This past nine-game home stand was much like a roller-coaster ride. There were a lot of ups and down, but eventually it didn’t lead much of anywhere.

The Padres won a season-best five straight games, including their first series sweep of the year. But that was sandwiched by a pair of losses to open and close it out. Which leaves them with a 5-4 record and in much the same place as before. Sure, they picked up a game and a half in the standings and moved up to third place, but a team that’s more than 10 games out in July needs to do more than just tread water.

The good news is there are still chances to make a move before the All-Star break – starting with this week’s series against the Colorado Rockies, who the Padres just passed for third place in the National League West.

To say the Rockies have struggled lately would be an understatement on the same level as saying the Padres have had a little trouble at the plate this year. Colorado has lost 10 of the last 12 and is 2-17 since sweeping the Giants in mid-June. Ouch.

It’s always an adventure when you head to Coors Field. The Padres hope that involves scoring some runs and beating up on an already wounded foe. Let’s break down the series.

Matchups:
Monday, 5:40 p.m.:  Ian Kennedy  (R, 6-9, 3.87) vs. Tyler Matzek (L, 1-2, 4.25)
Kennedy has a 3.56 ERA in seven career starts at Coors. The rookie Matzek has three quality starts in his first six big-league outings.
Tuesday, 5:40 p.m.: Tyson Ross (R, 7-8, 2.93) vs. Franklin Morales (L, 4-4, 5.51)
A newly named All-Star, Ross is coming off a three-hit shutout and has allowed more than two earned runs just once in the past month. Morales is making just his second start since May after a demotion to the bullpen.
Wednesday, 12:10 p.m.: Eric Stults (L, 3-11, 4.96) vs. Jair Jurrjens (R, 0-1, 15.43)
Stults broke an eight-game losing streak – including six straight starts – with seven scoreless in a win against the Giants last week. Jurrjens got rocked in his first outing of the year last week, allowing 12 hits and eight earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

What’s at stake: The Rockies went from middle of the pack to bottom feeders over this awful stretch. They find themselves in a similar spot to the Padres just a few weeks ago – fighting to stay out of the cellar and avoid the worst record in baseball.

Meanwhile, the Padres can still think about making moves in the playoff run if they can reel off some wins this week – the first-place Dodgers are up next. That’s been easier said than done as they have the worst division record among West teams (14-20).

The Padres are 3-4 against the Rockies so far this season, including losing two of three at Coors in May. They meet again at Petco Park in August.

Who to watch:
Padres: Chase Headley is finally starting to heat up with a five-game hit streak that includes four hits on Friday. He’s improved his average to .217 (don’t ask what it was before). Alexi Amarista had six hits in four games before going 0-for-4 on Sunday. Seth Smith -- an All-Star snub? – had just one hit in the Giants series, but still leads the team with nine homers, 26 RBI and 19 doubles. Jake Goebberts is making a solid case as an everyday starter with a .333 average in his first 11 games in the bigs.

Rockies: Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki earned a much-deserved starting role on the NL All-Star squad. He leads all of baseball with a .350 average and .442 on-base percentage. He also leads the team with 18 homers and has a remarkable 47 walks. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon also earned an All-Star spot. He’s hitting .291 with 12 homers and 47 RBI. Fellow outfielder Corey Dickerson is hitting .335 in 66 games this year.

Coming up: The Padres head to LA for a four-game set this weekend to close out the first half of the season before the All-Star break.

A 92-year-old World War II veteran who disappeared after taking a walk in Harlem last week has been found safe in Las Vegas, his family says.

Police had been looking for Richard Micheaux since he was last seen on Amsterdam Avenue near West 145th Street while on his regular coffee and newspaper run last Tuesday morning.

Micheaux, who usually wears his Air Force dog tags around his neck, was found 2,500 miles away in Las Vegas on Monday, disoriented but otherwise OK, his son Gregg Micheaux told NBC 4 New York. He was wandering in front of the Flamingo Hotel, and he believed he was still in New York when he was found by police. 

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The veteran had apparently taken a bus to Las Vegas from Pittsburgh. It's not clear how he reached Pittsburgh from New York, or how he was able to purchase a bus ticket to Las Vegas; his son said he doubted his father had enough money to cover the ticket.

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Micheaux's doctor told his son that he had not been in for a visit in over two years. 

Richard Micheaux was being evaluated a local hospital in Las Vegas. His son says he'll be flying there later this week to pick him up and return home with him. 

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-- Michael George and Checkey Beckford contributed to this report

An infant girl in a stroller was abandoned on a subway platform at Columbus Circle Monday afternoon, and police are looking for the woman who allegedly left her there.

Police say when a northbound 1 train stopped at the station at around noon, a woman pushed the stroller off the train onto the platform, then stayed on the train as it left the station.

A bystander stayed with the baby for about 20 minutes, thinking the woman would return, according to police. When no one showed up, she contacted authorities. 

The baby, believed to be about 6 to 7 months old, was taken to Roosevelt Hospital to be evaluated, and she's said to be in good condition. 

Police have released a photo of the girl in the hope someone can help identify her (below). 

The woman is described as being about 20 to 30 years old with medium-length black hair, and was last seen wearing a short-sleeved yellow blouse. 

-- Gus Rosendale contributed to this report. 

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Monday that the Los Angeles Police Department will no longer comply with federal requests to detain undocumented immigrant inmates past their jail terms.

Garcetti said the new policy will help build community trust between undocumented immigrants and the LAPD.

“Washington may be stalling when it comes to immigration reform, but it is within our power here in Los Angeles to make real on-the-ground difference in the lives of everyday Angelenos,” Garcetti said during a news conference.

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The LAPD will only honor detention requests from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) only if they have a judicial review. The move will allow officers to focus on more pressing issues, Garcetti said.

“I want us to be focused on gang crimes, getting drugs off our streets and stopping our gun violence,” Garcetti said. “So, on behalf of our taxpayers, we are saying ‘no more.’”

Last year, more than 50,000 people were arrested in the city, according to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. Of those arrests, ICE issued 773 detainer requests and LAPD complied in more than 300 cases.

• Read: More Undocumented Immigrants Arrive in San Diego

Beck believes the shift in policy will build a stronger relationship with the community, which in turn will lead to safer streets.

“That’s why this is so important,” Beck said. “This builds trust in a community that sometimes feels separated from not only it’s police department, but from the rest of city government.”

In the past Beck has voiced his support for allowing undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses and skirting a mandatory 30-day impound rule following stops.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nashida told NBC News Monday that under department policy, ICE is notified when the department begins processing an undocumented inmate out of the jail, which can take days or weeks. Inmates are not held past their normal release date but Nashida said that two ICE buses arrive each day to pick up inmates.

She told NBC News that together with their law enforcement partners, the department is evaluating that policy to ensure that it complies with ‘best practices.’

Fifty-two World War II stories that were hidden in a Rehoboth Beach garage will finally be told.

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In just a few weeks, a World War II museum in Delaware will welcome a new, historic artifact – an enormous map documenting a rear admiral's travels, as well as every U.S. submarine lost in the war.

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"I think it’s safe to say that there is no other map like this in the country," Dr. Gary Wray, president of the Fort Miles Historical Association, said.

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The preservation and transportation of the 7-by-15-foot map,  which Wray says marks all 52 U.S. submarine lost in World War II with a small cross, along with the number of men lost, prisoners of war and the country that destroyed the boat, will be a complex process. It is currently attached to a garage wall in Rehoboth Beach.

"Phase I is saving the map for Delaware and U.S. history," Wray said. "Phase II will be the restoration of the map, and Phase III will be the final destination of the map to either our museum of another final museum resting place.”

According to Wray, the map was created in the 1960s and 1970s by the late Rear Admiral Henry Draper Sipple. Sipple, who was from Milford, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1937, commanded the USS Trench submarine, and was awarded a bronze star for his World War II service. He died in 1992.

The creation came to the historical association's attention when the current owners of Sipple’s house embarked on a home improvement project. After discovering the map, they got in touch with a board member, who happened to live just 200 feet away.

“The homeowners were about to redo the garage, they saw the map, and thought it might be important,” Wray said.

Now, the Fort Miles Historical Association is working with the Atelier Art Services of Philadelphia to move the map to the World War II museum inside Batter 519 at Cape Henlopen State Park.

"In our view, [this map] is an important part of both Delaware and U.S. history, and therefore deserves to be both saved and preserved," Wray said. "It’s not every day you see a map of this nature done by a U.S. submarine commander in World War II who was from Delaware."

Wray said while the group "is excited to save this important piece of World War II history," this isn’t the first time the Fort Miles Historical Association has taken on a complex project in order to preserve a piece of history. In 2012, it began the process of restoring the middle barrel of Turret One of the USS Missouri, also known as BB-63. That artifact will eventually be put on display outside the Fort Miles Museum entrance.

"This is not our first rodeo in saving an important piece of American history," Wray said.

Three people were rescued from the Atlantic by a passing cargo ship Monday morning after their small plane crashed into open waters en route to Miami from the Bahamas, authorities said.

The twin-engine Cessna 337 was headed to Opa-locka Executive Airport from Great Harbour Cay Airport when it went down roughly 27 miles east of Bimini around 8:15 a.m., according to the FAA. All three people aboard survived and were rescued.

Pilot Ernie Martin said that after the plane lost fuel in one engine and then the other, he tried to land the plane as close as possible to the ship he spotted nearby.

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Martin said he opened the door before hitting the water to expedite the escape from the plane. The men had some scrapes and bruises but suffered no serious injuries. They are now headed home to be with their families.

“The impact was hard — not unexpected, but hard,” Martin said. “Then you’re trying to go out the door with water rushing into the cabin.”

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“I was in the backseat and it was, uh, shocking,” said passenger Daniel Puig. “It was very unexpected, and seatbelts worked. Seatbelts save lives. If not, I would’ve been flying through the window.”

In 35 years in law enforcement, said the Takoma Park Police chief, he's never had this happen.

He's never had a store tell him that he would have to leave his service weapon in the car or leave the store -- especially when he was in his police uniform.

But that's what happened July 4 in the Ikea in College Park, where Takoma Park Police Chief Alan Goldberg had stopped in with his daughter. Goldberg was in uniform because he had worked that morning at the city's July 4 parade, and would be back on duty that night for fireworks.

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In between, he stopped at Ikea to shop for furniture for his daughter's new apartment. And that's when a loss-prevention officer at the store approached him.

"He says we have a no firearms policy, and you're either going to have to leave or you can lock your gun in the car," Goldberg said.

The store has signs posted on the front door that read "Weapons Free Environment."

Neither of those options seemed a good one to the officer.

"It isn't the most prudent thing to do to walk around the store in uniform with an empty holster," Goldberg said. "And I am not going to lock my gun in a commercial parking lot, with people watching me put it in there. That's just ludicrous."

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The chief demanded to see the store's written policy, but he only got it today after News4 contacted Ikea. The retailer released this statement:

We regret that there was a misunderstanding of our weapon policy in our College Park Store. Our weapon policy does not apply to law enforcement officers. We are taking steps to ensure that this is clear for all our co-workers.

Goldberg, who was so angry at the store's response Friday that he posted about it on Facebook, said Monday that response satisfies him.

And it also satisfied shoppers that News4 spoke to at Ikea.

Many shoppers, like Arthur Marshall, said that retailers' no-gun policies should "maybe have an exception for police officers."

It also seems the chief's concerns have made a difference: Monday, at least three armed police officers were seen at the College Park Ikea store at lunchtime.

A sheriff's deputy won't be charged for fatally shooting 13-year-old Andy Lopez as he walked with a BB pellet rifle that resembled an AK-47 in Santa Rosa last October, in a shooting that triggered a spate of protests and calls for criminal charges.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced the decision not to file criminal charges on Monday afternoon.

Sheriff's Deputy Erick Gelhaus shot Lopez seven times on Moorland Avenue just outside of Santa Rosa on Oct. 22, 2013. The teen died at the scene.

Ravitch called the shooting of Lopez "absolutely tragic," but said the actions of Sonoma County sheriff's Deputy Erick Gelhaus were lawful and that he would not be charged.

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Gelhaus told investigators he ordered Lopez to drop the rifle, but the barrel of the gun rose as the teen turned toward the deputies' patrol car. Gelhaus, who said he feared for his life, fired eight shots at Lopez, who was struck by seven bullets and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The district attorney's office released a 52-page report on what Ravitch called an "exhaustive" investigation into the details of the shooting. The FBI is still conducting its own independent investigation.

In response to Monday's announcement, the Lopez family issued the following statement: 

"After a long delay, District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced today that she will not be filing criminal charges against Erick Gelhaus, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy who shot and killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez.

This disheartening decision leaves the family feeling as though Andy had been killed again today. It is impossible to accept Ravitch’s conclusion that Gelhaus shot and killed Andy in response to what he 'honestly and reasonably believed was an imminent threat of death to himself or others.' No reasonable officer in such circumstances could believe he was encountering anything but a teenager with a toy gun on a sunny afternoon in a residential area.

Erick Gelhaus’ exaggerated and careless response deserves a truly transparent and impartial evaluation. Ms. Ravitch’s conclusion is a mockery of justice and confirms that her office cannot meaningfully sit in judgment of local law enforcement. This cowardly political decision sends the tacit message that law enforcement officials who use excessive force in Sonoma County will not suffer meaningful consequences and, instead, will enjoy immunity from local prosecution.

The family, through their attorney, will petition the U.S. District court for the immediate lifting of the stay of the proceedings as to Erick Gelhaus and thereby allow the civil case to move forward as to him and Sonoma County.

The family will also urge the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office to conduct an impartial investigation as to the shooting and killing of Andy Lopez.

Lastly, for those who share their anguish over this decision, the family asks that the Sonoma County community to continue to observe peace."

Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas also released a statement about Ravitch's decision, saying his "heart goes out to the friends of Andy Lopez, the involved deputies, and the entire Sonoma County community during this difficult time."

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"We as a community need to come together to find every possible way to minimize the potential of a tragic incident like this from happening again," Freitas said.

About a dozen protesters were gathered outside the building where Ravitch disclosed the results of her review.

Human rights attorney Jonathan Melrod has led the charge against the sheriff’s department and Deputy Gelhaus in numerous protests since the shooting.

“He was shot because he was a kid carrying a toy gun where kids play,” Melrod said. "The militarization of the police is evolving into 'us versus them.’"

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Community organizer Nicole Guerra, whose son was Lopez's friend, said it is ridiculous that "police can use the excuse they were in fear of their lives."

"Kids are in fear because they know cops can get away with it," Guerra said. "He should have known that was a toy.”

Bay City News contributed to this report.

Run a race. Learn to paint. Eat a bug. You can do it all and more this weekend in San Diego.

Thursday, July 10

Adventure Run San Diego
5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Road Runner Sports
Calling all San Diego super heroes. Bring your cape and sneakers to this free running event. You’ll collect raffle tickets as you fly through the course and be entered to win Road Runner Sports gear. (Bonus tickets for coming in costume)

Culture and Cocktails
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the San Diego Museum of Art
Sail away to Balboa Park for a new exhibit featuring Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla. You’ll feel like you’re in one of Sorolla’s idyllic beach landscapes at this nautical-themed party.

SoundDiego Suggestion: Brad Paisley
7 p.m. at Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Looking to “Beat This Summer” with country megastar Brad Paisley? Well, it just so happens that SoundDiego is giving away tickets to his show! Click here for your chance to win. (The contest ends Wednesday, July 9.)

• More from SoundDiego

Friday, July 11

77th Del Mar Races Kickoff Party
7:11 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. at the Grand Del Mar
Dust off that fancy hat. Here’s a chance to wear your race day attire before Opening Day on July 17. Awards will be given to the Best Dress party guests.

SoundDiego Suggestion: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band
8 p.m. at Humphrey’s By the Bay
Never miss an opportunity to see one of the Fab Four in person, even if it’s Ringo. All jokes aside, Starr always puts on a fantastic, fun show, and you’re practically guaranteed an unforgettable evening.

SoundDiego Suggestion: Cloud Nothings
8:30 p.m. at Soda Bar
The minute indie rockers Cloud Nothings dropped their new album “Here and Nowhere Else” on April 1, they were automatically added to seemingly every music critics’ Best of 2014 list. See why on Friday night.

Saturday, July 12

2014 Over the Line (OTL) Tournament
Starts at 7:30 a.m. on Fiesta Island
A lawsuit threatened to cancel this iconic beach tradition. But on Wednesday, the city announced that the 61st annual OTL Tournament will continue as scheduled and that participants can bring their own booze. So what is Over the Line, you ask? Find out more here.

Insect Festival
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas
Pssst! That’s the sound of a Madagascar hissing cockroach telling you about the Insect Festival. You can sample cooked mealworm larva in flavors like barbecue and teriyaki. (Yum?) The creepy crawly fun continues Sunday.

Free Pizza
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at zpizza locations across San Diego County
What’s better than free pizza? Try free pizza for a year. zpizza is giving you the chance to win, along with scrumptious pizza samples, during the Red Table Pop-Up City Tour. Click here to find a location near you.

Paintin’ Party
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. in Liberty Station
Wouldn’t you love a Monet hanging in your home? This is the next best thing. Artist Nancy Isbell will teach you to paint a bouquet of sunflowers, inspired by the French impressionist. Feel free to bring a bottle of your favorite wine. Cups and corkscrews will be provided, and snacks will be available for purchase.

SoundDiego Suggestion: Get Back Loretta, the Palace Ballroom, Flaggs
8:30 p.m. at the Casbah
Popular local rock bands take turns melting faces at the Casbah Saturday night. We once saw Get Back Loretta flawlessly perform the entire Side B medley of the Beatles “Abbey Road” album in one fell swoop during a show. Just goes to show, you never know what you’re in for at the Casbah.

Sunday, July 13

19th Annual Pechanga Pow Wow
11 a.m. at Pechanga Casino in Temecula
Members of the Pechanga tribe will dance and drum at this colorful celebration. The event is free to the public.

SoundDiego Suggestion: For the F---ing Kids Fest
12:00 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the Che Café at UCSD
This all-day festival will be the storied, all-ages venue’s last show ever at their current location. SoundDiego has extensively covered the ongoing battle to close the club (read about it here: http://bit.ly/1jeHXMJ), but it looks like it’s finally over. Retox, Jacob Turnbloom (from Mrs. Magician), the Frights, Big Bad Buffalo, Kids and many others help say goodbye.

Ballast Point 18th Anniversary Beer Festival
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Maritime Museum
Hop from ship to ship along the Embarcadero – including the Star of India – sampling different beers at each stop. Admission gets you a souvenir taster glass and 15 3 oz. beer samples. Proceeds benefit the Maritime Museum.
 

Organizers of the San Diego County Fair have a reason to shout: The Fab Fair was a smashing success.

According to organizers, 1,457,130 people invaded the fairgrounds for the Beatles-themed event, the second-highest attendance in fair history. More than 1.5 million fairgoers attended in 2012.

The fair wrapped up Sunday after 24 days filled with greasy goodness and groovy entertainment.

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San Diego County Fair by the Numbers

• 171- Pies eaten each day at the Pie Eating Contest (That’s 1,035 slices a day.)
• 717- Entertainment groups booked (13,524 performers total and 2,025 hours of stage time)
• 5,360- People who took the bungee plunge (The youngest jumper as 6, and the oldest was 79.)
• 15,000- Pounds of bacon used by Bacon-A-Fair
• 40,000- Donuts used to make Kripsy Kreme Triple-Decker Cheeseburgers at Chicken Charlie
• 500- Gallons of cream cheese frosting used to top Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls
• 423,565- Dollars raised at animal auctions for 4-H and FFA

(Source: Del Mar Fairgrounds)

Fab Fact: The most popular ride at this year’s fair was the Crazy Mouse, a roller coaster with individual cars that spin while speeding along a winding track.

He used to fly Chinook helicopters and now he’s learning how to be a roadie for some of the music world’s infamous rockers.

“I’m just having the time of my life,” Bill Jones said.

Jones served as a helicopter pilot and chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army for seven years. He said when he tried to find work he was often told he was overqualified.

Then he was selected out of hundreds of applicants for an on-the-job training position with the bands KISS and Def Leppard.

Also working on the tour is retired U.S. Marine Kayla Kelly.

She says she looked for years to find a job after retiring from the military.

“It was difficult just getting up and going to find a job let alone the job field not being big enough for everybody,” Kelly explains.

Now she’s working as a VIP Coordinator for KISS.

The rockers say veterans, especially those who have come home wounded, shouldn't have to face the stigma they often do. So they work with the Wounded Warriors Project and Hiring Our Heroes.

Jones, who's involved with the Wounded Warrior Project as a PTSD advocate, works video production for Def Leppard.

"Their whole basis is to get me in a position where I can have a career afterwards. They're teaching me all of the necessary steps, introducing me to the right people," Jones said.

“He’s one of the hardest workers on the tour,” Def Leppard’s drummer Rick Allen said of Jones.

Allen said he has lived with PTSD himself and he is grateful to be able to use what he went through in a 1984 car crash to talk to wounded warriors.

"It's a family, you know. And you're only as good or as strong as your weakest member. So we all strive to lift one another up," Allen said.

Kelly and Jones will work the duration of the tour with the rock bands.

To those other veterans going through the job struggles, Kelly tells them not to give up.

"It's hard. It's very hard but you've just gotta keep looking, keep trying and just don't give up. There are jobs out there and there are companies and people who want to hire veterans."¤W20 72

In addition to hiring veterans, the bands also pledge to donate $2 from every ticket to various organizations that help veterans like Hiring Our Heroes and the Wounded Warrior Project.
 

The California Highway Patrol took to Facebook on Monday and asked for patience hours after civil rights activists gathered at the Los Angeles CHP office to demand answers about an officer's caught-on-camera confrontation with a woman on a Southern California freeway.

The video surfaced last week on YouTube after a witness posted cellphone footage he captured of the July 1 incident. The CHP officer can be seen straddling a woman on the ground and repeatedly hitting her in the face as commuters drive by on the 10 Freeway west of downtown LA.

• Read: Family of Woman Hit by CHP Officer Demands Answers

"We want to find out whether she was charged or not. Number two, what are the policies and procedures?" said activist Najee Ali of the Project Islamic Hope. "Because to us, the officer wasn't trying to make an arrest. He was beating her excessively, so we want to find out why that happened."

CHP Deputy Commissioner Ramona Prieto met the activists outside the office.

"This just happened, and the questions that you are asking are the questions that I want answers to," Prieto told the group.

The CHP also addressed concerns and asked for patience in a message posted on its Facebook page Monday afternoon.

"We understand everyone’s concerns regarding the YouTube video of a CHP Officer from the Central Los Angeles Area," the post stated.

"Please know that a complete and thorough investigation is underway to obtain all of the facts and evidence surrounding the incident. The CHP has a long history as a professional and respected law enforcement organization. We ask for your patience as we complete the detailed investigation process."

• Read: Activists Call for Federal Investigation Into CHP Officer Beating Video

The woman in the video, identified as Marlene Pinnock, was held on a 72-hour involuntary mental health evaluation after the incident.

Pinnock has three prior convictions between 2004 and 2013, including lewd conduct, simple battery, and assault with a deadly weapon, police and court officials confirmed to the NBC4 I-Team. As of Monday, she has not been charged in the caught-on-video incident.

Pinnock's daughter and attorneys said she was injured with bruises on her upper body and "lumps the size of plums" after the incident, while the CHP said she was not hurt.

"Today was the first day I was finally able to see her and talk to her," Pinnock's daughter Maisha Allum said at a press conference Monday. "And I just thank God that she's alive."

• Watch: Video Shows CHP Officer Repeatedly Hitting Woman

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California released a statement Monday demanding a "full investigation" into the officer's use of force.

"We understand that in this incident, the CHP officer was responding to a call of a woman walking along a freeway, and the woman's state of mind was unclear. Officers are authorized to use force only when reasonably necessary to overcome force or danger posed by a subject," the statement read in part.

"But disturbing video raises serious questions whether, in those circumstances, it could possibly be reasonable for the CHP officer to pin Ms. Pinnock to the ground and punch her repeatedly. The CHP must conduct a full investigation and report the results to the public," the statement continued.

Attorneys for Pinnock's family announced plans on Sunday to file a civil lawsuit, but did not name who they would be suing.

The CHP has placed the officer on desk duty, but will not release his identity. CHP officials first said the officer was on paid administrative leave but later confirmed to NBC4 that he is working from a CHP office. 

"We want to make sure that (the officer) has some anonymity at this point in the investigation," Prieto said.

Activists have called for the officer to be fired and prosecuted, as well as demanded a federal investigation.

"In my opinion, they have done much better, but unfortunately, we have rogue officers who give the departments a bad name," Ali said. "That's why we have to hold them accountable."

A meeting between activists and CHP Commissioner Joseph Farrow is set for Tuesday.

Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report.

A retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander has admitted to his role in the overcharging of the U.S. Navy by up to $2.5 million in a widespread international bribery scandal.

Edmond A. Aruffo, 45, is the seventh defendant charged and the fourth to plead guilty in a conspiracy to overcharge the U.S. government millions of dollars in services for Navy ships in the Pacific.

Federal prosecutors allege that CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) Leonard Francis, known as “Fat Leonard” by Navy officials, offered Navy officials cash, luxury travel, electronic gadgets and prostitutes in exchange for confidential information on ship movements.

Francis along with his cousin, Alex Wisidigama, overcharged the Navy for more than $20 million in services, prosecutors claim.

Aruffo pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court Thursday in San Diego.

He was serving as Operations Officer of USS Blue Ridge when he first met Francis, according to court documents.

He accepted a job with Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) in April 2009 and used using letterhead from several Japanese vendors to prepare inflated invoices to the U.S. Navy.

Once the U.S. paid the invoices, the vendors would send kickbacks to GDMA, according to details released last week in a plea agreement.

The 20-year military veteran said he used those kickbacks to take Navy officials on lavish dinners.
Aruffo did not post the $40,000 bond. He will be sentenced October 3 before U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino.

Those charged in the investigation include Commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, Commander Jose Luis Sanchez, Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent John Beliveau and U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Dan Layug.

Layug, 27, pleaded guilty in May to accepting bribes in exchange for providing classified information. He will be sentenced September 2.

• Read: Navy Officer Traded Secret Docs for Gadget "Bucket List"

In March, Wisidigama pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government.

Beliveau accepted terms of a plea agreement in December 2013.

Francis has denied wrongdoing in the case. He's in federal custody awaiting trial.

The plea agreement in Aruffo's case outlines the kickback scheme.

For example, the invoice for USS Lake Erie’s visit to Sukomo, Japan in February of 2010 charged the U.S. $145,229.77 – an amount inflated by about $50,000, which the vendor ultimately gave to GDMA as a kickback, prosecutors said.

Soon after, USS Blue Ridge arrived to Otaru, Japan. Court documents show Aruffo arranged the husbandry services from a Japanese vendor that cost the Navy $432,476.14. Prosecutors say $204,961.20 was kicked back to GDMA.

Prosecutors said the conspiracy involved almost every U.S. Navy ship that came to port in Japan from July 2009 to September 2010 including USS Lake Erie, uss Blue Ridge USCGC Jarvis, USS John McCain, USS Stethem; USS Cowpens; USS Pinckney; USS Rentz; USS Mount Rushmore; USS Mustin; USS Fitzgerald; USS Curtis Wilbur; uss Guardian; USS Russell; USS Vandegrift; USS Denver; USS Defender; USS Shiloh; and USS Momsen.

A Bay Area congressman is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to lift the ban preventing gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

Mike Honda (D-San Jose) started an online petition to try to get the FDA to overturn the ban. He says the ban is outdated, discriminatory and based on decades-old fears that have been discounted by science.

“The FDA should end the ban and revise its policy and focus on behavior and individual risk, and not on sexual orientation,” Honda said Monday.

After holding a news conference Monday afternoon, Honda was joined by other leaders - including Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen and County Supervisor Dave Cortese - for a blood drive outside the county administration building on Hedding Street.

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Honda's online petition has more than 51,000 signatures so far.

The South Bay congressman is not the first Bay Area politician to take a stance against the law. In August 2013, then-mayor of Campbell Evan Low hosted a blood drive and tried to roll up his sleeves and donate. Low was turned away because he is gay.

Low said it was discrimination and called on the FDA to repeal the ban.

“I could host the blood drive but I could not donate blood myself,” Low said.

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Gay and bisexual men have been turned away from blood donation centers since 1977.

Now, every pint of blood is tested for HIV/AIDS.

“There’s a lot of bias and fear associated with the issue,” Honda said. “In 2014, we need to apply science and data to this issue.”

Even with medical advances, the FDA stands by the policy, saying on its website that men who have had sex with men have an increased risk for HIV:

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"FDA's deferral policy is based on the documented increased risk of certain transfusion transmissible infections, such as HIV, associated with male-to-male sex and is not based on any judgment concerning the donor's sexual orientation."

The American Red Cross and the America Medical Association support the proposal that would allow gay men to donate. The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia allow gay men to donate.
 

 Attorneys for NBC 7 San Diego and ten other local media outlets and journalism groups are urging District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to release a copy of a recommendation letter she wrote for the son of an wealthy Mexican businessman accused of funneling illegal contributions to Dumanis’s failed 2012 campaign for mayor.

Last month, Dumanis denied a Public Records Act request filed by NBC San Diego, requesting a copy of the letter, which she wrote on District Attorney’s letterhead.

The DA wrote the recommendation letter for Edward Susumo Azano, who had applied to admission at the University of San Diego.

Federal prosecutors say Susumo Azano’s father, Jose Susumo Azano Matsura, violated federal election laws by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to at least three local politicians, including Dumanis.

• Read Letter from Local Media to DA

Dumanis has downplayed her relationship with the Azano family but refuses to answer any questions about why she wrote the recommendation letter for Azano’s son.

The text of the letter could reveal new information about that relationship.

Dumanis claims the letter is not a public record. Her denial of the NBC 7’s Public Record Act Request raises other alleged exemptions to the state’s public records law.

Attorneys for the media outlets rebutted those arguments in a letter sent Monday afternoon to Deputy District Attorney Brooke Tafreshi.

That letter asks Dumanis to voluntarily release a copy of the letter by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

If Dumanis does comply with the request, NBC 7 and the ten other media outlets intend to file a legal action against the district attorney in Superior Court.

Pedestrian deaths are at an all-time high in the city of San Diego since 2003.

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An 11-month-old baby girl has died after police say she fell from a Chula Vista home's third-story window Monday evening. 

Neighbors heard cries and called police around 6:45 p.m. When officers arrived, they discovered the injured 11-month-old girl at a house in the 1200 block of Santa Cora, according to Chula Vista Police. 

They started performing CPR on the baby, and a helicopter was called to nearby park to airlift the girl to Rady Children's Hospital.

The baby suffered life-threatening injuries and died at the hospital, officials say. 

Police have not commented on the whereabouts of the girl's family because they say it's an ongoing investigation, but detectives with the family protection unit have been dispatched to look into the incident. 

Investigators say at this point, it looks like a horrific accident.

Refresh this page for further details on this breaking news story. 

When Greg Duffy’s father called saying he’d like to know which neighborhood dog was fertilizing the family lawn, the younger Duffy made an interesting observation: of the available do-it-yourself home security cameras which existed, few seemed easy to set up and operate.

That problem led Duffy and his friend Aamir Virani to develop a technology that’s now being courted by Google’s Nest Labs in a $555 million cash deal.

San Francisco-based DropCam is gunning to dominate the $28 billion home security business by offering a low-cost inexpensive alternative to homeowners wanting a simple system.

When the Nicholas family of Rancho Penasquitos wanted to install a security camera to watch their daughter inside and any approaching strangers outside, they opted for DropCam.

“You don’t have any setup at home, you literally plug it in, connect it to your WiFi and you’re done,” said Elijah Nicholas.

The high quality, plug and play web-based cloud camera can be controlled and monitored from anywhere in the world. A paid subscription allows the video to be recorded in the cloud and accessibly for playback from any computer, tablet or smartphone.

Since DropCam first launched in 2009, designers have added night-vision capabilities and an optional high definition model.

The built-in microphone is another desirable feature.

“You can have two-way conversations,” said Nicholas.

The uses range from home and business security to pet or baby monitoring.

Google is interested in adding DropCam’s technology to its Nest home system that controls thermostats, smoke alarms and others, and sounds emergencies with a calmer human voice.

Because video clips can be shared, the cameras have hooked into social media. Some examples are the live stream of Beluga whales from the Georgia Aquarium (right) and the pups at JR's Puppy Cam (below).

Those who authorize the live streaming offer views of everything from beautiful beaches to dangerous intersections.

Security expert Jim Stickley said these do-it-yourself systems are not perfect.

While consumers don’t need to hire a home security company to wire the home, the main drawback with a system like DropCam is that your home or business is not monitored by a company with an employee who could step in and call 911.

Though a password is required to view the camera’s signal over the web , there are concerns that a system could be hacked.

Also, the camera relies on electricity and the reach of your wifi, so if either goes out, the cameras don’t work.

“When you have the full bells and whistles of those alarm systems – they’re tied in to the police, they’re set up so if the power goes out at your home you’re going to get notified – there are a lot of things tied back that make them generally a stronger solution,” Stickley said.

But it is clear, this technology is poised to at least rattle traditional home security companies which may be coming up with their own, lower cost, stripped down, camera systems to get a piece of this emerging business.

And yes, Greg and Aamir caught the neighborhood dog.