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Funeral for Dean in Amtrak Wreck

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Friends, family and students packed into a Bronx church Friday evening to mourn the CUNY dean who was killed in last week's deadly Amtrak derailment. 

Outside the Community Protestant Church on Gun Hill Road, everyone had a story about how CUNY Medgar Evers College Dean Derrick E. Griffith touched his or her life. 

Jovani Chavys, a dropout student Griffith took under his wing, said, "He gave me the chance to do something with myself. And I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for him, honestly." 

The 42-year-old's funeral comes days after Medgar Evers College set up a scholarship fund in his name. Griffith, the school's acting dean of student affairs and enrollment management, was a beloved member of the college's community, and hundreds paid tribute to the man in the days following the derailment. 

A volunteer ambulance corps saluted Griffith outside the service. Commander James Robinson said it was Griffith who asked him to speak to students at Medgar Evers, and it was one of the proudest moments of his life.

"God, I wish I knew how I could bring him back," said Robinson, of Bedford-Stuyvesant. "But he has left a legacy, a real legacy."

Arthur Henderson, a former Amtrak conductor, said he'd never met Griffith but he felt compelled to pay his respects after learning about him.

"When this tragedy happened, I got really kind of emotionally involved, and I really, really made an effort, and thank God I'm here tonight to express my feelings to the family," he said.

Griffith was scheduled to participate in his doctoral commencement ceremony on May 27, and was to be conferred his Ph.D. in urban education from CUNY, which has released his dissertation, "What's Black Got to Do With It? An Analysis of Low-Income Black Students and Educational Outcomes", online. 

He was a father figure to his students, and on Friday, many said the best way they could honor him is try and live up to his expectations.

"It's a sad day, but we're always going to remember him for the things he did for us, as people who had nothing gorwing up," said Chavys. 

Griffith's body will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. 

Seven other people, including six with ties to the tri-state area, were killed in the May 12 crash, which also injured more than 200 people. Federal investigators are looking into the derailment and have said that the train's engineer was going more than 100 mph when the train derailed on a curved section of track in Philadelphia.

Steven Schwartzapfel, the attorney representing Griffith's family, said earlier this week it appeared that Amtrak was "negligent" in the derailment, though no lawsuit has been filed at this time, given the ongoing nature of the investigation.  

"A lawsuit at the appropriate time will be filed," Schwartzapfel said.


More Salmonella Cases Reported in San Diego

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Two more cases of salmonella have been reported in San Diego County, increasing the total number to nine cases.

Seven San Diego residents and two visitors here have been diagnosed with Salmonella Paratyphi B after eating raw tuna commonly found in sushi.

The cluster of San Diego cases is part of a nationwide outbreak of salmonella poisoning sickening 53 people in nine states.

San Diego County health workers said Friday that most of the people who have become ill live or recently traveled to Southwestern states, like California.

Health officials have not pinpointed an exact cause of the outbreak, but say nearly all of the sick people ate sushi containing raw fish during the week before they fell ill.

Many of those people, San Diego health officials say, ate spicy tuna sushi.

"There is no one specific product that has yet to be identified, but that's the common thread," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County's public health officer.

People started getting sick on March 5 and more cases were reported into May nationwide. Patients range from a baby to 83 years old, officials said.

In San Diego, cases broke out in late March and early April, with one person having to be hospitalized, Wooten said.

Salmonella causes diarrhea, nausea, fever and abdominal cramping. The infection lasts about four to seven days and most people recover without treatment, health workers said.

Pregnant women, children and elderly people are encouraged to stay away from eating raw tuna to take extra precautions, Wooten said.

To prevent illness, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water prior to preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom. Salmonella can be killed by cooking foods to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Frank Ursitti, a sports fisherman with H&M Landing, said contamination likely happened while the fish was being processed.

"Before this tuna actually reaches the market or the end user, which could be a sushi bar, it's being handled by several different processors," he said. "The fish is actually being loined or quartered out from there."

Isla Vista Victim's Dad Devotes Life to Curbing Gun Violence

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Since his son, Christopher, was killed during a shooting rampage in Isla Vista, California, a year ago Saturday, Richard Martinez has upended his life to advocate for gun control.

The former criminal defense lawyer who once gave little thought to the number of people shot in the United States now cares only about making sure others do not die as his 20-year-old son did.

"I feel a sense of urgency," he said this week. "I feel like the longer it takes us to get these things done, the more people are going to die for no good reason. It's that important. So for me, this is a matter of life and death."

Martinez is a senior outreach associate for Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group. He has traveled the country asking voters to back candidates in favor of what the group calls common-sense gun legislation. He worked to get gun control measures passed in California and Washington and to turn back other bills in Florida.

“The level of gun violence in this country is appalling,” he said. “We have lock-down drills now in elementary schools and we regard that as normal. When I was growing up in the '50s and '60s in this country, no little kid ever thought of being shot and killed in their elementary school."

Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara, was gunned down at a deli near the campus on May 23, 2014 when a troubled 22-year-old student of a local community college went on a shooting spree.

Elliot Rodger had three guns in his BMW, a Glock 34 and two SIG Saur P226s. Firing out the window, he killed three people and injured seven others. He injured another seven people by driving over them with the car. Just before the shooting rampage, he killed three others at his apartment, stabbing to death two roommates and a guest.

Rodger, whose father, Peter, was an assistant director of the “The Hunger Games,” had earlier been visited by deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office because his mother was worried. But the deputies failed to search his room or find his guns and left convinced of a misunderstanding.

Martinez’s activism began immediately after the shootings, at a sheriff’s office news conference where he emotionally denounced “craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA.” At his son’s memorial he challenged the mourners to send postcards to their political representatives with what was becoming his mantra, “Not One More.”

Afterward, Everytown for Gun Safety approached him about delivering some of the 2.4 million postcards created in response and he did. He hand-delivered postcards to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a strong supporter of gun rights, and to U.S. Rep. Marco Rubio, who opposed some gun control measures as ineffective and infringing on the constitutional right to bear arms.

He's been working full-time for Everytown for Gun Safety ever since.

"Mr. Martinez said he never expected this could happen to his family -- but gun violence can, and does, happen in every town," said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which merged with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to create Everytown for Gun Safety last year.

The National Rifle Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Martinez, 62, grew up on a farm in an extended family that hunted, and he served in the U.S. Army as a military police office in Heidelberg in what was then West Germany. Before his son was killed, he said he paid no attention to debates over gun control — not when 20 children were massacred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, nor when some of their parents pleaded unsuccessfully with the U.S. Congress to pass an expansion of background checks for firearms purchases.

“I blamed craven politicians,” he said. “The fact is I’m responsible too. I didn’t do anything.”

Everytown for Gun Safety has turned its attention to the states. In November, Washington voters approved universal background checks for gun buyers -- a law the NRA said would be ineffective. After the Isla Vista shootings, the California lawmakers approved allowing families to ask a judge to remove firearms temporarily from a relative who appears to pose a threat.

Martinez said he would never know whether the new legislation could have made a difference in his son's death.

"But it's a new tool that wasn't available to families or law enforcement before," he said. "And it's something that can save lives because we need to do a better job in this country about keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people and that means felons, domestic abusers and people who are mentally unstable."

No laws will protect everyone all the time, but gun controls can make Americans safer, Martinez said, just as seat belts, air bags and other measures cut the number of deaths from automobile accidents. There is no single answer to gun violence, but many, and they will make a difference over time, he said.

On average 32,514 people die from gun violence in the United States each year, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

"Why is it we have to accept such a high level of gun violence?" Martinez asked. "It's not necessary. These things are preventable. There are solutions."

The NRA in the 1950s and 1960s was a far different organization than it is today -- civic minded and safety conscious, he said.

"Their attitude towards gun safety was far different in that time period than it is now," he said. "They need to get back to their traditional values."

His son, whom he described as funny, kind, generous and gentle, was competitive in academics and athletics and wanted to follow his parents into law. His mother, Caryn Michaels, is a deputy district attorney in San Luis Obispo.

"He just enjoyed life," Richard Martinez said. "He was just an absolutely terrific kid."

Martinez himself has not been back in the courtroom since his son died. What is important to him now is trying to save the lives of other young people.

"That's why I get up in the morning," he said. "Otherwise -- my son was the center of my life. He meant everything to me."


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Man, 80, Killed in Mission Bay Crash

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An 80-year-old man was killed Friday after he drove his car approximately 40 feet off the roadway into an embankment the Mission Bay area and plowed into several palm trees, officials confirmed.

The crash happened just before 12:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of SeaWorld Drive near Interstate 5. Police said the elderly man was driving his 1996 Jaguar eastbound when he came to a bend in the roadway, lost control and drove straight into westbound lanes. The driver's car then drove down an embankment and hit several palm trees.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene just before 1 p.m.

Aerial footage of the scene showed the car came to rest between several palm trees. At least two palm trees were knocked to the ground, landing near the vehicle.

The deadly accident is under investigation and officials did not release further details, including the victim's name. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, officials said.

The shoulder at southbound I-5 was blocked off to traffic following the collision.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Pilot Ejects When Plane Runs Into Bay

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A military plane has gone off the runway at Naval Air Station North Island into the San Diego Bay, officials confirmed Friday.

A Navy pilot, flying in a T-45C aircraft, overshot the runway while landing during a training exercise at 2 p.m. (5 p.m. ET) a Navy spokesman said.

The pilot was able to eject from the aircraft before it ran into the water. According to Harbor Police, a civilian boater pulled the crew member out of the water.

After being evaluated at UC San Diego Medical Center, the pilot was released and is in stable condition, Navy officials said. When a pilot ejects from a plane, Lt. Reagan Lauritzen told NBC 7 that he or she must have more thorough medical evaluations than a standard checkup.

According to Naval Air Forces, the pilot was training to undergo aircraft carrier landing qualifications before the crash.

The T-45C plane, assigned to Training Squadron 9 in Mississippi, is a two-seat jet used specifically for Navy training. The $17 million aircraft is made by Boeing and BAE Systems, according to a Naval technology website.

The incident happened off the Coronado base's runway 29, near downtown San Diego. For hours, the aircraft sat floating in shallow water against a sea wall.

By Friday evening, crews stationed a crane on the shore and hooked lines underneath the submerged aircraft. They were able to hoist it onto land as night started to fall.

While most of the plane appears intact, the canopy did fly off.

The crash grabbed witness Sean Brady's attention when he heard a large boom.

"So we came around the corner and looked outside and I saw a parachute landing in the water," he said.

His first thoughts went to the pilot. "It was good to see the parachute, and you're just hoping he's OK," said Brady.

The Naval Air Forces said a safety investigation has been launched to find out why the pilot went off the runway.

In 2004, the base experienced a similar crash when an F-18 pilot was unable to stop the jet and rolled it past the airfield, into the bay. According to the U-T San Diego, the pilot was pulled from the water unhurt.

Car Slams into Light Pole, Knocks it Over

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Traffic in Pacific Beach is backed up after a driver hit a light pole, police said.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the 1600 block of Las Altos Road in Pacific Beach.

The driver suffered minor injuries.

A light pole was blocking the street as of 11:54 a.m. and an officer was on scene at 12:29 a.m., working to direct traffic.

Soldier Father Surprises Daughter

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It was a Memorial Day weekend to remember for one local girl who received a heartwarming surprise from her father that was captured on video.

Trent Shoemaker has served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years and has been deployed to Iraq and Bosnia. Due to his role as a Flight Operations Specialist based in Jacksonville, Florida, Shoemaker only gets to see his daughter, 9-year-old Zolei, as well as his girlfriend, Jennie Mojica, every few months. Trent made sure his latest reunion with his daughter was a special one however.

“I knew I was gonna surprise her,” Trent said. “She actually thought I was gonna be at work.”

Jennie had a camera on hand Friday as she and Trent visited Zolei at her new school, Joseph H. Brown Elementary in Philadelphia. The camera rolled as Zolei ran towards her father, cried out “Daddy,” and jumped into his arms. The father and daughter held each other close as tears of joy fell down her face.

“I was really excited because I miss him,” Zolei told NBC10. “I miss him when he’s away but I’m proud of him.”

While Jennie admits there are challenges with Trent being away so often, she is proud of all that he’s done for his family and his country.

“It’s tough because obviously we want him here physically,” Jennie said. “But we understand that what he’s doing isn’t just for us but it’s for everyone.”

It’s an understanding that is especially relevant for the family this Memorial Day Weekend. It’s also something Trent and Jennie hope other families are aware of as they partake in the normal holiday festivities.

“Keep the people who are still in harm’s way in mind,” Trent said. “There are still people out there across the world, still fighting.”

“I’ve learned a lot through him,” Jennie said. “We have to keep in mind that there are soldiers out there putting their life at risk to keep our country safe. I wish he was home more but we’re all safe because of it.”

Trent will head back to work on Monday. But for now, just like the citizens he protects, he’s enjoying Memorial Day Weekend with the people he loves the most.

Sig Alert Issued for Northbound Interstate 5 Near India Street

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A Sig Alert has been issued for an off-ramp on Interstate 5 after a vehicle overturned.

Northbound I-5 at India Street will be closed until further notice as crews work.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

How Far Must You Go to Prevent DUIs?

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The dangers of drinking and driving carry extra weight heading into this busy Memorial Day weekend after several recent deadly DUI crashes in San Diego ended with tragic consequences.

In some of these situations - we've learned about the extra efforts people made to try and stop the drivers before they got behind the wheel. It begs the question: how far would you go to prevent someone from drinking and driving?

First and foremost - obviously the responsibility lies with the person drinking and potentially driving - but what obligation do others have to prevent it and can they be held legally responsible?

NBC 7 asked locals how far they might go to try to stop a drunk driver.

“[For] friends and family, I’d go as far as I could to try and get those keys. But an individual I don’t know, I can’t necessarily get physical with them but do everything I can to try and stop it,” said one San Diego resident.

“I would stop them. I would try to retrain them and then contact security,” said one local woman.

Earlier this month, 21-year-old U.S. Marine Jason Riley King drove the wrong way on State Route 163 in Mission Valley, plowing his truck into a Prius packed with five people. The impact killed two UC San Diego medical students in the Prius, Anne Li Baldock, 24, and Madison Elizabeth Cornwell, 23.

According to prosecutors, King was having drinks with friends at the Mission Valley Hotel on the night of the deadly crash. Several people – including friends and even a bar manager – tried to stop King from leaving the bar and driving drunk that night.

But, sadly, those efforts were not enough to stop the tragedy.

Steve Lykins, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), encourages people to call 911 if they suspect a stranger is about to drink and drive.

“Certainly, I think we all have social responsibility,” said Lykins. “Can we make somebody do it. No.”

But, for friends, Lykins said the plan starts before the night begins.

"If you wait until you're out there and have something to drink and then decide how you're going to get home, you're going to make a bad call many of the times,” he said.

Still, telling a friend what to do in a situation like this can prove challenging, so having a plan in place can help.

"[There have been] a couple instances where I've had to take the keys while they're intoxicated,” said one San Diego resident. “It’s been harder. They definitely put up a fight, so I just don't want to go there, so usually we talk about it at the beginning of the evening.”

Meanwhile, the deputy district attorney investigating the SR-163 crash involving King said the DA’s office has never encountered a case where someone other than the DUI suspect is held criminally responsible.

It is a California misdemeanor for bartenders to serve habitual drunks or to anyone "obviously intoxicated,” but when we asked for the most recent stats on overserving violations we found just 32 last year for the entire state of California.

“We’ve also got an issue for staffing for ABC and there’s only so many people who can get involved in the investigation of these cases,” Lykins said.
Lykins hopes these horrible crashes don't go unnoticed, but the problem remains.

Early Friday morning CHP officers arrested a woman suspected of driving under the influence who had crashed her car twice before they finally caught up with her, preventing more damage and possible heartache.

Certain cities in San Diego County have a Social Host Ordinance, but these cases mostly apply to parents being held responsible for parties and underage drinking in their home.
 

Rolling Stones Concert: Where to Park, How to Get There

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The Rolling Stones kick off their 15-city North American tour Sunday in San Diego’s Petco Park but before fans can get that rock ‘n’ roll “Satisfaction,” they’ll have to drum up a plan for parking and getting to the downtown venue.

The show is sold out and a huge crowd is expected so concert attendees are encouraged to arrive downtown early. Petco Park reps said surrounding parking lots will open at 1 p.m. and the gates to the ballpark will open at 6 p.m. The opening act, musician Gary Clark Jr., will go on at 8 p.m.

Parking at lots adjacent to the ballpark is limited and is expected to sell out. Guests can pre-purchase reserved parking permits to guarantee themselves a spot in these lots via this website.

Outside of parking lots adjacent to Petco Park, there will be more than 2,500 parking spaces available at the Convention Center and Hilton Bayfront garages on Harbor Drive. To access these lots, driver should use the Front Street exit from southbound Interstate 5 or the Cesar Chavez Parkway exit from northbound I-5.

Now, for those who’d rather not plan for parking, public transportation is an option.

San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will run an added special event trolley service on Sunday just for the concert. Park and Ride locations with free parking are located along trolley lines, including 5,000 free parking spots at Qualcomm Stadium.

All three trolley lines will provide direct service to Petco Park: the Green Line serves the Gaslamp Quarter Trolley Station just two blocks from the ballpark while the Blue Line and Orange Line both serve the 12th & Imperial Transit Center just steps away from Petco Park.

All three trolley lines will run extra post-concert service, with final departures approximately 45 minutes after the concert ends. MTS is also offering mobile ticketing to customers on their smartphones in an effort to speed up ticket lines and the boarding process.

For additional information and the full schedule, visit the MTS website.

Finally, North County Transit District (NCTD) Coaster trains with service to downtown will depart Oceanside at 1:50 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Sunday. The Coaster will also offer a special return northbound train leaving from Santa Fe Depot 60 minutes after The Rolling Stones concert ends. For additional info, visit the NCTD website.

In terms of security at the ballpark, Petco Park reps said the new security screening process implemented this year will be in effect. This means all attendees must be screened via metal detectors prior to entry.
An alternate method of screening will be provided for guests with strollers, guests in wheelchairs, and those with medical devices that set off metal detectors.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early to minimize potential wait times.

That’s it, “Wild Horses.” Enjoy the show.
 



Photo Credit: AP

Oil-Soaked Sea Lion Treated in SD Dies

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A sea lion sickened in the oil spill near Santa Barbara that was being rescued and cared for by SeaWorld San Diego has died. 

The male sea lion was driven to SeaWorld Thursday night to be treated by veterinary staff. The animal was hurt at the Refugio State Beach near Santa Barbara, where a broken oil pipe spilled about 105,000 gallons of oil into the ocean.

The sea lion arrived in critical condition, said Kat Marin with SeaWorld San Diego, and died in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

The Rescue Team hydrated the animal, took a blood sample and started to wash the oil off. A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Dr. Todd Schmitt, a senior veterinarian at SeaWorld, said the male sea lion had oil covering much of her body and 50 percent of her head.

“When the van arrived, you could actually smell the fumes,” Schmitt said. “He was fairly alert and responsive, but you could tell he had a long day.”

Oil can be damaging to sea lions in that it's irritating to their skin, restricts their ability to thermal regulate and can be toxic if ingested, veterinarians said.

That sea lion was the first sea lion sickened by oil that’s come to SeaWorld San Diego. SeaWorld San Diego has since received additional animals sickened by the oil spill and will be caring for them. 

Earlier this week, a team from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network set up at SeaWorld San Diego and washed and treated oil-soaked birds.



Photo Credit: SeaWorld San Diego
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Missing Kayaker's Body May Be Found

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A body discovered Saturday in the Hudson River could be the 46-year-old missing kayaker allegedly killed last month by his fiancee, according to a forensic specialist close to the case.

"We were informed that a body had been recovered from the Hudson River and that body was believed to be from Mr. Viafore," forensic scientist Michael Archer told NBC 4 New York.

Vincent Viafore has been missing since April 19, when his kayak capsized in the Hudson, about 50 miles north of New York City near Bannerman Island.

Angelika Graswald, 35, who had been his fiancee, has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the case. Archer works for attorneys representing Graswald.

"It is my understanding that the body located today was found in the general vicinity where Mr. Viafore went missing," Archer said, "and from various media reporting, the police have said that the clothing on the person found match what Mr. Viafore was last seen wearing."

The body was found near the Cornwall Yacht Club, about a mile south of where Viafore's kayak capsized. A medical examiner is attempting to determine the identity of the body.

Graswald, a Latvian expatriate, admitted to tampering with Viafore's kayak while the engaged couple paddled on the Hudson and later confessed "it felt good knowing he would die," a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Viafore, 46, was not wearing a life jacket.

Assistant District Attorney Julie Mohl said at a bail hearing Wednesday that Graswald felt trapped and stood to benefit by $250,000 from life insurance policies.

Mohl did not detail how Graswald tampered with her fiance's kayak but said it filled with water and capsized. Viafore held onto his boat for 5 to 10 minutes in the cold, choppy water, but Graswald called 911 some 20 minutes after his kayak capsized. Witnesses say she intentionally capsized her own kayak, Mohl said.

Graswald was rescued by another boater and treated for hypothermia.

She later told investigators that she felt relief and "it felt good knowing he would die," Mohl said.

The judge set bail at $3 million cash.

After the hearing, defense attorney Richard Portale noted the language barrier between Graswald and investigators. He said he would look into whether her statements were voluntary.

"I'm skeptical of the statements," he said. 

More Oil-Soaked Animals Arrive at SeaWorld

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A sea lion and elephant seal sickened in the oil spill near Santa Barbara are being rescued and cared for by SeaWorld San Diego.

The animals arrived Friday to be treated by veterinary staff and professionals at the Oiled Wildlife Care Center. The animal were hurt at the Refugio State Beach near Santa Barbara, where a broken oil pipe spilled about 105,000 gallons of oil into the ocean.

The condition of the animals is guarded as the team continues to how the oil has affected their health.

Dr. Todd Schmitt, a senior veterinarian at SeaWorld, said the female sea lion had oil covering much of her body and 50 percent of her head.

“When the van arrived, you could actually smell the fumes,” Schmitt said. “She was fairly alert and responsive, but you could tell she had a long day.”

This is the second sea lion and first elephant seal sickened by oil that’s come to SeaWorld San Diego, Schmitt said. The first sea lion treated by SeaWorld died Saturday.

Earlier this week, a team from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network set up at SeaWorld San Diego and washed and treated oil-soaked birds.



Photo Credit: Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego

Youth Soccer Coach Threatens Parent

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A Long Island, New York, youth soccer coach was arrested after sending a profanity-laced email to a parent who was concerned about his 6-year-old son's playing time, police said.

Robert Ricciuti, 45, of Glen Head, was arraigned Saturday on a charge of second-degree aggravated harassment for allegedly sending the email, which invited the boy's father to meet with him and his baseball bat.

"However, don't be surprised when I bounce your head off the floor with a Louisville Slugger," the email reads, according to a police citation. "And by the way, I am not simply spitting words out. I would actually prefer to settle this in person. You're a pathetic excuse for a man."

The citation states that Ricciuti admitted to investigators that he sent the emails.

"I lost my head," he told a detective. "I overreacted. I totally went overboard with my emails."

Ricciuti is also a principal at a school in Yonkers.

It was unclear whether Ricciuti had retained an attorney who could comment on the charge.



Photo Credit: NCPD

Shark Spottings a Sign of Healthy Population: Expert

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Recent shark sighting off the Southern California coastline have some residents worried as kick off the summer beach season Memorial Day weekend. 

From Santa Barbara down to San Diego and through to Baja Mexico, more than a dozen great white sharks have been spotted, some even 50 feet from the shore in Huntington Beach.

Mike Price, the assistant curator of fishes at SeaWorld San Diego, said those sharks are not looking for people.

“Throughout the summer...you might have an opportunity to see a juvenile white shark...it's exactly where they're supposed to be, it's where they want to be, it's where all their food sources are,” Price said.

The sharks are chasing sting rays and small fish, Price said, and the ones closer to the coast tend to be younger.

“I would always recommend avoiding large sharks from a safety point of view...they're big...they're strong and even though they may not see you as a meal...if they feel threatened...they might defend themselves,” Price said.

The sharks spotted so far have been juvenile sharks about five to seven feet long, feeding on fish and stingrays, experts say.

Beachgoers expressed concern about the recent sightings.

“If there’s baby great white sharks…there’s mommy great white sharks somewhere closeby,” said Holly Holguin.

She said the thought of sharks spotted off the coast disturbed her.

“It’s a little disconcerting,” she said.

Beachgoer Heather Williams said the sightings make her want to stay away from the water. 

Though the recent uptick in shark sightings may be alarming to some, Price says there is one upside.

“Shark populations around the world are in trouble so this could be potentially a bright spot if we are in fact seeing more and more juvenile white sharks along the coast,” he said.


50-Year-Old Falls 60 Feet From Cliff in Ocean Beach

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A 50-year-old woman is suffering from serious injuries after she fell from a cliffs at Sunset Cliffs, officials said. 

The woman was rescued by a helicopter off the coast of Ocean Beach after the 60 foot fall, said Lee Swanson with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. 

She is suffering from serious injuries but is conscious and breathing, he said, and talking with the rescue team. 

Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 News

Girl Scouts Replace Stolen Flags

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A group of Girl Scouts may deserve a "Saving Memorial Day" badge after their quick thinking preserved a Southern California cemetery's tradition of honoring veterans.

The girls of Troop 1124 scrambled Saturday to replace hundreds of American flags apparently stolen from an Inland Empire cemetery. They quickly bought out several nearby stores of their flags, according to the Troop leader Cynthia Bertoldo, spending $450 of their own money in a gesture that a cemetery worker said saved their Memorial Day weekend.

"We used our cookie money to buy new flags so we can remember and honor our veterans," said Bertoldo's 11-year-old daughter, Emiley.

For Memorial Day each year, an Inland Empire Veterans of Foreign Wars post adorns veterans' graves at Elsinore Valley Cemetery with crosses accompanied by small American flags, cemetery administrative assistant Michael Blake said. They work with some other entities and the help of Boy and Girl Scouts.

But the roughly 650 flags were missing from a storage shed Saturday morning, and suspected stolen -- on the day when they were supposed to be laid out.

"We all kind of looked at each other like, well, what are we going to do?" Blake said.

Troop 1124 was at the cemetery at 8 a.m. to help with the project, just like they'd done for the last six years, Emiley said.

But when they were told that, unlike the prior years, they wouldn't be able to plant flags in the crosses, the girls discussed it and voted to take action.

"Tell us where to go, we'll go get the flags now. We don't want to walk away without the flags on these graves," Cynthia Bertoldo said.

They called nearby stores, including a Wal-Mart, Big Lot and Dollar Tree, and reserved all the flags they had on hand.

All told, Troop 1124 spent $450, Bertoldo said, "quite a bit" of their cookie fund, which is usually spent on things like trips. But Bertoldo said that the girls always spend at least 30 percent of the troop's cookie sales profits on the community.

The troop returned triumphant. It was a relief, Blake said, to be suddenly gifted a set of over 700 new, and matching, flags. He called the girls "saviors of the day" and added it was "really awesome of them to step up and do it for us, because that wasn't cheap."

All told, the girls were at the cemetery for about five-and-a-half hours Saturday, until 1:30 p.m., when the flags were all set up, Cynthia Bertoldo said.

"This is what I expect from the girls all the time," she said. "This is who they are. They're just excited that somebody thinks that they're special."

The Bertoldos have a personal connection to the cemetery, too: Emiley's great-grandfather's wife is buried there.

And though she never met him, Emiley thinks about her great-grandfather a lot, she said. Vito Bertoldo was honored with the Medal of Honor for guarding two U.S. command posts in France against a host of enemy soldiers, including nearby tanks, for two long days in January 1945.

"Master Sergeant Bertoldo withstood the attack of vastly superior forces for more than 48 hours without rest or relief, time after time escaping death only by the slightest margin while killing 40 hostile soldiers," his medal citation reads.

Emiley said she was amazed at "all he's done for our country." And as for the great flag rescue of Memorial Day 2015, she said "it feels super good when you're helping the community."



Photo Credit: Tony Shin

Jack-Knifed Semi Blocks Traffic on SR-67

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Officials issued a Sig Alert on State Route 67 between Scripps Poway Parkway and Poway Road Saturday after a jack-knifed semi-truck blocked several lanes along the freeway.

California Highway Patrol said the semi-truck began blocking northbound and southbound lanes on SR-67 at around 1:25 p.m. By 1:48 p.m., a Sig Alert was in effect in both directions as officials worked to clear the roadway.

CHP set up detours for drivers in the area.

Further details were not immediately released. Check back for updates on this developing story.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Camera Installed at Park Plagued by Razor Blades

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A new security camera and light has been installed at a popular San Diego park that has been targeted for nearly two years by someone purposely planting razor blades in the grass near play areas, police confirmed.

San Diego Police Department Lt. Scott Wahl said a camera was installed at Bonita Cove Park last month as a security measure.

He said the camera is easy to spot at the park and police are hoping this will deter the suspect or suspects responsible for intentionally planting razor blades there.

The razor blade problem at Bonita Cove Park has been happening since August 2013. Often times, the razor blades are left facing upward in areas where children and parents play.

In one case in April 2014, two boys were cut by razor blades while playing in the grass. When police combed the area, they discovered nearly 20 razor blades scattered about the park.

In January 2015, six razor blades were found in Bonita Cove Park. They appeared to be brand new and were found with the sharp sides facing upwards.

Following that incident, San Diego County Crime Stoppers and the Mission Beach Women's Club (MBWC) announced they were offering a combined $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

To date, no arrests have been made.

Police have said this case is difficult to investigate because the incidents are often spread out, with months between each.

Investigators are relying on the public to help keep tabs on this case. Anyone with information about the razor blade incidents at the park should call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: Liberty Zabala
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PI Believes Missing Couple May Have Crashed

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The search for a California couple missing since a trip to a casino on Mother’s Day trudged on Saturday, with a private investigator pursuing a theory that the couple may have been in a car accident.

Fullerton, Calif., residents Cecil "Paul" Knutson, 79 and Dianna Bedwell, 67, were last seen leaving Valley View Casino in north San Diego on May 10 at around 2 p.m. in their white 2014 Hyundai Sonata.

They have not been heard from in nearly two weeks, despite several searches by family members and officials and an investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Now, the couple’s family has hired Bill Garcia, a private investigator to work on the case.
Garcia said he believes the couple may have been involved in a car accident and their wreckage wound up in an area that’s difficult to see or access.

“I believe it’s likely a case that they may have gone off the road,” Garcia said.

On Saturday, Garcia and a local volunteer continued searching for the couple amid the rough terrain in the Valley Center area near State Route 76 leading to Valley View and Pala casinos.

Though the task has proven difficult, it’s one that Garcia is willing to undertake.

“There are things that the common person wouldn’t know to look for, that we do,” he explained. “At this time of the year the undergrowth has a lot of rebound so a vehicle could go right into a bush and you’ll never know it’s there.”

At this point, the search may seem futile to some, but Garcia believes it must continue.

“The bottom line is, these folks need to be found and brought home, and that’s what I’m trying to help the family do,” he said.

According to sheriff’s department investigators, the couple’s last cellphone signal was recorded 10 miles away from Valley View Casino near the Interstate 15 on-ramp and Deer Springs Road on the day they disappeared.

Images captured on a surveillance camera showed the couple leaving the casino just before 2 p.m. on May 10.

After their day trip to the casino the couple was supposed to travel to their son’s home in La Quinta to celebrate Mother’s Day.

When hours passed and they did not arrive, their son, Robert Acosta, called the authorities.
Knutson and Bedwell are both diabetic and dependent on insulin. Their vehicle has the California license plate 7EHE981.

Anyone with information on the couple’s whereabouts is urged to call the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department at (858) 565-5200.

Earlier this week, volunteers with Team Amber Rescue said their group had walked and driven various routes in search of the couple, scouring everywhere between Indio and Borrego to no avail.
The volunteers said they hoped to get wall-sized maps so they could begin targeting even more search areas.

Meanwhile, Jan Caldwell with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said the Search and Rescue (SAR) team from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department searched areas this week
where officials believe the missing couple could have crashed.

“Although it was a very thorough search, it yielded no results. We also spent time in San Diego County search - again, to no avail,” Caldwell told NBC 7. “It’s an odd [case] – no doubt.”



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