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Minivan Slams Into Center City Newsstand, 2 Hurt

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A minivan crashed into a newsstand and bank in Center City Philadelphia Tuesday leaving at least two people hurt.

The vehicle jumped the curb at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard around 11:45 a.m. after a crash involving another vehicle, fire radio said. The minivan came to rest against the BB&T bank location near the entrance to Suburban Station.

Medics rushed a 38-year-old and 77-year-old to nearby Hahnemann Hospital where doctors listed both men in stable condition, Philadelphia police said.

No word yet on the extent of injuries or if they were on the sidewalk or in the van.

Philadelphia Police accident investigators responded as they searched for clues.

Expect traffic slowdowns in the area.



Photo Credit: NBC10 - Cydney Long

4 Cops Suspended After Video Shows Officers Kicking Burning Man

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Four Jersey City police officers, including a lieutenant, have been suspended indefinitely without pay amid growing outrage over video that showed cops kicking a burning bystander caught up in a chase and fiery crash last week, the city's mayor said Monday. 

Mayor Steven Fulop, who had previously called called for the officers seen in the video to be fired, also said two supervisors were transferred in the wake of the video surfacing. The city's public safety director, James Shea, joined Fulop in making the announcement. The next step, Fulop said, is up to the prosecutor.

The man seen on video being kicked by officers June 4 turned out to be 28-year-old Miguel Feliz, an innocent man on his way to work who got caught in the fray, not the driver that police officers were pursuing, the Hudson County prosecutor's office said last week.

A police union says the cops in the video were trying to put out the flames and pull the man to safety -- a contention Fulop called outright "ridiculous.”

Fulop says the officers not only handled the crash wrong, but also the preceding 6-mile chase in which officers opened fire from their police car.

“You should not be firing a weapon from a moving vehicle -- this isn’t the movies,” Fulop said last week. He reiterated that position Monday. 

Feliz has undergone surgery for serious burns and remains hospitalized. His family says he also has fractured ribs -- and a long road to recovery before he can spend time with his family and 6-year-old son. 

Angeanette Munoz said it has distressed her son to have to see his father in the hospital.

“He was expecting him to be at his kindergarten graduation, so this is very hurtful,” Munoz said.

Ramon Feliz said he initially thought police were helping his brother out of the burning vehicle, but then he saw the video.

“When the video came out, the truth came out,” Feliz said.

The man who recorded the encounter, Eric Roberto, told NBC 4 New York he witnessed the officers kicking the injured man and dragging him into the street.

"They didn't help him, they just started kicking him and grabbing him," Roberto said. "I don't think they treated him the right way, and that's not how you treat any human in this world."

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet said why police were chasing 48-year-old Leo Pinkston, but Pinkston is facing several charges related to the chase and crash, including eluding and aggravated assault.

Authorities said Monday he was shot at least one leg during the police pursuit, but before the fiery crash.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said her office's investigation is ongoing. She said her team is conducting a review of multiple crash probes involving more than five vehicles and reviewing more than 15 videos containing several hours of evidence. They are also interviewing 20 witnesses and conducting a ballistics investigation of multiple shootings, Suarez said.

“We will consider this evidence in its entirety as we investigate the actions of all individuals who were involved,” Suarez said in the statement last week.



Photo Credit: Erik Roberto

Tips for Dealing With Extreme Heat

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NBC10's Pamela Osborne shares some ways you can make Tuesday's high temperatures a little bit more bearable.

All They Want for Father's Day Is a Kidney

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Jay, the dad of the Lewis family, doesn't know his family is searching for a kidney for him, nor that they've hit Facebook in their quest to do so.

The Scranton, Pennsylvania-based family, led by Jay’s wife Melissa (who had been in contact with NBC10 earlier this month about a video her daughter shared) recently posted a new video hoping to reach potential kidney donors. This new video revealed that, now, all of Jay's children are in on the secret.

"I came up with the idea for the Father's Day video because Sawyer, my three-year-old, and Xander, my five-year-old, one day out of the blue said they were getting their daddy a kidney for Father's day," Melissa said.

Although their search is being kept a secret from Jay for now, Melissa was willing to risk it to get the word out there. While the family hopes to have news of a new kidney by Father's Day, June 17, Melissa said, "even if it's months from now, I will tell him 'Happy Father's Day.'"

Jason “Jay” Lewis, a 39-year-old father of six and a husband of 10 years to Melissa, 38, has stage five kidney failure due to polycystic kidney disease. Jay discovered he had polycystic kidney disease when he was 16. The disease is genetic and Melissa says unfortunately each kid has a 50-50 shot of getting it.

"I always pray that none of mine (kids) have it," she said.

Originally, Melissa began the Kidney For Jay Give the Gift of Life Today Facebook page in March 2017. Her daughter Savannah wanted to help spread the word about their search. Savannah created her own Facebook page called Savannah’s Secret Gift of Life Search, and she made a video that aimed to get "one million likes and shares" hoping to spread the word of the family's search for a "gift of life."

So far, 35 people have reached out to the Lewis family and four have submitted paperwork. However, this does not guarantee a match. The Lewis family hopes that someone is a match or will enter the paired kidney exchange if they are not. Not everyone that tests will pass the testing process.

Jay has type B blood and can accept an organ from people with O blood as well.  Iif someone wants to be a donor but is not a direct match, they can enter the Paired Kidney Exchange. Jay is on transplant list at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

"We are searching the world for an extra special amazing person to give my husband his life back and be able to have the energy to watch our six kids grow up,” Melissa said.

Michael Mittelman, Co-Founder and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Patient Advocacy of The American Living Organ Donor Fund, a nonprofit that works "specifically to protect the living donor," fully supports living donations and has had three transplants.

"I’ve been a recipient advocate for many, many years, but I didn't understand what they go through," Mittleman says. The American Living Organ Donor Fund does not charge anything as, "we work them on this journey as they try to save someone’s life.”

“It’s hard trying to keep one of the biggest secrets of a lifetime from your best friend," Melissa said. "But, so far, the world and I aren’t doing such a bad job at it.” 



Photo Credit: Melissa Lewis Facebook
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Small Plane Crashes Near NJ Airport

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A pilot is recovering from minor injuries after he crashed at the Eagle’s Nest Airport Monday night.

Photos posted on the Support Eagles Nest Airport Facebook page show the aircraft crashed in a wooded area at the Ocean County airport. Reports of the incident came in just after 11 p.m. The pilot was the only person on board, state police said.

Police resumed the investigation Tuesday.

This was the second crash at the Eagleswood airport in the past month, police said.



Photo Credit: Support Eagles Nest Airport

Sex Crimes Take Front Seat at Cosby Trial

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The spectacle in Norristown, Pennsylvania, continued Tuesday during day two of jury deliberations in the Bill Cosby trial. As jurors huddled inside the courthouse, activists gathered on the steps to defend the victims of sexual violence.

Demonstrators from the National Organization for Women carried signs reading “Stop Drug-Rape Now” and “Speak Truth to Power.” They hoped to raise awareness about an unspoken epidemic: drug facilitated sexual assault.

“I’m here to show my support and appreciation of the survivor,” said Morristown, New Jersey, resident Shannon Riley, referring to Andrea Constand, who accused Cosby of drugging and groping her in 2004.

Constand, 44, said Cosby gave her pills and told her they were "herbal." But according to her testimony, she was left "frozen" and unable to fend him off while he fondled and penetrated her with his fingers. Cosby, 79, said the pills were meant to help her relax and that the encounter was consensual.

“Even though this is not a story that people may have in their mind about what sexual assault looks like, there are many people ready to help with whatever victims are going through following an assault of any type,” said Claire McCue from NOW’s New York chapter.

Approximately 75 percent of all rapes and sexual assault involve alcohol or drugs, according to NOW. Alcohol is the most commonly used substance, but sleep aids, muscle relaxants and anxiety medications are also used. So-called street drugs, such as GBH and rohypnol, are odorless and colorless when added to beverages, creating a dangerous mix for unsuspecting victims.

Calling attention to assaults involving these substances could be the first step in preventing future crimes, the NOW activists said.

“There are a lot of elements to [the Cosby] story that I think ... we really need to start talking about,” McCue said. “There is always a need for more support.”

NOW encourages victims of sexual assault to preserve whatever evidence is available following an attack. Because many so-called date rape drugs leave one’s system within 12 to 72 hours, victims should save a urine sample in a clean, sealable container and placing it in a refrigerator or freezer.

But many victims are in shock following an attack and are not thinking about a future court case. For those people, waiting too long to file charges against an attacker could be the difference between having a day in court and allowing a sexual predator to roam free.

Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing 33 Cosby accusers, said this trial is more than the downfall of a beloved comedian.

“This is a big case. This is an important case,” she said. “Many accusers are here today and they want justice. I want justice.”

Allred, who represented Nicole Brown Simpson’s family in the infamous OJ Simpson trial and other high-profile cases involving sexual assault, is backing a bill that would remove the statute of limitations in criminal cases for rape and sexual assault.

“We don’t think the courthouse door should be shut in the face of victims,” she said.

“If there is no statute of limitations then that means persons who believe they have been victims can go to the police and a district attorney can consider whether or not there is sufficient evidence to prove that case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Each state has its own laws governing the statute of limitations for sex crimes. Those provisions proved key to the ongoing Cosby controversy - time ran out for all of his accusers except Andrea Constand. The jury’s decision could signal a shift in how the justice system tries these cases, Allred indicated.

“If there is a statute of limitations … then nothing can be prosecuted” after a certain time period, she said. “That is not fair. We know that rape and sexual assault is different from other crimes in the sense that sometimes it takes longer for various reasons for a victim to report.”



Photo Credit: Alicia Lozano

NJ Police Used Souped Up Vehicle to Build Community Trust

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The Gloucester Township Police Department is using a souped up SUV to take initiative in “building community trust beyond body cameras,” said Captain Brendan Barton.

Del. Restaurants Use Facebook to Find Alleged Dine & Dasher

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Several Delaware restaurant owners worked together to track down a man who they say made a habit of dining and dashing at their businesses.

Gianmarco Martuscelli, the owner of Klondike Kate’s in Newark, Delaware, told NBC10 surveillance video at his business captured the culprit dining and dashing on several occasions over the past few months.

“Normal dressed guy just having a casual conversation with our bartender, talking about sports,” Martuscelli said. “Said he had to take a phone call, put his bar stool up and walked out.”

Reza Shiekh, a bartender, said the man did the same thing at Grotto’s Pizza where he works.

“This gentleman is something to behold,” Shiekh said. “He went basically everywhere. He would get his meal, his drinks and not pay for anything.”

Shiekh and a few others put the man’s photo on Facebook. Within a few hours of the post, employees from several Delaware bars, including Catherine Rooney’s and Stone Balloon came forward and said the man also dined and dashed at their businesses.

“We all started saying, ‘Hey, he did that to me! Hey he did it to me!’” Martuscelli said. “Before you know it, it’s been over ten to 15 locations in the past month.”

Facebook users quickly gave up the man’s name and described his alleged track record.

“1300 shares later, a lot of eyes,” Shiekh said. “The power of social media got this guy.”

The man made the rounds at several Delaware restaurants again Monday, according to the owners. This time they say, however, he was there to pay his tabs.

“I literally turned around and he was there with two of his friends,” Shiekh said. “He’s trembling and shaking and he said, ‘I think I have a tab to pay. And I said, ‘Yeah.’”

John Stave of Klondike Kate’s was unsure of the man’s sincerity.

“It looked like he was relatively apologetic,” Stave said. “But I think it was more because he got caught then because he was actually sorry.”


Several People Overcome by Heat at CB South Graduation

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Several people are being evaluated after they were overcome by heat at the Central Bucks South High School graduation Tuesday afternoon in Warrington, Bucks County.

Officials say they are being evaluated for dehydration and possible heat stroke. So far no one has been transported to the hospital.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Man Forcibly Kisses Woman in Wawa Parking Lot: Police

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Police arrested a Montgomery County man accused of kissing a woman against her will in a Wawa parking lot earlier this year.

A woman told police she was in the parking lot of the Wawa on 1601 Valley Forge Road in Lansdale back on April 12 when a man, identified by investigators as Mazen Salfit, of Lansdale, grabbed her by the right arm, pulled her close to his vehicle and began to kiss her against her will, forcing his tongue inside her mouth.

Salfit is charged with indecent assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned and released on $45,000 bail.





Photo Credit: Upper Gwynedd Police

Men Hurl Fruit at NYC Deli Clerk, Breaking His Jaw: Police

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A deli clerk's jaw was broken after two men pummeled him with avocados and bananas during an argument over food in the Bronx, police said.

Chaos erupted at Stadium Gourmet Deli on East 161st Street after the 21-year-old clerk tried to kick out the two men for causing a scene over their food order.

Police said the suspects were trying to order food, but a deli worker who didn't speak English couldn't understand them. They became angry and the 21-year-old clerk tried to kick the two of them out.

Surveillance video shows one of the suspects casually grabbing several avocados before getting into a pitching position and throwing them at the clerk and other employees.

The other suspect joins in and starts hurling avocados and bananas at the employee. 

Surveillance video shows the clerk grabbing his head after one of the avocados hits him. Another employee tries to dodge the flying fruit. 

“This action, what he do, it’s not normal,” an employee told News 4 New York. “They start arguing with each other and the customer grabbed the avocado and threw it right in his face.”

The two men also smashed watermelons and tossed merchandise before leaving the store.

The clerk suffered a gash, fractures to his face and a broken jaw. He was listed in serious but stable condition at Lincoln Hospital. An employee at the deli said he had to have surgery on his eyes. 

The attack happened on Memorial Day, but police released the video Tuesday in the hope of finding the two suspects, who authorities believe are in their 20s. 



Photo Credit: NYPD

Philadelphians Look for Ways to Beat the Heat

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The second heat wave of the season has people searching for ways to keep cool. The Art Museum fountain as well as the Sister City Splash and Spring Park are allowing people to stay comfortable in the heat. NBC10's Cydney Long has the story. 

A History of Waiting: Notable Celebrity Trials

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Celebrity trials come and go, but one thing remains the same: the circus. From spectators to overzealous reporters, high-profile trials draw a colorful cast of characters from far and wide. Scroll below for a look at some of the biggest trials in the last century.

Charges Dropped Against Man Accused of Shooting Boy

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Charges have been dropped against a man who was initially arrested in the shooting of a 6-year-old boy in Delaware.

Chelsea Outlaw was arrested Thursday and accused of shooting 6-year-old Jashown Banner back on June 6. Outlaw was charged with attempted murder and other offenses. Charges against Outlaw were dropped however after investigators determined he was not involved in the shooting. Outlaw was released and police continue to search for the people responsible.

Banner, a Kindergarten student at Thomas Edison Charter School, remains in critical condition at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children.

The boy and his 31-year-old mother were inside an SUV at a stop sign on the 700 block of E. 6th Street when an unidentified gunman got out of another car and opened fire. Irene Turner, a woman who lives in the area and witnessed the shooting, told NBC10 she heard seven gunshots.

"I was sitting right there in that chair and it happened down there," Turner said. "The white van backed up and flew down the street real fast."

The boy was shot in the head while his mother was cut by glass on her arm.

"When he got shot it went across his nose and mouth and it was bleeding," Turner said.

The boy's mother was taken to St. Francis Hospital. She was later released.

If you have any information on the shooting, please call Wilmington Police Detective Devon Jones at 302-576-6206. Information may also be submitted through the Delaware Crime Stoppers Tip-Line at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information leading to an arrest may result in a reward. Tips may also be texted to NIXLE at 888777.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Delco Wonder Woman Performs on 'AGT'

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While Wonder Woman is currently dominating the box office, Delaware County's version is also getting attention after performing on "America's Got Talent." NBC10's Keith Jones speaks to Donna Renae aka Wonder Woman.


Dad of Dead Penn State Pledge: Some 'Laughed' After Hearing

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The father of a Penn State University student who died after a bad fall at an alcohol-fueled fraternity event told NBC News that his family was "highly offended" by behavior from frat members facing charges in the boy's death and an insensitive remark by a lawyer in the case.

Jim Piazza, the father of the late Timothy Piazza, alleged that some of the young men accused of not giving proper aid to his dying son "laughed" and "patted each other on the back" after a preliminary court hearing on Monday.

"Following the hearing, most, but not all, of the fraternity brothers and their families got together, laughed, patted each other on the back and hugged as if this was just another fraternity get-together," Piazza told NBC News in an email.

Timothy Piazza, 19, died in a hospital two days after a pledge event at the Beta Theta Pi frat house on Feb. 2.



Photo Credit: Patrick Carns/AP

Prosecutors Want Max for Ex-NJ Cop in Deadly Wrong-Way Crash

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A former New Jersey police officer, who has been found guilty of all charges, including the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide, in a drunken driving crash that killed a fellow cop and another man two years ago, will be sentenced Wednesday.

Prosecutors want the maximum of 25 years in prison for 29-year-old Pedro Abad, who was found guilty in May of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, reckless endangerment and other crimes. At the minimum, a judge could decide to sentence him to eight years in prison.

Abad was immediately remanded to jail last month after being found guilty.

Abad had pleaded not guilty in the March 20, 2015 crash that killed a fellow Linden police officer, Frank Viggiano, and a friend, Joe Rodriguez. Both were 28.

Joe's father was choking up after hearing the verdict last month. 

"This is just another chapter of this horrible journey," Angelo Rodriguez said. "My family, my wife's family, plus all of Joesph's aunts, uncles, cousins and friends."

In a statement in May, Linden Police Dept. Lt. Christopher Guenther said he hoped that all of those affected by the tragedy could find some closure in the decision. 

"Frank and Joe were taken from us too soon," Guenther said in the statement. "While these proceedings may be behind us, there is no verdict that can take away the emptiness and pain we feel." 

Prosecutors have said Abad drank to "obliteration" at a Staten Island strip club before his vehicle collided head-on into a tractor-trailer on the West Shore Expressway. They say Abad had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit. 

Abad's lawyer, Mario Gallucci, has questioned the numbers, saying his client had lost so much blood that transfusions had contaminated the blood alcohol reading. During summations, Gallucci called the crash a tragedy and a horrific accident that was "not caused by intoxication."

At one point, Gallucci wanted to have Abad tested for a date-rape drug the lawyer said he could have been slipped at the strip club. 

Gallucci said Abad would not let him poll the jury, saying they had gone through enough. 

"He turned to me and said I'm at peace," Gallucci said. "He says God told him what happened and he deserves to be punished."

2 People Found Shot to Death in New Jersey Driveway

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Two people were found shot to death in the driveway of a home in New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, Union County officials said.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting in Roselle were unknown Tuesday, and authorities have released few details, but witnesses told News 4 New York that a landlord shot his girlfriend and then killed himself.

The Union County Homicide Task Force responded to the home on Chestnut Street shortly before 2:30 p.m. The bodies were found in a driveway between two homes, officials said.

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has not released the names of the victims. Three other people who live in the home were not hurt.

Neighbor Charlene Matthews said nothing like this ever happens where she lives.

“I was very shocked because it’s a very nice neighborhood,” Matthews said. “School right here, police station down the street, and also kids were practicing over there in the field.”

Friends and family were in tears Tuesday as they learned about what happened on the normally quiet block.

Witnesses said the landlord of one of the homes shot his girlfriend. They said they heard two bullets fired around the time of the shooting.

Candace Rodriguez lives down the street.

“It’s shocking, it’s sad,” Rodriguez said. “You don’t think something like this happens where you live.”

Authorities set up tents as they investigated into the evening. Two cars were towed away from the home, and police opened the street back up to traffic on Tuesday night.

SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Pregnant Woman Shot in Home Invasion

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NBC10's Pamela Osborne is following breaking news out of North Philadelphia where a pregnant 25-year-old woman was shot in her home along the 3000 block of N Front Street around 3 a.m. Wednesday. She was shot in the leg and listed in stable condition.

Phans Feeding Families

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Wednesday you can go to the Phillies game against the Red Sox and help feed the hungry. Click here for details on the Phans Feeding Families Day & Food Drive.

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