her medical practice.

In addition, Ordonez cannot write any prescriptions for controlled substances or recommend medical marijuana for her patients. Ordonez, whose office is in Mission Valley, must abstain from drug and alcohol use, undergo psychological counseling, and complete a medical ethics course, among other restrictions.

The Medical Board outlined its case against Ordonez in an accusation filed in December 2016.

That document describes how a federal drug agent learned Ordonez had prescribed controlled substances, including addictive pain medications, for her husband, but "divert(ed) the prescription medication for personal use." A Medical Board investigator dug deeper and discovered Ordonez had written at least 15 prescriptions for her husband, including Tylenol/codeine, diazepam, and hydrocodone, from April 2013 to July 2015.

According to the accusation, Ordonez told investigators that in one seven month period, she wrote nine prescriptions for an opioid for her husband, with each prescription for 90 pills. Ordonez admitted taking “two to three pills a day of her husband’s pain medicine, and "further stated that she peaked using at about four pills of hydrocodone a day."

The evidence in the accusation -- which Ordonez admitted was accurate when she signed the disciplinary order -- includes her admission that she prescribed the controlled substances for her husband to help him cope with a rotator cuff injury, even though that injury happened 15 years ago and her husband had never seen a doctor for a follow-up exam or treatment.

A pharmacist at the CVS store on East Palomar Road in Chula Vista told investigators in July 2015, he saw Ordonez waiting for a prescription for controlled substances for her husband. The pharmacist told investigators he "confronted" Ordonez about the medication order, and asked her if she had written that prescription.

According to the accusation, "(Ordonez) replied no, took the prescription, walked out of the store and has not returned since."

Two months later, in September 2015, Ordonez was charged with 20 felonies in San Diego Superior Court, including seven counts of prescription fraud, one count of obtaining a narcotic by a forged prescription, and 12 allegations of insurance fraud. Ordonez later plead guilty to two felonies, including one count of prescription fraud, and was sentenced to three years probation.

Ordonez did not return a phone call to her Mission Valley office. Her attorney, Robert Frank, told NBC 7 Investigates Ordonez "...is happy to be back providing patient care with the Medical Boards' blessing and supervision."

Despite her admitted history of drug abuse, two doctors who evaluated Ordonez last year concluded she is not a threat to her patients, if she remains alcohol and drug-free.

"Dr. Ordonez has potential for re-addiction if she does not participate in the treatment programs," one of the physician experts concluded. "(Her) participation in these programs, as well as monitoring and random drug testing, will be a layer of safety which is needed for Dr. Ordonez to be considered safe to practice medicine."

Frank said Ordonez now provides care for homebound patients, something he said most doctors are unwilling to do. He also said his client has been "clean and sober" and may ask the Medical Board to relax the terms of her probation, or terminate supervision altogether. According to Frank, Ordonez can petition the agency for reconsideration in 2019.

NBC 7 Investigates is reporting on medical professionals accused by the public and the California Medical Board of wrongdoing in order to bring information to the public and increase transparency of medical practices in the San Diego region. Currently, this information is reported by the Medical Board on its website.

Medical professionals are not required to disclose this information to their patients.



Photo Credit: Stock Image

Friars Drop Final Game of Homestand to Twins

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The Padres nine game homestand came to a close with a 5-2 loss against the Minnesota Twins Wednesday afternoon. Luis Perdomo was on the hill for San Diego and faced Twins righty Ervin Santana. Perdomo has seen better days on the mound. In six innings pitched the righty allowed seven hits and five runs on the way to his sixth loss of the season.

The Padres got on the board only once in this contest. In the fourth inning Jose Pirela hit a home run nearly 400 feet to center field. His two run blast brought in Cory Spangenberg and put the Friars within reach, but the Twins still held a 4-2 lead.

Minnesota sealed the game in the sixth inning thanks to a monstrous home run off the bat of Miguel Sano. His solo shot gave the Twins a definitive 5-2 lead.

The Padres start a 10 game road trip with the first of three against the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday August 4 at 4:05 p.m. PST at PNC Park.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Trump Stuns Advisers, Wants Afghan War Commander Fired

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President Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with his advisers tasked with crafting a new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and recently suggested firing the war's top military commander during a tense meeting at the White House, according to senior administration officials.

During the July 19 meeting, Trump repeatedly suggested that Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford replace Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, because he is not winning the war, the officials told NBC News. Trump has not met Nicholson, and the Pentagon has been considering extending his time in Afghanistan.

Over nearly two hours in the situation room, according to the officials, Trump complained about NATO allies, inquired about the United States getting a piece of Afghan’s mineral wealth and repeatedly said the top U.S. general there should be fired.  



Photo Credit: AP/File

More Than $47K Worth of Meth Found Under Vehicle's Seats

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More than $47,000 worth of methamphetamine was found under a vehicle's seats at a checkpoint in El Centro, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed.

Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle around 6:45 p.m. at the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint after a canine alerted them. During a secondary inspection, agents found seven packages of narcotics hidden under the driver and passenger seats--weighing approximately 13.48 pounds.

The narcotics tested positive for methamphetamine, CBP said. Their combined street value is $47, 180.

The 31-year-old driver, a legal resident of the U.S., was arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency, along with the vehicle and the drugs.

According to CBP, the El Centro Sector has seized more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine since the fiscal year 2017, which began Oct. 1, 2016.



Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Woman, 2 Children Held Captive in Virginia Home for 2 Years

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A woman and her two children have escaped from a home in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where the children's father held them captive for at least two years, police said.

Fredericksburg.com reports deputies went to a home in the 3600 block of Mine Road in Fredericksburg on Saturday to check on the welfare of a family. A caller was concerned that no one had seen any of the family members for some time.

When deputies arrived at the home, a man greeted them and appeared to be reluctant to let them in the house, according to the report.

A woman and two children ran out a side door while they were talking. They were taken to safety and told authorities it had been at least two years since they were allowed out of the house, the sheriff's office said.

Kariem Ali Muhammad Moore, 43, was arrested and charged with three felony counts of abduction and felony assault and battery, the sheriff's office said.

The woman, 32, is being treated at a medical facility. The children, ages 11 and 8, received medical attention and are staying with family members, according to Fredericksburg.com.

Investigators determined the woman and children were not held with any sort of bondage or cages, but were not permitted to leave. Deputies said it is unclear how the suspect kept them inside the home.

Police said the woman is Moore's girlfriend and the two children are their kids.

Moore is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. He was arraigned on Monday.



Photo Credit: Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office

Chargers Lose Another Key Rookie

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Wednesday was Groundhog Day for the Chargers even though it was August 2nd and not February 2nd.

Second round draft pick Forrest Lamp was injured during practice and carted off the field.

A highly-rated guard out of Western Kentucky, Lamp was competing for a starting job along the offensive line straight out of college.

The team tweeted out Wednesday that Lamp suffered a torn ACL on his right knee.

He is expected to miss the entire 2017 rookie season.

Despite playing tackle for the majority of his college career, Lamp signed a four-year contract and had his eyes on claiming the top spot on the depth chart at right guard.

The Bolts have been ravaged by injuries their last few seasons especially along the offensive line.

2017 first round pick Mike Williams is also in jeopardy of missing his rookie campaign.

The seventh overall selection in April’s draft is having reoccurring back issues since leaving Clemson for the NFL.

“The Fight for Los Angeles” continues Saturday evening when the Bolts and Rams will host a dual practice at the StubHub Center.

The Chargers drew criticism earlier this week when new head coach Anthony Lynn implied that Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates were not allowed to be excused from Saturday’s practice to support former San Diego teammate LaDainian Tomlinson at his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio.

The timing of the dual practice inconveniently coincides with the ceremony.

Lynn later said his star tight end will travel to Canton to be there in person for LT’s speech.

Rivers will stay in California and lead the team.



Photo Credit: Gregory Bull/Associated Press

City's 911 Crisis Continues

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Wait times for emergency 911 calls are a problem for the City of San Diego once again.

It's been a little more than a year since Mayor Kevin Faulconer promised to fix a broken dispatch center in the San Diego Police Department. The police emergency call times have vastly improved and now meet national standards, but the problem has shifted to the Fire Department where the call center is on the "brink of crisis," according to a union representative for dispatchers.

Staffing levels in the Metro Zone Emergency Command and Data Center (ECDC) have dropped to a level where dispatchers are struggling to handle 911 call volume, according to numerous sources and a report commissioned by the city.

Callers to 911 were placed on "excessive wait times," in recent months, and incoming emergency calls went unanswered for more than 59 seconds before a dispatcher was available to answer "on many observed occasions," according to the consultant Citygate Associates, LLC.

The national standard is a wait time of 10 seconds or less, 90 percent of the time.

The firm was hired by the city and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to "proactively address pressing needs," according to the March 2017 report. 

Citygate noted on-duty staffing at the center dropped to seven dispatchers to accommodate for illnesses, training and vacations. The study found the SDFD staffing minimum of six to nine dispatchers was "insufficient by any reasonable calculation to handle incoming calls during peak hours."

The department has long struggled with retention and hiring of dispatchers, the study notes. A San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokeswoman said the department is in the process of hiring 14 more dispatchers.

During the past week, SDFD data shows the call center is answering all calls in less than 15 seconds more than 90 percent of the time. On Tuesday, calls were answered within 15 seconds 99.3 percent of the time.

Michael Zucchet, the general manager of the union representing dispatchers, said the staffing situation in the emergency call center is dire.

"The call wait times have not manifested themselves quite as badly as it did with SDPD, but it is on the brink of crisis," Zucchet said. "If they lose another few more people at the wrong time, they will be in the same boat where they cannot handle the call volume."

The ECDC is the largest and busiest fire and EMS dispatch center in the County, handling calls for Poway, Chula Vista, National City and Imperial Beach. In 2015, ECDC processed almost 200,000 emergency incidents.

Both the mayor and the SDFD Fire Chief declined to be interviewed on camera today for this interview. NBC7 first contacted SDFD and the Mayor's office Tuesday morning for a response.

A spokeswoman sent the following information:

"We are looking to improve the operations of ECDC. We are currently in the process of hiring 14 dispatchers. These individuals will be assigned their interview dates very soon. We are also looking into the possibility of changing to a different shift schedule versus the current 12 hour shift schedule. This would be to better utilize the resources we currently have."

Spokeswoman  Mónica Muñoz added that the public can help SDFD tremendously by not calling 911 for non-emergencies. Click here for links for guidance on when to call 911.

"We recommend talking to your kids and family members about using 911 and also having a plan in case of an emergency," Muñoz said. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Puppy Thrown Against Wall Seeks Forever Home

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A 3-month-old Maltese puppy named Rory is looking for a forever home, while recovering from abuse at a county animal shelter.

County officials announced Wednesday that the puppy is now available for adoption. Rory was thrown against the wall of a home, breaking his hind leg.

Animal Control officers said the suspect was punishing the dog for having an accident. When the suspect pushed the dog's face into the mess, the puppy bit him.

Once bitten, the man reacted by tossing the dog, said Animal Control officers. 

"Any pet can have an accident in the home, but pushing the animal’s face into it, much less throwing a puppy against a wall is a totally unacceptable response,” said County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa, in a statement.

Animal Control investigators have submitted a criminal case against the suspect to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office for one count of felony animal cruelty, said county officials. If convicted, the suspect could face up to a year in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.

On July 25, the dog was taken into the animal care facility on Gaines Street. Once his injury was discovered, County Animal Services used the Spirit Fund, which is driven by donations, to pay for his medical treatment.

A veterinary specialty hospital attached a metal plate on the dog's broken leg, to help the bones mend, said county officials.

Rory needs physical therapy and strict exercise restrictions for at least the next six weeks, said County Animal Service officials. After six weeks, he will need X-rays to determine if further treatment is necessary.

Caretakers described Rory as a sweet and friendly puppy, despite suffering from abuse.

If you'd like to adopt Rory, submit a special adoption application to County Animal Services. They will keep accepting applications until Wednesday, Aug. 9.

The applications can be mailed or dropped off at any of the County's three shelters from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Or, you can email dasinfo@sdcounty.ca.gov or fax (619) 767-2706.

County Animal Services will select the top three candidates and they'll be invited to meet Rory.



Photo Credit: County News Center

USS Carl Vinson to Complete Fighter Squadron Qualifications

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Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CV 70), home ported in Coronado’s Naval Air Station North Island, departed on Monday to complete aviation qualifications, according to a military statement.

The Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) qualifications will allow aviation fighter squadrons on board the Carl Vinson to qualify new pilots and practice launching and recovering aircraft, said Carl Vinson’s air operations officer, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Joshua Hammond, in a statement.

The aircraft carrier is host to the Strike Fighter Squadron 122 “Flying Eagles,” from naval air station Lemoore, and the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 “Vikings,” from naval air station Whidbey Island, according to a statement.

The “Black Knights,” or Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 4, and the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 “Providers” will also be operating during the qualification process.

The squadrons compose Carl Vinson’s carrier air wing, which is a group of squadrons attached to a specific carrier.

“We can’t always be underway with Carrier Air 2, so these operations help us stay sharp and hone our craft while helping new pilots gain proficiency,” said Hammond.

Some of the pilots on board have never flown a fleet aircraft, are renewing their qualifications to fly in a fleet squadron or are transitioning to fly other aircrafts, said Hammond.

“While these pilots will be sent to squadrons across the fleet, some of them could very well be assigned to Carl Vinson’s air wing when we depart for next deployment,” Hammond said.

The aircraft operations are being conducted off the coast of southern California, according to a statement.

12-Year-Old Alpine Girl Needs Kidney Donor

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A 12-year-old girl in Alpine will have both her kidneys removed Thursday due to a rare disease and her family is asking the community to come together to find her a donor.

"That kidney is gonna save her and she's going to get back to her regular life," said her mother, Dawn Tiglio-Thomas.

Kassidy Thomas was diagnosed five years ago with a rare form of kidney disease.

"It's altered our life and it's altered hers tremendously," Tiglio-Thomas said. "There's a lot of things she can't do. She can't go to tumbling anymore at gymnastics."

The disease has progressed enough to cause failure of both kidneys.

Kassidy heads into surgery Thursday at Rady Children's Hospital, her mother told NBC 7.

After the surgery, she will spend up to 11 hours every night hooked up to a machine receiving dialysis. A strict diet will include no more than 17 ounces of water daily, Tiglio-Thomas said.

But Kassidy still needs a kidney donor.

"I know it's amazing, and we think about it every day and I think about this potential donor and I think about the donors coming up," Tiglio-Thomas said. "I'm not kidding you, people are coming out of the wood work...it's people we don't know."

Tiglio-Thomas said she wishes she could give her kidney to her daughter but both she and her husband are over the age limit.

Kassidy would need a kidney donor who has A Positive blood type or O Blood type. 

Her family told NBC 7, their insurance will pay for all the testing and even surgery, if possible. 

NBC 7 reached out the Kidney Transplant Team at Rady Children's Hospital and was told Kassidy is one of 30 children in San Diego County who are in need of a kidney donor.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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