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$1K Reward Offered for Razor Blade Bandit

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One local club is offering a $1,000 dollar reward to find the person who planted razor blades in Bonita Cove.

The Mission Beach Woman’s Club is offering the reward through the San Diego County Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Several razor blades were found Sunday and Monday in and near the children’s play area with the sharp sides facing up.

The club said the priority was for investigators to find the person responsible and make the park a safer place for families to visit.

Razor blades were also found in Bonita Cove Park multiple times in 2013, including one instance where a mother was injured. SDPD Lt. Scott Wahl estimates there have been about a half dozen cases in the last several years.

He said it is very difficult to investigate because the incidents are spread out, with four to six months in between each.

To date, no arrests have been made.

Lt. Wahl said short of putting someone at the park for a 24-7 watch, police are depending on the community's help to solve the case. If you know anything about these incidents, call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Suspect Holds Up Rancho Bernardo Post Office

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U.S. Postal inspectors are on the hunt for a man who they say robbed a Rancho Bernardo post office Wednesday afternoon — a federal crime.

The suspect used a gun to hold up the facility at 11700 Lomica Drive at about 4:15 p.m. He ordered all the customers to lay on the ground and then demanded cash from the employees, according to Postal Inspector Ricky Vida.

He said the man's appearance was hidden by a gray, hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, so witnesses did not give a good description.

The suspect was last seen getting in a silver car driven by a woman.

"It's against federal law to rob a post office, and the U.S. Postal inspectors are investigating," said Vida.

Late DC Mayor's Son Turns Self In

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The son of the late Marion Barry turned himself in Wednesday to face charges stemming from an angry outburst at a local bank.

Marion Christopher Barry turned himself in at 6 a.m. He was detained for several hours and released Wednesday afternoon.

Barry, who is a candidate in the special election to fill his father's unexpired term, faces three misdemeanor charges: assault, destruction of property and making threats to do bodily harm, according to court documents.

Barry also apologized for the incident Wednesday, saying he is "committed to rise up and carry the torch" of his father's legacy.

"I know that I have a great responsibility as a leader in Ward 8," the apology went on to say.

Last week, Barry cursed a PNC bank teller on 7th Street downtown, after she refused to let him withdraw $20,000 from a bank account that was already overdrafted by $2,000. 

According to court documents, Barry said he would "have somebody waiting for you when you get off work," according to a police report.

Barry then threw a trash can over the security glass, destroying a security camera valued at $1,000, documents said. The incident was captured on security cameras.

3 New Measles Cases Confirmed in SD

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Three new cases of measles have been confirmed in San Diego County, bringing the total number of local patients to 13, health officials announced Wednesday.

The update comes after California Department of Public Health (CDPH) officials said they had tracked at least 59 cases statewide, though that number does not include San Diego’s new three patients.

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency says the local people had not been vaccinated, but they did travel to Disneyland on Dec. 18, in the midst of an outbreak that has sickened at least 42 others across the state — including five Disney employees.

According to CDPH officials, the theme park’s visitors were exposed to the disease over a five-day period right before Christmas. The state's cases are spread across 11 jurisdictions, and eight other measles patients have been found in Utah, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Mexico.

Patients range in age from 7 months to 70 years old, and most had not been vaccinated for the virus, according to CDPH Deputy Director Gil Chavez.

As for those who were immunized and still caught measles, Chavez explained “the vaccine is 99 percent effective, so that means 1 percent of the population, despite the vaccination, those individuals will still be susceptible.”

Now, their goal is to limit the disease’s spread. CDPH section chief Kathleen Harriman said her agency is working with city and county agencies to identify patients, where they've been and who they may have contacted to check other potential victims.

The county HHSA previously released sites where the local patients may have exposed others. They are the following:

  • Vista Community Clinic, 1000 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista, on Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Sprouts Farmers Market, 471 College Blvd., Oceanside, on Jan. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.
  • Albertsons, 7660 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, on Jan. 13 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Phil’s BBQ, 579 Grand Ave., San Marcos, on Jan. 11 from 2 to 5 p.m.
  • Regal Carlsbad 12, 2501 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, on Jan. 6 from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
  • Ice-Plex Escondido, 555 N Tulip St., Escondido, on Dec. 30 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The CDPH says if parents have babies who have not been vaccinated for the disease, they should avoid the contaminated areas. Symptoms of the highly infectious disease include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes.

“Measles is not a trivial illness," said Chavez. "It can be very serious with devastating consequences." Possible complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. They are most common in pregnant women, children and people with compromised immune systems.

According to Chavez, measles was declared eliminated in 2000, and since then, California has had four to 60 cases each year, all from people who have brought the disease in from another area.

2015 is off to a bad start, he said. Finding the original person who infected Disneyland visitors is "one of those mysteries that we may never solve," Chavez told media Wednesday. State officials believe the person may have been an international visitor or a California resident who recently traveled overseas and caught measles.

The best way to stem the outbreak is through vaccinations, the CDPH says. Doctors recommend children get the first dose at 12 to 15 months and their second before their start kindergarten. If you are not sure about your vaccination status, you can have your doctor test your immunity.


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Fire Engulfs NJ Apartment Complex

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A massive fire that swept through a luxury New Jersey apartment complex Wednesday afternoon continued to burn 12 hours after it began, causing nearby schools and roads to close Thursday.

Firefighters struggled for hours to quench the flames at Avalon on the Hudson on Russell Avenue in Edgewater, 15 years after an earlier blaze burned the same complex to the ground as it was being built.

"We left in what we had," displaced resident Tamara Talbott said. "We got the kids and the dogs. Our cars are all underneath. There's nothing left.” 

The New York Post reports Yankees announcer John Sterling was among those displaced by the fire.

The fire was mostly contained by Wednesday night, with no loss of life or major injuries reported, according to Edgewater Mayor Michael McPartland.

McPartland declared a local state of emergency Wednesday night, announcing schools will be closed Thursday and roads will be restricted. 

The fire broke out around 4:30 p.m., and the 408-unit building was quickly evacuated. After firefighters first responded, the fire appeared under control for some time, but it escalated in the back part of the complex, which responders had a hard time accessing. 

The blaze then spread to the northern section of the building, engulfing multiple units. Flames and smoke could be seen from the top of Rockefeller Center, across the Hudson River. Thick plumes of smoke from the fire sent Chopper 4 over the scene to double its normal altitude -- from about 1,500 feet to 3,000 feet.

The fire drew massive emergency response, with departments from Hudson, Bergen and Union counties working the fire. The FDNY and Jersey City's fire department also responded with fireboats, helping to draw water from the Hudson River, officials said. 

Tankers and engines attempted to fight the blaze from the exterior, and collapse zones were set up around the complex as the blaze tore down roofs. 

The hillside communities surrounding Edgewater were also being watched, as embers from the blaze were whipped into the air. 

Around 160 people are being sheltered at a local community center with the help of the Office of Emergency Management and Red Cross, according to the mayor. 

Residents walked around River Road in shock as they wondered how a fire could spread so quickly. 

"For all the fire doors and things we have in the building, I'm shocked that it would go from something small to something like this," resident Talbott said. 

One responding fire chief told NBC 4 New York he thought lightweight wood construction was a factor in how quickly the fire spread. 

"It collapses very easily, and the fire spreads very easily throughout," he said.

The large Avalon on the Hudson apartment complex, located by the Hudson River across from Manhattan, is across the street from the Edgewater post office, and is located across a shopping complex that contains a Trader Joe's supermarket. 

The same apartment complex burned to the ground while under constructed in 2000. It was rebuilt featuring one-, two- and three-bedroom units designed to appeal to New York City commuters. 

McPartland said the building had sprinklers inside. 

Power and gas were shut off to the area as firefighters responded; some streets and buildings were still without power Wednesday night, and officials were expected to assess safety before allowing utilities to restore electricity. 

Suspect Dressed as Barbie Said He Was "Out of His Mind"

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The trial for the man accused of a brazen sexual assault in a Big Lots bathroom closed Wednesday as the defendant argued he had no recollection of the alleged attack.

Gregory Phillip Schwartz, 41, said he was drunk and high on meth and had been up for several days at the time of the alleged assault. He said, though, that he does not remember much of what he heard from others’ testimonies.

"I start hallucinating when I've been up that long...from sleep deprivation and the drug," Schwartz said in court Wednesday. "I was out of my mind."

Schwartz is charged with multiple felonies, including assault with intent to commit rape, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and false imprisonment by violence in the February assault. He is also charged with shoplifting the dress he donned during the attack – a pink Barbie cheerleader costume.

The victim, who testified under her first name only at the beginning of the trial, said she entered the bathroom inside a Clairemont Big Lots while talking on the phone. She said she went into a stall and was getting ready to take a seat when she caught the sight of a man’s bare feet on the ground in the stall next to her.

The man then climbed up on the toilet and peered over the stall at her before getting down on all fours and crawling into her stall to attack her, she said. She alleged that the defendant grabbed her, held her by her neck and attempted to sexually assault her.

Schwartz, however, said he only remembers waking up to a screaming woman in the adjoining stall. He said he had gone into the men’s restroom to masturbate after hours of drinking in an attempt to come down off the meth and sleep. He did not know at the time that he had fallen asleep for two hours before switching to the women’s restroom.

“I remember waking up on the floor and a woman had her hands over her ears and she was screaming,” he said in court. “I was half in my stall and half encroaching on hers.”

The defendant said he does not remember peeking over the stall; only that the screaming sobered him up.

“I went back into my stall and she continued to scream for ten more seconds and I waited for her to go out,” he said.

Prosecutors allege that Schwartz ran back into the men’s restroom to change out of the Barbie costume before trying to leave. He was confronted by a Clairemont Town Square security guard and dropped a pair of women’s underwear on the ground before brandishing what appeared to be a screw driver, then fled the store, according to earlier testimony from the security guard.

Earlier that same day, an employee at a nearby hair salon was reportedly sitting in her car when the defendant opened the passenger door and asked her if she wanted to smoke meth, according to testimony by Detective Carmelin Rivera with the San Diego Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit.

Schwartz said he does not recollect that either.

Much was learned about Schwartz in his testimony, including the fact that he is a Navy veteran and has a six-year-old daughter. He is also divorced and his only real chunk of sobriety was during his seven-year marriage, ending in 2010.

Before losing his job and his home two years ago, Schwartz worked as an electrician, he told the jury Wednesday.

But addiction – which Schwartz’s attorneys are using in multiple ways to argue his innocence – has been on ongoing problem for many years, he said. He has been in and out of recovery programs, both successfully and not, since his time in the Navy, and had left a rehabilitation center less than two weeks before the attack, he said in court.

Schwartz’s defense team argued at the beginning of the trial that he suffered from drug-induced “transvestic fetishism” and becomes more sexual and is aroused by cross-dressing while under the influence of meth.

Psychiatrist and addiction specialist Dr. Alan Abrams took the stand to confirm that fact; stating masturbation, use of pornography and heightened sexuality are not uncommon for meth users.

“People who use methamphetamine come to experience a particularly heightened euphoria from their sexual behavior, and so things develop from that pairing where users of methamphetamine come to want to enhance their sexuality by using methamphetamine, and so they get into this vicious cycle,” Abrams told the jury.

Abrams also detailed the difference between homosexual males, bisexual males and those men who enjoy sex with other men while high on drugs, but are neither bisexual nor homosexual.

According to Schwartz’s testimony, he has secretly worn women’s clothes and indulged in sex with other men since age 17, but only while high on “uppers.”

The prosecution said at the start of the case, that although the victim made it out of the alleged attack, the case is important for the safety of the public.

“I have never handled a case like this before,” said Deputy District Attorney Mary-Ellen Barrett, prosecutor in the case.

“Based on the charges and what happened in the case, we’re taking it very seriously as a public risk and thankfully the victim came out fine. She’s injured and she’s scared, but she will recover and that’s all we want,” Barrett added.

The trial closed Wednesday afternoon and it is now up to a jury to decide Schwartz’s fate. If convicted, he faces seven years in prison.

Bouncer Followed Bar Patron Outside Before Death: DA

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Did a bar bouncer in Oceanside go too far in doing his job?

Those are the allegations against 40-year-old Derrick Lamont Belser charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a bar patron.

Prosecutors allege Belser followed three bar patrons outside the Fire Water Saloon, punching two of them following an argument on Dec. 28. He had exited a locked gate separating him from the group to confront the men, prosecutors said.

One of the patrons, 27-year-old Mark Girard Jr., fell upon being punched, hitting his head on the concrete. He died in a hospital two days later.

Belser was in court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bail was set at $200,000.

At the court hearing, Belser’s defense attorney, Brad Patton, gave a much different account of what happened. He said the bar patrons were found inside the saloon after 2 a.m., when the bar had already closed, and were repeatedly told to leave.

The three left, but Belser’s attorney said his client spotted them “hovering” at the rear entrance of the saloon. He went outside and told them to leave when they because hostile, Patton said.

“Mr. Belser was very concerned for his safety,” the attorney said.

That’s what led Belser to punch Girard, Patton contends.

That narrative doesn’t fit with how family members described Girard. His father described his son as an avid surfer and one passionate about habitat restoration.

“It’s a really senseless act of violence,” father Mark Girard Sr. said.

Mom Speaks Out on Surprise Birth

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A Massachusetts woman who recently gave birth to a 10-pound healthy baby girl an hour after discovering she was pregnant spoke out on "The Meredith Vieira Show" about the criticism she's faced.

Twenty-three-year-old Katie Kropas of Weymouth told Meredith Vieira that some of the criticism she's received since giving birth to baby Ellie has been cruel.

"I'd like to say they don't bother me at all, but some of them are a little bit worse than others. I think being called a liar, saying I don't have a motherly instinct, is scary to hear, you know, being a new mom," she said.

Her mother, Karen, told Vieira she's been offended by what's been said online about her daughter and granddaughter, but added, "I would say for every one or two negative comments, there were probably eight to 10 positives, celebrate the miracle that it is."

Kropas told necn she didn't experience morning sickness or other clues to her pregnancy with the exception of swollen feet, which she attributed to working more than 50 hours a week during the holiday season as a caterer. 



Photo Credit: Kropas Family
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"An Amazing Officer": K-9 Killed in Line of Duty

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A beloved San Jacinto Police K-9 was shot and killed in the line of duty Wednesday by a wanted felon, who was later killed by deputies after barricading himself inside a home, sheriff's officials said.

The incident began about 2 p.m. near San Jacinto Avenue and Clark Drive in Hemet, where an armed man was holed up inside, Riverside County sheriff's officials said.

The man shot K-9 Sultan, who had been with the San Jacinto Police Department since 2013, when the dog entered the home, officials said.

Sultan then stumbled outside of the home. His handler, Deputy Mark Wallace drove him to the vet, where he died.

"It's a big loss," San Jacinto Chief of Police and Riverside County Sheriff's Lt. Stephen Mike said. "We're a family in the valley and the officers are very upset right now."

Witnesses described seeing tear gas and hearing what sounded like gunfire before an ambulance arrived to the home just after 11 p.m. The man "emerged from underneath the barricaded home while armed" before deputies shot and killed him, Deputy Albert Martinez said.

Sultan is the first K-9 killed in the line of duty in the Riverside County Sheriff's department.

"We've lost a family member, we've lost one of our own," San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz said. "It's heartbreaking and it's scary to think people would do something like this. It's terrible."

Ruiz described Sultan as a dog who has caught criminals, protected citizens and officers, and caught "people that were going to get away."

"He was an amazing, amazing officer," Ruiz said. "He's going to be honored as one of San Jacinto's finest, because that's what he was."

All deputies and officers involved in the man's shooting will be on paid adminstrative leave pending an investigation.

Robert Kovacik contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: San Jacinto Police Department

Ramona Airport Still Closed After Black Hawk Crash

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The Ramona Airport will remain closed until at least Thursday afternoon as military investigators piece together what caused a Black Hawk helicopter to roll over after a hard landing, the airport authority says.

An accident investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center (USACRC) in Alabama is on its way to Ramona to head the inquiry, according to Capt. Will Martin.

Flight instructor Jimmy Carter’s plans to fly to Napa came to a crashing halt Wednesday when he discovered the chopper lying on its side.

“It’s aviation. Stuff happens once in a while,” he said. “Something we live with, but like I said, right now, you’re not disappointed you’re not flying. You’re happy and celebrating nobody got killed.”

Two California Army National Guardsmen were hurt Tuesday night when they made a forced landing in their UH-60 Black Hawk near the airport’s runway, tipping the huge aircraft over on its side. Martin says they were on a routine training mission at the time.

Both guardsmen were able to climb out themselves and suffered minor injuries. The helicopter, however, had significant damage.

All Army accidents must be reported and investigated, typically by the USACRC. The California Army National Guard is fully cooperating with investigators and airport personnel, according to Martin.

More information will be released once the report is finished.
 

5 Super Story Lines Heading into Super Bowl XLIX

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The conference championship games are over, the debate over “Deflategate” is just heating up, and we’re still days away from the Seattle Seahawks' and New England Patriots' arrival in Arizona for the 49th Super Bowl, to be held Feb. 1.

Here's an early look at five of the biggest story lines going into the XLIXth super matchup.

1. Will the Patriots add another championship?

Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady already have won three Super Bowls, but they’re still one short of the four won by the tandems of head coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana (49ers) and that of Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw (Steelers). In today’s era of free agency and salary caps, it’s been a much tougher proposition for the Patriots to stay on top this long, but they’ve managed. After winning three Super Bowls in his first five seasons in New England, Belichick has fallen short in two others. The Pats haven’t won the Lombardi Trophy since Feb. 6, 2005. Another victory would put both Belichick and Brady in a special category.

2. Can the Seahawks win back-to-back championships?

The defending Super Bowl champions from the Northwest can become the first team to win consecutive championships since… the Patriots after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In fact, Seattle is the first team even to reach consecutive Super Bowls since the Patriots did it those years. After their first championship last season, many predicted the Seahawks were built for a long-term run – a dynasty? – because of their youth, defense, coaching and quarterback Russell Wilson, who just seems to know how to win. A victory versus the Pats would prove them right.

3. Can the Patriots stop Marshawn Lynch?

Much has been made through the years of Belichick’s ability to put the clamps on an opponent’s go-to offensive playmaker. The Patriots certainly did it in the AFC Championship Game by taking away Indianapolis wideout T.Y. Hilton, Andrew Luck’s favorite big-play target. But the Seahawks are a different beast. How does the New England defense stop Lynch? Well, the Pats did it quite well in their last meeting, a 24-23 Seattle victory in the 2012 regular season. In that one, Lynch gained just 41 yards on 15 carries, a 2.7 average. The Pats had other problems, though: Seattle rallied from a 23-10 deficit in the fourth quarter.

4. Do these teams hate each other?

Maybe, but probably not. They’re both just competitive, with Type A-personality, aggressive coaches and philosophies. But there certainly will be some questions asked of both teams at media day about their last meeting, when Pats QB Brady and Seahawks corner Richard Sherman got tangled up in some in-game trash talk, and then Sherman famously tweeted a picture of him with Brady after the game with the caption, “U Mad Bro?” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, when asked about that matchup this week, said of the trash-talking and matchup: “Tom Brady and somebody were yelling back and forth a little bit, those guys were having some fun. Everybody was into it. It was a huge game. It felt like a championship game against a great team.” On Feb. 1, it will be.

5. Who’s the world’s best cornerback?

Seattle’s Sherman believes he is. New England’s Darrelle Revis believes he is. They’ve gone back and forth on Twitter debating the point. Both corners are famous for shutting down receivers, and trying to shut each other up. Revis once tweeted of Sherman, “I never seen a man before run his mouth so much”; Sherman has tweeted that “sometimes the truth needs to be told” that he’s the best. We’ll see which one has the better day on the biggest stage.

 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Tow Truck Driver Was "Big Teddy Bear:” Friends

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Dozens of tow truck drivers gathered Wednesday to honor the life of a fellow driver who was struck and killed while changing a customer's tire.

Jabar Issa, 48, of El Cajon was killed while helping a stranded motorist early Saturday on eastbound State Route 78 near Nordahl Road in San Marcos.

Issa and a colleague were fixing a flat for the driver of a Nissan pickup truck on the right shoulder of the highway when a Ford F-250 truck drove into the shoulder, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Issa was killed immediately. His co-worker suffered serious injuries and the stranded driver received cuts and scrapes. The Ford F-250 driver wasn't hurt.

When family members and friends gathered at St. Michael's Caldean Catholic Church Wednesday to honor Issa, a row of tow trucks was parked on the street outside.

A convoy of trucks took part in a procession from Escondido along southbound Interstate 15. At the funeral, drivers wore black ribbons on their uniforms.

Co-workers from Sky Towing praised Issa as a good man and a good friend.

“He was a big teddy bear. He was the really nicest person you’d ever meet. A great worker. An awesome, awesome person just to be around,” said manager Amir Elias.

A few drivers talked about the inherent danger of the job and asked for the public’s help to keep the roads safe.

“We’re there to help a customer, we’re helping people,” said tow truck driver Levan Kina. “So help us too. Please move your lanes. Slow down. That helps save my life, our lives and their life too.”

Issa had only been with an employee of Sky Towing for three weeks but co-workers said they knew of him as a part of the larger San Diego tow truck family.

They say in that short time, he made a lasting impression.

Charges were still pending in the investigation, CHP officials said.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Teen Molested Tots at SoCal Daycare

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The 17-year-old son of a licensed daycare provider in Southern California sexually abused at least three children who had been left in his care, police said Wednesday, and there may be more victims.

The Highland teen, whose name was not disclosed because of his age, was accused Jan. 17 by the parents of a 3-year-old boy who said several acts of sexual abuse had been committed against their son, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Detectives said they discovered two additional victims while investigating the initial complaint. The two additional victims were also between 3 and 4 years old. They are still investigating and interviewing other children who were at the daycare.

"It's all alleged but disturbing because I have kids the same age," neighbor Lisa Rebelo said.

"He seemed normal like any other kid around here, but it just goes to show you that everyone has a dark side," another neighbor said.

The teen boy has been charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and oral copulation on a victim under the age of 10. He has been booked at San Bernardino Juvenile Hall.

State officials said they are reviewing the case and the daycare may have its license revoked.

The daycare, listed alternately as Saucedo Family Child Care and Saritas Family Daycare, has been cited 14 times by the state in the past five years. Six of those citations were a "Type A" violation, which is described as "violation for immediate health and safety risk."

The previous violations were corrected by the owners.

It is a violation of state law for a daycare to let anyone under the age of 18 to watch kids in its care.

Anyone with information or who may know additional victims is asked to call Detective Guerra at 909-387-3615.

Bodybuilder Didn't Say He Was Going Onto Tracks: Police

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A bodybuilder struck and killed by a train over the weekend did not tell those with him at the ill-fated video shoot that he would run along the railroad ahead of an oncoming train, police said.

Greg Plitt, a renowned and popular bodybuilder, model, and actor, was killed Saturday afternoon when he was struck by a Metrolink train approaching the Burbank station. He was 37.

"We do know, according to them as the witnesses, that there was never any communication that he was going to run between the rails, that he was going to be running in and or around the tracks," said Burbank Police Officer Joshua Kendrick.

The investigation has made use of two videos — one from the forward-looking camera aboard the train, the other from the camera operator working with Plitt. From the videos, police say it is apparent Plitt saw the train coming, then stepped onto the tracks ahead of it and began running.

The engineer sounded the warning horn, but Plitt did not react.

"At no point did Mr. Plitt trip or fall or anything like that" before the train overtook him, Kendrick said. Why Plitt did not step to the side — whether he miscalculated the closing rate of the train — Kendrick said cannot be known for certain, though police see no evidence of suicide and consider the death accidental.

Plitt was known for posting on his website spectacular videos of his athletic workouts and feats. The West Point graduate and former Army Ranger had a worldwide following. He had recently completed shooting his segments for a Bravo reality program, "Friends to Lovers."

The Saturday shoot, for which no permits were issued, was to have been a promotional video for a sports beverage company with which Plitt had a business relationship, according to police.

Whether Shadow Beverages was aware of the circumstances of the shoot, Kendrick did not know, and the Phoenix-based company did not return a call requesting comment, but did post a statement on the website of its WheyUp brand. "We are saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our spokesman," the statement reads in part.

The police investigation is not yet complete. A third video, from a company security camera, was being reviewed, but Kendrick said it is not expected to alter the picture of what happened. The coroner's final report, including toxicology results, likely will take several more weeks. Kendrick
dismissed some online reports purporting to know the results as unsubstantiated speculation that did not come from police.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.



Photo Credit: GregPlitt.com

Three San Diego Hotels Ranked as Best in US

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Three San Diego hotels took the top honors in TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards.

The Grand Del Mar, West Inn & Suites Carlsbad and The 1906 Lodge at Coronado Beach topped the ranks as recipients as the finest city’s best.

Winners in the travel website’s best hotels around the U.S. and the world were picked based off of millions of reviews and opinions on the website throughout the year. Winners have remarkable service, quality and value.

The Grand Del Mar was selected as the second most luxurious hotel in the U.S. and the fourth best hotel in the U.S. The West Inn & Suites Carlsbad was picked as the 12th best family hotel in the U.S. The 1906 Lodge at Coronado Beach was selected as the 18th best small hotel in the U.S. and the 23rd top romantic hotel.

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel website.



Photo Credit: Courtesy of Trip Advisor

East County Probation Sweep Nets 14 Arrests

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Local law enforcement agencies teamed up to conduct probation sweeps in the east county Tuesday.

 

The San Diego Sheriff's Department, Metropolitan Transit System and San Diego Probation Department worked together visiting the homes of 11 probationers in Santee, Lakeside and unincorporated El Cajon, beginning at 7 a.m., the sheriff's department said.

Child Protective Services was also on standby in case children were at risk as a result of the operation.

After the team completed their home visits, they took to public places where criminal activity might be prevalent, including riverbeds, parks and the Santee Trolley Station, sheriff's said.

The sheriff's department said 14 people were arrested for either probation violations, possession of narcotics or warrants as a result of the compliance operation.

Last month, a similar operation performed at east county trolley stops from La Mesa to Santee brought in 24 arrests. A warrant sweep in Fallbrook brought in nine.

Handler Seeks Help for Police K-9 With Cancer

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A police dog that worked to improve the lives of San Diegans is now fighting for his own.

K-9 Officer Reilly served the region from 2005 until his retirement this month. The yellow lab assisted law enforcement officers with the San Diego County Integrated Narcotic Task Force with hundreds of drug investigations, resulting in the seizure of more than 1,300 pounds of narcotics.

Now, the drug-sniffing dog needs help from the community he served.

“It’s been very hard to watch,” said his handler Detective Mike Aiken, who is now his caretaker. “Reilly’s been with me about 5 ½ years and it’s been the highlight of my almost 25 year career with San Diego PD.”

Aiken said he recently noticed a change in Reilly over the holidays.

“He was acting ill, so we took him in, and they found the cancer on his spleen and liver,” the dog’s handler said.

During the 9 years with the department, Reilly has done more than just sniff out drugs. He’s interacted with more than 30,000 school children during DEA Red Ribbon events.

You could call him a celebrity. Reilly has posters, trading cards and even a Facebook page. He started cancer treatment Tuesday, but he has a long road to recovery.

“We’re going to give it a shot and try and beat it,” said Aiken.

He and other officers are asking for help for their K-9 friend.

If you would like to support K-9 Officer Reilly and his family, please visit his Facebook page or donate directly to the San Diego Police Canine Association at www.sdk9.org.

"He's a lover, not a fighter, but he'll fight this,” Aiken told NBC 7.



Photo Credit: Danya Bacchus

Murder-Suicide Suspect Claimed to Be 'Psychic Medium'

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The San Diego man who police say killed his wife and son before shooting himself touted his skills as a “psychic medium” and wrote two books on the subject before his death, his website reveals.

Mark Mata, 54, was a mortgage consultant in Southern California for more than 16 years, according to his LinkedIn page. But on the side, Mata worked as a psychic medium, running a website called SpiritualClairvoyanceChanneling.com.

There, Mata advertises his services as a spiritual guide who can create a “spirit connection with a loved one on the Other Side,” a gift he claims to have received during the passing of Pope John Paul II in 2005. Two e-books authored by “Rev. Mark Mata” are available on Amazon.

San Diego police say that career ended Tuesday when he fatally shot his 42-year-old wife Min Huang and 6-year-old son Hank Mata, a first grader at Sundance Elementary School.

Officers did a welfare check on their Rancho Peñasquitos house after a concerned friend reported the family had not been heard from in two days. When officers looked through the back window, they saw Huang’s body downstairs.

They then discovered Mata’s and Hank’s bodies in an upstairs bedroom. All three had suffered gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.

"It’s terrible to see a child be killed because they have a whole life ahead,” said neighbor Laura Sundquist. “Who knows what their life would have been. So that’s very tragic.”

Next to Mata’s truck, which hasn’t moved in days, friends laid a bouquet of flowers, stopping by Wednesday to pay their respects.

Neighbor Cary Monroe told NBC 7 she is making sure her child know she loves her as they try to wrap their minds around what happened.

“I think everyone in the neighborhood is upset and appalled by this event. I’ve called her a couple times to tell her how much I love her,” said Monroe.

Many residents said they did not know the victims, who lived in the home for about three years.

At this time, investigators are not releasing any information about a possible motive for the killings or whether a suicide note was found.
 


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Man Shot in Back Near Cousin's Memorial

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A man was shot in the back Wednesday while paying respects to a late family member at a street-side memorial in Chula Vista.

The victim was shot while walking towards a restaurant on Third and Montgomery around 11 p.m., police said.

Police say the man had just finished paying respects to his cousin, 19-year-old Chuy Ponce who was gunned down outside a convenience store where he planned to get some midnight snacks.

Chula Vista police said someone opened fire on the group, shooting Ponce in the chest and his cousin in the foot. A third victim was not shot.

The victim was taken to UCSD Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, officials said.

Investigators left markets on the street where several shell casings were left.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Five More Flu Deaths Reported in San Diego

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Five more San Diego residents have died from flu-related deaths, bringing to total deaths this season to nine, health officials said.

The people ranged in age from 68 to 95 years of age and all of them had underlying medical conditions.

70 San Diegans died from flu-related deaths last season, the most deaths since County Health and Human Services officials began tracking the disease. During the 2012 to 2013 season, 65 deaths were reported.

Health officials said influenza this winter is spreading and sickening San Diegans at a faster rate than last year’s flu season: there have been 263 confirmed cases to date, more than double last year’s number.

This year's vaccine is not a good match for one of the strains, officlas have said, but it is well-matched fro other strains. Partial protection provided by the vaccine helps prevent the severity of symptoms.

Nationwide, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has described this flu season as an “epidemic.”



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News
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