Quantcast
Channel: NBC 7 San Diego - Top Stories
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live

Santa Hat Bank Bandit Sought in Solana Beach Heist

0
0

San Diego FBI agents are asking for the public’s help to find a bank bandit with bad skin who wore a Santa hat and a fanny pack.

The man walked into the Chase Bank on Loma Santa Fe in Solana Beach at approximately 2 p.m.

FBI officials say the man showed a small handgun and demanded large bills.

He left with money and traveled southbound through the parking lot.

He was described as about 40 years old, 6-foot, 3-inches and 180 to 190 pounds with “leathery skin” which may be rosacea, agents said.

Along with the red and white Santa hat, the bandit had dark matted long hair with a fake beard and wore sunglasses, jeans, dark long-sleeved shirt and fanny pack with a water bottle attached to his waist.

Anyone with information can call (858) 320-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
 



Photo Credit: FBI

Slain Officer's Name Covered by Protesters' Sign

0
0

Organizers from the local Artful Activists San Diego group covered the sign for the Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park with a banner that made it read “Michael Brown Memorial Park.” Henwood was an SDPD officer who was gunned down in City Heights while on duty in 2011.

The group that hung the banner used Henwood Park as the meeting place for one of two protests in San Diego. The protests came after a grand jury decided not to indict white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of black teen Michael Brown.

A number of San Diegans expressed outrage at the covering of the sign and an online debate ensued over Twitter. One comment called the banner "disgusting". Another asked, "Kind of out of line, no?"

Chris McKay of Artful Activists San Diego said the banner was not meant to disrespect Officer Henwood, but rather it was posted to make a statement.

"We didn't want to have a rally or a protest for a person who was killed by an officer at a park that was named after an officer," McKay told NBC7.

"We made sure to do it where nothing was damaged because this officer did care about the community."

Henwood was shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car by suspect Dejob Marquee, in an unprovoked attack. Marquee was later killed in a shootout with police officers in City Heights.

In his final act of kindness before his death, Henwood bought cookies for local teen Daveon Scott at a McDonald’s restaurant on Fairmount Avenue. Scott was short on change and Henwood, a total stranger, offered to buy him the cookies in a tender moment caught on surveillance tape. The fatal shooting happened just moments later.

Those circumstances contrast with what happened in Ferguson on Aug. 9 when officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Brown. A grand jury's decision not to indict Wilson Monday has sparked two consecutive nights of protests in Ferguson and in big cities from coast to coast.

"We wanted to make sure Michael Brown had a memorial for the day," McKay said. "[Henson] has it for 365 days of the year...we still respect [Henson] for what he did."

When asked why the rally wasn't just held in another location, McKay said it could have been, but for the purpose of symbolism, they opted for Henwood Park because the MidCity police station is across the street.

"That would have been nice, but the police station is right there."

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the group responsible for covering the sign at Henwood Memorial Park. We regret the error.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Toddler Inspires Disney Petition

0
0

A San Francisco family traveled to Disney's Southern California Headquarters Wednesday to deliver a petition with more than 75,000 signatures calling on Disney to create characters with Down syndrome and other disabilities.

Keston Ott-Dahl created the petition in honor of her 15-month-old daughter Delaney, who has Down syndrome.

"I want the world to change," Ott-Dahl said. "I want Delaney to grow up in a society where she knows there’s a place for her and she’s part of society and she’s loved and appreciated."

Ott-Dahl's Care2 petition asks Disney to fight back against stigmas by representing children with disabilities in their animated films.

Ott-Dahl's partner and two daughters — both dressed as Disney Princesses — joined her in Burbank to deliver the petition that has drawn media coverage across the country.

Disney has responded to the petition, saying the studio is "committed to continuing to create characters that are easily accessible and relatable to all children."

While the Ott-Dahl family believes Disney does a good job of teaching children moral lessons, they hope the company will realize "every little girl wants to feel like a princess" and will give the family a "firm commitment" to represent children with disabilities.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

20 Thieves in Chicago Robbery

0
0

Thieves made off with shoes and jeans after smashing a vehicle into a business in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood early Wednesday, police said.

Officers responded to a report of a burglar alarm at a business in the 4000 block of West Madison and found a vehicle crashed into it. From NBC Chicago's helicopter, a red Dodge Caravan could be seen completely inside the building.

Police later said the vehicle had been used in a smash-and-grab style burglary, with thieves getting away with merchandise from the "Cisco NYC" store. Surveillance video recorded during the heist showed about 20 people taking part in the raid.

No one was at the scene when officers arrived, and no injuries were reported, police department spokeswoman Ana Pacheco said.

No arrests were reported as of 10 a.m.

Police on Tuesday released surveillance video recorded during last week's smash-and-grab burglary at the Louis Vuitton store at an upscale mall in Northbrook.

Three high-end retailers were targeted in September, at Luxury Garage Sale in Old Town, Moncler on Oak Street and Louis Vuitton at a mall in Oak Brook. Investigators said earlier they believe the break-in at the Moncler store is connected to the heist at Louis Vuitton in Oak Brook.

Earlier this month a stolen minivan was crashed into the Salvatore Ferragamo in the Chicago Premium Outlets Mall in Aurora, causing more than $20,000 in damage.


This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Crash Causes Large Power Outage in South Bay

0
0

Thousands of South Bay residents lost power Wednesday night after a car struck a transformer, according to Chula Vista police.

A single car crashed into a transformer in the 2400 block of New Seabury Way in Chula Vista just before 8 p.m. The driver wasn't hurt, police said.

More than 5,000 customers lost power, according to San Diego Gas and Electric. Electricity was fully restored just before 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Jake's Del Mar Chef Earns Top Honors at Food Fest

0
0

San Diego’s top chefs sliced, simmered and sautéed Saturday for the chance to be named “Chef of the Fest” at the 11th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.

In the end, Chef Duvinh Ta of Jake’s Del Mar beat out 35 cooking competitors to win the coveted title.

His culinary creation – dry rubbed pork ribs with sambal BBQ sauce and watermelon radish and zucchini slaw – wooed a panel of celebrity judges, which included Executive Chef of Culinary Operations at SeaWorld Axel Dirolf and RJ Cooper, owner of the innovative and ultra-modern Rogue 24 in Washington, D.C.

The judges evaluated each dish based on presentation, flavor, innovation, quality of product and preparation in the allotted time. The panel did not know which chef created which entrée.

Chef Ta, a San Diego native, went to college to be an aerospace engineer before following his culinary calling. He started cooking with fresh seafood and local ingredients at Jake’s Del Mar in 2005 and was promoted to executive chef in 2013.

Ta received a bounty of prizes for his win, including features in “Cooking Light” and “Dining Out” magazines, swag from Big Green Egg and Calphalon and more.

Festival attendees cast votes via text message for the People’s Choice Award. Chef James Montejano of the Med at La Valencia Hotel won over the crowd with his seafood trilogy: Opah prosciutto, seared kajiki, sake, plum sauce, coconut foam and uni crème brulee.

Chef Rich Sweeney of R-Gang Eatery in Hillcrest took top honors at last year’s event.

This year’s festival attracted 5,000 foodies and wine aficionados to the Embarcadero, and we can’t wait to see what’s on tap for next year. Mark your calendars for Nov. 15-22, 2015.

Complete List of Winners from the 2014 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

1st Place
Duvinh Ta – Jake’s Del Mar
Dry Rubbed Pork Ribs | Sambal BBQ Sauce | Watermelon Radish | Zucchini Slaw

2nd Place
Todd Nash – Bub’s At The Ballpark
House-Smoked Pork Collar BLT: House-Smoked Pork Collar Bacon| Tomato Jam | Frisée | Quail Egg | Kewpie Mayo | Sweet Role

3rd Place
Alex Carballo – URBN Coal Fired Pizza
Pork Rojo Street Tacos: Pork Braised in Ancho Chili Sauce | Cilantro Slaw | Avocado Crema

4th Place
Chef Kappa – Bang Bang
Tuna Tartare Tacos: Crispy Wonton Shells | Garlic Ginger Ponzu | Marinated Tuna Tartare | Guacamole Espuma | Micro Cilantro

5th Place
Aron Schwartz – Marina Kitchen
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup | Smoked Brisket

Honorable Mention
Tomas Baistrocchi – Avant
Uni Panna Cotta | Cauliflower | Lardo

Honorable Mention
Brandon Fortune – Kitchen 1540
Chicken n’ Dumplings

Honorable Mention
Jon Sloan / Richard Blais – Juniper & Ivy
Sunchoke Bark | Uni | Matsutake | Smoke

Honorable Mention
James Montejano – La Valencia Hotel
Seafood Trilogy: Opah Prosciutto | Seared Kajiki | Sake | Plum Sauce | Coconut Foam | Uni Crème Brulee (Also People's Choice Award Winner)

Honorable Mention
Abe Botello – West Coast Tavern
Pork Belly & Waffles: Bourbon Smoked Maple Syrup | Garlic Butter & Bacon

Vegetarian/Raw Category
Francesca Penoncelli – BiCE Ristorante
Piava Cheese | Delicate Chestnut Honey Tempura | Tomato Jam

Meat Category
Todd Nash – Bub’s At The Ballpark
House-Smoked Pork Collar BLT: House-Smoked Pork Collar Bacon | Tomato Jam | Frisée | Quail Egg | Kewpie Mayo | Sweet Role

Poultry Category
Brandon Fortune – Kitchen 1540
Chicken n’ Dumplings

Seafood Category
Chef Kappa – Bang Bang
Tuna Tartare Tacos: Crispy Wonton Shells | Garlic Ginger Ponzu | Marinated Tuna Tartare | Guacamole Espuma | Micro Cilantro

Dessert Category
Derek Jaeger– The Cravory
Persian inspired Cookies and Cream: Saffron Vanilla Ice Cream | Ginger Oil | Honey Pistachio Cookie | Pistachio Brittle, Fleur de Sel
 


This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Member Arrested for Attempted Murder

0
0

A documented member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run accident in Oceanside, California.

The accident happened after a male patron was harassing a family of three while they walked past the PCH Sports Bar and Grill at 1835 S. Coast Highway, according to Oceanside Police.

A husband, wife and her father, Michael Dean, 60, walked on as the male patron and two others began saying inappropriate things to the woman and threatening to hit the men.

Police said the family was crossing in the intersection of Cassidy and Coast Highway, when Dean, who was within the crosswalk and using a cane, was hit by a white Lexus traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver fled the scene, but witnesses followed.

The driver was identified by police as Anthony Medvec, a documented member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Gang who is on federal probation and required to wear a GPS tracking device.

The tracking device was used to locate Medvec at his home on the 4900 block of Yuma. After a phone call from officers, Medvec came out of his home and was taken into custody without incident on charges of attempted murder.

Medvec was indicted in 2012 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in a meth trafficking ring busted by FBI. More than 20 other people were sentenced to time in the bust. Medvec was sentenced to 30 months, the shortest sentence of the 20 co-defendants with the same charges.

Dean was transported to Palomar Hospital with several broken bones and a collapsed lung. Officials have not released his condition.



Photo Credit: San Diego County Sheriff's Dept.

Record Online Sales Expected on Thanksgiving Day

0
0

If you’re looking for a holiday bargain, help yourself to seconds of turkey or another slice of pumpkin pie and turn on your computer, according to one online shopping survey.

Online prices are predicted to hit bottom on Thursday, lower than on any other day of the holiday shopping season including Black Friday, says the Adobe Systems Inc.’s 2014 Digital Index Online Shopping Forecast.

Record online sales of $1.35 billion are expected on Thanksgiving Day, an increase of 27 percent over last year. Black Friday meanwhile could be the fastest growing online sales day at $2.48 billion, a rise of 15 percent. Among the gifts that shoppers might be looking for, according to social media: iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, PlayStation 4 and the “Call of Duty” video game.

Plus those online prices are expected to match in-store prices except for specific Black Friday promotions and inventory clearances, according to the forecast, which was published this month.

A survey by Nerd Wallet, the personal finance website, found that many of the same Black Friday deals are offered year to year. That might not matter for luggage or Christmas trees but could mean less than good buys for year-old electronics or appliances, the web sites notes.

“Consumers are cottoning on to these clever tactics and so over time they are less likely to be fooled,” said Priya Raghubir, the chair of the marketing department at New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business in New York City. “And if they’re less likely to be fooled, the magic of Black Friday pretty much starts getting lost.”

The sales are meant to snap consumers out of any tendency to put off shopping until the last minute, Raghubir said.

“They give you a reason to get out in the cold and start spending money,” she said.

“Consumers love getting a deal or at least feeling they’ve got a deal, feeling smart, feeling that they are in control,” she said.

About 45 percent of consumers plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day, a survey by the New York based-consulting company Accenture found. Sixty-one percent of Americans or more than 140 million shoppers say they will be in the stores over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to the National Retail Federation.

Best Buy is among the retail chains that will open by 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Other include Toys R Us and J.C. Penney. Target, Sears, Kohl's and Macy's will all open at 6 p.m. and Kmart will keep its doors open for 42 hours straight. Radio Shack will open at 8 a.m., however, after workers complained about the early hour, the electronics retailer decided to close between noon and 5 p.m.

J.C. Penney spokesman Joey Thomas said that when chain opened on Thanksgiving for the first time last year, the response from customers was overwhelmingly positive. Giveaways and other activities are planned to show staff members that their work is appreciated, Thomas said.

“Additionally, local store leaders recognize the importance of work-life balance when staffing regular and seasonal associates, and give priority to those who volunteer for holiday shifts,” Thomas said. “Hourly associates will receive time and a half for hours worked on Thanksgiving Day.”

Macy’s noted that there were 15,000 people in line for its Herald Square store in Manhattan last year at 8 p.m., a record. The large majority of shifts were filled voluntarily, according to Holly Thomas, a spokeswoman for the stores.

In contrast, Nordstrom will remain closed on Thanksgiving.

“Over the years, our tradition has been to be closed on Thanksgiving so we are able to unveil our holiday trim the following morning,” said spokesman Dan Evans Jr.

Dismay over the early shopping led 32-year-old Brian Rich of Boise, Idaho, a marketing coordinator at a credit union, to start a Facebook page called “Boycott Black Thursday.”

“The best way to stop this is for everyone to stop shopping on Thanksgiving,” he said.

Twenty-five-year-old Danielle Mesisca quit her job at Kohl’s in New York City rather than work on Thanksgiving. The single mother, who has a day job working for New York City, said she would not object if Black Friday started at midnight or later.

“I feel like working a minimum wage job on a holiday is not worth it,” she said. “Thanksgiving is that one day your entire family gets together to spend time together. I shouldn't have to be forced to work and miss time with my family so other people can shop.”

Kohl’s did not immediately respond for comment.

With sales beginning earlier, and uncertainty about when the best deals are to be found, Black Friday does offer one guarantee: long lines of other shoppers, Raghubir said.

“But yes there will certainly be the buzz also,” she said. “You’ll be with all these other shoppers who are also very excited at having got a deal.”

That excitement is one reason 28-year-old Sy Paulson, a general manager at a Best Buy store in New York City said he did not mind working over the holiday. He typically has his meal the weekend before or a few days afterward and works both Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

“This is my tenth Black Friday at Best Buy,” he said. “I get a lot of retail adrenaline. It’s a fun time. It kicks off the holiday season.”
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

To Protect, Serve and Not Suffer: PTSD in the Line of Duty

0
0

It’s a problem among cops that few talk about outside the police community: Post traumatic stress disorder which can cause big problems on the job and off. It can lead even to suicide in an alarming number of cases.

In fact, suicide is now believed to be the leading cause of death among first responders. More than those who are killed by felons. More than officers who perish in auto accidents.

La Mesa Police Officer Tim Purdy is a tough, well-trained and nine-year veteran cop equipped to handle most any situation.

But an officer-involved shooting made Purdy realize that no first responder is emotionally bulletproof from the danger, stress and anxiety that comes with the job.

His life changed one summer night in August 2011 when he and another officer responded to a domestic violence call.

A man, on probation after recently being released from jail, met officers on the street with a shotgun.

The suspect pointed his weapon at Purdy and another officer who shot and killed the gunman.

Killing a man, though the shooting was justified, was traumatic for Purdy but what really rattled him was coming into contact with the gunman’s children moments after the shooting.

“That was difficult for me as far as knowing that I had just killed their father. I had a lot of guilty feelings. I dealt with nightmares, wasn’t speaking with my supportive wife about this. Eventually I just didn’t see the purpose in life and that’s when I needed more help,” Purdy said.

He got the help and learned he was one of an estimated 120,000 first responders nationwide suffering from PTSD according to the Justice Department.

That number included people in his own department like La Mesa Captain and Detective Dan Willis.

For his part, Willis battled through PTSD after being consumed by a murder case he worked on for five years. His efforts to resolve the case taxed his marriage and spirit in the process.

After getting better, he set out on a mission to help other first responders researching and writing a book called "Bulletproof Spirit."

“Think what first responders go through. How do you get used to watching somebody die? Or someone begging for their life and then expire? Or fight for your life? And you can’t help but suffer with many of our victims. The way that we try to get used to it is we shut down,” Willis said.

Experts say officers doing that can lead to bad performance on the job and bad behavior off.

“If they don’t raise their hand and say ‘I need help. Will you help me?’, how do they handle that? If they internalize it over time, it erupts. It has to come out one way or another,” said Scott Silverman who runs a San Diego-based recovery program called Confidential Recovery geared towards first responders whom he says are twice as likely to develop substance addiction as the general population.

And when those suffering don’t get help and hit bottom, the consequences can be fatal.

The Department of the Medical Examiner, San Diego County tells NBC7 that since 1997, at least 57 first responders including police officers, firefighters and medics have taken their own life.

Many were active duty, some were retired.

Nationwide, there are estimated 150 police suicides every year according to advocacy group Badge of Life which compiled data used by the Department of Justice.

“Even though suicide is the number one death, only 3 percent of agencies in the country have suicide awareness and prevention programs,” said Willis.

For its part, San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department say they have increased mental health support in recent years.

The SDPD created a Wellness Unit with the mission to be visible accessible and more proactive: A spokesman said just during this past quarter, the unit initiated contact with 149 members of the department who might be at risk.

Thirty-five others came in for help.

Advocates say it’s a good start and that officers in the often tough-guy, suck-it-up police culture are more often now admitting they need help.

While the PTSD survivors with whom we spoke tell us that departments need to do even more, they do say they are hopeful that this trend of better police department preventative action will continue so that fewer first responders will have to protect, serve and suffer.
 



Photo Credit: AP
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Mother Arrested for Abusing Twins

0
0

A Southern California mother who allegedly starved and abused her twin 3-year-old sons leaving them severely malnourished, bruised and one with a fractured jaw has been arrested, police said Wednesday.

Courtney Lynn Stewart, 24, of Murietta, California, was arrested and charged on suspicion of willful harm or injury to a child and corporal punishment or injury to a child, according to Murrieta Police Department officials.

The investigation began when officials at the the Rancho Springs Hospital contacted the Murietta Police Department when one of the twins was admitted earlier in November weighing less than 15 pounds and with suspicious bruises on his body.

The child was immediately transported to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, where he remains in critical condition.

Investigators visitied Stewarts home and found the little boy’s twin brother, who was also severely malnourished and had a fractured jaw. He was also hospitilized, and now under the care of Riverside County Child Protective Services. It is unclear if he remains hospitalized.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jeremy Durant with the Murrieta Police Department at 951-461-6354.



Photo Credit: Murrieta Police Department

Escondido Police Officer Injured in Hit and Run

0
0

An Escondido police officer was injured early Thursday morning in a hit-and-run crash involving a DUI suspect.

The incident began just after 4 a.m. in the 400 block of West Vermont Avenue as officers were responding to a report of a domestic violence.

One of the officers was driving east on Vermont toward Escondido Boulevard when his patrol vehicle was struck in the right rear by a white Honda Civic, according to a news release from the Escondido Police Department.

The Honda continued past the patrol car, striking two parked cars before coming to a stop in the 100 block of Vermont Avenue.

The driver of the Honda then jumped out of the car and ran off. The officer, who suffered lower back pain in the crash, chased the suspect before succumbing to his pain, police said.

Responding officers found the driver, identified as 19-year-old Mario Ontiveros of Escondido, near Juniper Elementary School.

Ontiveros was treated at Palomar Hospital for minor injuries before being booked in jail on suspicion of felony DUI, felony hit and run, two counts of misdemeanor of hit and run and driving with a suspended license.

Police said Ontiveros also has a prior DUI and a hit-and-run arrest from August 2013.

The officer also was treated at Palomar Hospital and later released.



Photo Credit: Escondido Police Department

Landscaper's Tree-Trimming Death a Complete Shock: Wife

0
0

The wife of the man killed in a tragic tree trimming accident said Wednesday her husband was a seasoned landscaper and had been doing it for years.

Laura Garcia said her husband, 37-year-old Jimmy Herrera, was a good father and a hard worker.

Herrera financially supported his wife and two daughters ages 5 and 8. On Tuesday, he picked up a side job trimming palm trees near 13th and Broadway in downtown San Diego, and was working with a friend who watched the accident happened, Garcia told NBC 7.

Herrera was trimming a palm tree when some of the fronds came down and hit him.

He was unresponsive and Garcia believes he died instantly.

Garcia said her husband's death during tree trimming was a complete shock to her considering he's been doing it for a number of years.

She and her two daughters are trying to get through the next few days with funeral arrangements, but Garcia said it's tough. She lost her job one month before the accident that killed her husband, and she's not sure how she will support herself and her daughters.

For information on how you can help, visit www.facebook.com/reportervanessaherrera or email Vanessa.Herrera@nbcuni.com.

Man Lit Self on Fire at Gas Station: Investigator

0
0

A man suffered burns to half of his body after lighting himself on fire outside a Kearny Mesa gas station, according to fire investigators.

This happened at the Shell Gas Station at 7785 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

According to investigators, the man started fueling, took the gas hose into the front seat of his car and lit himself on fire.

Firefighters extinguished the flames, and paramedics rushed the patient to the UCSD Burn Center. He suffered second-degree burns to 50 percent of his body, according to fire officials.

Cell phone video from witnesses showed fire shooting from the vehicle and a bystander trying to throw water onto the flames.

Officials did not release the man's name but said he is from the Los Angeles area.

The incident remains under investigation.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 Viewer

Thanksgiving in San Diego Means Cooking on the Beach

0
0

To those who have invited me to turkey dinner at their homes over the years, I thank you. But with all due respect, I must say I have never smelled turkey as good as I did today.

Coming to work on Thanksgiving Day – well, you know – but I was grateful to be assigned to cover the story of hot weather in San Diego!

Spencer, one of my favorite photographers, and I headed to Mission Bay to scope things out. We met a group cooking turkey dinner for 200 soccer friends. We’re talking about Dutch oven cooked turkeys, fried turkeys, salad, stuffing, yams and 120 pounds of potatoes.

“Who peeled all those potatoes?” I had to know.

“Well, we had six people here this morning cutting potatoes and Brussels sprouts,” said Ian Madsen, noting the group had arrived at six thirty this morning to save a spot for their gathering.

Did I mention? They are all from Utah!

“It's cold, and snow is coming and it’s gray, said Connor Spere, “This is nice for us, this is really hot, it’s nice to be out here in the sun and play some soccer.”

Yes, and cook for all those people?

“Yeah, but this makes it not hard, particularly when you're sitting out, cooking outside, near the water with your friends and stuff it makes it fun.

And it smelled so good!

San Diego Police Change Tactics on Protesters

0
0

San Diego police changed their strategy and demonstrators changed their tactics on Wednesday, the second day of San Diego protests over the grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri.

Some 150 people gathered in Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park in City Heights and marched down University Avenue.

Demonstrators seemed determined to stop traffic on the interstates. But while police were patient with Wednesday night's march, that was one bit of civil disobedience they are not going to allow again.

The crowd was considerably smaller Wednesday night, but their voices remain strong.

Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park was the meeting place. The march itself went much further than on Tuesday night, all the way downtown.

Demonstrators chanted and held up signs as they walked. The California Highway Patrol and San Diego police blocked streets and stopped traffic to avoid accidents. Law enforcement was determined to keep protesters off the highways and ramps.

They closed the University Avenue on and off ramps, as well as the Interstate 805 entrance ramp until demonstrators were well passed them.

Wednesday's march included several children, some with their parents and some without.

While many of the demonstrators throughout San Diego and the country felt the grand jury decision was wrong, they were still supportive of law enforcement.

Some of the kids NBC 7 spoke with, though, had choice words about how they see police in their community.

“I see them not helping us, and they just want to do their thing," a 14-year-old demonstrator said.

“I think they are not doing the job. Just because they are part of the law doesn't mean they can avoid the law," said a 16-year-old boy. "They should be the exact same like us."

Besides traffic tie-ups, MTS bus service was at a standstill for a number of hours Tuesday and Wednesday nights along University Avenue.

MTS employees were spotted along their regular routes radioing demonstrators' progress so they could, as soon as possible, get buses rolling again.

The disruption affected has thousands of riders over the two days.

According to Facebook posts, organizers are planning similar rallies in San Diego through the holiday weekend.



Photo Credit: Dave Summers/NBC 7

Proposed Bill Would Give Holiday Workers Double Pay

0
0

A state assemblywoman from San Diego is proposing legislation that would mandate that people who work on Thanksgiving and Christmas receive double pay.

Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, assemblywoman for the 80th District, announced the "Double Pay on the Holiday" bill on Thursday at a Walmart in Serra Mesa, along with a local union representative and a Walmart worker.

Gonzalez pointed to the increasing demand for workers to keep up with the Black Friday hours that are continually creeping into the Thanksgiving holiday.

She said the demand has “become mandatory, forcing workers to give up their holiday or risk losing their jobs.”

"If it's so important to force employees to work on a traditional family holiday, it's only decent to compensate them fairly," Gonzalez said in a news release.

In a news release about her proposed legislation, Gonzalez pointed out that many employers are least provided some overtime or other days off in exchange for working the holiday.

Still, she said that while Walmart, for instance, provides additional pay for working on Thanksgiving, some employees have their hours cut on other days.

Many big-box stores opened early this year for Black Friday, opening on Thanksgiving evening. They include Walmart, Target, Macy’s and Best Buy.



Photo Credit: AP/FILE Photo

Body in Julian Identified as Missing Woman, 75

0
0

Sheriff’s deputies have identified a body found in Julian as that of 75-year-old Sally Estabrook, who vanished nearly two months ago.

Deputies responded just before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a woman’s body found in some heavy shrubbery off the roadway in the 200 block of Coulter Ridge Road.

The body was found near Pinezanita Campground on Highway 79 where Estabrook disappeared on Oct. 4.

Estabrook, the mother-in-law of Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. She was reported missing by her husband, who had finished a shower and realized she was gone.

The clothing worn by the woman closely resembled that which was worn by Estabrook when she disappeared, deputies said.

No foul play was believed to be involved.

The cause and manner of death will be made by the medical examiner’s office.

Boys in NY Building Snow Fort Buried By Plow: Police

0
0

UPDATE: New York Boys Buried in Snow Pile Heard Rescuers Calling

Two New York boys were trapped under a several feet of snow for hours after being accidentally buried by a plow on Wednesday, police say.

The boys, ages 9 and 11, were building a snow fort in a mound at a parking lot near a Newburgh apartment complex when a plow clearing the lot pushed more powder onto the pile, trapping the boys underneath, police say.

Police say the plow operator was clearing snow from the opposite side of the mound and wouldn't have known know he had buried the children.

The boys, who are cousins, were trapped under 6 or 7 feet of snow for hours in sub-freezing temperatures, police say, and one of their mothers set out looking for them when they didn't return by about 10 p.m. When she and other family members couldn't find the boys, they called police to report them missing.

Officers canvased the apartment complex for the cousins, knocked on doors and interviewed other children in the neighborhood. They eventually learned that the cousins had been building a snow fort in the parking lot of a health center near the apartment complex.

One officer went to the health center and found a shovel half-buried in the snow mound. He grabbed it and started digging, eventually unearthing a small snow boot.

The officer called for help and police, EMS workers and community members started digging for the boys. Some had shovels, while other clawed at the snow with bare hands. They eventually freed both of the children at about 2 a.m. Thursday.

Both boys were conscious but were taken to the hospital for exposure to the cold.

One of the officers who helped dig the boys out, Sgt. Aaron Weaver, described a frantic scene as he and others tried to free the boys.

"It was all just really adrenaline," Weaver said. " I wasn't thinking much. Just trying to get to the kids."

One of the boy's mothers thanked Newburgh Police for saving the children in an Instagram post Thursday. 

"Today I am thankful my son and nephew are here and I would like to thank the Newburgh Police Officers who found my nephew and my son after searching for them," she said. "They found them at 2 am stuck in a huge snowpile that trapped them for several hours so I am very thankful today to have these two safe at home alive."

Newburgh had more than 6 inches of snow on Wednesday.

Best Buy's Website Back Up After Black Friday Outage

0
0

Best Buy's website was back up after suffering an extended outage on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year.

"A concentrated spike in mobile traffic triggered issues that led us to shut down BestBuy.com in order to take proactive measures to restore full performance," Best Buy spokeswoman Amy von Walter said in a statement. "Our consumers can return to BestBuy.com in the next several hours to take advantage of today's door busters."

On Thanksgiving morning the website was experiencing issues at around 9 a.m. as well, CNBC reported.

Best Buy attempted to one-up retail competitors this year by opening stores at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving day, providing tickets up to two hours before the doors open. Special sales in-stores included a 50-inch Panasonic TV for only $199.99. Other deals, online and in-store, included discounted GoPros, Dell Laptops, and Samsung UHD TVs.

Best Buy’s Black Friday slogan coined the term “door busters” for customers taking advantage of these deals when the stores opened, but it looks like “website busters” may be more appropriate. 

Burger King Owner Finds $100K

0
0

It's not unusual for things to be left behind at Altaf Chaus' Burger King. Customers have forgotten their cell phones and their laptops in the past.

But on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, someone left behind a nondescript blue backpack, which sat on a table at the Bascom Avenue fast food store in San Jose, California, for hours. Chaus' employee noticed it and notified him about the forgotten bag.

"Out of curiosity," Chaus opened the bag to look for an ID or a phone number. Inside? Ten stacks of $10,000 bills, totaling $100,000.

"I was shocked," he said. "There was a stack of hundred dollar bills wrapped in rubber bands. I called police."

Officer came by his restaurant that evening to retrieve it, and told him that if it wasn't returned in six months, that he'd be eligible to get the cash. The bag also had an ATM card, some phone numbers, a bag of marijuana and a "white rock" in it, that possibly could have been drugs, Chaus said. San Jose Police Sgt. Heather Randol confirmed the account on Friday adding that police don't have very many leads on who it belongs to.

Whether it's drug money or cash that was earned legitimately, Chaus said he won't keep the money if it ever comes back to him.

As a Muslim, he said, he lives by the expression that "if you don't sweat, it's not yours."

He said that he's worked two jobs since moving the United States and believes in the value of hard work.

"God has given me a good life, and I'm happy with that," he said. "I might donate the money to needy people...I think you should do the right thing."



Photo Credit: Michael Horn
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images