It is a story about heartache and hope.

Melinda Rodriguez, 46, passed away on Feb. 15 after complications from giving birth a week earlier. The loss stunned her longtime co-workers at Coronado Golf Course, who said they took pride watching Rodriguez’ “glow and her belly grow.”

"Melinda had the most magical smile," said Dorene Bailey. "You could be having the worst day and she would make it better just with a grin and some kind words." 

Rodriguez worked as a waitress at the course for several years, making dozens of friends. She often said she dreamed of having a baby, and on Feb. 8, her dream came true.

But just a week later, that joy turned to incredible sadness when Rodriguez died after a uterine infection led to sepsis and double kidney failure.

"I think I feel relieved and glad she had that time to bond with baby Chelsea and to be close and to have that feeling of deep love that you don't have when you don't have children," said Bailey.

Left behind is a beautiful baby girl, Chelsea Rodriguez, whose smiling picture graces a Go Fund Me page.

On Friday afternoon, a nine-hole golf fundraiser was held at the Coronado Golf Course, along with an auction and raffle. Organizers expect to raise more than $60,000.

"It's overwhelming," said Rodriguez's niece Esmerelda Aguilar. "It's really heartwarming because you think somebody as nice as she is will touch a lot of lives. This is beyond words." 

The fundraising efforts will go toward funeral expenses for Melinda and help Chelsea’s future, said Bailey. As of this posting, the Go Fund Me page has raised more than $13,000.

More information on the fundraising efforts can be found by clicking here.
 

The suspects and investigator in an officer-involved shooting in Southcrest Wednesday morning have been identified.

Sergio Antonio Ceballos-Reyes, 18, was the driver and Luisa Garcia Reynoso, 18, was the passenger of a blue Honda Accord investigators believed to be stolen.

At about 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, members of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) got a tip about the stolen car in the 3500 block of National Avenue near Interstate 15 and Ocean View Boulevard.

When officers arrived, they discovered the car at a Chevron gas station, according to Al Guaderrama, captain of the San Diego Police Homicide Unit.

Pulling in behind and in front of him, task force members started walking up to Ceballos-Reyes, but he threw the car into reverse and rammed into the unmarked car behind him.

At that point, San Diego District Attorney Investigator Shane Lynn, a nine-year veteran with the DA's office, shot at Ceballos-Reyes and hit him in the shoulder. He tried to speed off, but again crashed the car.

Guaderrama said Ceballos-Reyes go out of the car with a gun, but was caught shortly thereafter and taken to the hospital.

He was taken into custody and booked into county jail and charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm concealed in a vehicle, auto theft and two counts of resisting arrest.

Garcia Reynoso was also taken into custody and booked into the Las Colinas Detention Facility.

They are both expected to be arraigned next week.

The Chargers were not very good at returning kicks or punts in 2014. They added a piece to change that on Friday, signing former Ravens return specialist Jacoby Jones to a two-year contract.

Jones is the most dangerous return man the Chargers have had since Darren Sproles was allowed to leave for New Orleans.

Last season, Jones was second in the NFL in total return yards and average yards per return. His ability to flip the field will help both the San Diego offense and defense (the Bolts ranked 25th in average starting field position last year).

As an added bonus, Jones brings breakaway speed to Southern California.

He only caught nine passes in an off year, but has the ability to stretch defenses. It might not always work, but the threat of it being there will only help Philip Rivers and the Chargers attack.

In fact, it was Rivers who helped recruit Jones. The sell started in Baltimore on November 30 of last year. Rivers just didn't know it yet. Jones told the story of what happened after he returned a kickoff 72 yards to set up a late score the Ravens thought would have won the game.

A series of lockdowns have been lifted and one person is in custody after four schools received a bomb threat and another had a gun scare.

Throughout the day, Monte Vista High School, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Lewis Middle School, Lincoln High School and Magnolia Science Academy were all on lockdown for several hours. Loma Elementary School "closed its school" after a nearby school went on lockdown. 

The San Diego Unified School District said they received an email to a generic district account that suggested a bomb was placed at Thurgood Marshall, Lewis, Lincoln and Magnolia. They do not know why those schools were chosen. As lockdowns were put into place, bomb-sniffing dogs were brought in to each school, though nothing was found.

Monte Vista High School in El Cajon and Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Scripps Ranch were the first schools to be put in lockdown at 10:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Sheriff's spokesperson and school district officials. 

At Monte Vista High School, the school was put into a lockdown after a report of a man carrying what appeared to be a gun.

Shortly after, at 12:30 p.m., a 14-year old male was taken into custody after investigators found what appeared to be a replica of a western, old-style handgun in a student’s locker. They said they also found what appeared to be narcotics in the locker.

Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Scripps Ranch was also placed on lockdown at 10:30 a.m. by San Diego Police assisting SDUSD school police. SDPD said they set up a command post at the school. The school, on the 9700 block of Avenue of Nations, was taken off lockdown at approximately 1:12 p.m., the SDUSD said.

The Grossmont Union High School District said the lockdown was lifted at 12:19 p.m. At that point, classes and lunched resumed.

At 11:20 a.m., Loma Elementary School said they were not on lockdown but instead had closed the school and locked the doors because a nearby school was on lockdown, the school said. Class still took place during that time. 

Magnolia Science Academy in San Carlos was placed on lockdown at 11:30 a.m. after the school received unspecified threats, according to the SDUSD. SDPD were on scene investigating. The lockdown was lifted at approximately 1:12 p.m., the district said. 

Lincoln High School was under a shelter-in-place that took effect at approximately 11:46 a.m., a school district official said. At 12:13 p.m., the district tweeted that the school was on lockdown due to a possible security threat. The lockdown was lifted at approximately 1:12 p.m., the district said. 

No injuries were reported throughout the day. As of 1:12 p.m., the SDUSD said every lockdown had been lifted.

The district says families were notified about the lockdowns via calls and text messages, if parents have opted-in to them.

Leonard Miser said he learned about the lockdown through his child.

"I got a phone call from him saying there is some kind of bomb threat, and now they have to wait in a long line like this to get them out? Who knows what can happen by the time we get in there," said Miser.

School police, the SDPD and the FBI are still investigating who sent in the anonymous bomb threat

The White House was put on lockdown Saturday morning after a nearby food vendor cart suffered a small explosion, causing a security sweep before President Barack Obama and his family were about to leave for Selma, Alabama, according to a White House pool report.

Photos posted on Twitter from Will Sweet show heavy smoke from one of the food locations in the 400 block of 15th Street, Northwest on Saturday morning.

D.C. fire officials said the fire was extinguished and one person was evaluated on the scene, but not transported to a hospital.

So this fire just broke out right outside the White House.... pic.twitter.com/jxMdPIgmRI

— Will Sweet (@will_sweet1) March 7, 2015

Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary told The Associated Press, around the same time a bomb-sniffing dog detected something on a vehicle nearby. That vehicle was checked out by the Secret Service and other officers and cleared at 11:48 a.m.

The fire at the vendor cart briefly delayed the departure of President Barack Obama and the first family to commemorate the historic 50th anniversary of the civil rights march in to Selma.

The White House press pool was out on the South Lawn for the departure when a loud explosion was heard, the pool report said. The Secret Service moved the press back into the White House and initiated a lockdown of the building.

Obama and his family left the White House by motorcade instead of helicopter an hour later and boarded Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Reuters reported.

A mother and her two children – a 4-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl – were killed by a semi-truck as they were walking to a bus stop on the Chicago's South Side Friday.

Fire officials said the semi struck the three pedestrians just after 5 p.m. at 43rd and Ashland Avenue.

An employee at the Cricket phone store across the street from the incident said the mother and her two children came into the store prior to the accident to inquire about buying a phone for the daughter. The mother told the employee she had been going through a rough time lately because her car had been stolen.

The mother and her children were walking to the bus stop at 43rd Street and Ashland after leaving the phone store when they were struck by the semi.

The children were rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital and the mother to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, but all three victims succumbed to their injuries.

Police confirmed the mother was the first to be pronounced dead at 5:27 p.m., and the two children followed shortly.

The Cook County medical examiner's office identified the mother as 30-year-old Elizabeth Peralta-Luna and the children as 4-year-old Dylan Peralta and 9-year-old Elizabeth Peralta. They lived in the 5400 block of Sawyer Avenue in the Gage Park neighborhood.

Zachary Barngrover, a 23-year-old Iowa man who was driving the semi, was cited with failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk and making an improper left turn on a two-way road, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Barngrover said he did not seen the mother and her children as they crossed the street.

San Diego Police are investigating what led to a deadly stabbing in Oak Park early Saturday morning.

SDPD responded to a call about a man who had been stabbed in the 1600 block of Pentecost Way shortly before 2 a.m. When officers arrived, they spotted a man in a parking lot with stab wounds in his chest area. He was declared dead at the scene.

The man was 24 years old, according to SDPD, and while he has been identified, his name is being witheld until his family is notified.

Detectives are currently trying to find witnesses. Forensic specialists hope evidence collected at the scene will uncover what happened prior to the stabbing.

Thirty people at a massive college party were standing on a garage roof in Central California when it collapsed Saturday morning, injuring eight and sending four to the hospital, authorities said.

Over 1,000 students attended the party at off-campus housing near Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, a university of about 20,000 people, according to a deputy fire chief with the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. No one died in the collapse.

The damaged garage is located in the 300 block of Hathaway Street, according to the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department, several blocks from the college campus.

The party was being held for St. Patrick's Day and was not affiliated with Cal Poly, Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Gater said.

Pictures from the party showed it was still packed with people wearing green after sunrise. Twitter users and the school's newspaper, the Mustang News, which posted video of the collapse, were calling the party "St. Fratty's Day."

• Dunkin' Drops Food-Coloring Additive

Collapse occurred at scene of party on Hathaway attended by over 1000 students. 7 students were injured. pic.twitter.com/H0EnEHEEaK

— SLO City Fire (@SLO_City_Fire) March 7, 2015

The garage collapsed at about 6:20 a.m. with 30 people on top, Gater said. Some people may have been inside the garage, which was on a property with three adjoining homes.

One woman had moderate injuries while seven others had minor injuries. Four were taken to local hospitals, Gater said.

Among the injured was a woman who was impaled in the thigh by a piece of wood when the roof collapsed.

An hour and a half before the roof collapse, San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly campus police were called out to the neighborhood because of complaints about the loud party. Officers issues underage-drinking and noise-violation citations.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo released a statement at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning wishing those who were injured a speedy recovery and saying it was in contact with public safety agencies to find out what occurred and "decide how we will respond."

It did not indicate if any of the people who were hurt were students.

A tweet from the San Luis Obispo Fire Department initially said it was a "mass casualty incident."

A license plate number led police to two suspects accused of robbing victims in parking lots Friday night while armed with a fake gun, officials confirmed.

Brian Coats, 22, and Reynisha Bransford, 23, were arrested at Friars and Frazee roads after they allegedly robbed two victims within a matter of hours Friday night.

Police said that at around 11 p.m., Coats – armed with what appeared to be a handgun – robbed a woman in the parking lot of a Vons grocery store located at 5630 Lake Murray Blvd. in La Mesa.

He showed the woman his weapon before stealing her purse, The victim told police the robber then fled to a nearby white SUV driven away by a woman.

The victim was able to see the license plate number on the SUV and immediately reported the robbery and number to the La Mesa Police Department. She also described the suspects.

Just a few hours before that robbery, San Diego police investigated a similar incident at Fashion Valley. In that case, the robbery victims also obtained the suspects’ license number and reported it to police.

After the second robbery, La Mesa police searched the area by ground while the SDPD airship assisted from above. An officer spotted the suspects’ SUV traveling westbound on Interstate 8 near the Interstate 15 interchange. Shortly thereafter, the suspects were pulled over and arrested.

Police recovered the weapon used during the robberies, which turned out to be a replica revolver, as well as the property stolen from the victims in both cases, the La Mesa Police Department said.

Both Coats and Bransford were charged with two counts of robbery and conspiracy. Coats was booked into San Diego County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday. Bransford was booked into Las Colinas Detention and Re-entry Facility with her court dates set for Tuesday and Wednesday.

No one was injured in the robberies. The investigation is ongoing, police said, and anyone with information on either case should contact San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS.
 

A north county neighborhood is targeted by thieves at a vulnerable moment.

It happened to residents in the Bayshore Condominium Complex in Carlsbad either during or after their homes were fumigated for termites.

They lost jewelry, computers, and other valuables that you might expect to be taken in a burglary. But these thieves also took things the residents did not think to take with them when were displaced for fumigation: passports, tax returns and banking information.

"Your Way Fumigation Inc." tented all 40 units in the complex at once, according to residents. The units were sprayed for termites Tuesday through Thursday.

Homeowners had no choice but to leave with their pets and plants to stay elsewhere.

One woman, who wished to be identified only as Grace, said she lost thousands in jewelry, family heirlooms, electronics among other valuables.

“Our shotgun is loaded. I had genealogy information they were interested in that it's not just the easy thing you would think of,” Grace said.

The tents around Grace's condo and six others were slashed. One resident found a dirty hand print at the window where the suspects entered and by the attic opening. Thieves stole valuables and rifled through seven years of tax records.

“You just don't know. What are they looking for, what do they want,” Grace said.

NBC 7 called the company and left a message for some explanation.

Victims said they paid double for the fumigation, once through HOA fees, a second time through insurance deductibles to cover their losses.

They don't intend to pay anymore.

“I'm not going to be revictimized by allowing that to haunt me,” Grace said.

In the last 24 hours, victims said they have had to cancel credit cards, change computer passwords for on line accounts, even change bank account security codes. Because personal identification information was targeted, the impact of the break-ins may not be known for months.

Two Grevy’s zebras were recently born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the youngsters are already running around with their herd, learning new skills.

According to Safari Park officials, the two male foals were born on March 5 and Feb. 26. By Friday, the babies were already running throughout their grassy habitat, all while still staying close to their mother.

Jeff Gross, Safari Park senior keeper, said the foals are adapting well, doing exactly as is expected of their species.

“Once they hit the ground, within a short period of time they are ready to run,” Gross explained. “Their main form of staying alive [in the wild] is actually being able to keep up with the herd, so the importance of being able to move about, move quickly and stay close to mother – who is very protective – is very important.”

Keepers said a zebra foal can tell its mother apart from other zebras in a very interesting way: by memorizing her unique stripe pattern. This memorization skill, called “imprinting,” happens just after a zebra is born. Grevy’s zebras have the skinniest stripes of any zebra species, with their stripes running all the way down their back to their white belly.

These newest zebra babies are just two of the 86 Grevy’s zebra births to take place at Safari Park. Each birth is significant, given the endangered population of the species. Keepers said the wild Grevy’s zebra population has been ravaged by anthrax outbreaks and has dropped to just 2,250 of the animals in the wild.

San Diego Zoo Global is working with conservation groups to help preserve the population.

The new Grevy’s zebra babies and their herd can be seen by Safari Park visitors from the Africa Tram ride which goes through the park’s African field exhibits.
 

Members of California’s gaming community are showing their support for a Philadelphia Police officer who was shot and killed while buying a video game for his son.

Officer Robert Wilson III died Thursday after being gunned down during an attempted robbery at a North Philadelphia GameStop store. He was 30-years-old.

The 8-year veteran assigned to the 22nd District was in the store doing a security check and was in the process of buying a game for his 9-year-old son when the gunmen entered.

Police called Wilson a hero who drew away fire from store employees and continued to shoot at both suspects, even after being hit. Two brothers, 30-year-old Carlton Hipps and 26-year-old Ramone Williams, have been charged with the officer's murder.

Touched by Wilson’s story, Paul Punla, a blogger, video game dealer and collector from San Diego, California created a fundraiser for the officer’s two sons, calling on California’s gaming community to help.

“Nowadays gamers are labeled as lonesome and selfish individuals and I want to change that assumption,” Punla told NBC10. “The ultimate goal is to simply help a family in need.”

Punla also said his own personal relationship with law enforcement inspired him to create the fund.

“I am close friends with a lot of armed forces personnel and my brother has been serving in the USAF for almost 20 years now,” Punla said.

Punla went into detail regarding how the donations will be dispersed.

“As soon as someone donates, they see my business account so right there they can already see who it’s going to,” he said. “I am planning to giveaway as "reward levels" different video game memorabilia/games/promotional items to those who contribute certain amounts. From Skylanders to PS4 games, to books and posters. I have so my things collected over the years I figured why not give them away and raise money at the same time?”

You can visit Punla’s fundraiser page and make your own donations HERE.

Another trust fund was also set up for Wilson’s 8-year-old and 1-year-old son Friday. The fund is being managed by the Police and Fire Federal Credit Union. Donations can be made in person at the following branches:

• 901 Arch Street
• 7604 City Avenue
• 8500 Henry Avenue
• Leo Mall, Byberry and Bustleton Avenue
• 7500 Castor Avenue
• 3300 Grant Avenue

Checks can be mailed and made payable to:
The Robert Wilson III Family Memorial Trust Fund
Police and Fire Federal Credit Union
901 Arch Street
Philadelphia PA, 19107
 

A law that's been on the books for 15 years is causing quite a controversy in San Diego.

Penal Code 182.5 was passed when voters approved proposition 21, a proposition which toughened penalties for youth offenders, in 2000. Penal Code 182.5 is a conspiracy law that basically says active gang members can be charged for crimes committed by other members-- even if they were not involved in the crime.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s office says the law fights criminal gangs. Others say the law is constitutionally overbroad and targets innocent people.

Aaron Harvey, 26, didn't believe what law enforcement was telling him when he was arrested in Las Vegas last year.

“They told me I was wanted for murder," he said. "I'm walking out of my house one day and it's like the U.S. Army is outside waiting on me with guns drawn, helicopters, and assault rifles.”

Harvey is one of a group of 15 charged in the Lincoln Park Gang conspiracy criminal case. The County District Attorney's office was able to charge them under Penal Code section 182.5 for nine different gang related shootings in San Diego, even though he and others didn't pull the trigger.

"He is as liable as the shooters were even though he didn't know they are out doing this,” said Edward Kinsey, Harvey’s attorney.

Penal Code 182.5 allows for the prosecution of active gang members if they promote, assist or benefit from the crime. In this case, the DA's office says Harvey and others promoted the crimes by posting their gang affiliation and threats on social media sites like Facebook. The District Attorney's office also says one of Harvey's co-defendants, Brandon Duncan, known as Rapper Tiny Doo, also promoted crimes in his lyrics and they all benefitted because their gang gained street credibility.

"They're saying I benefited from these crimes and they are saying my benefit is my stature went up," Harvey said. "I don't know how you can even measure stature or how can a person's stature go up. I didn't even know I had stature."

Harvey insists he is innocent, saying he is not a member of a gang. He and his attorney say all he is guilty of is growing up in Lincoln Park, a neighborhood known to have gangs.

"What we've got here in the case of Aaron is guilt by association,” said Kinsey.

The DA's office declined our request for an on camera interview but did provide background information saying it presented specific evidence, like a "C and K" tattoo on Harvey's arm they say stands for "Crip Killer," in its case against Harvey. The DA's office says it's holding violent individuals accountable for crimes that terrorized a neighborhood. Harvey says they've got the wrong guy.

“I"m not afraid. I have no fear. They put no fear in me because I know I've done nothing wrong," he said.

Harvey, who has no prior criminal convictions, now faces life in prison. He says he is now focused on making sure other people are not charged with this statue. The case will be the first time 182.5 is used at any significant level in the state.

SeaWorld is halting its "Sea Lions LIVE" sea lion and otter show for at least two weeks starting Saturday, in order to help with the rescue of sea lion pups stranded along the coast, the park announced Friday.

SeaWorld hopes this will provide six additional animal specialists to help with the rescue and rehabilitation of the sea lion pups.

"These experts will also provide the added benefit of tremendous experience working with sea lions," SeaWorld said in a statement.

SeaWorld San Diego has rescued more than 400 sea lions so far this year. That number is more than twice the number of marine mammal rescues the park averages in a typical year, the park said.

SeaWorld also announced it's in the process of constructing two temporary pool for the rescued sea lions.

Several pups rescued this year have been found in poor condition, with some weighing around 20 pounds. Typically, sea lion pups weigh 50 to 60 pounds.

UC Irvine student leaders on Saturday vetoed a resolution that banned the American flag from being displayed in the lobby of the student government offices, according to a post on the school’s website.

The post said the “misguided legislation” passed by undergraduate members of the legislative council earlier this week was not endorsed by campus leadership or by the University of California.

“The American flag is still proudly flying throughout our campus and will continue to do so,” said the post, signed off by the executive cabinet of the Associated Students - University of California.

Students voted to ban the American flag because it is a symbol of "colonialism and imperialism."

The ASUCI Legislative Council voted six to four, with two abstentions, Tuesday to pass the resolution to remove all flags in order to create a "more inclusive" environment.

The resolution, which was written by student Matthew Guevara, also said "the American flag is commonly flown in government public service locations, military related entities, at homes, in foreign lands where the US government has a presence," and its "symbolism has negative and positive aspects that are interpreted differently by individuals." 

In addition, the measure claimed that "freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech."

Despite the measure passing, ASUCI President Reza Zomorrodian was against the move.

"I stand firmly against this piece of legislation," Zomorrodian said, "As chair of the Executive Cabinet, we will be having a conversation about this piece of legislation and deciding what course of action the cabinet will take collectively."

UC Irvine has yet to respond to a request for a comment on the matter.

An unattended candle may have have started a fire in a house in Pacific Beach Saturday.

Firefighters arrived on the 2000 block of Chalcedony Street near Lamont Street shortly before noon to see smoke and fire coming from the back of the house. The fire spread to the attic, forcing firefighters to cut a hole in the roof to create ventilation and put out the fire more quickly.

A woman was home at the time. Although she was not injured, she was taken to the hospital for unknown reasons, San Diego Fire Battalion Chief Ty Schimoguchi said.

While the exact cause has yet to be determined, the woman inside home told firefighters she thinks a candle started the fire.

Five years after her death, a Poway High School student who was killed by a sexual predator while out on a run was remembered by thousands at the fifth annual "Finish Chelsea's Run" 5K at Balboa Park Saturday morning.

Thousands of runners and onlookers alike showed up bright and early for the event honoring 17-year-old Chelsea King. The huge turnout overwhelmed Chelsea's parents.

"It's beautiful, it's absolutely beautiful. I see a bit of Chelsea in every single person out here," Chelsea's father, Brent King, said. "In their smile, in their eyes, in the colors. It's spectacular."

Chelsea's mother, Kelly King, said the event reminds her of hope.

"Hope is not a fleeting thing," she said. "It's something that you carry in your heart every single day."

Brent King added that the event is more than just about Chelsea, it's a love for the community. He said he's amazed at the turnout each year, and that this year is no different.

"Kelly, I and Tyler all have a choice, and so does everybody else on how we choose to respond and this allows us to choose hope," Brent said.

The event is put on by the Chelsea's Light Foundation, and money raised from the entry fees go to its Sunflower Scholarship Fund, a program to help San Diego youth. Last year's event raised over $85,000 in scholarships for ten students.

A Pasco County Sheriff's deputy in Florida has been fired and is facing a felony charge after authorities say he texted photos of a man who committed suicide to his ex-girlfriend.

Deputy Austin Douglas was arrested Thursday on a charge of a custodian providing unauthorized photograph or video or audio recording that depicts or records the killing of a person, a third-degree felony.

Douglas was arrested Thursday and fired Friday, Pasco County Sheriff's Office officials said. He booked into jail and later released on $5,000 bond.

“(We’re) not proud that we have to arrest somebody from the sheriff’s office,” Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said during a press conference Friday afternoon. “But you realize if we’re going to hold ourselves accountable, if we want our citizens to trust us, these are the actions we have to take. I go back to discipline and accountability, if we don’t have those in our agency, we’re going to crumble."

Officials said Douglas had responded to the suicide scene in February and photographed the man's body with his cell phone. He sent multiple photos to his then-girlfriend, officials said.

Douglas had been with the sheriff's office since May 2006. His attorney information wasn't immediately known.

A man nicknamed "Gooch" who allegedly stole his online date's car was busted by police in New Jersey, authorities said Saturday.

Gerald "Gooch" Tietz was arrested by Waterford Township police after the stolen vehicle was spotted in Cherry Hill, investigators said.

Tietz, who uses the alias Mike Rossman and Gennaro Aladena, contacted a woman an online dating website and met her in person on Feb. 26, police said. At some point during their date, Tietz managed to get the woman's keys and took off with her car, investigators said.

The car, a red Toyota Solara with "Jsrygrl" vanity plates, was spotted by a person in Cherry Hill who alerted local police.

Tietz has possible tied to Philadelphia and the Atlantic City area, police said.

He was remanded to Camden County Jail. Information about the charges against him were unavailable and it was unclear whether he had obtained a lawyer.