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California Condors Released

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Four California condors will be released into the wild from Big Sur on Tuesday morning for the first time and anyone in the world can now watch these endangered birds transition from captivity to life via a live-streaming webcam.

The release will begin at 10 a.m. and be streamed here on the Oakland Zoo website, and the Ventana Wildlife Society website.

One of the birds being released is a condor who suffered a broken wing in 2013 while still a chick. At just two months old, she was taken from her nest to the Los Angeles Zoo for treatment, Oakland Zoo officials said. She is now ready to be released less than a mile from her parents and the nest she was born into. The other three condors being released are males born in 2011 and 2012.

This particular condor release is significant because eleven birds in Central California were lost in 2013 due to lead poisoning and other causes, officials said in a statement.

As of as of Jan. 31, there are a total of 410 living condors, of which 232 are in the wild. Fifty-eight condors reside in Central California. Besides the release site in Big Sur, condors are also being released in Baja California, Mexico, Southern California, and in Arizona near the Grand Canyon.

The livestream is a collaboration between Ventana Wildlife Society and Oakland Zoo, with funding provided by FedEx and made possible through CamZone Networks.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Poway Mulls $1M Supt. Contract

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Some Poway residents are upset about a plan to extend the contract for the Poway Union School District Superintendent who supported a bond sale that will cost the district roughly 10 times the amount to pay  back.

USD Board of Trustees listened to residents at a special meeting to discuss a million dollar contract extension for Superintendent John Collins.

Poway resident John Riley was opposed to extending Collins contract.

"People who have to pay the bond are people in the future. People in the future are going to have to pay for the bad decisions of this leadership today," Riley said.

The board was widely criticized for selling $105 million worth of bonds in 2012 that will cost roughly ten times that to pay back.

Two years ago when the trustees voted to sell land in order to pay some of its bills, Collins explained that the district had been millions of dollars short of what they needed.

He is considered one of the highest-paid superintendents in the state.

Supporters at Monday night's meeting thought Collins' contract should be extended. They described  him as a strong leader with a passion for helping students.

“John is a very strong leader and an ethical person and no one cares more about kids and leading Poway,” said Robert Gravina, PUSD’s Chief Technology Information Officer.

The agenda listed the event as a closed meeting at the district offices. An email publicizing the meeting was sent to parents of students within the district three days prior.

If the proposed contract is approved, it would run through 2017 with an extension to 2018.

The estimated salary is reportedly $297,735 with a $500,000 severance if the contract is terminated early.

Board members did not make any decisions at Monday's closed meeting and they say there was no discussion about Collins' pay.
 

 


 

New Allegations in La Jolla Elder Abuse Case

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New twists are coming to light in the investigation of suspected animal neglect and elder abuse at a million-dollar La Jolla home.

Just days after NBC 7 Investigates first reported about the discovery of a 90-year-old man dangerously malnourished and dehydrated in his own home, two other families have come forward claiming that man’s companion took advantage of two other men -- an 81-year-old and 80-year-old.

Family members of homeowner Robert Stella say the woman they blame for his condition, Victoria Turner, is back in the Avenida De Las Pescas house she shared with Stella.

Turner filed for temporary restraining orders against Stella's children William and Michelle Redfield as well as roommate Josh Curry, which resulted in his eviction.

Curry told NBC 7 Investigates that Turner teased Stella with food and tied the 90-year-old to his bed.

In her application for the restraining orders, Turner indicates she was physically threatened by Curry as well as Stella’s children.

In Family Court Monday morning, Turner dropped her request for an order against Curry, and she and the Redfields agreed to postpone the hearing related to them. It was rescheduled for April 21st.

Until then, the Redfields are prohibited from going near the house and Turner.

Both Turner and her attorney have declined several opportunities to speak on these new developments.

NBC7 Investigates found family members of other elderly men who say Turner ruined their lives.

They claim Turner was involved with two other men at the same time she may have been married to Stella.

NBC 7 Investigates has exclusive interviews with families, who are voicing these new allegations.

Eighty-one-year-old John McNamara shot and killed himself at his Lemon Grove home in 2011.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's report indicates when he pulled the trigger, Turner was across the hall in another bedroom.

“If she's supposed to be a caregiver, how in the hell did he get a hold of a gun?” McNamara’s daughter-in-law Catherine said.

John Jr. and wife Catherine say they were notified of McNamara’s death by an uncle, not the coroner or hospital.

The reason? On the death certificate, Turner was identified as having power of attorney for McNamara.

“I can't even look into his accounts and that kinda stuff because her name is on the death certificate,” McNamara’s son John Jr. said.

“Her objective was to get at his money,” Catherine said.

The McNamaras said Turner's relationship with their father was somewhere between female companion and caregiver.

They claim McNamara took her to expensive restaurants and that he would help with her video production company. They said some nights, Victoria would stay over, even though their father told John Jr. and Catherine that Turner was married.

“I thought it was pretty different, but what was I going to say?” John Jr. said.

NBC 7 Investigates did find a marriage certificate on file. It indicates while all this was allegedly going on with McNamara, Turner’s husband of record was Robert Stella.

It was Stella's house that was raided by police and animal control two weeks ago, and investigators found it was overrun by more than 20 dogs and cats, garbage and animal waste piled wall to wall.

Stella's children and roommates say Turner trashed the place.

In her request for the restraining orders, Turner says it was Stella's family that trashed the house.

"The house looked like a hurricane had hit inside. Mirrors were smashed, televisions destroyed. Family pets were running loose in the streets," Turner wrote.

NBC 7 Investigates dug up a 10-year-old copy of Victoria's Secret Closet, a public television program about notable La Jollans. At a round table discussion featured in the program, a much younger Robert Stella can be seen.

The show’s host was Turner, and there is another man: 80-year-old retired engineer Victor Sell, dubbed "The Futurologist".

Victor's family says he became another of Turner's companions.

“You know, playing to how important he thinks all of that is and making him feel important because he is a ‘futurologist’,” Victor’s daughter-in-law Tamson Sell said.

Chris -- Victor’s son -- and Tamson saw an NBC7 Investigates report about Turner and decided to cut her out of Victor’s life, changing the locks on his house.

They say they're grooming the deteriorating yard that is already starting to look like the mess in Stella's property. They are disposing of the flea market items they say Turner started to accumulate in his garage, and they had to eliminate Turner from Victor's sensitive accounts.

“Off the credit card, off the health directive, off the medical emergency, off the-her email and off the bank account,” Tamson said.

NBC 7 Investigates tracked down Turner last week to talk to her about Stella. She did not want to answer our questions and avoided the camera.

We attempted to reach Turner and her attorney about these new allegations. We have not heard back.

Besides Turner, the families of all three elderly men share a common frustration of many adult children: not knowing when their parents need protection.

“You do have to really watch. You can't say, ‘OK, this is my father, and he's making the right decisions because he's my father,’” Tamson said.

In seeking the restraining orders Turner indicated she received threats from William Redfield, “ He had me in fear for my safety,” Turner wrote.

Stella family members deny Turner’s accusations.

Turner has not been charged with a crime.

Man Robs Same Store Twice: Police

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Police say a man walked out of a New Jersey prison after serving 15 years for robbing a children's shoe store, headed straight back to the same shop and robbed it again. 
 
In 1999, 25-year-old Christopher Miller was arrested after he forced employees into the back room of the Stride Rite shoe store on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, tied them up and fled with cash.
 
After a 15-year sentence, Miller was released on Friday from South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton.
 
Police say Miller, now 40, took a bus from Atlantic City to Toms River on Saturday, and went to the same shoe store.
 
Employees tell police that he entered the store and demanded cash, telling the workers -- a teenage boy and 43-year-old woman -- to go to the back room. They refused.
 
He became agitated, according to police, and took the cash register drawer, which had $389.
 
He then took the workers' cell phones and fled on foot.
Police say he was found a few blocks away, with the cash stashed in a gutter and the phones in a garbage can.
 
Police say Miller lists Tulsa, Okla. as his last address. His connection to Toms River is not clear.
 
He is charged with robbery and is being held on $100,000 bail. Police had no attorney information for him. 

Chief Faces Tough Questions

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San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman faced some tough questions as she held her first town hall meeting Monday in Lincoln Park to deal with community complaints about officers using racial profiling as a police tactic.

Roughly 175 people, including dozens of uniformed officers, attended the meeting at the Jacobs Center where the chief vowed to repair any public distrust.

“Some of our officers have made the terrible decision to discredit our badge and dishonor our noble profession” said Zimmerman.

A variety of questions were raised, but the number one concern dealt with racial profiling issues.

“When they’re pulled over here instead of asking for drivers license or insurance they ask you if you’re on parole or probation” said Crystal Van Dyke who brought her two young sons in hopes of building a positive relationship between them and police.

When asked if racial profiling is a problem, Zimmerman responded, “Absolutely, because the community says it’s an issue."

Zimmerman urged people to immediately request a police supervisor if ever they felt wrongly detained or questioned by an officer.

She highlighted proactive measures like the implementation of officer body cameras and new rules requiring dual officer transport of female detainees.

Zimmerman also pledged to focus more attention on “effective communication” between her officers and the public during traffic stops and calls for service.

One resident told NBC 7 he liked what he heard.

"I like her remedy for success in that area," he said. "Effective communication - a relationship that is very much needed in our community."

"This is the start, this is the beginning," another resident, Sharvella Norris, said adding that she would attend future meetings.

While others weren't completely sold.

"I'll believe it when I see it, I'm not completely in - no," Van Dykes said.

Charges Possible in Tour Bus Crash

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The California Highway Patrol will recommend a tour bus driver face a manslaughter charge in the December crash that killed a Van Nuys woman.

Hector Clemente, 57, of Compton was driving a bus to Valley View Casino, headed southbound on I-15 near Fallbrook.

Investigators say Clemente told them he suddenly he felt the bus jerk to the left. They say when he turned the steering wheel to the right he lost control of the bus, flipping over on the rain-slick interstate.

Tayde Murguia, 64, died after being partially ejected from and trapped underneath the overturned tour bus. Twenty-one others were injured in the crash.

Hydroplaning may be a possibility considering problems investigators found with two of the buses tires.

“Some of tires on bus were a little bit bald, were losing a lot of tread in some of the important areas,” said CHP Office Jim Bettencourt.

Five Star Bus Charter owns the bus Clemente was driving. A spokeswoman told me though they're no longer operating bus tours--inspections were done every 45 days.

Federal safety records show the Bell, California company owns two buses and as of September had a "satisfactory" rating despite those buses being involved in two other accidents in the past two years--resulting in one injury.

“If they continue to put unsafe buses out there then we can definitely can shut them down if that's the case in the future, " said Bettencourt.

Investigators say it doesn't appear speed was an issue.

Even though the CHP is recommending manslaughter charges, the final decision is up to the district attorney's office.
 

Weekend Events: March 27-30

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They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Whether you’re looking to go wild or just relax, there is plenty to do in San Diego this last weekend of March.

Thursday, March 27

El Cajon Farmers Market 1st Anniversary
3 p.m.- 6 p.m. in El Cajon
San Diego is known for its amazing farmers markets, and the El Cajon Farmers Market has proved its here to stay. Celebrate its first anniversary with special activities, giveaways and more.

Border Film Week
Starts at 5 p.m. at University of San Diego
Watch documentaries on intriguing topics, including teenage detainees in a Mexico City prison and the mystical practices of Santa Muerte.

Yin-Yang Guest Appreciation Night
7 p.m. at RA Sushi downtown
RA Sushi is saying “arigato” to its customers with $10 sushi dinners and $5 drink specials.

Northern Tigers
9 p.m. at the Tin Can Alehouse
Northern Tigers perfectly embody the spirit of San Diego’s surfy, garage-pop sound, so you’d just be silly to miss them-- especially since the Tin Can’s burger joint, Dood’s Foods, is off the chain. Go for a burger, stay for a great show.

 

Friday, March 28

Bankers Hill Art and Craft Beer Festival
5 p.m.-9 p.m. in Bankers Hill
Good beer. Good art. Good times.

The Used and Taking Back Sunday
6 p.m. at the House of Blues
This show will be non-stop head-banging and scream-alongs. (Take our word for it.) These bands rose to fame in early part of last decade– and for good reason. A great two-for-the-price-of-one all-ages show.

Wine Tasting at Syrah
8 p.m.- 9 p.m. in the Gaslamp Quarter
Not exactly a wine connoisseur? No problem. One of Syrah’s expert sommeliers will select wines for you to savor in a candlelight setting. Make a reservation here.

Super Awesome Showdown: Hyper Quasar Edition
8 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Victory Theater
This show combines professional wrestling, a laser light show and aliens. Check it out.

Saturday, March 29

Reptiles Rock!
9 a.m.- 11 a.m. in Poway
Spring means rattlesnake season in San Diego County. Find out how to tell the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes and more cool facts about our resident reptiles.

2014 Spring Busker Festival
Starts at 12 p.m. at Seaport Village
Aerial acrobats, jugglers and other acts from around the globe perform mind-bending feats. Free!

Gin Fest
4 p.m.- 7 p.m. in La Jolla
The name says it all. Sip gin cocktails poolside and learn to make gin libations of your own.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks with Speedy Ortiz
9 p.m. at the Casbah
Stephen Malkmus (Pavement frontman and indie rock legend) has got a new band. But don’t underestimate the opener, Speedy Ortiz: Their last album was praised on a ton of 2013 year-end best-of lists.

Sunday, March 30

Brewcyclers Ballast Point Brewery Ride
Starts at 9 a.m. at Ballast Point Brewery
If you like beer and bicycling, this is the event for you. A nice cold one is your reward after a 23-mile ride.

Padres Opening Day Block Party
10 a.m.- 7 p.m. in the East Village
Kick off the Padres’ season (and hopefully a W against the Dodgers) at this free event, featuring food, live music and more.

Mariachi Festival
1 p.m.- 5 p.m. in Escondido
Enjoy the signature sound of Mariachi Femenil Garibaldi, an all-female mariachi group just back from its tour of Europe and Mexico.

Wild Child
8:30 p.m. at Soda Bar
If you love American indie folk pop, stop by Soda Bar on Sunday for an extra-good dose of it. This Austin, Texas group is the real deal.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Vetta

Cold Case: Teen’s Murder Unsolved

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It’s been exactly two years since a San Diego teenager was shot and killed in the Mount Hope area – two years without answers, as the teen’s murder remains unsolved.

While the San Diego Police Department and San Diego Crime Stoppers continue to trace leads in connection with the 2012 murder of Richard “Richie” Carrillo, 14, the reward for information on the case has increased to $3,000, officials announced Tuesday.

In addition to the $1,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers, officials say the Millennial Tech Parent Teacher Student Organization has contributed $2,000 to the reward fund. Millennial Tech Middle School was the school Carrillo attended at the time of his killing.

On Mar. 24, 2012, just after 8 p.m., the teenage victim was sitting on the tailgate of a parked pickup truck in an alley in the 3500-block of Island Avenue near Market Street.

As Carrillo talked with friends, investigators say a dark-colored SUV drove toward the group and stopped. Two unknown men in their 20s got out of the SUV and began shooting at Carrillo and his friends. The teen tried to flee to safety on foot, but he was fatally struck by the gunfire.

By the time medics arrived on scene, it was too late for Carrillo. The teenager died at the scene.

Police say the two shooting suspects got back into the SUV and were last seen driving westbound away from the site of the deadly shooting.

Two years later, the suspects remain at large and Carrillo’s murder remains unsolved.

Anyone with information on this cold case should contact the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

NBC 7 spoke with Carrillo’s mother, Elisa Carrillo, last March, on the first anniversary of his murder.

At the time, the devastated mother told NBC 7 that life without her son has been incredibly difficult, and not a day goes by that she doesn’t think of him.

Clutching tightly onto a photo of her beloved boy, Elisa told NBC 7 that the pain of losing her son is “unexplainable,” and vowed to continue to fight to bring her son’s killers to justice.

“It’s like a really lost, empty feeling inside. It’s unexplainable,” she said in that interview. “I want this to end. I want this to end. I want to have justice and know in my heart, I did the best I could, and know the police and friends – everyone – has done the best they could to close this case.”
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

First Pet Hospice of Its Kind

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Saying goodbye to a family pet is always hard to do.

Ken Wilson lost his 13- year-old dog, Ash, last year.

“It’s so hard when you have to work and take care of a pet. A kennel wasn’t good enough because they are a member of the family and he needed 24-hour supervision," Wilson said.

Wilson says he used a hospice center in Sorrento Valley that helped him cope in the last couple of months with his dog.

Into the Sunset opened this month and is the first hospice center of its kind in the nation.

Created after the owner Vivianne Villanueva lost her own dog, Lily, to cancer, the center aims to be a one-stop shop for your pet when they are reaching the end of their life.

She realized there wasn’t a group to help her after losing what she considered a member of the family.

“I wanted this to be a place where people could come so we could address their needs and it to be a warm, serene, loving environment. We wanted it to be a place that they felt comfortable and supported,” Villanueva said,

The consulting can cost up to $300 but overall costs vary depending on your pet’s needs.

The center offers acupuncture, nutritional care and ways to memorialize your pet once they are gone.
 

Baby Gorilla Meets Mom

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A reunion that is almost too sweet to bear: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s newest gorilla mom Imani got to hold her baby for the first time Monday morning.

The 12-day-old female gorilla was placed on a soft hay pile, and Imani was let in to physically meet her daughter.

The mother took a close look at her baby, smelled her and eventually picked her up.

"Initially she was just carrying the baby, she never set the baby down," said Andrew Stallard, the park’s animal care supervisor. "About three hours in, she began nursing the baby.”

In about five minutes, the baby fell asleep in her mother’s arms, an exciting moment for the staff.

The tiny ape has been through a lot since her birth on March 12 through emergency C-section, a rare procedure for gorillas.

She was treated for a collapsed lung the day after her birth, and on March 18, the zoo announced she had been diagnosed with pneumonia.

But on Monday, Imani finally got some bonding time with the little one– who still does not have a name – and cradled her around the bedroom area, eventually letting the baby cling onto her back as she moved around.

After some one-on-one time, animal care staff let 5-year-old male gorilla Frank into the bedroom area. Zoo officials say Imani has a special bond with Frank, since she acted as his surrogate mother after he was born in the zoo in 2008.

Officials said staff will continue monitoring the infant gorilla to make sure she is getting the nutrition she needs.

This is Imani’s first baby and the 17th to be born at the Safari Park, where eight gorillas now live.



Photo Credit: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Street Robbery Suspects Arrested

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Three suspects were arrested in El Cajon early Tuesday morning in connection with at least two robberies, one of which involved a victim robbed of her cell phone at a mall.

According to Lt. Rob Ransweiler of the El Cajon Police Department, the first robbery happened around 9:45 p.m. Monday at Parkway Plaza mall on Fletcher Parkway.

A woman was using her cell phone at the mall when three suspects approached her. One of the suspects snatched the phone from her hands and all three immediately fled the scene on foot. The woman was not harmed.

The second robbery occurred just a few hours later – at around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday – at the intersection of Main and Johnson streets. Police said two male victims were walking along the street when three suspects approached them.

One suspect, armed with a handgun, pointed the weapon at the victims and demanded their wallets. After getting what they wanted, the suspects fled on foot. The victims were not injured.

Police said the victims followed the suspects for a short distance and called 911. Officials from several agencies responded to the area began searching for the suspects.

A short time later, two of the suspects were located in the 300-block of Richfield Avenue. Officers also spotted a car speeding nearby in the 200- block of Richardson Avenue. When officers stopped the vehicle, they found evidence inside the car linking the vehicle and driver to the two other suspects and the robberies.

The three suspects – Antwonne Hartfield, 23; Jayvon Bailey, 19; and an unidentified juvenile – were all taken into custody. Investigators believe the trio may also be connected to additional robberies that happened in San Diego overnight.

The suspects are facing three felony counts of robbery, plus charges for conspiracy to commit a crime.

The robbery series remains under investigation. Hartfield and Bailey are scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Anyone with information on these robberies should contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Fake Grenade Found at School

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Investigators were called to an elementary school in Clairemont Tuesday morning after a fake grenade was discovered on campus, officials from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed.

At around 10:15 a.m., officials with the Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) arrived at the school located at 4050 Appleton St. to investigate the suspicious device.

Officials got hold of the device and soon determined it was fake and posed no threat. The elementary school was not evacuated and no one was injured in the incident, officials said.

According to investigators, it appears a student brought the item to school.

Linda Zintz of the San Diego Unified School District said the district has a zero tolerance policy, but she couldn't comment on the consequences the student who brought the fake grenade to school might face.

By 12:10 p.m., fire officials and school police had cleared the scene.



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Man Robs Gas Station With Machete

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A masked man armed with a machete robbed a San Diego gas station Tuesday, police said.

Officers said the suspect walked into the Shell gas station at 12507 Rancho Bernardo just after 8 a.m. and demanded cash three times.

The store clerk told NBC 7 he initially thought the attempted robbery was a joke.

Captain Joe Ramos said officers responding to the scene were flagged down by several witnesses.

Once they had his license plate, they worked with San Diego COunty sheriff's deputies to locate the suspect's vehicle.

Officials then surrounded a home on Avenida la Valencia in Poway that they believed to be the suspect's father's home.

The suspect came out of house and was taken into custody.

 

Engineer: CHP Obstructs Fire Crews

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A claim filed by a San Diego-area firefighter handcuffed at the scene of a crash demands that the California Highway Patrol fix a “longstanding problem” of CHP officers getting in the way of emergency crews on the state’s highways.

"It was a very odd, surreal situation," Chula Vista Fire Engineer Jacob Gregoire recalled as he discussed the issue Tuesday.

In a legal claim filed March 21, Gregoire claims CHP officers often “’delay’ and ‘obstruct’ firefighters and ‘other emergency technicians’ attempting to treat sick and injured on California highways.”

"I'm looking for change. I'm looking for a very simple policy where anybody can pick it up and realize who is in charge, how an incident is going to be run and to eliminate five minutes of talking on the side of a freeway that's going to take away from a patient's "golden hour" of care," Gregoire said.

On the night of Feb. 4, Gregoire parked his fire engine at a crash scene along Interstate 805 near Telegraph Canyon Road.

A vehicle had crashed into the center divider and then rolled through a construction area, injuring two people.

When CHP officer Sergio Flores told Gregoire to move his fire truck, the fire engineer refused. He explained Tuesday that he had parked the fire engine in a way as to protect the ambulance and the patients on gurneys from oncoming highway traffic.

Soon after, the CHP officer handcuffed the engineer and put him in the back of a CHP patrol car.

"At the time, I tell you, I thought my career was over," Gregoire said. "It was tough, it was really hard to sit in back of the CHP car and be treated the way he treated me."

Gregoire claims he asked Officer Flores to loosen the cuffs but the CHP officer tightened them instead.

When he asked a second time for the cuffs to be loosened, he claims the officer laughed at him.

The incident was shared nationally by firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and law enforcement officers around the nation and led to a protocol review by both the CHP and Chula Vista Fire Department.

The two agencies called the confrontation unfortunate and vowed to make it part of future training.

However, Gregoire and his attorney Dan Gilleon say there have been several incidents since Feb. 4 and there has been no discussion about a clarification of who has authority at a highway crash scene.

Gregoire fears the problem has been dropped by both agencies.

"I don’t think I can go the rest of my career knowing that this just got swept under the carpet and this was no big deal," Gregoire said.

About a week after the incident, Chula Vista Fire Chief Dave Hanneman said what happened between the firefighter and CHP officer appeared to be more about miscommunication in an emergency situation rather than a need to change protocol.

Currently, the CHP does have authority on highways. However, since Chula Vista firefighters arrived first on scene that day, the fire captain had initial command.

Hanneman said, per standard operating policy, there was supposed to be a transfer of power or debriefing between the fire department and CHP that likely didn’t occur.

Two incidents have come to light since the Feb. 4 event and one involves the same CHP officer according to the attorney.

“This is an opportunity to fix this ongoing problem and make the patients on the roadway a priority,” Gilleon said.

The attorney said that if the claim moves forward, the CHP officer may face a violation of PC 148 that prohibits anyone "who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs any public officer, peace officer, or an emergency medical technician...in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her office or employment.."

Gregoire said his union heard of similar stories from other "large counties" around the state involving interactions with CHP officers in the field.

When asked if the leadership at Chula Vista Fire Department supported the claim filed by Gregoire, the attorney said, "It doesn’t appear the chief of the fire department in Chula Vista has been all that supportive."

Gregoire is a 12-year veteran of the department.

Oil Spills Into Lake Michigan

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A malfunction at BP's Whiting Refinery in Indiana caused oil to spill into Lake Michigan.

BP spokesman Scott Dean said the disruption was discovered around 4:30 p.m. Monday. It resulted in the discharge of crude oil from the refinery's cooling water outfall into the cove between the waste water treatment plant and the steel mill. 

It's not clear how much oil spilled into the water, but Dean said the sheen was no longer visible in the water Tuesday morning.

"The discharge has stopped," Dean said, "and BP and its response team have deployed boom, containing the oil to a cove."

There were no injuries, he said, and cleanup activities are underway.

NBC 5 Chicago's Sky5 helicopter footage of the scene showed crews cleaning up the lakeshore near the refinery. State and federal environmental officials also were at the scene.

Dean said BP notified the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management after the discharge was discovered.

"BP will continue to work in full cooperation with the agencies to ensure the protection of personnel, the environment and surrounding communities."

In a joint statement, Sens. Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin said they are encouraged to hear the spill is contained but are "extremely concerned" about the possibility of a future spill after BP recently announced a plan to nearly double its processing of heavy crude oil at the refinery.

"We plan to hold BP accountable for this spill and will ask for a thorough report about the cause of this spill, the impact of the Whiting Refinery’s production increase on Lake Michigan, and what steps are being taken to prevent any future spill.”


Motorcycle Crash on SR-67

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Two people seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on State Route 67 in Lakeside over the weekend remained hospitalized Tuesday while friends continue to collect donations to aid in their recovery.

On Saturday, at around 2:20 p.m., a couple riding a motorcycle on southbound SR-67 near West Foster Truck Trail and Vigilante Road crashed on the freeway.

The California Highway Patrol said both riders were injured.

Officials temporarily shut down the southbound lanes of SR-67 immediately following the crash while emergency crews tended to victims and CHP crews secured the scene and gathered evidence.

Crews from Heartland Fire and Rescue requested assistance from Mercy Air to transport the patients involved in the crash to the hospital.

By 3 p.m., only one southbound lane remained closed. By 4 p.m., the scene was nearly clear and the freeway had almost fully reopened, except for part of one lane where the accident happened, which remained blocked off.

Details on the accident and the condition of those involved were not immediately released.

A sign that read "Watch Downhill Speed" (see photo below) was posted near the site of the crash and appeared to be badly damaged, though it's unclear if the sign was damaged in this specific accident.

Friends have set up an online fund for the couple to help their families cover their mounting medical expenses from injuries sustained in the crash.

According to the fund website, the male victim is currently on life support and paralyzed from the neck down, while the woman has undergone surgery to reconstruct her legs, which were both broken in the accident. She also suffered a pelvic injury and collapsed lung.

As of Tuesday evening, the fund had collected more than $25,000. The ultimate goal is to collect $100,000 for the couple. To donate, click here.
 


 



Photo Credit: Matt Rascon

CNN Producers Arrested at WTC: Cops

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Two CNN producers were arrested at the World Trade Center site Tuesday after allegedly trying to push through a gate and climb a fence, police said.

Port Authority police said the employees, Yon Pomrenze, 35, and Connor Fieldman Boals, 26, allegedly tried to enter the site at Vesey and Washington streets, but were stopped by a police officer.

The producers, who were carrying a GoPro camera and a camera on a tripod, are accused of telling the officer that if a 16-year-old boy could get in, they should be able to as well.

Police say the men then walked toward the PATH station entrance and Boals was seen trying to climb the fence there before he was stopped.

They then tried to push their way through a gate, and were arrested at that point, police said.

Both are charged with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration.

A CNN spokeswoman said the producers "were not asked to sneak onto the WTC site. They were in the surrounding area to do a story about the recent incidents at the WTC and other sites, and the notion that daredevils are being drawn to them."

The alleged security breach attempt comes a day after three extreme-skydiving enthusiasts were arrested for a parachute jump off the 1,776-foot trade center last fall.

That and the breach by the teenage boy have raised questions about security at the lower Manhattan site, which is supposed to be one of the most tightly protected in the country. The site is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

 


Photo Credit: Port Authority Police

Girl, 9, Punished for Shaving Head

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A gesture of solidarity got a young Colorado girl banned from her school.

Kamryn Renfro, a student at Caprock Academy in Grand Junction, shaved her head to support her 11-year-old friend who's battling cancer and going through chemotherapy.

But when Kamryn tried to go back to school this week, she was not allowed in.

It turns out that having a shaved head is a violation of the school's dress code policy.

“I’m sad, because she was really happy to go back to school and show people what she did,” said Delaney Clements, Kamryn’s friend, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2010.

“For a little girl to be really brave and want to shave her head in support of her friend, I thought that was a huge statement,” said Wendy Campbell, Delaney’s mother.

The school decided it is willing to make exceptions to the rule given the circumstances, though, and has told Kamryn she will be allowed to return to school.

Dying Monk's Wish Granted

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A 76-year-old monk dying of cancer can now be buried at his beloved monastery, thanks to a bill OK'd by California's governor, who studied to be a priest himself.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who was a Jesuit seminary student in the 1950s, signed a bill on Tuesday allowing Archimandrite Theodor Micka to be buried on the grounds of Holy Cross Monastery in Castro Valley.

The bill, which was authored by California Sen. Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-Hayward), allowed an exemption to the current law regarding burial sites. As the law is written, it's a misdemeanor to bury someone in a place other than a designated cemetery without the proper state and county permits. 

In what's known as a "gut-and-amend bill," Corbett wrote the bill to allow Alameda County to expedite the permittng process.

"He had a very compelling story," Corbett said in a phone interview on Tuesday from Sacramento. "We wanted to fulfill his dying wish."

Micka's wish is to be buried on the monastery grounds where he has lived for three decades. The monastery is the only Orthodox one of its kind in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there, monks perform weddings, baptisms and services for Orthodox Christians of all ethnic backgrounds.

Micka is the abbot, or the head monk.

"[Corbett] called us today," Holy Cross Monastery Father Stephen Scott, who is Micka's caregiver, told NBC Bay Area. "We were very impressed. Father Theodor has been the abbot here for basically 50 years. He wanted to be buried here."

When Micka was diagnosed with stage IV cancer last April, Scott said that he discussed his friend's burial issue with members of the Stanford Religious Liberty Clinic, who were already helping the monastery with other legal matters. Students Greg Schweizer and Caitlin Bradley helped draft a narrowly crafted bill, CA SB 124, to allow Micka to be buried on the 9-acre rural grounds of his home. Micka's cancer has spread to his lymph nodes, Scott said, though all his friends and supporters are hoping that "he will rally."


The grounds of Holy Cross Monastery in Castro Valley, Calif. (Photo: Father Stephen Scott)


Micka has been "courageous" in the face of his diagnosis, said Scott, the monastery's co-founder. The two have been friends since 1970, when Micka was a parish priest in Los Altos Hills.

When Micka's mother died, she left her son all that she owned. He decided to use her inheritance to buy the 9-acre monastery, helping to build its walls and plant its gardens. Nature is Micka's passion.

"He made a vow to build a monastery," Scott said. "He creates beauty and order out of chaos. We have no fences so that deer can come onto our lawn. We are surrounded by green and parkland. Father Theodor loves the idea of finding God through the beauty of the place."
 

 



Photo Credit: Father Stephen Scott

Student Dies After Beating

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An 18-year-old high school student died after he was beaten in front of his house Sunday night.

Troy Causey, a player on the basketball team at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in South Dallas, died Monday after he was severely beaten outside his home the night before.

Grief counselors were at Wilmer-Hutchins High School Tuesday morning to talk to students.

"Great guy. Great student. Great student-athlete. The tallest kid in the building with the biggest smile," said Principal Marlon Brooks.

Dallas police are re-interviewing witnesses who reported seeing Causey get into an argument with two people.

If anyone has information about his death, please contact police.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News
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