San Diego police are searching for a man accused of sexually assaulting a child Monday in the Chollas View neighborhood.

A 12-year-old girl who was walking alone Monday evening was forced into a car at gunpoint near 47th Street and F Street, officials said.

She was then sexually assaulted nearby, police said.

The victim described her attacker as an African-American man, approximately 40 to 50 years of age, wearing a black mask, shirt and pants and driving an older, black SUV or van.

Lt. Mike Holden with the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit said the girl called for help from a business on the corner of 47th and Market around 6:30 p.m.

NBC 7 has learned the girl walked into a gas station and asked to get help.

After police arrived, they sent the girl to a nearby hospital but she was not admitted, Holden said.

The location of the alleged assault is a just blocks from Chollas Elementary School, Chollas/Mead Elementary School, Gompers Junior High School and Gompers High School.

Investigators have not released details on where the assault happened but Holden said it did not take place at a residence.

Officers were seen searching a drainage ditch near 47th and Castana Street after dark Monday night.  No suspect has been arrested.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

A former San Diego police officer, accused of sexual misconduct by several women, will face his accusers in court Tuesday.

A preliminary hearing for ex-cop Christopher Hays was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in San Diego Superior Court.

In February, Hays was charged with two counts of felony false imprisonment and three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery after allegations were made by four women.

Since those charges have been filed, at least three others have accused Hays of inappropriate behavior on the job but those claims have not resulted in charges.

Prosecutors argue that the former officer inappropriately patted women down for his own sexual gratification.

At his arraignment Hays pleaded not guilty.

• Timeline: Ex-Cop Accused of Sexual Misconduct

Hays was once recognized for rescuing people from a burning home, his attorney said.

He said his client's character doesn't line up with these allegations.

 San Diego Police detectives are searching for man who tried to sexually assault a woman while she was exercising at a Clairemont park. 

A woman told police she was walking through Marian Bear Park near the intersection of Genesee Ave. around 9:30 a.m. Thursday. 

As she worked out, a stranger appeared in front of her, grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. 

The victim said she was able to kick the man and run away. 

The suspect was last seen at the intersection of Genesee Ave. and Lehrer Dr. He's described as a man in his late 30s to early 40s. He's about  5-foot-9-inches tall with a thin build and short, sandy blonde hair and "very blue eyes."

At the time of the attack, the man was wearing an orange and blue plaid flannel jacket and dark appearance. 

• Read: Teen Arrested in Bleach Attack on Woman, 87

Nearby resident Aaron Essley has been going to Marian Bear Park since he was a kid. He said it's not somewhere he'd want his girlfriend running alone.

"Yeah, I'd want to be with her," said Essley. "Like I said, you can get three or four miles down the trail with no one else around. The freeway is close, but still it's in the woods kind of." 

If you know anything about this incident, you're asked to call the SDPD sex crimes unit at (619) 531-2289 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Investigators say they've arrested one of the teens accused of beating an 87-year-old Hemet woman and pouring bleach on her skin. 

The woman suffered "extremely bad" injuries at a senior living center in Hemet last week. After a week-long search, officers say they arrested a 14-year-old boy Thursday at a hotel in Temecula.

The subject and a 15-year-old boy allegedly sneaked into the gated Camelot senior living complex at 800 W. Oakland Ave. and broke into an 87-year-old woman's apartment around 3 a.m. on Apr. 17, according to police.

Investigators said that the woman woke up when she heard the boys ransacking her home.

"They beat her severely, left her in extremely bad condition," Hemet Police Lt. Dean Evans said.

The boys allegedly poured bleach all over the woman’s body, burning her skin.

"I don't think they had any respect for their elders, that's for sure," Camelot resident Johnny Miles said.

Despite the attack, the victim was able to hit a safety button inside her home.

Workers arrived shortly after the suspects left. Investigators used forensic evidence to locate and arrest the 15-year-old suspect later that day.

The victim remains in critical condition.

Before locating the 14-year-old suspect Thursday, police had released his name and image to help with the search. His name and photo are now being withheld because he is a juvenile.

Traffic is flowing again along a major route into downtown after it was stopped due to police activity on Friday afternoon.

At about 12:12 p.m., CHP shut down traffic along Northbound State Route 163 from Interstate 5 as well as on-ramps because of the incident.

CHP also closed southbound SR 163 south of Robinson Avenue.

The closure affected Interstate 5 south through downtown and northbound I-5 traffic before Interstate 8.

Just before 2 p.m., CHP officials announced the police activity in the area concluded and the closures would be reopened and the lanes were reopened a short time later.

A Sherman Oaks man is expected to be sentenced to more than a year in state prison after admitting to intentionally running over his estranged wife’s Chihuahua in January.

Michael David Parker, 45, pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty and told prosecutors that he used his car as a deadly weapon, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

• Man Who Allegedly Ran Over Wife's Chihuahua Charged

Investigators arrested Parker in January on suspicion of killing the dog and placing it in a trash bag. Surveillance footage captured the sequence of events and became an important piece of evidence in the case.

Parker could be seen getting into a dark-colored car as the dog, named Cow Cow, made its way to the front of the vehicle. Parker then backs up in the car before speeding towards the 5-year-old Chihuahua.

Investigators charged Parker in March.

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Parker is expected to be sentenced on April 28 in Los Angeles. He will likely be sentenced to 16 months in prison and have the remaining counts of animal cruelty and petty theft of a dog to be dropped, the statement said.

A U.S. Marine is returning home after abandoning his attempt to scale Mount Everest.

Up until Thursday, SSgt Charles Linnville was waiting at base camp to scale the world's highest peak despite losing a leg in Afghanistan three years ago.

However, before his group could attempt a summit, there was a widespread walkout of Sherpas in response to the deadliest disaster on the mountain.

An avalanche killed 13 people April 18. Three Sherpas were still missing in the ice and snow, and are presumed dead.

Linville's group “The Heroes Project” announced Friday that they, like other groups prepping for the climb, have decided to abandon their attempt to summit Everest. 

In a written release, the project said the group's founder Tim Medvetz, will leave Nepal with the rest of the team including Linville, and members of a film crew.

"They are members of our team and out of respect to our Sherpas, we are not continuing," he wrote. "We fully support their decision to leave the mountain and we will leave the mountain together the same way we came up, as a team.”

• Read: Teen Accused of Pouring Bleach on Woman, 87

Heroes Project said it will return in 2015 to complete the group's first Everest summit.

Most attempts to reach Everest's summit are made in mid-May, when a brief window normally offers better weather. Without the help of the Sherpas, it would be nearly impossible for climbers to scale the mountain.

Many climbers will have to forfeit most or all of the money they have spent to go up the mountain -- $75,000 or more.

Homicide investigators are looking into the suspicious death of a special education school aide at a Carmel Mountain Ranch apartment complex, according to San Diego police.

Officers responded to an apartment in the 11700 block of Stoney Peak Drive around 9:15 a.m. Thursday after a report that the 51-year-old woman who lived there had not shown up to work.

According to a coworker, the victim is Lori Hughes, an instructional aide for special education classes at Mt. Carmel High School. 

Police discovered Hughes unconscious, and paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Officials said her body showed no obvious signs of trauma. An autopsy will reveal the cause of death.

"We are extremely saddened by the news of her passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends," said a statement from the Poway Unified School District, where Hughes had worked for four years.

Her coworker calls Hughes was a soft-spoken, artistic person who liked to paint family portraits. She has three children -- an 18-year-old daughter and two 20-year-old sons -- and was going through a divorce.

• Read: Teen Arrested in Bleach Attack on Woman, 87

Neighbor Michael Morocco was awakened Thursday by knocks from police, asking him if he'd heard something. 

He told NBC 7 he's spooked by the fact that investigators are calling Hughes' death suspicious. 

"It just makes me feel concerned about the people around me. I'll be more on the lookout," said Morocco.

Thursday afternoon, investigators combed through bushes and inside Hughes' home, looking for clues. They are not saying if a forced entry was made.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

Officials need the public's help identifity one man who is believed to have robbed five San Diego stores, getting away with cash and cell phones.

San Diego police detectives released video and images Friday showing a suspect who they say targeted five stores in and around the city.

Surveillance cameras captured the suspect who police say robbed a Cricket Wireless on University Avenue Feb. 22.

SDPD believes the same man was involved in robberies at Some Guys Wireless on Adams Avenue, Boost Mobile on El Cajon Boulevard and the Metro PCS stores on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Dairy Mart Road.

Officials say the suspect comes into the stores armed with a handgun and leaves with money, phones or both.

According to the information released by San Diego County Crime Stoppers, this suspect may be involved in other robberies of wireless stores around the county.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspect can call the SDPD Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

A North Texas Republican congressman says it's time for the GOP to offer a comprehensive immigration reform plan.

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), tells NBC 5's Lone Star Politics that he will soon introduce a bill that will establish a path to citizenship for the minor children of illegal immigrants and a guest worker program.

"If the only illegal act they committed was coming into the country without proper documentation we'd put them on a path to legalization," Barton said.

He added that the children of illegal immigrants should not be punished for the acts of their parents.

"My little boy is eight years old," Barton said. "He's in public schools in Ennis, Texas. Half of his class is Hispanic. His two best friends are Hispanic. They start every day raising their hand, pledging allegiance to the American Flag and to the Texas flag. They're Americans and we need to acknowledge that and find a way to those that wish to be a part of the American dream for opportunity to make them legal."

Barton added, "Republicans need to start talking about this. I'm part of a majority party in the largest state that's still majority Republican. And I want to keep it that way.".

Watch Lone Star Politics with NBC 5's Kevin Cokely and Gromer Jeffers from The Dallas Morning News Sunday at 8:40 a.m. on NBC 5.

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies could not confirm a report of shots fired near Campo Elementary School Friday.

The school was initially reported as on lockdown as a precaution, however officials later said the school was on spring break.

The report came in around 9:30 a.m. along Buckman Springs Road.

When deputies arrived on scene, the individual who allegedly fired shots was gone.

There were no injuries.
 

Officials searching for a man accused in the attack of a mother jogging along a Fallbrook trail have released a sketch of a possible suspect in the investigation.

Deputies are investigating the report of a sexual assault near Lake Shore Park Wednesday morning.

A woman told officials she was pushing a 2-year-old in a stroller when a man jumped out of the bushes and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint.

“He fled the area on foot a few moments later. She was thankfully able to give us a good description,” said Jan Caldwell with the sheriff’s department.

The suspect was described as over 6 feet tall with a beer belly. He has neatly trimmed dark hair and a full mustache and beard cut high on the neck, police said. He was wearing a black T-shirt with holes and black work pants.

Click to see suspect sketch

Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

A New Jersey bartender says she will never forget the compassion shown to her by a customer who left a $1,000 tip to help pay for her dog's emergency surgery.

Christina Summitt returned from work last Tuesday to find her 3-year-old Lab mix Tucker sick, vomiting and unable to eat. She took him to the vet, and a few days later, an X-ray showed an obstruction in his colon. The vet opened up Tucker and discovered he had swallowed a rubber ball. 

Summit was at work tending bar at a Holiday Inn in Clinton on Friday when the vet called and told her a $3,000 surgery would save Tucker's life. 

"I had no idea at this point how I was going to pay it," she said. "I prayed to the money gods, 'please, please, please.'"

During the shift, a couple Summit was serving spotted the dog paw tattooed on her arm and began talking about pets. The conversation turned to the animals Summit has rescued and to Tucker. She asked the couple to pray for her dog, and when they left, Summit discovered the man had settled the $80 tab and left a $1,000 tip. 

"I said, 'Joe, you know, what is this, you can't do this. Why would you do this?'" said Summit. "He said, 'You put it towards Tucker's bill.'"

"He didn't want any recognition. He actually messaged me today to say, 'Have fun with all this,' because I'm overwhelmed," she said of the attention she's gotten. "He said, 'Hopefully,  this inspires many, many other people to pay it forward."

The general manager at the Holiday Inn where Summit works says the customer's generosity has created a huge response. 

"I think why this has created so much of a stir is because everyone wants to believe it's in all of us to do it," said Michelle Satanik. 

Tucker was back frolicking outside in the sunshine Friday, playing with his toys again. 

Contractors, who were awarded multi-million dollar construction contracts under an era of what prosecutors and current school officials say was a "pay to play" culture, will repay $642,000 of taxpayer-spent funds.

Under a deal struck this week, the construction and architect firms of Echo Pacific Construction, BCA Architects and Seville Construction Services will refund money to the community college district, a college official confirmed Friday.

A college spokeswoman said the South Bay community college district was planning on releasing a written statement later today, and she legally could not comment on the matter.

“The action is settled without an admission of fault,” said Jeff Baird, an attorney for Echo Pacific Construction.

None of the other contractors could immediately be reached for comment, and further details on which firm is paying what, remain unclear.

In 2011, Echo Pacific Construction was awarded a construction project with a budget of $55 million. A discrepancy in paperwork listed the project's construction budget as $59 million, which meant a $1.475 million fee for the firm's work.

A college administrator who recommended Echo Pacific received the work, at one point, moved into the contractor’s 5-acre Poway estate.

Seville Construction Services won a $2.7 million contract to do work under Southwestern College's Proposition R bond program. Court records show the president of the company had an inside track working with Southwestern College officials on the project before it was officially bid. Some emails in the court affidavits indicate the contractor was allegedly involved in writing the bidding documents for the college official.

Those "requests for proposal" are typically written by the college and kept confidential until they go out to all firms interested in bidding in the project - a process meant to promote fairness.

In 2010, BCA Architects was awarded a $3.1 million contract to design the “corner lot,” a 9-acre gravel field at the intersection of East H Street and Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista. Court records and Grand Jury testimony show the firm's president won the contract after spending thousands entertaining college officials, including a trip to Pebble Beach and Napa Valley.

Not all of the funds agreed to in the contracts were paid out to the contractors. Some of the agreements were terminated around January 2012 after an internal probe conducted by the college, and during an investigation and prosecution by the San Diego County District Attorney’s office that alleged relationships between the college officials and contractors were too cozy.

Please continue to check back for updates.
 

One person is dead and another injured after a gunfight at a medical marijuana dispensary in the heart of North Park, according to San Diego Police.

The incident started as an attempted robbery in the 3800 block of Ray St. around 12:25 p.m. Friday.

According to SDPD Lt. Manuel Del Toro, two male suspects entered the store and held up those inside at gunpoint. 

At that point, the men got into a shootout with a security guard inside. The guard shot and killed one of the suspects and received a gunshot wound himself -- despite his bulletproof vest. 

He was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital where underwent surgery, and he is expected to be OK.

• READ: Teen Accused of Pouring Bleach on Woman, 87

The second suspect fled the area in a white car. Police describe him as a dark-skinned man in his 20s, 6-feet tall, weighing 190 pounds and wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt.

No one has been taken into custody. It's unclear if anything was taken from the dispensary, which was operating illegally, police said.

"North Park is an interesting mix of being this up-and-coming neighborhood and, you know, you've gotta be a little careful, at least around here," said North Park resident Andy Schatz. 

Check back for details on this developing news story.

San Diego police are questioning six people connected to a UC San Diego rap concert as part of a sex assault investigation.

Just before 3:15 a.m. a woman was found crying near Kearny Mesa Road, claiming she was drugged and sexually assaulted inside a hotel room.

Lt. Mike Holden with SDPD's Sex Crimes Unit said the woman, identified only as an adult, attended a rap concert at UC San Diego with her friend Thursday night.

Officials later confirmed they were questioning six people of interest, either members of, or affiliated with, a rap group called the UnderAchievers from Flatbush, NY, that performed at Porter's Pub.

The group's Mercedes tour bus was parked outside of two hotel rooms at the Ramada Inn in Kearny Mesa.

The woman claims she was on the dance floor when one of the rappers gave her a bottle of water. She told police she drank half of the bottle and felt dizzy afterwards.

The next thing she remembers is waking up in a hotel room and felt she had been sexually assaulted, investigators said.

Either the woman or her friend identified the two rooms at the Ramada Inn where the musicians were staying, according to Lt. Eric Hays.

Officials said the six men staying in the rooms went willingly with San Diego sex crimes investigators to answer questions this morning.

Detectives will secure rooms 181 and 183 to process any evidence found inside.

• Read: Teen Arrested in Bleach Attack on Woman, 87

At the nearby Residence Inn, officers approached three men sitting in a car in the hotel parking lot. The driver took off and led officers on a short pursuit along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard that ended near Mercury Court.

Two of the men were taken into custody, officials said. A search of the area for the third suspect left officials empty handed.

The men will face charges of failure to yield. SDPD says they have not been charged in the sex assault investigation.

Check back for updates on this developing story. 

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article included musicians on the Porter's Pub concert lineup from the same date in 2013. We regret the error.

The price of limes has skyrocketed over the last few months as drought, disease and a cartel of Mexican growers have contributed to the highest prices ever. 

At Stump's Family Market in Point Loma, limes are selling for $3.99 a pound.

"You can buy boneless, skinless chicken breast for half that price," said Dirk Stump, the grocery store's owner.  He says even his avocados are cheaper than the price of limes. 

Stump said his store's deli has cut back too.

"We make fresh ceviche and we've stopped because it would be astronomically expensive," said Stump.

At Island Prime restaurant on Harbor Island, executive chef Deborah Scott says they are still using limes for food and drinks but they are cutting back as well.

"If someone asks for a lime for their water, they're not getting a whole lime as we were before," said Scott.  But she says the restaurant is not changing their menu. "We just deal with it," said Scott.

Most of the limes sold in America come from Mexico. 

Although, about 20 years ago, San Diego used to grow its own limes, according to Eric Larson with the San Diego County Farm Bureau. That all ended when farmers were priced out by growers south of the border, Larson said.

So, as the price of limes continues to climb, those celebrating Cinco de Mayo may have some sticker shock.

Court complaints against 55 alleged gang members and associates describe an increasingly sophisticated and violent criminal operation operated throughout San Diego that included revenge killings, student drug mules and even selfies at a murder site.

Nineteen suspects were arraigned Friday in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during drug trafficking crime.

They were the first of many suspects charged for their involvement in the West Coast Crips street gang, according to U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

At a press conference Thursday, Duffy outlined the hierarchy of the criminal organization that spanned from Logan Heights to El Cajon.

• READ: Bust "Cut Off Arm of West Coast Crips" Gang: DA

At the top sit the Original Gangsters – or OGs -- who are the leaders. One alleged OG, Randy Alton Graves, was arrested Thursday evening in Las Vegas as part of a multi-agency crackdown on the gang.

In the second tier are the “homies,” the slightly senior members who have earned the trust of fellow gang members.

And the so-called “babies” are the newest gang members and often the most violent, since they deal directly with street drug users and distributors, Duffy said.

One clique of “babies” centered in San Diego refer to themselves as “3-Babiez.” According to a complaint, three members of the clique -- Marcus “Missle” Foreman, Wilbert “Coy Blue” Ross and Terry “Caby” Carry Hollins – carried out a revenge killing on a Hispanic gang member in retribution for a carjacking.

• READ: 1 Dead, 1 Injured in Shooting at Pot Dispensary

One Crip member allegedly asked the victim, Andres Caldera, for a cigarette. When Caldera asked where he was from, the member yelled, “I am from West Coast,” pulled out a .40 caliber handgun and shot Caldera point-blank in the face.

The complaint also details the shootings of West Coast Crip members for disloyalty or suspected cooperation with law enforcement.

Crips member Meashal Fairley was shot to death in front of a San Diego nightclub in April 2013 during a fight over his supposed involvement with police, the complaint said.

Later that year, Crips associate Chyrene Borgen was killed at a Halloween party after she criticized the “3-Babiez” for their suspected part in Fairley’s death.

• READ: Musicians Questioned in Alleged Hotel Room Sex Assault

The complaint alleges after her shooting death, several defendants posted selfies on Facebook from the crime scene. One suspect is shown wearing a T-shirt that reads “3 BABIEZ, YELLOW TAPE GANG, ANYBODY KILLA.”

Around the same time, the complaint said Jermaine “Tre-O” Gerald Cook was recorded on cell phone video with other 3-Babiez members, boasting about how they are willing to kill anyone – even women.

In another incident, Crips member Paris Hill was allegedly killed by fellow Crips for giving a statement to police.

Finally, the complaint describes how a pregnant Crips associate was shot by a 3-Babiez member because she also criticized the group. She and her baby survived, but gang members were accused of looking for ways to kill her in the hospital.

A separate operation was detailed in a second court complaint. In it, some students at El Cajon Valley High School are accused of smuggling meth from Mexico into the United State for the Crips.

The idea has many parents concerned.

“Kids smuggling drugs? I mean, you think of adults doing that and smuggling across in cars and stuff. You don’t imagine kids doing that,” said Cheryl Eutsey, the parent of an ECVHS student.

ECVHS Principal Erin Richisin said she has reached out to law enforcement but has not been able to confirm if any current students are involved in the investigation.

The school sent out an email Friday, warning parents that media stories about the gang bust mentioned their school.

Police arrested a 58-year-old man accused of keeping his 56-year-old sister locked in a Connecticut bedroom for several years in "dungeon"-like conditions.

The woman was locked up so her brother could avoid losing the Seymour house to the state, local police said.  

Arthur Gauvin was arrested at the home on 10 Eleanor Road Thursday night after police received an anonymous call from someone who was concerned about the woman’s welfare.

When police responded family members let them in. As they spoke to Gauvin, they noticed a foul odor and discovered a woman in a bedroom in deplorable conditions.

The woman was extremely thin, disheveled and covered in urine and human feces, police said. She had not bathed in a long period of time and it appeared she had been malnourished. 

There was a portable toilet inside of the room, which was in an unsanitary condition, police said. 

The one window in the room was boarded up to prevent the victim from escaping. It was also blacked out with black paint to prevent her from seeing outside, police said. There was also a clasp locking the door so she could not get out.

Police said the smell in the house was so horrendous that officers had to leave within minutes of being inside. 

A detective with a special Hazmat suit and a SCUBA device was called in to help patrol officers process the scene.

An ambulance took the victim to Yale-New Haven Hospital to be evaluated. She seemed to be "brainwashed," according to officials and not happy to be freed.

Children were also living in the house, so the Department of Children and Families was called and will conduct a follow-up investigation.

Police said Gauvin apparently kept his sister locked in the house so he would not lose it to the State of Connecticut. The woman had signed the house over to Gauvin around seven years ago, police said. He was responsible for taking care of her for nine years before she could receive any services from the state, they added.       

Police are continuing to investigate and help get the victim proper care and medical services. 

Officers had checked on the victim's welfare in 2010 and found nothing wrong, then again in July 2012.
  
Gauvin was charged with first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree reckless endangerment and cruelty to persons. He was released after posting a $20,000 bond, but allegedly made a threatening comment to a family member in front of police that they said would impede and hinder the ongoing investigation.

He was then arrested for a second time and charged with tampering with a witness. Gauven was then held on a $25,000 bond, which he could not post and was arraigned Friday morning at the Derby Superior Court. 

On Friday, bond was increased to $145,000, He is due in court on May 13.                  

Gauvin is being represented by a public defender.