Emma Fried-Cassorla introduces Latin Night at the Lodge, a chance to dance, drink and listen to live bands and DJs at the BlueCross RiverRink Summerfest. The event is sponsored in part by Telemundo62.
Latin Night at the Lodge
Contaminated Water Concerns in Horsham
Residents and businesses in Horsham, Pennsylvania, are under a boil water advisory and it's causing problems for households and residents. Utility crews say the issue stems from a problem with one of its operating wells.
Will Violent Wildwood Arrest Hurt Tourism?
After video of a violent arrest of a woman on the Wildwood beach went viral online, the popular Jersey Shore resort is trying to move forward.
This Retrofitted Bus Will Feed Kids in Need This Summer
It used to be that kids who relied on school lunches in Delaware's Brandywine School District needed to travel to a certain school during the summer months to eat. But now, the lunches will be coming to them.
New App Lets Teachers Report Shooter Quickly
If there's a shooter in a school in Delaware's Red Clay School District, a teacher can quickly call 911 and notify their colleagues with the tap of one button.
NBC10 Responds: Beware of the Grant Scam
Scammers are targeting consumers claiming they are eligible for federal grant money. But those thieves are just going for a person's bank account.
2 Shot at Lehigh Valley Mall, Suspect at Large
Two people have been shot at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, police said.
The shooting happened around 7:10 p.m. Friday in the parking lot in front of Macy's, Whitehall police said.
Whitehall Police Chief Michael Marks said a male gunman shot two other men before fleeing the scene.
The men were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their condition was not available.
Officials are investigating whether the shooting escalated from an argument inside the Macy's, but they cautioned that the investigation is preliminary.
No other shoppers were hurt in the shooting.
The gunman remains at large. A description of him was not immediately available.
Photo Credit: NBC10
3 Hurt When Car Crashes Into Warminster Ice Cream Shop
Several people were hurt when a car crashed into a Warminster, Pennsylvania, ice cream shop Friday evening, township officials said.
The incident happened at the Big Scoop Creamery along York Road around 8 p.m.
Warminster Township Manager Gregg Shuster said the car drove into the ice cream shop hitting several people including children.
A witness said the car bounced off several parked vehicles before driving into the shop.
Three people were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, Bucks County emergency dispatchers said.
Shuster said the driver was trapped in the car after driving into the store and had to be rescued by firefighters.
Officials believe the incident was accidental.
Photo Credit: Mike Apice
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Outdoor Events Dodging Rainy Forecast
There's a ton of outdoor events all over the area this weekend, but attendees will have to keep an eye on the sky for rain.
Scattered Downpours, 20 Degree Temp Drop This Weekend
The weekend is finally here and once again our outdoor plans and celebrations are being threatened by rain.
This is the sixth consecutive weekend we have faced rain and thunderstorms. Not since the weekend of April 21st have we enjoyed a dry Saturday and Sunday.
Well, at least this weekend won't be a washout.
Earlier this week, it looked as though an area of low pressure parked just south of Delaware would trigger long periods of heavy rain with flash flooding. That concern has lessened with the low expected to end up slightly farther south.
Scattered downpours are still possible Saturday afternoon and evening with the heaviest rain expected across central and southern Delaware and far South Jersey.
On Sunday, temperatures drop nearly 20 degrees to the 60s under cloudy skies with a breezy east wind. An isolated shower is possible, but the best chance of rain is once again to the south and east.
Monday morning's commute could be a wet one with periods of rain through midday.
Dragon Boat Regatta Takes Over Schuylkill River
The Annual Dragon Boat Regatta will take place this Saturday on the Schuylkill River. This event is not for professional racers but regular people who want to try something different. Rowers are hoping to get in their races before the stormy weather strikes.
At Jersey Shore, Seasonal Cops Bolster Presence on the Cheap
Some seasonal cops in Wildwood get to wear the uniform, make arrests and carry firearms just like their full-time peers.
They also train at the Cape May County Police Training Center alongside recruits readying for full-time positions.
But the dozens of Class II "special law enforcement officers," or SLEOs, who have walked the Wildwood beach over the years, do it for much less money: $10 an hour, actually.
That's just $1.40 more than the minimum wage in New Jersey. In fact, SLEOs make less than minimum wage while at the training academy, according to the Wildwood police department's website.
The use of seasonal officers, those cops who patrol Jersey Shore towns during the busy summer months, has come under scrutiny following the violent arrest of a 20-year-old Philadelphia woman on the Wildwood beach May 26.
Three officers involved in Weinman's arrest have been identified as Class II SLEOs Thomas Cannon, John Hillman and Robert Jordan. One of the seasonal officers is seen punching the slender, young woman two times in the head as she was sprawled out on the ground, feet from her 18-month-old child.
Wildwood police are conducting an investigation of the confrontation, which was caught on video. The department also released nine minutes of body camera video. The mayor has defended the officers' actions. The Cape May County prosecutor's office said in a statement that it would allow the department's internal investigation to be completed before becoming involved.
Weinman's attorney said the officers let a situation that began as an interaction allegedly involving underage drinking on the beach escalate into a violent take down. One of the officers could be heard on video saying, "You're about to get dropped."
"It's an overreaction and an excessive use of force," attorney Stephen Dicht said in an interview. "If you refuse to give your name, then does that give them the right to pound you in the head?"
A longtime civil rights attorney in Philadelphia, Paul Messing, questioned the officers' use of punches to the head.
"The bigger issue in this case is the use of force, particularly blunt force trauma to the head, which is contrary to generally accepted police practices," Messing said. "You can't use any more force than is reasonably expected to affect an arrest."
"The head punch, they're told not to do this. It's generally accepted police practice from the police academy on and one would hope that seasonal officers would be given the same level of training," he added.
Hundreds of SLEOs go through New Jersey police academies every year. The Police Training Commission, which oversees county academies, certifies roughly 500 Class II and 250 Class I SLEOs each year, according to the New Jersey Attorney General's office.
Class II SLEOs have broader authority than Class I. Class II officers carry firearms, make arrests and operate police equipment. Class I officers often act as crossing guards, parking enforcement and special event duties.
"Both of these categories of SLEO are required to attend and successfully complete basic training," AG spokesman Peter Aseltine said in an email. "The basic course for SLEO I is only a few weeks in duration. The basic course for SLEO II is very similar to the basic course for police officers."
Officials with Cape May County's police academy, which trains Wildwood's SLEOs, declined interview requests.
The exact number of SLEOs patrolling Wildwood could not be determined. The police chief said Friday he did not know the exact number of Class I and Class II officers on the books currently. Other city officials did not return messages left or declined to comment.
The AG's office could only give the number of SLEOs that the department has sent to train at the police academy: Seven Class II and six Class I officers enrolled and completed training this year. Another 16 recruits for Wildwood are actively enrolled in training, Aseltine said.
Shore towns up and down the Jersey coast use SLEOs. In nearby North Wildwood, the police department hired 35 Class II and 15 Class I SLEOs to bolster their 29-officer full-time force, according to a Philly.com report.
North Wildwood pays its seasonal officers $13 an hour. In Stone Harbor, Class II officers make $15 an hour.
SLEOs can work up to 48 hours a week in Jersey shore communities. In other municipalities across the state, they can only work 20 hours a week.
Before Wildwood seasonal officers start earning $10 an hour on the job, they receive $7.50 an hour during training, the police department says on its recruitment page. Recruits are not required to live in the municipality, but must be 18 years old, be able to read and write, have a high school diploma, and "be sound in body and in good health and have good moral character" in addition to passing background checks and physical evaluations.
Once hired, they do not contribute to the state police pension fund. They can work multiple years.
Wildwood's reliance on seasonal officers has grown in the last couple years.
In 2014, the city budget included $550,000 in salaries and wages for the part-time cops. That number grew to $782,000 in 2015.
In 2016 and 2017, Wildwood budgeted $790,000 each year for summer officers. However, budget documents indicate the city actually paid $845,000 in 2016 for the officers.
ACCT Philly Holds Kitten Shower
ACCT Philly is holding a Kitten Shower adoption event Saturday sponsored by Philadoptables. Morgan Polley, of ACCT Philly, brought along Eeyore and Tigger to discuss the event and more about fostering and adopting kittens.
Bench Commemorates Slain Rustin High Schooler
A memorial has been dedicated in honor of Rustin High School graduate Bianca Roberson, who was murdered in a road rage incident in Chester County in June 2017.
A bench in her honor, which is accessible from the Rustin High School library, was donated by Michelle Roberson, Bianca’s mother. She said the memorial will preserve the memory of Bianca and Michelle Roberson's son, Mykel, who died four years ago of heart disease.
"I can't thank you guys enough for keeping Bianca’s name and Mykel’s name alive," she said to a group who gathered for the dedication.
Bianca Roberson was killed driving home from a shopping trip when she was shot in the head during an alleged road rage incident. Another driver, David Desper, was charged and is awaiting trial on first-degree murder and other charges for allegedly shooting Roberson while both were merging onto Route 100.
She was shot days after her high school graduation. As a student, Bianca was a member of the basketball team and the Black Student Union. Her death was commemorated last year with a candlelight vigil, which was organized by her friends.
Stephen Lyons, a friend of Bianca’s who helped organize the candlelight vigil, described the affect losing Bianca had on the Roberson family.
"To see them, go through this, it’s horrible," Lyons said at the vigil last year. "It’s horrible to know they went through this once and then to know they have to relive it again."
A ceremony was held to honor Bianca before the dedication of the bench. During the ceremony, her mother spoke about the impact she hopes her daughter’s death will have.
"Bianca's gonna do more in death, then she would have in life… She brought this group together," Michelle Roberson said. "Lift one another up, encourage one another, cry with each other, let each other know how important you guys are, don't down each other. We need you guys to stand up. You’re the next generation."
Rain Cooperates as Competitors Enjoy Dragon Boat Regatta
The rain cooperated Saturday morning as companies and organizations competed in the annual Dragon Boat Regatta. Organizers say that the competition would continue, rain or shine, as long as conditions did not get dangerous.
New Castle County Police Search for Missing Woman
New Castle County Police are searching for a missing woman.
Elena Howell, 24, was reported missing around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. She was last seen leaving the unit block of Charcoal Drive in the Fox Chase community of Newark, Delaware on foot at 10 p.m. back on May 30.
Police say she made statements that "caused a concern for her welfare" before she left.
Howell is described as a black female standing 5-foot-7. She weighs approximately 200 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She has two tattoos, one of a pumpkin on her left ankle and another of a Zelda character on her left forearm. She was last seen wearing a black long sleeve shirt and jeggings.
If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact the New Castle County Police at (302)-573-2800 or visit their website.
Man Hurt in South Philly Crash Following Possible Chase
A man was hurt in a South Philadelphia crash following a possible police chase.
A vehicle t-boned another vehicle on Broad Street and Moyamensing Avenue Saturday afternoon. A 57-year-old man was taken to the hospital. Officials have not yet revealed his condition.
Police revealed few details on the incident. Witnesses told NBC10 one driver was traveling the wrong way on the road while being pursued by police. The suspect then crashed into another vehicle.
"It was a chase," Frank Criniti said. "He was riding on the road about 60 miles an hour coming off the Platt Bridge."
The victim who was injured was recovering from a recent heart attack prior to the crash, according to Criniti.
Witnesses say a suspect was taken into custody. Criniti also said he saw a girl run out of the suspect's vehicle after the crash. Police have not confirmed this however.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Photo Credit: NBC10
Boil Water Advisory Lifted in Horsham
A boil water advisory in Horsham, Pennsylvania has been lifted after officials found no harmful chemicals in the water Saturday.
Roots Picnic Kicks off in Philadelphia
A star-studded line-up hit Philadelphia on Saturday night for the Roots picnic. Rain or shine, thousands of people from across the country headed to the popular event.
Gun Violence Awareness Day in Philly
Dozens of people marched in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia to bring awareness to gun violence.