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Cops Shoot Dog Mauling Teen's Face

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Police in Pennslyvannia shot a dog after they say the animal mauled a 16-year-old boy Friday night.

Philadelphia police arrived to an alley behind the 200 block of Higbee Street, near Newtown Avenue, in the city’s Lawncrest section after receiving a 911 report of a person screaming around 7:30 p.m., said police.

Officers from the 2nd District found a pit bull mauling the boy's face and arms. The officers used a stun gun twice on the dog but the attack continued. One of the officers then opened fire, grazing the dog one time, said investigators.

The incident left the teen in critical condition. Medics rushed him to Einstein Medical Center where his condition was upgraded to stable, said police.

After the shooting police contained the dog but didn’t reveal the animal’s condition.

No officers were hurt.

"All I heard was somebody screaming and so me and my mom, we ran to the window to see what was happening," said witness Omar.

The 11-year-old captured video of the dog continuing to fight even after being corralled by officers.

No word yet on who owns the dog.



Photo Credit: Viewer Video

Cockroach Infestation Squashed at UCSD Medical Center

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A kitchen at the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest is now cockroach-free after staff worked to clean up numerous live cockroaches found throughout the facility during an inspection in August 2014.

According to the food safety inspection report, “live multi staged cockroaches were noted in the food production line, in the cooking equipment at the cooking line, along the walls of the cook’s line and in the side production areas of the main kitchen.”

The report adds there were signs of pest control services, but little to no effect was found.

Jacqueline Carr, spokesperson for the UCSD Medical Center, told NBC 7 Friday that as soon as the inspector saw  the cockroaches in the kitchen, hospital staff jumped into action.

"The staff in Hillcrest fully cooperated with the inspector and jointly developed a corrective action plan," said Carr in a statement. "The response included bringing in a specialized pest control company the same day to treat teir kitchen."

The statement goes on to say small construction holes in exterior walls allowed the outdoors inside during a renovation project. And according to Carr, those were linked to the cockroach issue.

The construction is now complete but Carr added that at no time did the kitchen close because of the cockroach issue.

One month after the cockroaches were found, a follow up inspection noted the kitchen was “greatly improved” but cockroaches were still noted.

In the report the inspector wrote, “After a thorough inspection by me, only a few live cockroaches were found. The infestation has thus been abated.”

In the most recent inspection in March, the report showed no cockroaches, and Carr said the kitchen remains cockroach-free.
 

2-Alarm Fire Rips Through Thrift Store

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Heartland firefighters upgraded an El Cajon fire to a two-alarm response as it ripped through a thrift store at a strip mall.

The flames and smoke were first reported just after 9 p.m. at 941 Broadway.

When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire, so they called in a backup with a second alarm. They were able to contain the fire to the thrift store.

Businesses on both sides had smoke damage but no fire damage.

While there was no one inside, many people gathered on the street and at a nearby yogurt shop. Manager Derek Carlyon was most concerned about his customers.

"We got a lot of customers. Everyone that has ever heard of our place knows we have a lot of people close to where that store is," he said. "So you just get worried about the customers, always a lot of families on the weekends."

Police closed Broadway and Mollison Avenue in the area as the blaze was extinguished.

Investigators do not yet know the cause of the fire, but they don't believe it's suspicious.



Photo Credit: Dave Summers

Peak of Reported Sex Assaults Involving SDSU Frats

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In the last three years, people have reported nine sexual assaults at San Diego State University campus fraternities, according to school police records.

The reports show the number of reported sexual assaults at fraternities increased from two in 2013 to seven in 2014. So far in 2015, no sexual assaults have been reported at campus fraternities.

In 2014, more than half of the reported sexual assaults at SDSU were at fraternities, according documents obtained by NBC 7.

The police records detail nine assaults last year and specifically name three fraternities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Sigma Phi and Alpha Epsilon Pi.

According to the reports:

• Four occurred at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
• One occurred at 5000 College Place.
• One was reported on Fraternity Row at 5255 55th Street.
• One occurred at the fraternity Delta Sigma Phi located at 5560 Hardy Avenue
• One was reported at the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi.
• One was reported at 5500 Campanile Drive.

To view details of the reported sexual assaults click on the documents below.

Last year, the SDSU Greek Community announced new sexual assault awareness training for fraternity and sorority members. The new training requires all Greeks to take online courses called "Agents of Change" on sexual violence, attend a week of presentations on the topic and participate in sexual assault prevention events, including Take Back the Night.

The university has also been awarded a $200,000 grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

The grant will provide for a full-time sexual assault victim advocate on campus who will be trained and hired through the Center for Community Solutions. The money will also provide for a part-time police officer dedicated to sexual assault prevention.

In 2014, 13 sexual assaults were reported on campus. Police made an arrest in one case, though the District Attorney’s office later declined to file charges in the case.


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May Day Protesters March for Workers' Rights, Baltimore

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Hundreds of people marched through downtown San Diego on Friday to mark May Day, traditionally designed to call attention workers’ rights. But this year, most of the attention focused on law enforcement brutality in San Diego and Baltimore.

Organizers estimated the gathering drew close to 400 people.

“This society values wealth and riches, and a lot of times, the people that do the grunt work on the front lines on a daily basis are set aside and not highlighted,” said Kiki Ochoa with a group called Union Del Barrio.

But if May Day is meant to recognize workers’ rights and wage equality, incidents of alleged brutality have added new causes to the march.

“All day, all day, we will fight for Freddie Gray,” screamed out protesters. Also heard were cries of “Baltimore, we got your back.”

Prior to the march, a rally at Panejo Park featured several speakers. A large banner showed the face of Anastacio Hernandez, who died after getting shot by a Taser fired by Border Patrol agents.

Among the speakers and marchers was Mickey Kasparian, president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. While he was there to speak on behalf of workers’ rights, Kasparian was asked if his message was lost with so much attention on law enforcement brutality.

“I think it’s about social and economic justice, both. Of course, being a part of labor, we advocate for workers’ rights, but there’s a lot of social injustice going on in our country too,” said Kasparian.

And while the tone of the day was serious, it was, at times, festive. At one point, the two-mile march was paused in front of the Federal Building where dancers performed.

San Diego police added extra officers to monitor the march, which in the end was peaceful.
 



Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda

Weekend Events for April 30-May 3

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The weekend has finally arrived! From live music to early Cinco de Mayo festivities, there is so much going on around San Diego.

Thursday, April 30
The Decemberists
8 p.m., the Observatory North Park
Everyone’s favorite indie-folk revivalists return to San Diego with a long-awaited, sold-out show at the Observatory in the heart of North Park. Expect lots of waxed moustaches, burly beards, flannel -- and killer tunes.

Little Red Lung
8:30 p.m., the Merrow
Based in LA, Little Red Lung are one of those up-and-coming bands that you brag about seeing before they broke big. Riding a huge wave of buzz, the group deals in moody, haunting indie-rock with a slight blues rock lean. Bottom line: This is your chance to catch ‘em before they start playing even bigger venues.

Friday, May 1
Friday Night Liberty! Wander, Explore, Enjoy 
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Liberty Station
New exhibits, dance performances and other diverse forms of art await visitors at this free Friday night event at NTC Liberty Station. This includes the New Americans Museum premiere of “Becoming All-American: Diversity, Inclusion & Breaking Barriers in Major League Baseball. Also, the San Diego Watercolor Society will host its annual Military Family exhibit showcasing works by kids and parents as part of their outreach program.

Cruisin’ Grand
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Maple Street Plaza in Escondido
Live music and classic hot rods take center stage at this Escondido event. Entry is free but bring cash for libations as local wineries and craft breweries offer tastes of their finest selections for $20. Vista’s Country Gents Car Club will be highlighted at the May 1 show.

The Soft Moon
8:30 p.m., the Casbah
Are you a fan of ‘80s darkwave bands like Bauhaus and Joy Division? Then the Soft Moon has your number. If you’ve got a cabinet readily stocked with black fingernail polish and a closet full of well-worn Doc Martens, chances are you’ve already got tickets to this show. If not, get on it with the quickness because it’ll surely sell out beforehand. And even though it’s a primo show for the ‘children of the night,’ it’ll also be a good time for folks who just love daring, boundary-pushing music.

Saturday, May 2
32nd Annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo 2015
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
The largest Cinco de Mayo party in San Diego boasts music, food and lots of fun. The free bash includes three live music stages, a cantina garden, a low-rider car show and historical demonstrations. Visitors will also be able to enjoy food and drink specials at more than 10 restaurants in Old Town. On Saturday, Ballet Folklorico performers will compete at 9 a.m. at Fiesta de Reyes in the heart of the historic park – not a bad place to start the fiesta.

Hoops at the Beach
Saturday and Sunday, Bonita Cove Park in Mission Bay
The 28th annual Jack in the Box 3-on-3 basketball tournament is the largest of its kind in San Diego. The event attracts teams from across the region. Not only is it fun, but it raises money for the nonprofit San Diego Bowl Game Association. San Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcolm Floyd will serve as a celebrity judge. Enter by Friday, May 1 online by clicking here

Tennis
7 p.m., the Irenic

No, we’re not suggesting picking up that beat-up Wilson racquet and heading down to the courts in your trusty white trainers -- temping as it may be. Rather, be sure to be at this all-ages Irenic show and prepare to get served some of the catchiest chillwave/indie-pop music around.

Sunday, May 3
Hopstown Craft Beer Fest 
12 p.m. to 3 p.m, May 2-3; Escondido
Some of San Diego’s finest craft breweries will showcase their suds at the Hopstown Craft Beer Fest on this first weekend of May. Tickets cost $20 per day or $30 for a weekend pass and include a souvenir beer stein used for tastings. You can also snag tickets at nearly half-price through The Goods. This North County fest will boast beer from more than 40 local breweries including Ballast Point, Refuge Brewery and Hillcrest Brewing Co. Gourmet food trucks will dish out grub and the event will also feature live entertainment. As a bonus, you can bring your dog to this pooch-friendly fest.

32nd Annual Old Town Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
11 a.m., Old Town San Diego
Start your Cinco de Mayo festivities early by taking a step back in time and celebrating the holiday. The 2015 fiesta will celebrate decades of tradition with celebrations and activities for all ages. Come enjoy mariachis, cervezas, great food and more at this large festival. The festival will run Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Teen Who Left Blood Trail to Border Arrested

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The teen accused of stabbing his friend in Chula Vista, leaving behind a long trail of blood nearly to the border, has turned himself in, police said.

Joe Andrew Cortez, 18, of Tijuana surrendered Thursday at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. He was arrested on a murder warrant by Chula Vista police and U.S. Marshal’s officers and booked in the San Diego County Central Jail.

Police said Cortez was staying the night at the apartment of 44-year-old Rene Macia Pressa, his coworker at a Chula Vista restaurant. The two got into an argument and police said Cortez stabbed Pressa, then ran away.

Chula Vista Police were called to the second-story building at 45 3rd Avenue at approximately 1:30 a.m. April 23. The crime scene is located east of Interstate 5 and south of State Route 54.

Pressa was found lying in his doorway, suffering from “severe injuries,” police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Cortez was also injured in the stabbing, police said, and left a mile-long blood trail as he walked barefoot to the border.

Companies Stealing From Calif. Workers

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Thousands of Californians are working for free -- or close to it -- every day, and not because they want to.

NBC 7 Investigates combed through state records and found a pattern of what critics call “wage theft”, in which companies don’t pay workers what they earn.

The records also reveal many of those companies refuse to make those payments, even when judges and state labor officials demand they do so.

Since 2010, more than 280 San Diego companies have failed to pay at least $800,000 in wages, overtime and meal breaks, according to state records reviewed by NBC 7 Investigates.

David Sanchez and his wife, Consuelo Montesinos, are two of the victims of wage theft. In 2006, the San Diego couple agreed to work for $50 per night, each, cleaning the kitchen and dining room at the Cheesecake Factory in Otay Ranch. The company that hired them had a contract to clean the restaurant.

“They told me they were going to promote me to supervisor and give me more money, and that's why I accepted," Sanchez recalled.

The couple had three young girls to support, and Montesinos said, “We needed the more income to pay rent, and to give better living conditions to our kids."

In the beginning, they each worked five to seven hours a night, making more than minimum wage.

But David and Consuelo said their employer, Excell Cleaning and Building Services, which also had contracts with the Elephant Bar and Yard House restaurants in California, soon demanded they work longer hours, up to 10 or 12 a day, without breaks, and only vague promises of a future raise.

"They told us, 'We are going to give you more money, but we need you to do a better job,'" Sanchez said.

Not long after, their paychecks started bouncing. The couple couldn’t buy groceries at the store that routinely cashed their checks.

“They said all the funds were frozen, because the checks I deposited didn’t have any funds,” Sanchez said.

“I felt very sad, because we had all our groceries in our shopping cart and had to leave it on the side,” Montesinos said.

When the couple stopped working for Excell in 2007, they were owed more than $10,000, Lilia Garcia-Brower, who runs the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund said.

The Fund is a public interest group that helps wage theft victims in San Diego and throughout California. Garcia-Brower said wage theft is “rampant” in San Diego.

According to her, janitors are the most common victims of wage theft, because many don't speak English, have little education, and little knowledge of California labor laws. She said other workers in the local service industry are also victims, including restaurant and hotel workers, janitors, security guards, landscapers and domestic workers.

NBC 7 Investigates reviewed five years of wage claims data from the state Labor Commission. Across California, courts have ruled against 17,000 companies, and awarded workers $274 million.

But legal judgments don’t guarantee payment for workers, Garcia-Brower said.

“We were shocked to discover that just 17 percent of those folks who received final judgments for unpaid wages collected a dime,” Garcia-Bower explained. “Which means that 83 percent had nothing to show for their efforts. And when we hold those companies accountable and we win, and they vanish. They leave California. You can't trace them, you can't find them."

In 2009, a state judge awarded former employees of Excell Cleaning and another company more than $13 million in unpaid wages, in a default judgement. State officials and independent labor advocates told NBC 7 Investigates they have tried to collect on that money, but say the companies are gone.

View a searchable database of the top 100 companies not paying workers.

"I feel very disappointed by the system because after 10 years, I haven't received anything, no money, from the company," Sanchez said.

"We just want them to pay us what they owe us, what they stole from us," his wife said.

Public records indicate Excell Cleaning left California in 2009. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

NBC 7 Investigates tried to reach Excell Cleaning for comment, but two phone numbers listed for the company are disconnected.

Sanchez and Montesinos have moved on with their lives. They are raising their three girls in a small home in Southeast San Diego. Montesinos now works as a janitor for a hotel that pays her a legal wage and David is a self-employed handyman.

NBC 7 Investigates is working for you. If you have more information about this or other story tips, contact us: (619) 578-0393, NBC7Investigates@nbcuni.com. To receive the latest NBC 7 Investigates stories subscribe to our newsletter.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Officer in Fatal Shooting Didn't Turn on Body Camera

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The San Diego Police officer involved in a fatal shooting Thursday did not have his body camera on during the incident, investigators said, raising serious concerns about police accountability.

A 27-year veteran of the SDPD shot and killed a man who police said was wielding a knife outside of a Midway District porn shop Thursday morning.

None of the incident was caught on camera, despite the SDPD’s recent investment to outfit its officers with the body-worn devices.

“Did the officer do something wrong with respect to using his body camera?” said ACLU Advocacy and Policy Counsel Chad Marlow. “I think it appears that clearly the answer is yes."

SDPD investigators have not yet interviewed the officer involved. They said he encountered a man in an alley who matched the description of a suspect threatening a porn shop clerk. When the man refused to follow orders from police, the officer shot him, officials said.

Police will not be releasing the suspect's identity because his family requested they withhold it.

But Marlow told NBC 7 questions remain, and a lack of footage will not help clarify what led to the shooting.

“As soon as they got that 911 call and turned their cruiser toward the scene, the body camera should have gone on," said Marloew.

No one from the SDPD would do an interview with NBC 7 Friday, but they pointed us to their body camera policy, which states, "Officer safety shall be the primary consideration when contacting citizens or conducting vehicle stops, not the ability to record an event."

Marlow argued that the provision was written in case an officer was suddenly attacked or involved in an unexpected emergency.

“But in this case, they had an entire drive to the scene and a moment to pause before they go out of the car and confronted the gentlemen who was acting erratically to turn the camera,” said Marlow. “So this is not a situation where the officer had to make a decision between protecting his safety and turning on his camera."

SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman has said in the past that if an officer intentionally does not record an event, that officer is subject to disciplinary action, which could include termination.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 Chris Chan

Royal Baby Wait Over as Kate Admitted to Hospital in Labor

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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in the early stages of labor Saturday morning, Kensington Palace officials said in a statement.

The former Kate Middleton and her husband, Prince William, were shuttled by car from Kensington Palace to the hospital's Lindo Wing at 6 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET), the palace said.

The hospital had been brought under increasingly tight security in preparation for the birth of the couple's second child. A growing crowd of well-wishers and media had gathered around the hospital in recent days, eagerly awaiting the new royal baby in what U.K. tabloids dubbed the Great Kate Wait.

Royal officials have said they will take to Twitter and Instagram to formally announce the time of birth, weight and gender. This being the British monarchy, there will also be a more traditional announcement: A palace footman will place a birth notice on an easel on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, as was the case with the birth of the couple's first child, Prince George.

The baby's gender has remained a mystery, even to the Duke and Duchess, according to royal officials. That mystery — and debate over the baby's name — has fueled avid speculation among media and bookmakers. (Florence was a among the early favorites, but Charlotte and Alice have made a surge among the betting public.)

The new baby will be fourth in line to the throne, after his or her older brother, and bear the title of Prince or Princess of Cambridge. Prince George was born on July 22, 2013.

Guy Thorpe Beeston, the doctor who oversaw the young prince's birth, will also deliver the new royal baby, a palace spokesperson said.

Prince William and the Duchess marked their fourth wedding anniversary at Kensington Palace on Wednesday while waiting for the birth.



Photo Credit: AP
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Family Files Claim in Boy's Goal Post Injury

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The family of an eighth grader injured by a falling goal post has filed a claim against the Sweetwater Union High School District, claiming the school didn’t adequately supervise the boy or ensure the post was staked down.

The claim is a precursor to a lawsuit and seeks at least $10 million in damages, though the family’s attorney says it’s still not known the extent of the damages of medical costs.

The boy, Marco LaFarga, was hurt the morning of March 20 during a PE class at Eastlake Middle School when he and classmates were playing near the goal post and it suddenly fell over, hitting him in the head.

Medics airlifted him to Rady Children’s Hospital and he was hospitalized for a month in critical condition. His condition is improving and he has returned home from the hospital this week.

The eighth grader suffered a skull fracture and was in a medically induced coma for two and a half weeks. Marco needed physical therapy to learn to walk and talk again, a family attorney told NBC 7.

The claim, filed by attorney Terry Singleton, alleges Marco’s “physical education coach, his teachers and other school employees failed to adequately supervise the children playing in the playground area during physical education such that this event occurred.”

The claim also alleges that coaches, teachers and maintenance workers “failed to select, install, erect, anchor and maintain the soccer goal posts to ensure they were safe for students to play with and around.”

Reached for comment about the claim on Friday, a school district spokesperson said that the district could not talk, citing the active litigation.

At the time of the incident, district spokesperson Manny Rubio told NBC 7 that the goal posts were standard at every school. They are not normally anchored down because they're meant to be able to be moved around.

But Horatio Barraza, the family’s attorney and co-counsel for Singleton, said consumer protection guidelines call for the goal posts to be anchored.

“The Consumer Protection Safety Commission’s) guidelines mandate these goal posts should be anchored,” he said. “This particular goal post was not anchored, which is what caused it to topple over.”

Similar incidents have happened across the country. In 2011, Illinois lawmakers passed a law, making it mandatory for tip resistant soccer goals to be used on fields after one toppled over and killed a 6-year-old.

Marco's family hopes for a similar measure implemented here.

Here's the full claim:

 

 


Photo Credit: Rene Gonzalez

Teller, Accomplice Accused of Robbing Bank

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A bank teller and her alleged accomplice are accused of working together to pull off a bank robbery in San Diego, FBI officials said Friday.

Bank teller Miriam Warda Kaskorkis, 21, and Lorens Rafou, 29, were arrested and charged with bank robbery and conspiracy linked to an April 24 robbery at a U.S. Bank branch.

On that day, just before noon, the bank located at 4195 Genesee Ave. was robbed by Rafou, investigators said. According to a federal complaint, Rafou handed a demand note to Kaskorkis, who was employed at the bank.

After getting some cash from the teller, he left the bank and drove away from the scene.

FBI officials said the subsequent investigation into the bank robbery led officials to interview and arrest Rafou on April 25. Kaskorkis was arrested on April 27.

Officials did not specify how the pair is connected or why they believe Kaskorkis was in on the robbery.

Rafou appeared in court Thursday. A court date has not yet been set for Kaskorskis, the FBI said.
Both defendants remain in custody as of Friday afternoon.

The investigation into the bank robbery is ongoing. Anyone with information should contact the FBI at (858) 320-1800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
 



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Pacquiao Fight Drums Up Business

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Daly City is considered Manny Pacquiao territory, with Filipinos making up more than one-third of its population.

It is a Filipino tradition to serve up a feast at gatherings, and many turn to restaurants to help with the cooking. But Tselog's in Daly City has stopped taking orders because the demand is too high.

So if you had planned on ordering out for traditional Filipino fare for your Floyd Mayweather vs. Pacquiao watch party, you might be out of luck.

"There are some orders we refused because we cannot accommodate any more," said Elmer Ademdido, a cook at Tselog's.

Fil-Am BBQ has also stopped taking pre-fight orders. The restaurant was so busy Friday workers were unable to answer phone calls or emails.

In the Philippines, a Pacquiao fight is treated like a national holiday. Both Tselog's and Fil-Am BBQ are planning to close early Saturday so workers can also catch the fight.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Student Gets New 3-D Printed Hand

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A South Florida graduate student is getting a helping hand, thanks to a fellow classmate and some innovative technology.

Chad Coarsey was born without a left hand — but after a little ingenuity with a 3-D printer, he now has one.

Like many other 25 year olds, Coarsey loves to stay active and play sports.

 

"As I was wrestling in high school I got kind of the nickname, 'The Nub,'" said the Florida Atlantic University graduate student. "It's a big part of my personality, so it's a big part of how people identify who I am," Coarsey said.

Although his parents had offered to buy him a prosthesis many times, Coarsey was okay without one. Then he met his classmate and fellow graduate student, Charles Weinthal.

"I noticed he didn't have a hand," said Weinthal. "So I asked him, 'Chad would you like a hand?' And he looked at me for a moment and just smiled brightly and said 'Yes, I would,'" said Weinthal.

So why now?

"Well probably my curiosity and openness to science and seeing what I can actually make," Coarsey said.

The collaboration for their FAU class project then quickly began. They used FAU High School's high-tech lab and a 3-D printer to make Coarsey's hand.

Here's how 3-D printing works: Guided by a computer model, a plastic filament melts to create the object layer by layer. The 3-D printed prosthetic hand takes less than 24 hours to print.

"This device costs less than $100 to make," Weinthal said.

"When I put it on and started grabbing things and picking up things... for me it was just very surreal," Coarsey said.

It's no surprise these two passed their intro to bioengineering class with flying colors. The next step for "the Hulk hand," as Coarsey jokingly calls it, is for the plastic fingers to move individually.

"I can get another hand and be up to par... but why not push it further and get a hand that's better than what two handed people can do?"

Since this prosthesis has made a difference in Coarsey's life, both men now plan to give a hand to hundreds of amputees in need. They hope this quick and affordable alternative can extend far beyond the walls of their lab.

"It's important that everyone has a hand and that's part of giving. Because you give and get," Weinthal said.

"Despite having a limitation... if there's the motivation you can overcome it yourself," added Coarsey.

The students don't intend on making a business out of the creation. At this time, a foundation is in the works so that they can help thousands of people who may be in need of 3-D printed prosthetics.



Photo Credit: NBCMiami.com

Crash Turns Fatal on I-15

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A crash turned deadly on northbound Interstate 15 Saturday when two vehicles collided just north of Rancho Bernardo Road.

The accident – which involved a van and a car – was reported just before 10 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP did not immediately release details, but said at least one person had been killed in the crash and others had been injured.

This was the second deadly crash reported along Interstate 15 Saturday.

At 3:10 a.m., a wrong-way driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol plowed into a vehicle carrying a family of five along southbound I-15 near Mira Mesa Boulevard. Two of the people in the family car were killed and four others were injured in that crash.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Chargers Continue to Bolster Defense on Draft's Final Day

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The San Diego Chargers made their final two picks of the 2015 NFL Draft on Saturday: this time it was outside linebacker Kyle Emanuel out of North Dakota State and defensive tackle Darius Philon from Arkansas.

The Bolts selected Emanuel with the 153rd pick of Round 5 and Philon with the 192nd pick in Round 6. That makes four of the team's five picks defensive players, adding at least one at every level.

Emanuel is an interesting prospect. He destroyed the FCS level with 19.5 sacks in 2014. Now, those are not exactly SEC left tackles he's running by, but at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds Emanuel has the size, speed and burst to give him a chance at success in the NFL. With the departure of Dwight Freeney and retirement of Jarret Johnson, the Bolts were looking for another edge rusher to add to Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu.

This could be one of those "sleeper" picks, a guy from a small school who has big NFL success. One respected talent evaluator wrote of Emanuel: "(his) tape shows a combination of motor and skill that should be respected inside NFL buildings once he's studied closely. Emanuel has the leverage and hips to get under tackles and turn the corner.”

Philon is more of a project. He's a monster of a man at 6-foot-1 and 298 pounds, but he left Arkansas after his redshirt sophomore season so he's still filling out and can add bulk to his frame.

Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema wanted Philon to stay in school another year, thinking he'd be at least a top-2 round pick with another year of development. Philon's skill set is impressive yet raw.

A defensive end in high school, he learned how to use his hands as a pass rusher before moving inside as a tackle in college. The consensus is Philon needs time to develop but if he does reach his potential he could be a starting interior lineman with the ability to rush the passer, something the Chargers need desperately.

The Chargers now look to sign their class of undrafted rookies still looking for help along the offensive line and at wide receiver.



Photo Credit: AP

AT&T Workers Picket New Sick Leave Policy

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Workers gathered in front of the AT&T store in Escondido, calling for a change to a new policy they say would leave them jobless after using eight of their sick days.

The new policy, which they say took effect Friday, says that if workers use eight sick days they will be fired, according to the Communication Workers of America.

The employees held an informational picket, saying the new sick policy is not fair. Workers said their sicks days would be based not on the calendar year. Instead, the year would start on the first day an employee calls out sick. That means if an employee calls out on May 1 and use eight days between now and May 1, 2016, they would be fired.

“Unfortunately, we're not robots. We have things we need to care of at home and we do get sick and things do happen to us. We need to be able to have the time to heal and come to work and be productive,” said Art Gonzalez, President, CWA 9511.

Workers picketing said the company has not been willing to negotiate with the union. They said they are asking the company to meet them at the bargaining table to create a sick plan that would be realistic and allow for a work-life balance.

"We would love for the company to go back and do the right thing and go back and bargain this and negotiate with CWA the way they should be doing it,” said Gina Blea, Vice President, CWA 9511.

NBC 7 reached out to AT&T and a spokeswoman told NBC 7 the attendance policy only concerns an unexcused absence and does not affect the amount of paid illnesses.

“AT&T provides its employees with excellent middle class careers, with wages and benefits that are among the best in the country. As specified in our labor contracts negotiated with the CWA, that includes paid sick time, vacation, and holidays -- and that’s not changing. We’re adjusting our attendance policy to bring retail employees into alignment with the attendance policy that has been in place in Mobility call centers for three years. The attendance policy concerns only unexcused absences and does not affect the amount of paid illness time our employees get. Our employees have a variety of options available for time off, including short- and long-term disability, FMLA time and other leaves of absence, in addition to the company’s generous vacation and holiday policies. Unexcused absences should be an infrequent occurrence,” the company said in a statement.

The union says this protest is not a one-time deal and said they plan on putting pressure on the company and will protest again.

May Day Protests in San Diego

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Hundreds of people marched through downtown San Diego on Friday to mark May Day, traditionally designed to call attention workers’ rights. Organizers estimated the gathering at close to 400 people.

“This society values wealth and riches, and a lot of times, the people that do the grunt work on the front lines on a daily basis are set aside and not highlighted,” said Kiki Ochoa, with a group called Union Del Barrio.

But if May Day is meant to recognize workers’ rights and wage equality, most of the attention at the local march was focused on law enforcement brutality in San Diego and Baltimore.

“All day, all day, we will fight for Freddie Gray,” screamed out protesters.

Also heard were cries of “Baltimore, we got your back.”

Prior to the march, a rally at Panejo Park featured several speakers. A large banner showed the face of Anastacio Hernandez, who died after getting shot by a Taser fired by Border Patrol agents.

Among the speakers and marchers, was Mickey Kasparian, president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. While he was there to speak on behalf of workers’ rights, Kasparian was asked if his message was lost with so much attention on law enforcement brutality.

“I think it’s about social and economic justice, both. Of course, being a part of labor, we advocate for workers’ rights, but there’s a lot of social injustice going on in our country too,” said Kasparian.

And while the tone of the day was serious, it was, at times, festive. At one point the two mile march was paused in front of the Federal Building where dancers performed.

San Diego police added extra officers to monitor the march, which in the end was peaceful.
 



Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda

Cop, Decedent ID'd in OIS Outside Midway Porn Shop

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Police have identified the officer and decedent in an officer-involved shooting in the Midway district Thursday where a man reported to have threatened a porn shop clerk with a knife Thursday "continued to advance" on a San Diego police officer, according to police officials.

The decedent has been identified by police as 42-year-old Fridoon Zalberg Rawshannehad of San Diego. The officer, a 27-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, has been identified as officer Neal N. Browder. 

The incident happened at approximately 12:05 a.m. Thursday, when police received a 911 call of a man threatening people with a knife on the 3200 block of Hancock Street. 

As the man "continued to advance" on officer Browder, he shot and killed him, police officials said. 

On Friday, officials revealed Browder did not have his body camera on during the incident, investigators said, raising serious concerns about police accountability. None of the incident was caught on the body camera, despite the SDPD’s recent investment to outfit its officers with the body-worn devices. On Friday, SDPD investigators said they had not interviewed the officer involved.

The arriving officer saw a man in the alley matching the suspect description and gave the man some verbal commands, officials said.

When Rawshannehad did not comply, he was shot, officials said. Paramedics were seen giving CPR to him. He was brought to UCSD Medical Center where he was declared dead.

Detectives did not reveal what was said or why the officer decided to open fire.

There were two to three small markers on the ground that investigators usually use to mark bullet shell casings.

We don't know much about the suspect but police say they will reveal more as the investigation continues.

A clerk was taking a smoke break in the alley when he saw what looked like transient wielding a knife saying he was going to kill people, according to a co-worker.

Store employee Chris Rapata told NBC 7 that interaction is what prompted the clerk to call 911.

The bookstore is located next to the World Famous Body Shop strip club, west of Interstate 5 and north of the Rosecrans Street and Sports Arena Boulevard intersection.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 Chris Chan

Cinco de Mayo Trail Run

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NBC 7’s Dave Summers emceed The Cinco de Mayo Trail Run on May 2, 2015. The run was launched by the Valley Elementary Educational Foundation in 2007 to raise money for Valley Elementary School in Poway. Each year the event has grown and now draws more than 1,200 runners throughout San Diego County and Southern California.

Photo Credit: Dave Summers
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