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Closures Scheduled for I-805 North

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Drivers headed north on Interstate 805 next week need to watch out for closures Monday and Tuesday night.

Northbound I-805 will be closed between Nobel Drive and Mira Mesa Boulevard/Sorrento Valley Road from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday Dec. 29 and Tuesday Dec. 30 so crews can install temporary bridge supports where the overpass is being widened over Carroll Canyon Road, according to CalTrans.

Detours will be set up redirecting drivers to State Route 52 and Interstate 5. CalTrans said local traffic will be allowed to exit I-805 at Governor Drive and Nobel Drive as well. Detour signs will be posted to help drivers get past the closure.

The construction is part of the I-805 Express Lanes Project. Stage 1 of the project includes adding a carpool lane in both directions of the stretch between SR-52 and Mira Mesa Boulevard, as well as making a direct access ramp to and from southbound I-805 at Carroll Canyon Road.

For up-to-date information, follow @SDCaltrans on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Boy Riding New Scooter Hit, Killed

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A 12-year-old boy riding a motorized scooter he got as a Christmas gift was struck by a car and killed in front of his home.

Roman Martinez was fatally struck at noon Friday near Second Avenue and 24th Street in Upland, family members said.

He was riding a new electric Razor scooter when a car traveling west on 24th struck him.

He was flown by helicopter to Loma Linda Medical Center, where he died.

The driver remained at the scene, but she was not arrested.

Roman was wearing a helmet, family members said.

Thousands Line Up for Big Bay Balloon Parade

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Over 100,000 people flocked to the scenic bayside streets of downtown San Diego for the Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade.

The 24th annual tradition kicked off at 3 p.m. Friday, one day before the National University Holiday Bowl. This year's theme is "Forever Young" and featured timeless characters such as the Grinch and Mr. Potato Head, inflated with 65,000 cubic feet of helium.

Dubbed "America's Largest Balloon Parade," this year's procession included 28 giant inflatables. Spectators started lining the streets early so they wouldn't have to strain for a glimpse of the floats.

“We wanted to beat all the traffic that was here, so we walked about five blocks down that way so that we would get here on time and find good spacing for the babies to watch,” one woman said.

Serving as the parade's Grand Marshal was 2014 Boston Marathon winner and San Diegan Meb Keflezghi, though his turn got off to a slow start. His float would not start, so many stepped in to give it a push.

The event is typically held the day of the Holiday Bowl, but because of cruise ship activities, the parade was rescheduled for the day before. The festivities all started with the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals, which pitted eight of the fastest dachshunds in the West against each other.

"Ah I am so happy and I am so proud of this little guy," said the winner's owner Lois Hernandez. "It's all about him. He has so much heart. He's just amazing." 

Runners in the Bumble Bee Seafoods 5K took off at 2:45 p.m. in front of thousands of spectators, officially kicking off the parade.

Following along were the balloons and nine bands, including the USC Trojan marching band. The Trojans take on the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday night in the Holiday Bowl.

The parade route started on North Harbor Drive in front of the County Administration Building and ended on West Harbor Drive by the Navy Complex.

To ensure a smooth and safe parade weekend, the Metropolitan Transit System extended Green Line Trolley Service between Mission Valley and downtown San Diego before the parade. There was also extended service after the parade until crowds died down.

If you're attending Saturday's Holiday Bowl, MTS is providing more direct Green Line trolley service to Qualcomm Stadium starting at 12:51 p.m. Trains will run every seven and a half minutes. Trains will run in both directions after the game as needed. You can download the app here.

Click here for a map of the parade route.

For more information about the parade and the Bowl games, click here or call 619-283-5808.

Vehicle Crashes Into City Heights Apartment

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A vehicle crashed into an apartment building on Friday morning in the City Heights area.

Officers and firefighters were called to the 3500 block of 43rd Street at about 9:30 a.m. The crash caused minor damage to the building. No one was injured, firefighters said.

A city engineer will inspect the building.

It wasn’t known what caused the car to crash into the building.

DUI Arrests Up From Last Christmas: CHP

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More people were arrested in San Diego on suspicion of drunk driving this Christmas than last year, according to California Highway Patrol.

A report released by CHP said 18 people were arrested and two died in San Diego County between 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and 8 a.m. the day after Christmas. That's six more arrests than last year and the same number of fatalities.

Statewide, 285 people were arrested for DUI by CHP - up from 221 last year. Fifteen fatalities were reported across all law enforcement agencies - three times as many as last Christmas, according to the report.

Two of those deaths happened in San Diego.

CHP said 12 of the 15 deaths happened within their jurisdiction, which is freeways and all roads in unincorporated areas. One of those deaths was a pedestrian; the other 11 were in vehicles. Seven were not wearing seat belts.

A man died in the Midway District as he was running across the road Christmas evening.



Photo Credit: AP

Chiefs QB Out of Sunday Game Against Chargers

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith will miss Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers because of a lacerated spleen, he said Friday.

Chase Daniel will start in his place with both teams seeking a playoff spot.

Smith was likely hurt on a hit early in the third quarter of last weekend's 20-12 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he didn't feel any pain at the time. He wasn't diagnosed until undergoing a scan Thursday after several days of what felt more like a stomachache than a serious injury.

The quarterback will not need surgery and is expected to fully recover, but Smith would miss a potential playoff game.

If the Chargers beat Kansas City, they clinch a postseason berth. The Chiefs would need to win and have Baltimore and Houston lose to make the playoffs.

Daniel has one career start in six NFL seasons -- which happened to come against the Chargers in last year's regular-season finale. With the Chiefs locked into the No. 5 seed, Smith rested that day. Daniel went 21 of 30 for 200 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and rushed seven times for 59 yards in a 27-24 overtime loss that got San Diego into the playoffs.

Smith didn't notice anything was amiss Sunday until after he'd showered and the adrenaline wore off. Experiencing cramping and pressure, Smith visited the medical staff, but he didn't exhibit the telltale signs of a lacerated spleen.

"Thought it was something I ate," he said, so he took some antacids.

Smith practiced twice this week, feeling fine other than some nausea. A stomach virus had been going around the team, so everyone suspected it might be that.

By Thursday, though, he hadn't gotten any better.

"It just didn't go away," he said.

Smith didn't want to leave his family on Christmas, but a team doctor helped persuade him to undergo the scan, which found a 3-centimeter laceration. Smith had little bleeding, explaining why he had so few symptoms.

If Smith had taken a hard hit to the abdomen after the injury occurred, his spleen could have ruptured, causing dangerous bleeding.

Smith believes he was hurt when he was hit by linebacker Jason Worilds after releasing an incomplete deep pass to Albert Wilson on the Chiefs' first drive of the second half Sunday. Team trainer Rick Burkholder said nothing about the play looked out of the ordinary live or when he later rewatched it on video.

Smith was 15 of 23 for 125 yards after that, leading the Chiefs to two field goals.

Smith has thrown for 18 touchdowns with six interceptions this season.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Toys R Us Evacuated Due to Bogus Bomb Threat

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Post-holiday shoppers fled from a La Mesa Toys R Us after a bomb threat was reported.

Evacuations were ordered at about 1 p.m. at the store in Grossmont Center, located at 8790 Grossmont Boulevard.

A person discovered a note written on a bathroom stall that threatened a bomb would go off at 2:20 p.m. When the person told employees, they called their corporate office and police, who advised them to clear the store.

No injuries were reported as La Mesa police searched the building with K9 units.

Just before 3:30 p.m., officers declared no threat had been found, and the store was reopened for business.

Police plan to look through surveillance video to identify the person who wrote the threat.

PlayStation, Xbox LIVE Seem Vulnerable After Hack

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Gamers and console users were left with much to desire of Sony and Microsoft after a cyber attack shut down their online gaming networks Christmas Day, with some users still having issues Friday.

A cyber group called "Lizard Squad" claimed responsibility for the attack on an online forum, saying they did it for laughs at first, but when they realized how vulnerable the gaming networks really were, they wanted to show both company's inability to protect users' information.

"It was scary because I got my information on my PlayStation," said PlayStation Network user Kristian Imaga. "I buy games and I buy movies online."

Imaga said he regularly uses his credit card to make PSN purchases and was scared his information could have been compromised.

Lizard Squad said they intend to force both companies to upgrade their security.

Xbox LIVE did not comment on the hack, but released a statement announcing their network was back up and running Friday. Sony's PlayStation Network was still down as of this report, however.

In a tweet, PlayStation said, "We are working to restore full network services for all platforms - thanks as always for your patience!" They also did not comment on the hack.



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Black LAPD Officer on Protesters

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A black Los Angeles Police Department officer has accused some people protesting perceived law enforcement discrimination of being guilty of the same thing.

Sgt. James Baker, who has been on the receiving end of verbal volleys from protestors, has rejected comparisons between the racism he experienced growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, during the civil rights movement and the discrimination police are accused of now.

The officer said he himself had been the victim of discrimination from African-American communities due to his profession.

"I saw things in the South that I knew was horrible. It was bad in those days," said Baker, who has been a law enforcement officer for the past 28 years. "If I judge you on a particular thing, you say I’m racist, the LAPD is racist. But you judge me, you say you're right, you're factually right, (it) doesn't work that way.

"Sometimes my worst critics were the African-American community," Baker added. "They say, ‘You turned against us. You're an Uncle Tom.’ I think, 'How can people say that to me?'"

Baker also rejected claims from protestors that he has been held down by his race, and pointed out he is in charge of coordinating the LAPD's response to demonstrations.

But he said he still enjoys interacting with protestors, even when things become heated, as he believes it's the first step towards mutual understanding.

When he retires in three years, he said, he may accept a challenge from a protestor during a recent exchange.

"(He said) you should take that uniform off and come out here with us. I said, 'You know when I retire maybe I will, and do it the right away.'"

Thief Returns Gifts to Family

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A Kaufman County, Texas, family had their gifts stolen from their porch just two days before Christmas, but the alleged front porch bandit later had a change of heart.

The Carsons were at the supermarket Tuesday when Jordan Carson got a text message notifying him his packages had arrived to his Forney home. The packages were gifts for his 3-year-old daughter.

Then, about 10 minutes later he received a second notification from his surveillance system that someone else was on his porch. This time, they were taking the packages that had just been delivered.

"I was pretty upset, really upset," said Jordan Carson. "Everyone was just kind of shocked it happened."

Police were called, and, amazingly, the alleged thief came clean, Carson said.

"He actually handed them to my wife and he apologized," said Carson. "It actually happened to one other neighbor and they got theirs back, too."

In the same neighborhood, you can see a cartoon depiction of the Grinch on a front lawn, and now the Carsons felt like they dealt with a real-life Grinch, who had a change of heart just in time for Christmas.

The neighbor with whom the alleged thief was staying has since kicked the man out of their home and neighborhood.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

One Person Escapes Raging Fallbrook House Fire

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A large fire sent one person running from a Fallbrook home Friday evening.

The blaze sparked at 6:25 p.m. in the 1700 block of Macadamia Drive.

Fire officials say the flames started in the kitchen and spread quickly, burning about 3,000 square feet.

The only person inside was able to escape without any injuries.

Firefighters were seen chopping holes in the roof to let smoke escape.

The home is not a total loss, but it is significantly damaged, according to the battalion chief. The cause is still under investigation.

Man Shot in Face in Imperial Beach

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Police are searching for the suspect who shot a man in the face in Imperial Beach Friday evening.

San Diego County Sheriff's deputies say they found the 18-year-old man in front of an apartment complex at 576 7th Street at about 6 p.m.

Witnesses heard at least four gunshots.

The victim was taken to the UCSD Medical Center, where he is in stable condition. He has not been able to talk with investigators because of his injuries.

No one has been arrested, and no motive has been determined.

If you have any information about the case, call the sheriff's department at 858-565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Killer Sought in Mansion Slayings

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A husband and wife who were slain at their sprawling mansion in La Verne were identified Friday night as sheriff’s deputies continued their search for the attacker.

The couple was identified by Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators as 89-year-old Armie Isom and his 74-year-old wife, Shirley.

The couple’s daughter, who lives in a nearby home, called authorities about 1:30 p.m. Friday to report that her parents were hurt at their home in the 300 block of Roughrider Road, sheriff’s officials said.

When paramedics arrived, they found two people who had been mortally wounded.

Shirley Isom was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said. Her husband was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Investigators initially said that the couple had been stabbed, but later called the injuries blunt force trauma.

A neighbor said the husband was the developer of the gated community in which they lived.

A gardener working in the area told NBC4 he saw a man leaving the home, but he couldn't see his face because it was covered by a hooded sweatshirt.

“Everybody knows everybody. It’s like a little community away from the city,” said resident Tim Silva of the gated community, which boasts multi-million-dollar homes. “If you walk in the neighborhood and you’re someone that does not live here, everybody else knows.”

The attacker was described as Latino, between 25 and 30, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 160 pounds.

He was believed to be wearing an green or orange hoody, and carrying a backpack, investigators said.

Detectives did not disclose the circumstances surrounding the attacks or a motive.

NBC4's Jason Kandel contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Facebook

Fatal Crash Highlights Dangers of Busy Road

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A fatal Christmas accident is highlighting the dangers of one of San Diego’s busiest roads.

A man, who has not yet been identified, was hit and killed Thursday trying to dodge traffic on Camino Del Rio West, just before the Interstate 8 eastbound ramp in the Midway District.

It is the second, similar accident in the area this year. In October, the driver of a dump truck hit a pedestrian in the middle of the I-8 offramp, leading onto the same road. That man later died.

By most accounts, the stretch is so dangerous because the speed of traffic entering and exiting the freeway is often well above the posted 35 mph speed limit.

"Too many people in just one area, and they are not slowing down,” said Robert Kleis, who has been working at this intersection for five years. “They are just constantly on the go right here; it's crazy. Everybody is in a hurry to get somewhere. Speed is the problem here.”

The area is heavily populated with tourists from the nearby hotels, a transient encampment by the overpass and a trolley stop not far off.

Michael Andrew manages an auto-audio shop nearby, so he had a front row seat to all the crashes that happen there: one a week and at least one serious collision a month, by his reckoning.

“We caution people all the time, ‘Do not cross here. Don't play frogger,’” said Andrew. “They'll still try it because they are carrying some heavy luggage or tired from the day or just don't know better.”

Too often, it ends with tragic results, as it did Christmas evening. The victim, only described as a white man, was running across Camino Del Rio West near Moore Street when a vehicle paused to let him cross.

However, a car behind swerved around the halted vehicle and struck the pedestrian, killing him.

The devastated driver involved was questioned and released without being cited or charged.

Police returned Friday to ask shop keepers if they had security footage of the incident. The search came up with nothing.

Stolen Pico Rivera Bulldog Puppies Safely Recovered

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Two Bulldog puppies stolen at gunpoint from a Pico Rivera pet shop on Christmas Eve have been safely recovered.

The pooches were pinched when a man walked into Mr. Bulldog on Whittier Boulevard wearing a bandana around his face and brandishing a handgun.

However the Bulldogs have now been found and suspects arrested, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Departments said.

One of the pups was found by a West Whittier resident on Christmas Day wandering in the street near her residence.  The second was returned to Mr. Bulldog store by an unidentified person the following day.

Sheriff's deputies arrested a juvinile suspect on Christmas night, while the next day they apprehended a second suspect Jonathan Mora, 18, who is alleged to have dropped off the robber from a grey BMW in a shopping center parking lot before the crime took place. Additional warrants led to the arrest of a third suspect, a female-juvenile from West Whittier.

Shop employee Miriam Guillen had previously revealed the robber demanded the dog after being given $500 in cash during the hold-up..

"After he took the money he said ‘Give me a dog. I want a bulldog — two,’" Guillen said.

Owner Jay Lee was forced to hand over two 10-week-old English bulldogs. Lee’s dog Blue is the puppies’ dad, and the robber threatened to shoot the 2-year-old when he began growling at the man.Each dog was estimated to be worth $2,500.


22-Year-Old Hiker Falls 30 Ft. at Torrey Pines

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A 22-year-old man suffered “major trauma” after falling 30 feet from a trail Saturday, according to San Diego Lifeguards.

Lifeguards received a call about a hiker in distress around 3 p.m. Officials say he fell off a cliff called Box Canyon near the Torrey Pines Gliderport.

Two helicopters responded. The hiker was flown to Scripps La Jolla, where his condition is unknown.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 



Photo Credit: Simon Griffith

21-Year-Old Killed in Ariel Atom Crash ID'd

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The San Diego County Medical Examiner has identified the victim who died after crashing a custom sports car on Christmas Eve.

Barry Alexander Moores, 21, died at Scripps La Jolla Hospital, according to the ME.

Moores and another 21-year-old man were speeding down La Orilla in Rancho Santa Fe on Tuesday, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP says they lost control of the Ariel Atom and slammed into a Ford Expedition head-on.

The 62-year-old man driving the Expedition and a female passenger suffered “minor to moderate” injuries.

There is no update on the other young man's condition.

The CHP could not say if alcohol or drugs were involved. La Orilla between El Camino Real and Rambla De Las Flores was closed for several hours Christmas Eve after the accident.

Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Ct. Man Arrested for 911 Threats

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A Bridgeport, Connecticut, man was arrested after calling 911 and threatening police on Friday, according to the incident report.

The dispatch center at State Police Troop G in Bridgeport received a 911 call from Alexander Rosa, 28, of Bridgeport, "warning all police officers that if they kept killing people, [the police officers'] mothers, daughters and sons were all going to be killed," according to state police.

State police arrested Rosa at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, charging him with second-degree threatening, second-degree harassment and failing to submit finger prints.

He was held on a $50,000 surety bond and released to judicial marshals custody to be arraigned in court that day.

The arrest comes on the heels of nationwide protests responding to the choke-hold death of Eric Garner and the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, but state police did not say if Rosa is suspected of making a threat due to the protests.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Swastikas, Slurs Painted in Md.

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Swastikas, racial and ethnic slurs, and profane words were spray painted over some holiday decorations in the Kensington neighborhood of Montgomery County, Maryland, on Saturday.

Montgomery County police said because of the nature of the symbols and racial epithets found, the vandalism is a possible hate crime.

"I think it was probably just some dumb kids that are expressing themselves in an inappropriate way," said resident David Bowie, whose home was vandalized. "I feel bad for the parents."

Investigators believe the vandalism occurred overnight between Friday and Saturday. They said an inflatable Christmas lawn decoration was one of the items defaced.

Bowie said he's going to have to have an uncomfortable conversation with his 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.

"I don't think they understand what a swastika is, and we haven't gone through the history of it yet, but we certainly will," he said. "This is probably for them a good lesson to learn hateful crimes still exist in this country, and that's a sad truth."

The locations of the incidences were confined to one area on Brookfield Drive, Matthews Lane and Summit Avenue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 301-279-8000.
 

River Search for Student Resumes

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Nearly 10 divers returned to the Schuylkill River Sunday to resume the search for Shane Montgomery, the West Chester University student who went missing early Thanksgiving morning after a night out with friends in Philadelphia.

Nine divers from the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit, a volunteer diving recovery team, began combing the river near the parking lot where the 21-year-old Roxborough native's keys were found last week.

The crew is making their way to Venice Island -- a piece of land located between the Manayunk Canal and the Schuylkill River that holds a playground and a performing arts center.

Surveillance video captured Shane walking toward the Manayunk Canal after leaving Kildare's Irish Pub around 1:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving.

The college student spent the night before Thanksgiving out with friends along Manayunk's Main Street.

The month-long ordeal is wearing on Shane's parents, Karen and Kevin Montgomery, who have vowed to continue searching until their son is found.

"I'm not going to stop until I find Shane," Karen told NBC's TODAY Show last week. "I text him everyday to ask him to help me find him."

The search for Shane has garnered attention nationwide, as well as throughout the local region.

A group of Mummers are honoring Shane by wearing special ribbons during their annual New Year's Day parade in Philadelphia. The ribbons' color -- green -- is Shane's favorite and is also associated with missing children.

Various restaurants, organizations and West Chester University student groups raised funds to help increase the reward for information that leads investigators and the family to Shane.

The reward stands at $65,000. Anyone with information should contact Philadelphia Police at 215.686.TIPS.

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