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Border Patrol Car Involved in Rollover Crash

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A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle was involved in a rollover crash in south San Diego Wednesday night, officials confirmed.

The accident happened just before 7 p.m. on Alta Road, north of Otay Mesa Road, in Otay Mesa.

Emergency crews from Cal Fire and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department were dispatched to the scene to tend to one victim who sustained moderate injuries in the crash.

At 7:20 p.m., Cal Fire officials said a helicopter and air ambulance was also en route to assist.

The accident happened about 25 minutes from a main road, on private government property. One car was involved and one victim was hurt.

By 8:45 p.m., that victim had been airlifted to Scripps Mercy hospital with unspecified injuries, Cal Fire officials said, as the scene was being cleared.

The cause of the rollover crash remains under investigation.

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



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

DA: Husband Stabbed Wife 30 Times in Violent Murder

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A prosecutor revealed details of a brutal murder Wednesday involving a man accused of stabbing his estranged wife more than 30 times as she ran for her life in a Carlsbad parking lot.

“She tried to get away from him. She couldn’t get the knife away from him,” Deputy District Attorney Susan Gust said in court as she described the violent last moments of victim Ariflor Gonzalez’s life.

The person on the other end of the knife was allegedly the victim’s husband of more than two decades, Pedro Zurita, 49.

Zurita was arrested Saturday after Gonzalez was found stabbed to death, lying in a pool of blood, in the parking lot of the place where she worked in the 5100-block of Val Allan Way. She died just before 8 p.m., police said.

According to investigators, a family member called 911 to report a domestic violence incident. An hour later, officers tracked down Zurita and took him into custody on suspicion of Gonzalez’s murder.

Gust said police were also able to find the murder weapon – a knife Zurita purchased earlier that day at a local Wal-Mart. Zurita allegedly threw the knife out of a car moments after he fatally stabbed his wife, and the knife was found near a canyon.

Gust said Zurita used the knife to stab Gonzalez more than 30 times, all over her body, including major arteries. As he attacked her, she ran, desperately trying to escape.

“She ran out of the building bleeding. She ran into the parking lot where he pursued her. He chased her and stabbed her multiple times,” the prosecutor said Wednesday. “When the victim could run no more, she fell to the ground and he continued to stab her.”

According to Gust, the couple had been married for more than 22 years and had four children. Their youngest child is 3 years old.

The couple separated in December 2013, and Gonzalez was not interested in mending the marriage. Over the past few months, Gust said Gonzalez had told friends that Zurita had threatened to kill her, and she feared for her life.

The prosecutor said Zurita felt his estranged wife was moving on from their relationship and had not been willing to reconcile, and this angered him.

The couple both worked at the same building in Carlsbad but were assigned to different shifts.

The prosecutor said that on the night of the murder, Zurita used his employee key card to gain access to the building while Gonzalez was working.

As the pair struggled and Gonzalez ran into the parking lot, surveillance cameras outside the building caught a small snippet of the deadly chase and stabbing, Gust said.

Due to the brutality of the killing and flight risk of the defendant, the prosecutor asked a judge to set a high bail for Zurita Wednesday.

The judge set his bail at $5 million, agreeing that the suspect is a danger to the public.

Zurita is currently being held at the Vista Detention Facility. His next appearance in court is set for Apr. 24. If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces 26 years to life in prison.

Gust said this has been an extremely difficult time for the couple’s children, who are being cared for by relatives.

“It was a brutal killing and it’s very difficult for the family. They’re devastated and they’re still trying to process what has happened to them. They have a lot of healing to do. This is going to be a long process for them,” she said.

On Saturday, a family member told NBC 7 that Gonzalez had been living with the couple’s four kids in the family’s home in Oceanside before she was killed. Neighbors said the family was quiet but noticed Zurita had recently become distraught over the separation from his wife.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Girl Robbed of $1 in NYC Subway

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Police are looking for a man who approached a teen girl in an Upper West Side subway stairwell and tried to rob her before assaulting her and fleeing with $1.

The 15-year-old girl was entering the B and C subway station on 96th Street and Central Park West at about 10 a.m. Saturday, police said.

The suspect approached her and demanded her valuables.

He then assaulted her and took $1 from her jacket before fleeing.

Police released surveillance images of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.

Mom Drives Van Into River: Police

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A man swooped in to save a South Jersey family after a mother allegedly tried to kill her teenage children.

Darnell Taylor is mourning the loss of his father, who died from cancer Wednesday morning. Yet while Taylor is now coping with the tragedy, he can take solace in the fact that he prevented another one from happening just a day before his father's death.

Police say 49-year-old Joann Smith was driving her van on West Front Street in Florence Township, N.J around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. With her 15, 14, and 13 year-old children inside the vehicle, Smith allegedly accelerated onto a boat ramp and into the Delaware River.

Investigators say she was intentionally trying to kill her children.

Taylor says he was driving to dinner with his wife when he noticed the vehicle partially submerged in the water and the family trapped inside.

"I got out of the car and heard people screaming," Taylor said. "I took off my jacket, jumped in and swam out there."

Taylor swam towards the family while his wife called 911.

"I couldn't get the window open because the window in the van was not a pop out window," Taylor said. "So I kept telling the young lady to kick the window out and she kicked it out."

One by one, Taylor grabbed Smith, her daughter and two sons to safety. Taylor claims Smith didn't say anything during the rescue except for "Thank you."

One of the children suffered cuts on the leg while Smith was checked into a medical facility for a mental evaluation.

Police claim Smith intentionally drove the van into the water. She was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of child endangerment.

Smith’s bail was set at $600,000. Officials originally said that Smith would likely appear in Superior Court in Mount Holly Thursday afternoon. Thursday morning however they said her first appearance wouldn't occur until Monday morning at the earliest.

Detectives with the Florence Township Police Department along with officials from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the case.

Smith's three children are currently staying with relatives, shaken by their terrifying experience but still alive thanks to Taylor.

"He was a godsend," said Bob Lane, a Florence Township resident. "He saved them. That water is not warm and he jumped in."

While many people are calling him a hero, Taylor disagrees.

"I'm not a hero," he said. "I'm just a member of this community and anyone else would have done the same thing."



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

California Drought Driving Up Food Prices

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California's severe drought is expected to cause a drastic increase in food prices.

A new study said produce prices could skyrocket -- a head of lettuce could go up as much as 62 cents, an avocado may increase by 35 cents and a pound of tomatoes appears to be headed for a 45-cent hike.

Consumers are already feeling the effects.

"It seems like they fluctuate a lot," shopper Benisa Berry said of food prices. "It seems like it's on sale one week and then you go the next day and it's like twice as much."

Carol Benevidez of Windmill Farms in San Ramon, Calif. said the freeze in January combined with the unpredictable weather and drought are driving prices up.

"Customers are definitely going to see the cost increase and it's going to be across the board for everyone, from owners to customers unfortunately," Benevidez said.

A lime that used to sell for 33 cents is now 79 cents, and come summer Benevidez said more produce will be impacted by the state's lack of water including squash, lettuce and stone fruits like peaches and nectarines.

"We have gotten word from farmers that they either have to cut back on crops or just not plant at all," Benevidez said.

Grocers in response will have to import the produce, which comes at a cost.

"So we're paying over a $150 per box of limes and we're mainly only able to get those out of Mexico right now because we have nothing really here in California," Benevidez said.

Shoppers said they are now limiting their grocery lists to items they really need.

"You got to eat you know? So I just cut out some unnecessary things," shopper Susan Ni said. "Like what? Luxury things like cake, party things, drinks, all those things."



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Drunk Driver Pleads Guilty to Fatal Hit and Run

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A man charged with driving drunk and killing a Ph.D. student in a hit and run in Del Mar last month has pleaded guilty, court officials confirmed Wednesday.

Christopher “Chip” Stockmeyer, 41, entered guilty pleas on four felony counts, including gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI, driving with a measurable blood alcohol causing injury and hit and run.

On Mar. 28, at around 10:15 p.m., Stockmeyer fatally struck aspiring marine biologist Rachel Morrison, 27, as she walked with a friend within a crosswalk at the intersection of Camino Del Mar and Coast Boulevard.

Stockmeyer was driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding at the time of the accident. He ran a stop sign and hit Morrison. Her friend managed to dodge Stockmeyer’s car and was not injured.

Stockmeyer immediately fled the scene, leaving the mortally wounded victim behind. The impact flung Morrison about 120 feet into some nearby bushes.

Morrison was taken to Scripps La Jolla hospital, but it was too late. She died shortly thereafter.

Based on evidence left behind at the crash scene that night – namely Stockmeyer’s license plate – sheriff’s deputies and SDPD officers worked together to quickly locate the suspect vehicle involved in the hit and run.

They found the car at an apartment complex in La Jolla. The windshield of the Audi A4 had been broken by the impact of Morrison’s body against the car and there was major damage to the front-end, according to prosecutors.

At that complex, officials tracked down Stockmeyer and arrested him.

According to prosecutors, Stockmeyer had been drinking with co-workers at the Beachside Grill in Encinitas before getting behind the wheel on Mar. 28. When police tracked him down after the fatal crash, officer said he smelled of alcohol.

When asked if he had hit someone, Stockmeyer allegedly told officers he didn’t remember and just wanted to go home and sleep, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Stockmeyer – an engineer and father of two – faces 15 years in prison.

Morrison was a Ph.D. student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego at the time of her death. Her focus of study was fisheries management, a topic she became interested in while doing her undergraduate degree at Boston University, according to her autobiography on UC San Diego's Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation page.

Last week, nearly two dozen of her friends and loved ones packed a courtroom for Stockmeyer’s appearance. They wore pink roses in honor of Morrison and shared a statement written by her family that described Morrison as a “scholar” and athlete who was training to run the Boston Marathon with her father this year.

In the statement, her family added: “Our lives have been destroyed.”

Stockmeyer’s sister also read a statement that day expressing their family’s deepest condolences for Morrison’s loved ones.

“She was an incredible young lady with a wonderful future ahead of her, and it's a terrible loss. We are so, so very sorry,” Jennifer Dinofia said through tears.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Tax Refund? Treat Yourself to a Magnificent Meal

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If everything went well for you on Tax Day, you’re hopefully basking in the glow of an IRS refund. If that’s the case, time to treat yourself.

Decadent restaurants with price tags slightly on the steep side may be out of reach on a regular basis, but today, you might just have a little extra change to splurge. This week, Yelp has compiled a list of fancy places and plates to purchase with your newfound wealth. Enjoy!

Market (Del Mar)
Market is a truly upscale experience with services to satisfy any sort of spender. To start, order the Duck Liver Pate & Strawberry Rhubarb compote served with a fennel salad, grilled toast and balancing vinaigrette. For your entrée, ignore the price tag and get what you really want: the Cabernet-braised and drenched short ribs or the Yellowtail paired with tempura shrimp. No regrets! The Market is committed to local and boutique wines too, so ask your server for the perfect pairing.

Veladora (The Inn At Rancho Santa Fe: Rancho Santa Fe)
To begin, valet of course. Valet parking is complimentary at the Spanish-styled Rancho Santa Fe resort location that houses this restaurant. At Veladora, the cuisine is extraordinary, and worth every penny. Begin with the Maine Lobster and citrus salad, or inquire about the Chef’s daily-inspired risotto. Then go for the gold with the 16-ounce Brandt Farms New York Strip, plus house-made truffle fries on the side. You deftly did your taxes on time, so you definitely deserve dessert. The caramelized apple crisp, perhaps? Go on -- splurge! (Insider Tip: If you arrive early for your reservations, sip on a cocktail in The Pony Room across the hall.)

Addison (The Grand Del Mar: Del Mar)
If a dining experience by Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef William Bradley and his excellent staff can’t make you feel like French royalty, we don’t know what will. The wine list here is downright impressive; begin there if you dare. The menu is offered as a multi-course experience with items like saffron and garlic Prince Edward Island Mussels and Kobe Beef Short Ribs served with mushroom gratin and potato croustillant. The venue alone is a five-star experience and the perfect reward for keeping track of your receipts all year.

Vivace (Park Hyatt Aviara Resort: Carlsbad)
This AAA Four-Diamond restaurant in Carlsbad has a Italian-inspired cuisine arranged into several tasting menu offerings. Don’t hold back, pick the “adiago” option, which includes two appetizers, pasta, entrée and your choice of dessert or cheese. Kick off your feast with the Local Albacore Crudo with pine nuts and currents and the Prosciutto con Gnocchi Fritti e Fragole (Berkshire Prosciutto, strawberries, fried yeast doughnut and 25-year-old balsamico). Don’t get full so fast. You have a long ways to go with the deeply-satisfying menu options.

The Restaurant at Ponte (Ponte Vineyard Inn: Temecula)
While a wine country lunch at this stunning Temecula venue may be a steal, dinner – served only on the weekends – is totally worth the higher price tag. The current Spring Evening Menu is sublime. Sit in the garden-like patio and bite into the Crab Stack with generous lump crab and a refreshing mix of cucumber, mango, avocado, onion, pea shoots, ruby grapefruit and baby greens with grapefruit vinaigrette. Stick with seafood and order the sustainably-farmed Sapphire Salmon for your entrée: pan seared with a lime citrus rub and balsamic glaze.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Teen Threatened Classmates Via Text: District

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Hours after police were called to San Ysidro High School to investigate a threat, officials confirmed that a student will undergo a mental evaluation after allegedly threatening other students.

San Diego police officers were called to the high school on Airway Road just before 8 a.m.

At the time, officers would only reveal that they were investigating an incident and directed all questions to district officials.

According to a Sweetwater Union High School District spokesperson, a student-to-student threat was made during a texting conversation between three students.

School administrators acted immediately and the student accused of making the threats was taken into custody, the school district official told NBC 7.

He described the situation that was reported on campus as "minor" and said no note will be sent home to parents.

San Ysidro High School principal Hector Espinoza told NBC 7 that while no note was sent, the school did send a recorded message via telephone to parents regarding the incident.

The recorded message stated:

"We wanted to inform you on the situation that took place this morning. We received credible information/tip on a student who threatened to hurt another. The threats were made through Facebook.

Upon learning of the threat we immediately apprehended the student and contacted the authorities. The student was dealt with and it was determined that it was not a threat to our campus.

If you have any further questions, please contact the school (619) 710-2300."

On Wednesday, staff from across the district completed safety training and the district spokesperson said the skills were put to use today with this incident at San Ysidro High School.


Woman Gives Birth on San Diego Freeway

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Aubrianne Scheldt of Encinitas wanted a natural childbirth, but a roadside delivery was not what she had in mind.

The first-time mom’s water broke around 5 a.m. Monday. Aubrianne and husband Eric immediately got in the car and headed south on Interstate 5 toward Scripps La Jolla Hospital.

As they passed Del Mar, Eric says his wife got quiet and then tightly grabbed his arm from the passenger seat. A few seconds later, he heard her say she could see the head.

“I started to hear little chortling sounds, just little cries. And I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” Eric said. “Immediately just pulled over, and I guess the baby may have been halfway out or three-quarters. I just reached in and gave a little tug, and she just came right out.”

The new dad called 911 at 5:33 a.m. Highway patrol officers and firefighters were dispatched, but the family was able to make it to the hospital on their own.

Eric says he held the newborn in one hand and drove with the other.

After arriving at Scripps La Jolla, they walked into the hospital with the baby’s umbilical cord still attached. Eric says some workers outside didn't even notice the blood or the baby.

A security guard finally noticed and rushed to get help.

Baby girl Iona Noel was 9 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches long. The hospital says mom and baby are doing great.

Eric works in financial services and had no emergency training before delivering his daughter. The couple took prenatal classes and Aubrianne studied hypnobirthing, but nothing could have prepared them for this.

This is the couple's first child. Aubrianne's due date was April 18.

Egg Sale Causes Ruckus, Fight at Chinatown Walgreens

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"Hundreds" of elderly women descended on a San Francisco Walgreens on Tuesday to do battle over deeply-discounted eggs, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

Walgreens dropped jaws by offering up cartons of a dozen eggs for the rock-bottom price of 99 cents per dozen, the newspaper reported. But fisticuffs ensued when the sale proved so popular that the store ran out -- leading the remaining shoppers to scuffle over the last few cartons.

Police told the newspaper that about 20 agitated shoppers were "fighting over" what was left of the egg stock upon their arrival at 8 a.m. Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

No injuries were reported and no police report was filed.

Chaos and conflict were settled a few hours later when a truck delivered more eggs, the newspaper reported.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Condom Shortage in Cuba

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The latest food and product shortage to rock Cubans is being felt in the bedroom.

Complaints that condoms are scarce are emerging from the island, part of a dry spell that has lasted several weeks, The Miami Herald reported. 

One Havana author wrote on a Spanish-language website based in Miami that some shops continue to sell condoms, but at prices tailored to tourists that are unaffordable for most Cubans, according to The Herald. The shortage has lasted about two weeks, she wrote.

A report in a Communist Party newspaper pinpointed the prophylactic pinch to labeling and packaging issues with a batch of condoms purchased wholesale from China, The Herald reported.

Residents have also reported recent shortfalls of staples like toothpaste, toilet paper, soap and beer, the paper reported. 

 

Sailors Return After 4-Month Deployment

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Sailors aboard two ships will be home just in time to spend Easter with their families.

On Thursday morning, the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens and the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance will return to Naval Base San Diego after separate deployments in the Western Pacific.

"I am very proud of the accomplishments of the crew. They have truly continued the fine legacy of Cowpens," Cowpens' commanding officer Cpt. Gregory Gombert said in a news release. "As we return home, we all look forward to spending time with loved ones."

Last November, USS Cowpens assisted with recovery efforts in the Philippines, following super typhoon Haiyan.

In the meantime, USS Spruance completed its maiden deployment to the Western Pacific. It supported security operations in the South and East China Seas, the Yellow Sea and also rescued a Filipino mariner on Jan. 18 who had fallen overboard in the Singapore Strait.

The ships are expected to arrive at 9 a.m.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 News

I-5 Corridor Trolley Extension Stirs up Controversy

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A trolley extension project that would bridge downtown San Diego and University City has prompted some controversy with residents near La Jolla.

The $1.7 billion project would place a trolley bridge across Interstate 5 connecting stations at La Jolla Village Square, UC San Diego, the VA Hospital and the Westfield UTC mall.

The 11-mile extension would serve two large universities and two of the region’s largest employment areas according to the San Diego Association of Governments Director of Mobility Jim Linthicum.

But the Mid-Coast Transit Project has to cross I-5 to do so and residents of the Cape La Jolla Gardens condo complex and officials with the Mormon Temple disagree on exactly where the bridge should be placed.

The route for the bridge has shifted twice since different groups have voiced their concerns. Click here to see map of the proposed route.

"The Cape La Jolla folks believe the trolley should go a little bit further north than where it was shown in our environmental document. The temple folks think it should go a little further south and we're trying to work through that now," Linthicum said.

Condo owners have voiced their concerns about increased noise, a possible drop in property values and special treatment for temple officials according to a report in the La Jolla Light.

The condo homeowners' association president, Michael Krupp, told the paper that the trolley, as proposed, would mean trolley cars would be traveling near homes at the same height as the second story of the complex buildings.

The La Jolla newspaper reports that at a March public forum, SANDAG officials said temple representative requested the bridge move south because of the "the bridge’s visual impact" on the temple's property.

"I have a friend that lives right behind the temple and enjoys seeing the view so I do think a trolley bridge would really not allow that beauty to see anymore," Mormon Temple member Alisha Brandon said.

NBC 7 attempted to contact officials with the Mormon Temple but did not receive a response.

The San Diego Association of Governments will get the final word on where the bridge will go but not before it gets as much input from all people who will be most affected by the project.

There is a presentation planned May 9 will be open to the public.

SANDAG will take a final environmental document to its board of directors this summer including mayors of 18 cities and the county of San Diego who will approve the final placement in a majority vote.

The trolley currently ends in the Old Town area of San Diego. The extension would provide trolley service north through Moreno area, under State Route 52 and into the University City area with stops at UC San Diego campus.

Program Helps Military Kids with Autism

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For San Diego mom Lindsay Sinai, every day is a joy and a challenge with two boys with autism.

Adding to that, dad Jason is in the military.

“He was on a 10 month deployment in 2011, and it was hard,” Sinai said.

Little things, like a custom “daddy doll” of Jason in uniform help 7-year-old Ethan and 4-year-old Cooper cope.

“They slept with their daddy doll every night when he is gone, and they're asking me, ‘where's dad?’” Lindsay said.

But with those long deployments, moving frequently, changing schools and service providers for the boys, Lindsay says, “It's a lot of pressure on me.”

This family is not alone. One of every 68 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism, and the rate is even higher among military kids.

The Sinais say they feel grateful that “Act Today for Military Families” is there to help with the bigger things

“We've recently moved again, and knowing that ACT is there is a nice comfort,” Lindsay said.

This mom has asked the non-profit for a grant to buy supplements that she says provide tremendous results.

For Ethan, he moved from severe to moderate class in his autism diagnosis. For Cooper, he’s seen an increase in language skills and a decrease in tantrums.

For every military family, the need is different. Some ask for iPads, which give children with autism something to focus on and be creative. Another need is Applied Behavior Analysis or items for safety, like large fences or GPS devices for children who may run off.

“Whatever we can do to help with their symptoms of autism, it makes our lives a little bit easier and it makes him feel better when he's on the ship,” Lindsay said.

ACT is holding its annual One Hope 5K/10K/Run/Walk and Family Festival Saturday, April 19 at Tecolote Shores Park in Mission Bay. NBC 7 is a sponsor of the event.

Armed Men Wrestle Woman to Ground in Robbery

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Police are searching for two men accused of breaking into an insurance office last month and wrestling a female employee to the ground during the robbery.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the incident happened on Mar. 28 at Progressive San Diego located at 2110 Hancock Street, Suite #300.

At around 8:45 a.m., two men forced their way into the business and pointed guns at an employee, pushing her up against a wall while demanding the company safe.

Investigators said the men then wrestled the woman to the ground before dragging her to a back room.

The suspects then stole some of the victim’s personal property and fled the scene.

The men were captured on surveillance footage pushing open doors and making their way through the business. Those images were made public by police on Wednesday.

The men remain at large, but investigators are hoping the images and video clips will bring forth new information on the suspects.

According to police, the first suspect is described as a Black man between 22 and 30 years old, approximately 5-foot-11 to 6 feet tall, weighing 275 pounds or more. He wore a black beanie cap with a white logo on the left front, a white shirt, a long-sleeve, skin tight sweater, black gloves, black jeans and black and white tennis shoes during the robbery.

He also may have had a black nylon stocking or sock covering his head and was wearing a gold or silver watch on his left wrist. He was armed with a black pistol.

The second suspect is described by police as a Pacific Islander male between 22 and 30 years old, 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10. He weighed 275 pounds or less. That suspect wore a black nylon stocking covering his head, a dark-colored baseball cap, black hoodie, white T-shirt, black gloves, blue jeans and black shoes.

He was carrying a dark-colored backpack and was also armed with a black pistol, police said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this robbery or the identity or whereabouts of the suspects should contact the SDPD Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

 



Photo Credit: SDPD

Pastor Creates Potentially Life-Saving Device

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Nearly five years after the drowning death of a 7-year-old boy, a San Diego-area pastor is making it his mission to keep it from happening to other children.

 

To this day, the sight of his backyard swimming pool brings back memories of one of the toughest times in Pastor George McKinney’s life.

 

"It was just a horrifying scene,” McKinney says while walking around his pool. "We were just having an exciting time, and then it happened.”

 

In September of 2009, 7-year old Albert Jones was playing in McKinney’s pool with friends. Pastor McKinney was upstairs in his bedroom when he heard cries and screams from coming from the backyard.

 

"I saw my wife and her sister were doing CPR. We called 911,” McKinney explains. "They said they were able to get a pulse. I heard one of them say to the other, they got a pulse.”

 

Paramedics rushed little Albert to the hospital but unfortunately, that’s where he died. For years, Pastor McKinney lived with the guilt.

 

"I couldn't even go into the backyard. I had a hard time just walking around the pool,” he said.

"The whole family was devastated and we kept asking, how could this happen. How could this happen?”

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.

The organization cites lack of swimming ability, barriers for pools and other water sources and lack of supervision are the top three reasons for drownings in the U.S.  One of the keys to preventing drowning is to have someone watch children in the water.

"I thought of an idea. What if we had a second set of eyes," he recalled.

 

So he went to work to create and patent a device called the Albert Jones Anti-Distress Device.

McKinney says a swimmer can wear it and it will send signals to a lifeguard or parent if the person in the water is in trouble.

 

"This is something that can help people respond immediately because you only have two or three minutes," he said.

 

The device is still in the beginning stages of development but McKinney says his mission goes deeper.

 

"If no one ever buys a device and we are able to bring attention to someone who can expose their children to swimming, and they can learn to swim adequately, then it's worth it,“ he said.

For more information on how to prevent drownings, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Injured in Crash

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A U.S. Border Patrol agent was recovering after his vehicle crashed and flipped in Otay Mesa Wednesday.

According to CAL FIRE, the accident happened near Alta Road and Otay Mesa Road on private property around 7 p.m..

Border Patrol and San Diego firefighters responded.

A helicopter was also called to help in the rescue, but CAL FIRE officials say the agent got himself out of the wrecked vehicle.

When an air ambulance arrived, the agent was in a ravine.

The agent was flown to Scripps Mercy Hospital with moderate injuries. Officials say no one else was involved in the accident.

NBC 7 is still waiting to hear back from Border Patrol to find out what led to the accident.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Top Threat to Campo Border Agents in Custody

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A drug cartel leader considered to be the highest threat for border agents in the Campo area is in custody.

Mexican Federal police arrested Victor Mendoza Rojas in Mexicali last week. Mendoza is the leader of the Diablo crime organization and was wanted in the U.S. for smuggling, kidnapping and extortion in San Diego’s East County.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials attribute 173 arrests and 42 crimes in 2012 and 2013 to Mendoza’s organization.

They say he kept a low profile because of the warrant for his arrest in the U.S. but once U.S. officials had arrested members of a partnering crime organization, Mendoza surfaced again.

Once Mexican officials were made aware, they moved in and arrested him.

Agents working with the San Diego and El Centro Sector Border Patrol assisted in the arrest.
 



Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Student Threatens Teacher, School in Online Posts

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A 17-year-old San Diego student was arrested Wednesday for posting statements on social media websites in which he allegedly threatened to shoot a teacher and open fire on a school, the San Diego Police Department confirmed.

According to police, one of the threatening messages was posted online Wednesday. In that post, the student threatened to shoot a teacher at The Charter School of San Diego in the Point Loma area.

The suspect is a student at that school, police said.

Investigators said a second post linked to the student was also made in late March. In that message, the student threatened to shoot up Marston Middle School in Clairemont. Police are still investigating the student's ties to that school other than the fact that he lives in that area.

Several parents and students at Marston say they weren’t notified about the danger.

“We should have been notified. Definitely! “ said one concerned parent. "I probably wouldn’t have sent my daughter to school, maybe.”

The teenager accused of making the posts was taken into custody. Police said no guns or weapons were found in connection with the teen. He will be booked into juvenile hall in San Diego.

The investigation is ongoing. In addition to the SDPD, the online threats were also being investigated by school police.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Southwestern College Completion Rate Low

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Completion rates at Southwestern College, a community college in Chula Vista, have dropped below the statewide average, and its rates fell well-below other community colleges in the region, according to data released by the Student Success Scorecard.

The accountability report released Tuesday measures the percentage of students who earn a degree or transfer to a four-year university within six years, according to The Sacramento Bee.

That completion rate at Southwestern College was at 43.5 percent last year, up slightly from the year before, but below the statewide average of 48.1 percent, and below the institution's 2011 score of 48 percent.

"It doesn't really surprise me," said Dr. Melinda Nish, the school's superintendent. "It's incredibly worrisome, but we've known the rate is lower than it should be and we've been working diligently to correct that." 

The results for California Community Colleges have fallen steadily over the past four years across the state's 112 community colleges, a trend experts attribute to the recession and budget cuts at the state level.

In Chula Vista, Nish cited economics as well, pointing out that more than three-quarters of the South Bay students are working part-time or full-time while attending school.

"We have some of the most at-jeopardy students in the region in terms of socio-economic status. Our service area includes some of the poorest neighborhoods in the county," she said.  "With all those factors, we still think we can improve."

Results at other community colleges in San Diego County have steadily ticked downward, but remain above the statewide average.

At Mira Costa College, the percentage of students who either transferred to a four-year college or earned some type of degree was 55.9 percent. At San Diego Miramar College, that rate was 53.6 percent. At San Diego City College it was 63.7 percent, and at Palomar Community College District the rate was 50.6 percent.

District spokeswoman Lillian Leopold cautioned that the numbers may not show the complete picture.

The figure includes students who may be taking one or two classes to improve job skills and those who have no intention of obtaining an additional degree or transferring, she said.

In 2012, the college implemented a three-point plan to target completion rates. That plan includes an online student education plan, which will help capture students' goals, including those who only intend to improve workable skills, Leopold said. 

The college is also reviewing completion rates by program, and working with the nearby high school district to ensure students begin their college careers with appropriate math skills. 

Last year, district officials placed a goal for the college to reach a 58 percent rate by 2016.

"I don't think it's unachievable. It may take a few more years than we originally planned," Nish said. "But I think we can do it."

 


Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2014/04/completion-rates-at-the-california.html#storylink=c

Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2014/04/completion-rates-at-the-california.html#storylink=cpy

 

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