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Shopper Pepper Sprayed

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Police say they pepper sprayed and arrested a man at a northern New Jersey Wal-Mart after a Thanksgiving shopping dispute.

Authorities say 23-year-old Richard Ramos became "belligerent" while arguing with a Wal-Mart shopper over a television Thursday night, and then attacked a Garfield police officer when the manager called for help.

Police tell The Star-Ledger that officers used pepper spray to subdue the Passaic man.

No one else was injured.

Police say the store was packed with "Black Friday" shoppers at the time of the incident.

Ramos is charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He's being held at the Bergen County Correctional Facility in Hackensack in lieu of $20,000.

 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Bomb Hoax Halts I-15 Traffic

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A prank phone call between a brother and sister involving a bomb hoax led officials to block traffic in both directions on San Diego's busy Interstate 15 on Thanksgiving afternoon.

The freeway shutdown began around 2:45 p.m. at northbound and southbound I-15 near Miramar Way.

Lt. Lorenzo Ruano with the California Highway Patrol said a woman was driving on the freeway with a friend when she received a phone call from an unknown person, whose voice she did not recognize. The person on the other end told the woman there was a bomb in her car.

Lt. Ruano said the woman immediately pulled over by the center divide on northbound I-15, just south of the Miramar Way overpass, and called 911.

Authorities from multiple agencies, including the San Diego Fire-Rescue Bomb Squad, responded to the scene.

CHP officials immediately shut down the freeway in both directions. At one point, all southbound I-15 traffic was being diverted to Miramar Way westbound, while all northbound I-15 traffic was being diverted to State Route 52.

Get TRAFFIC updates here.


As of 4:05 p.m., motorists north of State Route 163 were unable to access I-15, a CHP official confirmed. Kearny Villa was also closed off to traffic.

The incident quickly led to extremely heavy congestion in the area, with holiday drivers stuck at a bumper-to-bumper standstill as officials investigated the suspicious vehicle.

By 4:20 p.m., Bomb Squad officials with San Diego Fire-Rescue had arrived on scene. Authorities questioned the woman in the suspicious vehicle.

Police dogs were used to inspect the car. Lt. Ruano said the dogs acted in a manner that indicated there might be a bomb in the vehicle. Eventually, bomb investigators determined there was no bomb in the car.

By 5:25 p.m., fire department officials said all bomb squad units were picking up their equipment and preparing to clear the scene.

During all of the chaos, the brother who called in the bomb hoax called his sister back to apologize for the joke. Lt. Ruano said CHP investigators were there when the woman received the call from her older brother.

The woman was crying, and Lt. Ruano said CHP officials felt her reaction was genuine, and she had no idea it was her brother who made that first bomb hoax call.

CHP officials had the woman's brother come to the scene for questioning. Lt. Ruano said the man was very apologetic, but his remorse won't cut it.

By 5:45 p.m., officials said the brother had been arrested and would be booked into San Diego jail on felony charges.

CHP officials said the City Attorney or District Attorney will ultimately decide what happens next with the prankster. The siblings' names were not released by officials, but CHP did confirm they're both San Diego residents.

In all, CHP officials said northbound I-15 was shut down for two hours, while southbound I-15 was blocked off to heavy holiday traffic for approximately one hour.

By 6:10 p.m., all traffic lanes, connectors and ramps were open again in both directions.

Check back for updates on this story. Watch NBC 7 News at 11 p.m. for the latest details.

 



Photo Credit: Jason Guinter

Toddler Found Wandering OB Street

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San Diego police report that they found a toddler wandering around an Ocean Beach roadway on Thursday evening.

At around 11 p.m., police received a report of a little girl walking in the middle of Pescadero Avenue near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.

Once they arrived on scene, they spotted the toddler, picked her up, and for about 45 minutes officers went door to door to houses in the area asking whether the residents knew who the child’s parents were.

Officers were unsuccessful in finding the girl’s parents and took her to the Polinsky Center, an emergency children’s shelter in Kearny Mesa.

Friday morning, at about 2:30 a.m., police say the toddler’s mother called them and said she believed the child slipped out of the house by squeezing through a locked screen door. Police then told the woman to contact the Polinsky Center.

It’s unknown whether mother and daughter have been reunited; due to HIPAA laws, officials cannot reveal that information.

Police said the case was still under investigation and that no charges have been filed. Social workers at the Polinsky Center will evaluate the child and investigate the incident as well, according to police.
 

Man Stabbed at Black Friday Event

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A man was hospitalized early Friday morning after being stabbed during a Black Friday event at a Carlsbad mall, according to Carlsbad police.

Just after 12:30 a.m., police received a report of a stabbing at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real mall located at 2525 El Camino Real.

According to officers, an 18-year-old man, who they identified as Javier Covarrubias, stabbed another man in the stomach outside the mall’s entrance. Covarrubias reportedly then fled the scene on foot with another suspect towards the Movie Max Theater at the mall.

Arriving officers detained and arrested Covarrubias, but were unable to locate the other suspect. That suspect was described as a thin male, about 5 foot 9 inches tall, who was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants at the time of the incident.

The stabbing victim was transported to an area hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries, according to police. Information regarding his extent of his injuries and current condition was not immediately available.

Covarrubias was booked into the Vista Detention Facility for assault with a deadly weapon.

Police were still searching for the other suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the incident was asked to contact the Carlsbad police department at (760) 931-2197.
 

White House Christmas Tree Arrives

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A very special delivery arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Friday morning.

First lady Michelle Obama; her daughters, Sasha and Malia; and dogs, Bo and Sunny, welcomed the arrival of the official White House Christmas tree around 11 a.m.

The 18-and-a-half foot Douglas fir came from Crystal Springs Tree Farm in Leighton, Pa. 

The tree will be on display in the Blue Room of the White House throughout the holidays.

But this isn't the only Christmas tree in town: Earlier this week, the Capitol Christmas Tree arrived at the U.S. Capitol after making its way from a forest in northeast Washington state.

Workers used a crane to place the 88-foot Engelmann spruce on the west front lawn of the Capitol Monday morning. It is the second tallest tree ever used at the Capitol.

It will be decorated with more than 5,000 handmade ornaments from children across the country reflecting the theme "Sharing Washington's Good Nature."



 

 

SoCal Marines Treated to Thanksgiving Meal

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StillWater Restaurant in Dana Point hosts a Thanksgiving meal for Camp Pendleton Marines and their families, happy to spend the holiday with their loved one stateside. Ted Chen reports for the NBC4 News at 9 p.m. Nov. 28, 2013.

Man Struck by 2 Cars Dies

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Authorities are working to identify a man who died Thursday after witnesses say he was struck by two vehicles near an Oceanside crosswalk.

The accident occurred in the 3500-block of Mission Avenue, near North Foussat Road, at about 5:45 p.m., according to officials with the Oceanside Police Department.

Police said they received a report of a serious injury accident in the area, and officers who responded to the scene found a man under a vehicle in the eastbound lane.

According to witness statements and physical evidence, the man was walking outside the crosswalk and was struck by the driver’s side mirror of a GMC pickup truck.

The impact reportedly caused the man to fall to the ground, at which point he was then run over by a Dodge Caravan that was traveling eastbound.

Once they arrived on scene, emergency personnel removed the man from under the vehicle and Oceanside Fire Department officials administered first aid.

The man was later pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Both drivers involved with the crash stopped and cooperated with police. Neither of them were suspected of drunk driving or speeding, police said.

The victim’s identity has yet to be determined. The San Diego County Medical’s Examiner’s Office is working toward determining that information and will then notify the man’s family.

Meanwhile, the OPD’s Major Accident Investigation Team is conducting an investigation into the accident.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call accident Investigator Mark Fullen at (760) 435-4624.

Black Friday Underway Across County

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Shoppers hoping to land a deal lined up at stores across the county beginning Thursday evening as retailers kicked off this year's Black Friday events.

Several department stores, such as Macy’s, J.C. Penny’s, and Wal-Mart, opened their doors for shoppers on Thanksgiving night, for the first time.

The move seemed to result in less chaos among shoppers on Friday morning.

“We’re looking for stuff for our baby and ourselves - just trying to get the best deal possible,” one shopper told NBC 7 San Diego at the Carlsbad Outlets. “We’re out here early because I'm sure it will be packed in a minute.”

"Everyone's always out here to get a good deal too, so there's no need try and fight people over it," said another shopper.

While those hunting for a deal may have enjoyed the earlier start time, opening on Thanksgiving didn’t sit well with some employees who preferred to spend the day with family.

Officials at Wal-Mart said there were benefits to working the holiday shifts.

“The shifts for Thanksgiving and Black Friday are very competitive,” said Rachel Wall, a Wal-Mart employee. “ We offer holiday pay, we offer warm meals during every shift, and associates who work during that time get an additional 25 percent off an entire purchase.”

Following in the footsteps of last year's Black Friday, 1500 protests have been planned by Wal-Mart employees on Friday around the country.

The employees were going to protest low wages and limited benefits for the giant chain, who employ around 1.4 million people across the nation.

Last year's protests mobilized around 30,000 employees and supporters.

PHOTOS: Outrageous Black Friday Behavior

Meanwhile, a few incidents were reported.

A man was stabbed during a Black Friday event at a North County mall early Friday morning. Carlsbad police arrested and detained an 18-year-old suspect in connection with the stabbing, and were searching for another suspect.

In La Mesa, police say two people were trying to shoplift several items from a Target store in Grossmont Center. According to police the pair were caught on a security camera.

To help prevent crime, the San Diego County Sheriff's deparment kicked off a "Holiday Watch" program this week at various shopping centers throughout the county. The patrols, which will include searches for drunk drivers, will last throughout the Christmas season.

MORE BLACK FRIDAY STORIES:

Black Friday Brawl Breaks Out at Calif. Walmart
Man Pepper Sprayed After Argument at NJ Walmart
Officer Dragged, Driver Shot Outside Kohl's Store in Ill.
PHOTOS: Outrageous Black Friday Behavior
Holiday Survival Guide: 12 Tips for Thanksgiving Travel


Teen Struck Twice by Car

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A teenager sustained serious injuries in San Marcos Thursday morning after a vehicle ran over him twice, according to authorities.

The accident happened in the 3400-block of De Leone Road at around 10:15 a.m.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said the juvenile was sitting on a skateboard ramp in front of a parked car. A San Marcos resident got inside the vehicle and, without seeing the teen, ran him over.

The driver then backed up the car, running over the teen once more, officials said.

The juvenile suffered serious injuries to his head, legs and face. He was transported via Mercy Air to Rady Children’s Hospital for treatment. His current condition is unknown.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
 



Photo Credit: NBCSanDiego

Blackout Wednesday Arrests

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A zero-tolerance drunk in public operation in Del Mar, Encinitas and Solana Beach on Wednesday netted 22 arrests, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The sweeps, part of the department’s Holiday Watch program with the California Department of Alcoholic and Beverage Control (ABC), took place between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday. The night before Thanksgiving is commonly referred to as “Blackout Wednesday” and is known as a big party night for college students and others coming home for the holiday.

The charges against those arrested include possession of a controlled substance, drunk in public, minor in possession of an alcohol, possession of marijuana, and possession of an open container of alcohol in public, according to the sheriff’s office.

The holiday watch program is made possible by a a $100,000 grant from the ABC to help fight alcohol-related crimes and educate ABC-licensed businesses and will run through the first week of January.

According to the California Highway Patrol, police in San Diego County made 22 DUI arrests between Wednesday night and Friday morning, and had one driving fatality. Statewide, police made 401 DUI arrests and saw three driving fatalities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 728 people nationwide will be injured or killed each day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day in drunk driving accidents, a rate two to three times higher than the rest of the year.



Photo Credit: Courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff's Department

Ill. Tornado Death Toll Rises to 7

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A seventh person has died from injuries sustained during the Nov. 17 tornadoes that swept through central Illinois.

Rosamund Allison, 82, was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. Thursday, the Peoria County coroner confirmed. Allison sustained multiple injuries when an EF-4 tornado hit her Washington home as it raked the small town. 

Family members told NBC affiliate WEEK-TV the tornado's winds pulled the woman from her home and dropped debris on her.

The tornado traveled 46.2 miles on the ground, forecasters said, leveling countless homes. Steve Neubauer, 51, was also killed and at least 122 were injured. Tornadoes were blamed for the deaths of five others across the state.

The coroner said an autopsy will be done Saturday.





 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

High Surf Hits San Diego Beaches on Black Friday

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Instead of shopping on Black Friday, many San Diegans hit the beach to catch some big waves amid a high surf advisory. Check out photos of the action.

Obama Family's 2016 Move

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Inquiring Chicagoans want to know: Where will the Obama family live after the president's term ends?

Turns out the decision to stay in Washington, return to Chicago or move elsewhere isn't primarily up to President Barack Obama. It lies with his 12-year-old daughter, Sasha.

"Sasha will have a big say in where we are," Obama told Barbara Walters in a "20/20" interview set to air Friday.

Obama said that while his oldest daughter, Malia, will be in college by the time his term ends, Sasha will still be a sophomore in high school. That could mean the family stays in Washington a couple more years.

"You know we gotta make sure that she's doing well," he said. "Until she goes off to college."

The president jokingly added that his family has made "a lot of sacrifices on behalf of my cockamamie ideas, the running for office and things."

Even if the Obamas don't return to their South Side Chicago home, his hometown could get a permanent piece of him.

The University of Illinois at Chicago last week announced its official bid to become the location to host Obama's presidential library.

"We are in and of Chicago," UIC chancellor Paula Allen-Meares said in a statement. "The focus of our research and public service echoes President Obama's signature achievements."



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Suspect Sought in Vista Stabbing

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Deputies are searching for an unknown man accused of critically stabbing another man in Vista on Thanksgiving morning.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, deputies from the Vista Station were called to the 1600-block of Carriage Circle Thursday around 7:30 a.m. to investigate a reported stabbing.

When officials arrived at the scene, they discovered a 67-year-old man suffering from life-threatening stab wounds. The stabbing suspect – a stranger, according to officials – had fled the area by the time deputies arrived.

The victim was taken via air ambulance to a local hospital. His current condition is unknown. The attempted murder suspect remains at large.

Officials describe the suspect as a man between 25 and 29 years old, approximately 5-foot-10. He’s between 170 and 180-pounds, with dark brown, buzz cut hair. He was clean shaven and wore a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt, dark, baggy jeans and dark-colored shoes during the stabbing.

Officials say the suspect may have been white or Hispanic, and was armed with a 5 to 6-inch blade.

The attempted murder case is under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the Sheriff’s Department non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200, Det. Julian at (760) 940-4912 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipster may remain anonymous.
 

Chargers Blacked Out

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Chargers fans living in Southern California who hope to see Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals will have to buy a ticket and head to Qualcomm Stadium. The 1:25 p.m. game has officially been blacked out by the National Football League because not enough tickets were sold.

It is the first blacked out game of the season for any team in the NFL.

The league’s policy states that games must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff. According to the Chargers, more than 5,000 tickets still remain unsold. It’s the first game the Chargers have had blacked out this season.

Fans can listen to the radio broadcast of the game on 1360-AM, 105.3-FM or at Chargers.com. Those who want to purchase tickets can go to the team’s website or call the box office at (800) 745-3000. The cheapest tickets are available on the website for $52 plus taxes and fees.

Check back on NBC San Diego's Chargers section on Sunday for updates during the game.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

High Surf Hits San Diego

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Large waves hit San Diego beaches Friday during a high surf advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NWS).

At the Ocean Beach Pier, surfers caught some big waves (pictured above) right around 2:30 p.m.

The NWS said the high surf advisory would remain in effect through 6 p.m. Friday, with 5 to 8-foot surf and sets up to 9 feet along west-facing local beaches.

The highest surf was expected in San Diego County, as well as north of Newport Beach in Orange County.

With the high surf, strong rip currents were likely, particularly during the early afternoon when the high tides transitioned to low tides.

Although the surf is expected to die down by Friday night and through Saturday, high tides of 7 feet or more will occur Sunday through Wednesday, the NWS said.

Tides are expected to peak near 7.4 feet on Monday and Tuesday. This may result in a small chance of minor tidal overflow of low-lying areas along local beaches during the high tide times on those days.

Beachgoers are encouraged to use caution in the ocean during the high surf advisory and stay near lifeguards.

 

Boy Run Over by Float During Parade

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Holiday celebrations took a frightening turn Friday in a northwest Chicago suburb after a young boy was struck by a moving float in a Festival of Lights Parade.

Police were called to the scene just before 8 p.m at North Williams Street between East Woodstock and Brink Streets in Crystal Lake after a young child was struck by a moving float during the annual Festival of Lights Parade, officials said.

Crystal Lake Police said the injured 8-year-old boy was a participant in the parade and had been riding on a float, which was a flatbed trailer being towed by a truck, for a local Boy Scouts of America group when he attempted to get off the float and hand out candy.

“In the process he became entangled with a revolving wheel of the float,” according to a release from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

The boy fell into the street, and the wheel rolled over the lower half of his body, the release said.

The driver of the float stopped immediately after the incident and backed the float off of the child, police said.

Crystal Lake Fire Rescue transported the boy to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

No citations were issued in the incident.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Car Crashes After Fleeing Police

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A police pursuit involving a driver with a felony warrant ended when the suspect's Honda CRV hit a tree and then careened into an apartment in the 6800-block of Osler Street in Linda Vista Friday.

The car slammed into the apartment, knocking down the front door. Thankfully, the 5- and 6-year-old children who were playing in the living room left minutes before the crash.

Police pulled over the suspect in the College Area neighborhood, who fled through Allied Gardens, Grantville and Linda Vista, before crashing into the house.

The driver was taken into custody by officers and no injuries were reported, according to police.

Stores Hope Longer Hours Spur Sales

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Some of the large retailers that opened their doors — and cut prices online — early on Thanksgiving weekend reported signs of promising sales, as discount-hungry shoppers led a frenetic start to the holiday buying season.

Detailed analysis are still days away, but Walmart and Target touted what they described as encouraging signs, thanks to the sale of expensive electronics, such as flat-screen TVs, iPads and video game systems. Executives from Toys R Us and Macy's also said they benefited from their decisions to open earlier on Thanksgiving Day.

Much of that activity came not from the hordes of people who surged into stores, however. Online sales jumped by more than 20 percent on Thursday, and by 7 percent on Friday, according to IBM Digital Analytics. More than a third of those sales were made on mobile devices.

But because much of those sales were of deeply discounted items, retailers' revenues may not jump so high.

The National Retail Federation expects sale to jump by about 4 percent for the holiday season. Whether Thanksgiving weekend's activity is an effective gauge of how things will go is a matter of dispute.

On Wall Street, investors follow Black Friday sales trends as a glimpse to the health of retailers and the overall economy. Stocks were up overall at mid-day. But retail performances were mixed.

EBay, Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, Coach and Tiffany's all saw their stock rise. Wal-Mart was flat. Target, Macy's, JC Penney and Lowe's fell.

Wal-Mart said in a mid-day statement that it was enjoying the "most successful Black Friday" in its history.

Target announced a "very successful start" to the weekend.

Both said they experienced much heavier Thanksgiving Day activity on its websites.

Terry Lundgren, Macy's CEO, told the Associated Press that the 15,000 people who showed up for the opening of the flagship store was the most ever, up from 11,000 last year.

"Clearly people are in the shopping mood," he said.



Photo Credit: AP IMAGES FOR MACY'S

Ferry Hits Pier on Hudson, 7 Hurt

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Seven people on board a ferry were hurt when the boat struck a pier while attempting to dock in Jersey City Friday, authorities say. 

The ferry, owned by Goldman Sachs and operated by New York Waterway, was headed from the World Financial Center when it hit Owen Grundy Pier on the Hudson River at around 4:30 p.m., according to a company spokesman.

The pier is a few hundred yards from the ferry terminal where the boat usually lands.

Twenty-four passengers and three crew members were on board the ferry, the Coast Guard said. Five passengers and two crew members were evaluated at the scene; four of them, two passengers and two crew members, were taken to the hospital. All were treated and released or expected to be released by Friday night. 

One crew member's family told NBC 4 New York that he had been thrown several feet from the impact of the crash and was experiencing swelling in his legs and his abdomen. 

Goldman Sachs is headquartered at the World Financial Center and has offices in Jersey City, but the boat — named York — is operated by Waterway and available for public use. The York and another ferry owned by Goldman Sachs, Jersey, began commuter service in February.

The pier is closed while officials investigate. No cause has been determined for the accident, but the city said an investigation by the Jersey City Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard and NYPD Harbor Unit is ongoing.

Officials said it is unclear which pier the ferry was traveling to.

"The ferry struck the wrong pier, and where it was going is under investigation," said James Shea, director of the Jersey City Department of Public Safety.

No pollution had been reported as a result of the accident, said Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist 3rd Class Ali Flockerzi.

Pei-Sze Cheng contributed to this report. 

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