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Rapid Buses to Give WiFi a Try on Select Routes

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San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is getting ready for a free WiFi trial run on select Rapid buses.

Testing and demonstration will be conducted in six vehicles along Rapid routes 215, 235 and 237 by fall 2015.

After six months of demonstration, MTS said they'll survey passengers and after nine months, they'll review the results of the demo and consider permanent options for all Rapid services.

The wireless internet program is meant to improve customer experience and attract new riders, the transit system said. It will also help with on-board trip planning -- a feature only smart phone users currently have available.

An amendment to the program budget has been requested, which would transfer $654,000 in TransNet funding to the new Rapid WiFi Project, according to MTS. The amount includes setting aside $135,000 for fiscal year 2015.

WiFi services have been successfully implemented on the Coaster and Sprinter trains, as well as the VTA Express.

The pilot project is expected to launch in fall 2015 with full implementation possible within a year, according to the outline by MTS.


Suspect Slips Off Handcuffs, Escapes Sheriff's Custody

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A suspect arrested Friday night slipped off his handcuffs and escaped from sheriff's custody, prompting a manhunt in the Lakeside area.

Nicholas Rodriguez, 18, was taken into custody on suspicion of felony spousal abuse at about 6:30 p.m. and taken to the Lakeside sheriff's office, according to officials.

At the office, Rodriguez managed to get out of his cuffs and took off.

Deputies set up a perimeter to search for the suspect, using K-9 units and a helicopter, but a search for hours turned up nothing.

Finally, residents told deputies about a pile of debris at a neighborhood preschool. When they sent the helicopter over it, deputies were able to pick up Rodriguez' heat signature as he lay in the pile.

He was re-arrested at about 1:25 a.m. Saturday.

Run Raises Funds for Shane Search

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Dozens of runners participated in a 5K run in Philadelphia's Manayunk neighborhood Saturday morning to help return attention to Shane Montgomery, who went missing early Thanksgiving morning after a night out with friends.

The event kicked off at 9 a.m. outside the Goals Fit location at 4450 Main St. in Philly's Manayunk neighborhood.

Donations were accepted for the Help Find Shane Montgomery fund and participants were  encouraged to wear green in honor of the missing 21-year-old West Chester University student.

The Roxborough native was last seen leaving Kildare's Irish Pub --  only a short walk from the race start -- more than three weeks ago.

Each day without Shane has been wearing on his family, who are working to hire the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit, a volunteer diving recovery team, to aid with the underwater search, said Kevin Verbrugghe, Shane's uncle.

"We’re not holding up well," Verbrugghe said.

Ongoing search efforts, including the use of sonar and underwriter cameras in a search of the Schuylkill River, have brought about few clues for Shane, who was last seen walking toward the Manayunk Canal.

"The prevailing theory is that he went into the river and where is he now? Tides change and there’s all kinds of debris under there," FBI Supervisory Special agent J.J. Klaver said Thursday.

Debris could have trapped the missing college student's body underwater, he explained.

A reward for information that leads investigators and the family to Montgomery still stands at $65,000. Friends and family continue to support the search efforts on their own as well.

Anyone with information is asked to call Philadelphia police at 215.686.TIPS.



Photo Credit: Family Photo
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Alcohol Suspected in Fatal Motorcycle Crash

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A 22-year-old man is dead after he crashed his motorcycle over a curb and into a power pole, San Diego County Sheriff's officials say.

At about 1 a.m. Saturday, the motorcyclist was riding west on W. Mission Road when he didn't turn with a curve in the road.

He flew over the curb, collided with a signal electrical box and continued through a dirt lot. He finally collided with an SDG&E power pole.

The man was thrown from his bike, and paramedics took him to Palomar Medical Center. However, he died from his injuries.

Investigators believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Calif. Mayor's Autopsy Released

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The wife of then-Bell Gardens, California, Mayor Daniel Crespo fatally shot him three times in the chest while the two fought more than two months ago, according to the autopsy report released Friday.

Daniel Crespo, 45, was shot by his wife, Lyvette, Sept. 30 in their home, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies said Crespo and his wife were arguing, and their 19-year-old son intervened, leading to a struggle between the mayor and his son that ended when Lyvette Crespo opened fire.

She admitted she shot her husband but that it was in self-defense during a fight in which he punched their 19-year-old son in the face, deputies said.

Lyvette Crespo was questioned by deputies, but released after claiming self-defense.

Her attorney, who declined to comment Friday, has contended that she was a longtime victim of domestic violence and shot Daniel Crespo in defense of herself and her son.

Daniel Crespo's daughter told investigators that he was verbally and physically abusive to her mother for over 20 years, according to the autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The abuse had become more physical in the last two years.

Crespo and his wife were not sleeping in the same bedroom and he "was known to drag her by the hair to force her to do so," the autopsy report said.

The injuries were not enough to require medical attention and the incidents were not reported, the autopsy said.

He had threatened to kill her and the children if she tried to report the abuse, according to the daughter.

Crespo's mistress had been reportedly making annoying phone calls to the wife at home and her parents had been arguing over his infidelity.

The report also said that Crespo owned handguns and had kept them locked in the home until recent years, when he began leaving them unlocked, his daughter told detectives.

A 9 mm handgun and three expended cartridges were recovered at the shooting scene.

At a news conference, Crespo's brother, William, denied the abuse claim, calling the killing a murder. He has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Lyvette Crespo.

"I just want to curl up in a ball every morning," William Crespo said at a news conference Friday. "I just think I'm going to wake up and my brother is going to be here."

He said the autopsy report does not support the notion that Crespo's wife shot him in self-defense.

He also said he was disappointed that Lyvette Crespo has not been arrested or charged.

"It's sad," he said. "It's wrong because it is just showing that you know you can get away with murder. Killing your husband is wrong. There was a lot of other ways, she could have called 911."

William Crespo has said that Lyvette was trained with firearms.

His attorney, James Devitt, said he received a copy of the autopsy report about a week ago, and he claims it does not support Lyvette's claim of self-defense.

He said he is hopeful that District Attorney Jackie Lacey, whose office is reviewing the case, will charge Lyvette Crespo.

Lacey has "assigned a very tough prosecutor to this case and I have a feeling we're going to have an indictment or an arrest by Christmas, is my hope," Devitt said.

Asher Klein and City News Service contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: BellGardens.org

Are Social Workers Taking Children Illegally?

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San Diego attorneys are fighting against the unwarranted seizures of babies and children.

Attorneys Shawn McMillan and Mark Ankcorn have filed a federal class action lawsuit in Riverside County.

McMillan has been fighting for the parents, he says, are being ripped away from their children.

"We see this over and over and over again. We know it's a systemic problem, and we've been looking for a way to address this systemic problem so we can get real permanent change,” he said.

That change he’s hoping will come from a federal class action lawsuit filed this week in Riverside County. The plaintiff is a newborn. The lawsuit says the baby was taken from its mother without a warrant by the Riverside County Department of Social Services while the two were still in the hospital.

"You absolutely cannot seize a child from its parents unless there is reasonable evidence to show that the child is likely to suffer severe bodily injury or death in a two hours it takes to get a warrant,” said McMillan.

Just this year, the City of San Diego settled with Johnneisha Kemper for $225,000 after she said police took her newborn daughter without a warrant. She eventually lost custody of her child.

McMillan says Riverside County realized it made a mistake and gave the baby back, but he says it's time for the mistakes to end.

"You saw what the police in San Diego said, they said we're not changing anything. We'll pay the money and we're going to keep on doing what we're doing, but that doesn't work for us. What we're really looking for here is a government that's going to follow the law and protect its citizens,” he said.

NBC 7 reached out to Riverside County Friday night, but no one was available to comment.

Taking the Stress Out of TSA Security

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The San Diego Airport expects some 55,000 travelers every day from now until New Years. Being prepared, they said, will make the experience much less stressful.

The best ways to speed up the process are to identify parking ahead of time and be prepared for security checks, said Rebecca Bloomfield, spokesperson for the San Diego Airport.

"Remember the '3-1-1 rule,' which is three ounces of liquid, one quart bag, one per passenger," Bloomfield said. "Have that out, take your jacket off, take your shoes off and just be ready to go through that checkpoint."

For parking, she said, there are several on-airport parking lots, including one on the north side at Washington Street and Pacific Coast Highway that is offering $2-off per day coupons right now.

Also, Terminal 2 has a new dual-level roadway separating drop-off and pick-up passengers for less congestion at the curb.

There is an expedited security pre-check option available for eligible passengers that allows some travelers to skip to shoe and jacket removal.

Military, seniors and children under 12-years-old can apply for this service, according to TSA spokesman Nico Melendez. Some passengers in the standard lanes can also be pulled randomly for the quicker security checks. Eligibility requirements and application information are available on the TSA website.

Melendez said the TSA still uses body scanners, but the software has been updated for faster security scans.

"Now the image is one standard photo per passenger and it's visible right there at the security check point," he said.

The airport also has a lost and found that stores misplaced items for 30 to 45 days. Melendez said there is a link on their website or travelers can call about lost items.

As for items not allowed on board, put them in your check bag, Melendez said.

"Almost everything that we find at the security check point that's not allowed through the check point is allowed in checked bags, including guns," Melendez said.

More information on airport security, smoother boarding and expedited check-in is available on TSA's website, on Instagram @TSA or by using the My TSA smartphone app, which includes and interactive "Can I Bring" feature. For more, click here. For more on holiday air travel tips, click here.

Motel Shooting Suspect, Brother Arrested

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The man who wore a “Joker” mask to a motel armed robbery and shot a clerk has been arrested, El Cajon police announced Friday.

Charles Douglas Winzer, 24, barged into the Quality Inn and Suites on El Cajon Boulevard on Tuesday armed with a shotgun, according to police.

He demanded money from the 31-year-old clerk, but when the employee tried to run away, detectives say Winzer shot him in the lower back. The victim was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Empty-handed, Winzer ran to the parking lot, where his brother Christopher James Winzer, 22, was waiting in a getaway truck, the ECPD says.

The police search for the suspects prompted the Grossmont High School administration to lock down the school Tuesday afternoon. However, officers could not find the would-be robber responsible for the shooting.

Investigators turned to witnesses and surveillance video to find their suspects. They soon learned a red Chevy pickup was used as the getaway vehicle.

The truck was discovered Wednesday at the Villa Embasadora Hotel in El Cajon, which led officers to the man who matched descriptions of the suspect. Charles Winzer was arrested on suspicion of narcotics offenses and was taken to the ECPD.

Detectives later booked him into jail on attempted murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon charges, stemming from the motel hold-up.

Christopher Winzer was arrested Thursday on suspicion of robbery and accessory to a felony.

Investigators say the weapon used in the robbery has been recovered and there are no outstanding suspects.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Doctor Still Practicing Despite Order Prohibiting It

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Days before he reports to prison for violating federal drug laws, an NBC 7 undercover investigation revealed a local doctor is still seeing patients despite a state order prohibiting him from doing so.

William Joseph Watson, 59, who was an osteopathic physician in Del Mar, was sentenced earlier this month in federal court. He pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose.

Click here to see more on Watson’s sentencing.

Watson is scheduled to report to federal prison on Jan. 8 and is expected to spend five years in custody for selling prescriptions for powerful narcotics to patients who had no medical need for those drugs.

According to a “cease and desist” order from the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, Watson is also prohibited from seeing any patients while he's free on bond awaiting his prison sentence.

But an NBC 7 Investigates producer called Watson to schedule an appointment with him for her sore toe. The appointment was scheduled for Dec. 12. The producer showed up and so did Watson.

Watson reviewed a 10-page new patient form with the producer, asking questions about prior medical problems, dietary behaviors and medication history. After completely reviewing the new patient form, Watson treated the producer’s sore toe.

“This regulatory body said 'halt,’ you've done something wrong, you violated those conditions, stop,” Ted Mazer, an expert in doctor licensing and discipline, said. “By ignoring that, the physician is sanctionable, probably could lose his license permanently and is committing a crime under California statute and is putting 'you,' the patient, at risk.”

Mazer serves on the executive committee of the California Medical Association.

He said Watson clearly violated the board's order, by advertising his services online as a D.O., or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

Mazer said Watson also violated the board’s order by offering medical advice and treatment as well as charging for office visits.

Watson charged the NBC 7 Investigates producer $225 for the initial visit and recommended she return at least three more times.

During the visit with Watson, the doctor told the producer he is rebuilding his practice and treats more than ten patients a week.

When NBC 7 Investigates reporter Mari Payton asked Watson if he was still seeing patients after the board ordered him not to, Watson said he sees “people” not “patients.”

In court earlier this month, Watson admitted making “serious mistakes” and said he accepts full responsibility for wrongly prescribing thousands of powerful narcotics, including oxycodone, to patients without performing a proper physical exam and property assessing their need for the addictive painkillers.

In his plea deal, Watson admitted to giving painkiller prescriptions to addicts and dealers, who would use the drugs themselves or sell them on the street.

In return, those “patients” gave Watson thousands of dollars in cash and luxury gifts, including designer handbags, vintage wines and jewelry, according to DEA agents. Documents obtained by NBC 7 Investigates reveal Watson charged about $170 for a prescription for a month’s supply of highly-addictive painkillers.

DEA investigators said some of those patients re-sold the prescription narcotics on the street, or exchanged them for heroin.

The doctor’s actions contributed to the overdose death of a young patient, said prosecutor Sheppard, who told the judge that “40 percent of the pills (that Watson) peddled were not for medical purposes… He did this for money, flat out, and he ruined lives.”

Watson maintains the services he provides helps patients and told NBC 7 Investigates he "doesn't think" he needs to serve time in prison.

“I see people that want to be seen that I can help,” Watson said. “I don't see patients, I see people that want to be helped with what I do. I am an amazing doctor. I have taken care of so many.”

The Osteopathic Medical Board of California confirmed to NBC 7 Investigates Watson is violating state regulations by treating patients.

A board spokesman also told us the agency is preparing another accusation against Watson to "revoke" his license.

As a result of this NBC 7 Investigates story, the board is updating its license verification system to make it easier for consumers to check on their doctors.

Chicago Mayor's Son Robbed

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Police are investigating the robbery of Mayor Rahm Emaneul's son, which occurred near the family's home in the Ravenswood neighborhood Friday night, according to a spokesperson for the mayor.

The incident happened in the 4200 block of North Hermitage at about 10:05 p.m. The mayor's son, 17-year-old Zach Emanuel, was walking in the block when he was approached by two unknown male offenders who grabbed him and went through his pockets. The offenders took his phone and then fled the scene, according to police news affairs.

Zach Emanuel sustained injuries that required medical treatment, according to Kelley Quinn, a spokesperson for the mayor.

The police cameras on the corner of the block were reportedly not working during the incident, according to a City of Chicago source.

Neighbors said they were surprised the incident occurred on their block because they say there is always security in front of the mayor's home and in the alley. Police sources are saying the security detail did not see the reported robbery.

Several police officers were seen on the mayor's front porch late Friday night and Saturday morning.

Area North detectives are investigating.

Officer Cleared of Killing Dog

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A two-month long independent investigation found that a Cleburne Police officer was justified when he shot and killed a pit bull named Maximus earlier this year.

The incident sparked outrage after video from Officer Kevin Dupre’s body camera surfaced online showing him firing at the dog. Though the shooting occurred on August 10, it wasn’t until October that someone filed an open records request for the video and it was widely distributed.

After the video was released, Dupre was placed on paid administrative leave and leaders in Cleburne asked for an independent investigation into the matter. They hired Alan Patton, a retired police sergeant with no previous ties to Cleburne. On October 31, Cleburne Police turned over all reports, copies of video, and statements to him for review.

“We wanted to be extremely thorough to ensure the public had confidence in the results,” said Scott Cain, Mayor of the City of Cleburne.

Saturday, the city released Patton’s final report on the investigation, in which he states, “due to the actions of an aggressive animal, Officer Dupre reasonably believed he needed to use lethal, deadly force in defense of his own life.”

In his 28 page report, Patton details the encounter Dupre had with a group of dogs that were on the loose and explains how video evidence backs up claims that Maximus was showing signs of aggression. He consulted with experts from the Fort Worth Police Department and Los Angeles Police Department and reviewed articles written by animal behaviorists during his investigation.

“I know some people are not going to be satisfied with the investigation’s results,” said Cain. “We agreed to let the chips fall where they may and we gave up control of the investigation.  And the chips have now fallen.”

Maximus’ owners, Amanda Henderson and Quinton Tatum, said while they wish their dog was still alive, they accept the report’s findings.

“We lost a very precious fur baby of ours and all we wanted to know from the beginning is why,” said Henderson. “And they explained to us why and I respect that.”

The city also announced immediate changes to its canine encounter policies, which include new processes for reporting and investigating these kinds of incidents, as well as mandatory training for all police officers.

“For them to already be taking steps in the right direction to not let this happen again, it’s justice I believe,” said Tatum.

“I know a lot of people may not understand that,” said Henderson. “There are going to be people that are angry and that’s okay. But we also ask that no one does anything just because you’re angry. Please, let’s keep it at peace.”

During the height of the firestorm surrounding the case, Dupre received multiple death threats and the city’s website was hacked in possible retaliation. There were also several protests.

Dupre has now been fully reinstated to the Cleburne Police Department. 

Cain echoed Henderson’s and Tatum’s calls for peace.

“Let me make this extremely clear,” said Cain. “If you think you’re going to come into our community and threaten an officer who’s been exonerated or anyone else in our community, we will use the full extent of the law to prosecute you and we will not tolerate it. So we are going to make certain that he and his family are safe, just as we would any other person in our community.”

Cain said the city is also looking into increasing penalties for dog owners whose pets frequently get loose.



Photo Credit: Cleburne Police Department
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4 Arrested in Mall Brawl

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Four people – three adults and one minor – are facing charges after police used pepper spray to break up a brawl at the Westfield Shopping Center in Meriden on Saturday.

According to Meriden police, two underage girls approached an officer working at the mall to help with holiday crowd control around 6:20 p.m. and told him they were afraid a mother and daughter were going to attack them.

While the officer was talking to them, the mother and daughter rushed over and started screaming and making a scene, police said. The officer held them back but the daughter was able to break away and began assaulting one of the other girls.

It spread from there, with more than half a dozen people joining in as a crowd of 100 shoppers gathered around the group. Police said the officer was alone and afraid for his own safety so he used his pepper spray to fend off the instigators.

The crowd then dispersed and other officers arrived to help. The fire department was also called in to help treat other people who were inadvertently sprayed, and brought in fans to disperse the fumes.

Police said no one was seriously hurt and "the disruption to holiday shoppers was minimal."

Three adults were arrested, along with the daughter who police say started the fight, but authorities have not released their names or any information on the charges they face.



Photo Credit: Flickr/Mike Mozart

Girl Left at Shopping Center: PD

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The father of a toddler abandoned at one of Los Angeles's premier shopping centers Saturday came forward nearly a day later and was being interviewed by police and child protective services Sunday afternoon, officials said. 

The girl remained in child protective services custody. Los Angeles Police Department officials said they had not been reunited.

The father told officers that he didn't initially know the three-year-old was missing, but had been actively trying to get in contact with her.

A female relative who’d been watching the girl dropped her off at the Grove, according to police, who are treating the case as a misunderstanding.

When she was put in police custody, the girl gave her name simply as Audrey, a stumbling block in trying to find her family, police said.

Audrey was happy and talkative, when she was first turned over to the LAPD, according to Lt. Lonnie Tiano, who said she was in "good shape."

A woman dropped Audrey off at The Grove's valet area along with a car seat, but never returned to pick her up, Tiano said.

After a search of the mall, parking attendants called police, who took Audrey into their custody and brought her to the Department of Children and Family Services, Tiano said.

Children and Family Services still had to verify that the man picking her up was Audrey's father, and had yet to decide whether to turn Audrey over to him.

Aubrey's story had touched many people who called police offering gifts or a home to Audrey after her picture was released to news media, police said.

"Hopefully they'll be watching the news and see their child on TV and call us," Tiano said Sunday morning.

In fact, Audrey's San Diegan grandfather who spotted her picture on a news report Sunday. He told his son Audrey was missing; police said the father told them he was already actively searching for Audrey by then.

The father told authorities that he was looking for his daughter at The Grove until 11 p.m., police said, but assumed that the person she was with had taken her home. They were supposed to meet at The Grove earlier that day.

Correction: This article misspelled one instance of Audrey's name.



Photo Credit: Courtesy Los Angeles Police Department

Scenes From Chargers Comeback Win over 49ers

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Photos from the Chargers' improbable overtime victory over San Francisco on Saturday night.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Officers Turn Backs on NYC Mayor

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In the wake of tensions between City Hall and the NYPD, some officers turned their backs on the mayor as he walked through the halls of Woodhull Medical Center following the ambush killing of two officers.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch mourned the slain officers outside the hospital and linked the killings to violence against the NYPD during recent protest demonstrations and to what he said was the mayor's lack of support for the department.

"There's blood on many hands tonight," Lynch said. He added: "That blood on the hands starts on the steps of City Hall in the office of the mayor."

Mayor de Blasio responded that Lynch's remarks amounted to "irresponsible, overheated rhetoric that angers and divides people."

"This is a nightmare of the highest magnitude for everyone," Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives' Endowment Association, said in a statement. "The elected leaders, on both sides of City Hall, need to dig down deep in their souls and understand that campaigning to be a leader is easier than being a leader."

Palladino warned detectives to remain vigilant, wear bullet-resistant vests and work in teams of three when possible "until we better assess the threat that exists against us."



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Man's iPads Stolen By Prospective Craigslist Buyer

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A Ventura business owner was dragged by a car for several feet after trying to reclaim two iPads stolen by a prospective buyer he met on Craigslist, police said Saturday.

Around 5:15 p.m., the 34-year-old victim called police to report the robbery, which happened outside his business in a shopping center on West Main Street.

The man told police he had arranged to meet a potential buyer for his two iPads, but the robber instead took off with the devices without paying for them. He fled to a dark colored sedan parked nearby, where a second man was waiting and began to drive away.

The victim reached into the car trying to get the iPads back, and was dragged for several feet.

The victim suffered minor scrapes, but did not seek medical attention.

Anyone with information can call the Ventura Police Department at 805-339-4400.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

1 Dog Killed, Another Rescued in Clairemont Fire

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Fire tore through a Clairemont home Saturday, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and killing one of the family’s beloved dogs.

“It’s just really sad this time of year for this to happen,” said Sherrie Dubreuil, whose elderly parents and brother live at the home in the 3600 block of Mount Acadia Boulevard.

The two-alarm fire sparked just before noon. Firefighters initially treated it as a rescue operation.

“The son who was living here didn’t realize his parents weren’t home, which is fortunate because they actually weren’t here and weren’t lost as was expected,” said Battalion Chief Matt Nilsen with San Diego Fire-Rescue.

A firefighter fell partially through the roof, but other crew members pulled him out before falling any further, Nilsen said. He was taken to the UCSD Burn Center with second-degree burns to his hip, according to fire officials.

Firefighters saved one of the family’s two dogs with the help of a “Fido” oxygen mask. The other dog did not make it.

“We lost our pit bull in the backyard. The fire caught him on fire, and they euthanized him,” Dubreuil said.

Dubreuil says she was grocery shopping with her 90-year-old mother at the time and returned home to the devastation. The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the home and $100,000 to its contents, according to the fire department.

Investigators say the fire was caused by an accidental electrical problem.

Flames spread to the neighbor’s bushes, but firefighters stopped the fire before spreading to the house.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Dramatic Photos: 2 NYPD Officers Killed in Ambush

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A gunman ambushed and fatally shot two NYPD officers in their squad car Saturday, an act that Police Commissioner Bill Bratton condemned as an "assassination."

Photo Credit: AP

Gun Range Billboard Sparks Debate

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A holiday billboard has fired up a debate in a Northern California city.

The owners of Down Range shooting range put up a sign outside their business in Chico, depicting Santa Claus holding a gun. The sign reads "We build AR's for Santa."

The owners of the gun range told NBC affiliate KNVN-TV in Chico that they are Santa's little helpers, and they can fill his orders for AR rifles.

Down Range co-owner Steve Dyke said in an interview that some people get toys, some get guns.

"Some people get firearms," Dyke said. "So and when Santa needs help putting together an AR rifle, we can definitely help him out with that."

While one Chico resident said people need to "see the humor in it" others said the sign is in poor taste.

"I just don't think I would like my son see Santa holding a gun, having to explain to him that's usually not what Santa's holding," one parent said.

"The idea of this symbol of joy and giving and holding an assault rifle, it's just so contradictory," Chico resident Tom Imhoff told KNVN.

But the owners of the gun range disagree.

"Santa has got his eye protection on, his fingers off the trigger, the gun's pointed in a safe direction, so those are the things we want to promote is the safety when people are doing the shooting sports industry," Dyke's partner Will Clark said.

"This is not meant to be offensive in any way. If you need help, if Santa needs help, we're here to help," Dyke said.

The owners said the sign is temporary, but it will not be their last. A sign featuring the Easter bunny or Cupid may be next.



Photo Credit: KNVN

Motorcyclist Killed After Hitting Parked SUV

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A 30-year-old man is dead after ramming his motorcycle into a parked SUV late Saturday night in Southcrest, according San Diego police.

The fatal accident happened just after 10:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of South 35th Street. Police say the man was turning from Rigel Street to 35th when he lost control and hit a parked Toyota 4-Runner.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not released his name.

The SDPD Traffic Unit is investigating what caused the motorcyclist to crash.
 



Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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