A relief center for storm-ravaged New Yorkers was looted and vandalized overnight on Christmas by thieves who stole donated supplies and destroyed items intended for Sandy victims.
The center on Staten Island has been an oasis of hope for those residents of the hard-hit borough who lost their homes in the storm nearly two months ago. The supplies are housed under a tent, blocked off with barricades and manned by volunteers, but the workers left the center unattended on Christmas night.
Thieves made off with baby gear, baby blankets, baby clothes, winter clothing and warm bedding.
Losing those items is "a punch in the stomach," said Mike Hoffman, who heads up the Staten Island volunteer team known as Boots on the Ground.
"I had a couple leftover propane stoves that were donated," said Hoffman. "One was just ripped open, they didn't even take it. They just ripped it open and destroyed it. So that's one less family now that can cook a warm meal."
And with a winter storm heading toward the area again on Wednesday, the center had been stocking crucial supplies.
"People are here struggling, suffering," said Sandy victim Eric Slick.
The people who busted into the center stole supplies from the shelves, ripped open bags of dog food and swiped jackets off hangers.
Volunteers running the site believe thieves plan to return the merchandise for money. They are now looking to relocate the relief center indoors.
Backup Jets quarterback Tim Tebow attempted to set the record straight regarding his much ballyhooed conversation with coach Rex Ryan and whether or not he asked out of the team's wildcat package last week.
San Diego police have arrested a suspect in connection with the brutal beating and sexual assault of a female hotel employee in the Midway District, officials announced Wednesday.
Suspect Christopher Stevens, 44, was taken into custody Monday.
Stevens is accused of sexually assaulting a housekeeping employee at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in the 3700 block of Sports Arena Blvd. on Dec. 21 sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
According to detectives, the 54-year-old hotel employee was attacked while cleaning an empty hotel room. She was leaving the room and was confronted by Stevens, who allegedly forced her back inside.
She fought back but Stevens overpowered her, allegedly beating her in the face and sexually assaulting her.
Investigators said Stevens fled the scene on foot following the attack, leaving the injured woman behind inside the vacant hotel room. Once he left, the victim called police.
The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Police were not able to immediately locate the suspect and they released a sketch to help in their search. Stevens was described as a black male in his 40s with a tall and muscular build and short, afro-style haircut. Police said Stevens is an English speaker, but also speaks some Spanish and may have had a fresh scratch on his face.
On Saturday, the hotel's director of operations, Viridiana Davila, told NBC 7 she couldn't disclose any details regarding the assault. She said the victim was still recovering at the hospital.
Davila said she had spoken with other employees about the incident, going over important safety tips. Employees told NBC 7 they were upset because nothing like this had ever happened at the hotel.
On Monday, SDPD Crime Lab personnel made a positive identification of Stevens as the suspect in this assault based on evidence collected at the crime scene.
Police said that evidence was linked to evidence collected from another reported sexual assault that happened at Hourglass Park near Mira Mesa on Oct. 9.
Stevens was arrested without incident at his hotel room at the Vagabond Inn in Mission Valley. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on multiple charges including sexual assault, attempted murder and false imprisonment.
Stevens is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the SDPD’s Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531-2210.
A house fire in La Mesa killed a dog on Wednesday morning, according to officials.
Around 10:15 a.m. a Heartland Fire & Rescue crew was sent to a home on the 8400 block of Sunrise Avenue. Firefighters discovered a single occupancy home on the property ablaze. They then confined the fire from spreading to other areas in 10 minutes.
A dog was found in the home, and firefighters began performing CPR on the animal. They were unable to save the pitbull-mix breed.
The owner was not home during the incident, according to officials.
Damage to the home is estimated at $50,000 and investigators determined the cause to be a wall heater. No people were injured in the fire.
A woman sleeping on a street bench outside a drug store was doused with an accelerant and set on fire Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Witnesses told police that a man poured liquid — possibly a beverage containing alcohol — on the sleeping woman at about 1 a.m. outside a Walgreens store in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles. He lit a match and ran from the location, witnesses told police.
The woman, who is in her 60s, was hospitalized in critical condition.
"It was like when you pour gasoline on something — like an explosion," said witness Erickson Ipina.
The man purchased the bottle containing alcohol in the Walgreens store, then poured the contents on the woman, Ipina told a Newsreel photographer. Ipina said he called 911 and followed the attacker, who brandished a knife.
"He told me, 'Stop following me, or I will cut you,'" Ipina said. "I kept following him, and then the police came."
One person was taken into custody after the attack.
Two people are in the hospital this after an attempted home invasion robbery near Harbison Canyon, according to officials.
Police said a man with a gun entered a home on the 14600-block of Rios Canyon Road around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
Witnesses said two women who live there confronted him after he demanded cash. He then allegedly shot at the women.
The victims say they overpowered the suspect -- one of them grabbing the rifle, and used it to hit the suspect in the head.
"The suspect was injured, " said Kelly Moody from the sheriff's department.
Neither woman was shot, though one was treated for minor injuries. Neighbors of the victims said it was a traumatic experience for everyone, and the two women are very rattled.
Residents of the building said they believe the burglar is a random stranger.
The suspect will face charges when released from the hospital.
A suspect is in custody after allegedly shooting at police in City Heights early Thursday morning.
At about 1 a.m. in the area of Euclid and Wightman, police began chasing the suspect, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Police said the suspect was driving a car that had been reported stolen earlier. When officers attempted to pull him over, he stopped, but then put the car in gear and drove into one of the officers.
The two officers fired into the vehicle, grazing the suspect's shoulder, but then the suspect took off at a high rate of speed, according to a statement from the department.
After driving westbound on Wightman Street, he turned left onto Euclid Avenue but lost control and crashed into a street sign.
He then took off on foot, but was arrested in the west alley of Euclid Avenue by other officers. He was booked into jail and faces several felony charges.
A car traveling on westbound State Route 54 in National City became submerged in water after veering off the road and landing in the Sweetwater River Channel, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed.
The single-vehicle accident happened just before 8 p.m. at SR-54 near the National City Boulevard exit.
According to CHP officials, the driver of the vehicle lost control for unknown reasons and hit a chain link fence before landing in the water.
The car became submerged, but the driver – believed to be the only occupant inside the vehicle – was able to safely extricate himself, CHP officials said. He was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The National City Fire Department responded to the scene and requested assistance from San Diego lifeguards to check the car for any potential additional victims. An SDPD helicopter assisted with a flyover in the area as well.
By 8:45 p.m., officials had determined that nobody else was inside the submerged vehicle.
Officials told NBC 7 the driver of the car was in his 20s and possibly racing on the freeway at the time of the crash. A witness said the vehicle was traveling more than 100 mph before losing control.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Check back for updates.
Thanks to an upswing in ticket sales, the San Diego Chargers will be able to avoid a local blackout for Sunday’s Chargers vs. Raiders game at Qualcomm Stadium.
According to the Chargers press office, enough tickets have been sold for Sunday's game to lift the blackout. That means the game -- which kicks off at 1:25 p.m. -- will be televised throughout Southern California and fans can watch from the comfort of their homes.
This might be significant to Chargers fans, since it’s the last game of the regular 2012 season.
The season has been choppy and uncertain for Bolts fans, with multiple blacked out games over the past several months due to poor local ticket sales.
According to the NFL’s police, all games not completely sold out in 72 hours prior to kickoff are required to be blacked out in the local market. This includes all signals within a 75-mile radius of the stadium. The League’s black out policy affects all telecasts, including cable and satellite.
Despite the many, many blackouts this season, Chargers fans are set to turnout for Sunday’s televised game against their Oakland Raiders rivals.
A limited number of club seats, suites and single general seats are still available at Qualcomm for this match-up. For more ticketing information, visit the Chargers website.
High surf is expected to hit local beaches over the next several days, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.
According to the NWS, a high surf advisory is in effect for west-facing beaches from Cardiff southward to the Mexican border beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday through 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.
The NWS said waves and surf will build Wednesday night from five feet to about eight feet, with occasional sets of surf measuring 10 feet.
A continuing swell is expected to produce six-foot waves at 15 second intervals that are likely to generate high surf on Thursday night and Friday.
As for local tides, the NWS reports that the highest tides will occur at 7:45 a.m. Thursday and around 8:15 a.m. Friday at Point Loma, with a height of 5.8 feet on both mornings.
There’s a possibility of waves breaking over jetties and against the bottom of the Ocean Beach Pier during this time. Also, the NWS said minor beach erosion and coastal flooding are possible.
Very strong rip currents are likely every morning and mid-afternoon during this week’s high surf advisory. The NWS said surf heights at local beaches will likely increase again by Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
As a precaution, locals are urged to stay out of the water during the advisory period.
Meanwhile, the NWS has also issued a small craft advisory for San Diego County coastal areas, valleys and mountains due to gusty west to northwest winds and hazardous seas.
Pre-game festivities for the Holiday Bowl began with the 2012 Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals, which pitted nine of the fastest dachshunds against each other
The FBI has arrested a woman suspected of lying about her connection to a victim of the Newtown school shooting earlier this month to collect donations from charitable citizens looking for a way to contribute in the wake of the massacre.
The FBI arrested Nouel Alba, 37, of the Bronx, New York, on Thursday.
Last week, NBC’s Jeff Rossen reported that Alba posted a solicitation on Facebook within hours of the shooting, identifying herself as an aunt of Noah Pozner, one of the 20 children shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Dec. 14.
Later, as families were grieving and the nation was looking for any and every way to help the victims’ families, she asked for funds to pay for the funeral, Rossen reported.
At Alba's instruction on the Facebook page owned by "Victorian Glam Fairys," donors sent money to a PayPal account that Alba controlled and accessed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In one text to a donor, Alba wrote about being in Newtown when President Barack Obama was in town to meet with the families and of how he hugged and cried with the families, according to the complaint.
The donor asked Alba if she was watching the president's speech in person.
According to the complaint, she responded: "No im sitting in my car. Emotionally I cant (sic) deal.with it right now ..tomorrow ill see (redacted) in a casket and that will be hard enough to handle."
She also claimed in a phone conversation to the same donor that she had entered the crime scene to identify her nephew's body after the shooting, according to the complaint. Family members and next of kin, however, were barred from entering the crime scene at Sandy Hook.
When FBI Special Agents investigating fundraising and charity scams related to the Newtown tragedy contacted her, Alba lied, stating that she did not post information related to Newtown on her Facebook account, solicit donations or recently access her PayPal account, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Alexis Haller, the uncle of Noah Pozner, said Alba is not related to the family and never gave the family any of the funds raised.
When NBC News' Rossen went to Alba’s house to question her about the solicitation of funds, she denied posting the message or to posing as a member of Noah’s family.
She claimed someone else created the post and that she refunded the money, according to Rossen’s report.
However, the U.S. Attorney's Office stated that the claimed she immediately refunded any donations that she received was false.
“This arrest should serve as a warning to anyone who attempts to profit from this tragedy by contriving fraudulent schemes that exploit the many victims, their families and individuals who sincerely want to help,” stated U.S. Attorney David Fein. “Investigators continue to monitor the Internet to uncover other fundraising scams arising from this tragedy, and the individuals operating them face federal or state prosecution to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
Alba was charged with lying to FBI agents. She was released on a $50,000 bond . She hid her face as she left court on Thursday and said nothing to reporters.
Attorney General George Jepsen is advising people to be careful and avoid phone and e-mail solicitations, as well as those posted on Facebook.
On Dec. 19, and state Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner William Rubenstein issued a warning for residents to beware of potential scams and urging only to donate to well-known, established charities.
“This is a time of mourning for the people of Newtown and for our entire state,” Jepsen said in a statement. “Unfortunately, it’s also a time when bad actors may seek to exploit those coping with this tragedy. We are very thankful for all of the offers to help and urge those looking for ways to help to take some simple precautions to ensure that their donations will find their way to those in need.”
Jepsen and Rubenstein warned that social media sites could perpetuate scams and residents should not blindly donate to through them.
“As with any charity, investigate the groups behind such pleas to ensure that they come from a legitimate organization,” they warn.
Individuals with knowledge of Newtown-related fundraising schemes are encouraged to call the FBI in Connecticut at 203-777-6311.
Fein said potential federal charges associated with fraudulent fundraising and charity schemes include wire fraud, access device fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 16: A pedestrian passes a detour sign as drivers heed the advice of widely-publicized warnings to stay off the roadways while workers demolish the south side of Mulholland overpass on the 405 freeway during the 53-hour total freeway closure dubbed "Carmageddon" for the resulting massive traffic disruptions expected throughout the region, on July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The bridge is being demolished part of a $1 billion project to add carpool lanes and make other improvements along the 405 freeway from Orange County to the city of San Fernando. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
While 2012 had its share of tragedies, there were a few inspiring and heartwarming stories that stuck with us.
Here is a countdown of the top 12 most inspiring local stories of the year.
12. In July, the San Diego Zoo welcomed its sixth Giant Panda cub, later named Xiao Liwu. Since then, we’ve watched him grow from a tiny image on the zoo’s panda cam to his first steps during a veterinary exam.
11. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association hosted a benefit motorcycle ride for Detective Ali Perez, who, along with Sgt. Craig Johnson, was shot and seriously injured in a Lakeside shootout. Hundreds of Perez's colleagues and friends took to their motorcycles for the “Ride for Ali” benefit, raising donations for the wounded deputy’s family.
10. After his war medals were stolen from his Vista home, 88-year-old Clyde Kellogg was given replacement medals by a fellow veteran who heard about the theft. Kellogg said the replacement medals will fill a void he has felt since his medals were stolen.
9. Former Mayor Jerry Sanders proclaimed June ‘Craft Beer Month’ in honor of the many craft breweries that popped up over the year. Sanders often professed his love for beer, and has urged San Diegans to support the ever-growing craft beer industry in the region.
8. For the first time in their lives, a group of beagles stepped out into the sunshine.The dogs had been living in animal testing labs for seven years and were rescued by a San Diego rescue center.
7. Two sailors were visiting the San Diego Zoo when a man collapsed near one of the exhibits. They stepped up and performed CPR on the man, who turned out to be a Navy veteran. Now, that veteran is home and on his way to recovery.
6. Three puppies were rescued from a Logan Heights house fire in April. The 5-day-old puppies were in the attic of the house, and firefighters battled the blaze to rescue them. Afterward, neighbors held the puppies in a cereal bowl.
4. Cuyamaca College student Cedrice Webber suffers from a disease that makes those affected by it lose their hair. She took off her wig for the first time in front of a public speaking class to demonstrate the obstacles she has overcome. She said when she took off her wig, she felt cleansed and more beautiful than she had ever felt before.
3. San Diego lost football legend Junior Seau this year, but came together as a community to remember his impact. At a celebration of life at Qualcomm stadium, former Charger LaDanian Tomlinson shared some of his memories of Seau, including Seau’s advice on where to propose to his wife.
2. Ivan Mendoza, a Crawford High School student with Downs Syndrome, was crowned Homecoming King after his classmates elected him by a landslide.
1. Escondido-native Sarah Attar finished last and more than a half-minute slower than her nearest competitor in the women's 800 meters at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. Yet hundreds rose to give her a standing ovation as she crossed the finish line.She was the first Saudi woman to compete in track and field and one of the first two Saudi women ever selected for the Olympics.
A woman and her dog were injured following a house fire in Ocean Beach on Thursday morning, according to officials.
The incident happened around 3:30 a.m. on the 2300-block of Seaside Street. Firefighters said there was thick smoke in the home, causing 15 pet birds to die. They extinguished the blaze shortly after arriving.
The woman inside the home suffered smoke inhalation during the incident and was taken to UCSD Medical Center.
A dog was also trapped in the home, but firefighters were able to rescue it. An oxygen mask was used to help the dog breathe and it was then taken to an emergency animal hospital.
Firefighters said the smoke detectors in the home melted.
Total damage for the fire is around $130,000. Officials are unsure what caused the blaze and are investigating at the scene.
Investigators said Patricia Corby, 36, told them about drowning her son Daniel in a bathtub, then drove him to the police station, flagging down an officer and telling him she'd just killed her son. The officer then saw the body in a blanket in the backseat of Corby's car.
The child was not breathing and medics were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Corby, of Tijuana, was later arrested and charged with murder and assault on a child.
Corby was a stay-at-home mom, who was learning new ways to teach her son, who had some form of autism, one neighbor told NBC 7 San Diego in September.
The neighbor added that the mother was attentive, and the boy was very quiet but loved to chase her dog.
Check back for updates on this story.
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With New Year’s Eve approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll get home from the party.
New Year’s Day is the deadliest day for alcohol-related fatalities, according to AAA, and it’s crucial to make sure motorists don’t drink and drive. Plus there are additional DUI-checkpoints throughout the area on Dec. 31 – and it’s not worth risking an arrest.
Thankfully, San Diegans have plenty of driving-free options for safe transportation. Read on to figure out which option works best for you.
Free Coaster Trains
North County Transit District is offering free train rides after 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Local COASTER and Sprinter trains, along with Breeze buses, will offer free rides to partygoers without any tickets required. Visit the NCTD website for more information.
AAA Tipsy Tow
Call 800-400-4222 for a free tow home of up to seven miles with the Automobile Club of Southern California. The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver's home 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1. Visit the AAA website for more information.
UBER San Diego This handy app allows users to request a driver just about anywhere. With the push of a button, UBER sends a personal driver to your location to take you wherever you need to go. Base fares start at $8.50 and increases $3.50 for every mile.
Be My Designated Drive
Reserve a personal driver in advance to meet you at your location. The driver can take you to your destination, wait with your car and then safely transport you back to your original location. Call 1-877-823-6933 or visit the website to make a reservation.
Plus there's always the option of taking a cab home. But in case you don't find one, keep one of the above options in mind. Here's to a safe 2013!
