Quantcast
Channel: Local – NBC10 Philadelphia
Viewing all 60465 articles
Browse latest View live

Teen Sex Assault Suspect Surrenders to Police

0
0

Hours after an 18-year-old wanted man taunted police in Delaware County -- telling detectives to "come and get me" -- the teen surrendered early Friday morning to police for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl Wednesday. 

Kassim Hill, accompanied by his mother, turned himself in to Darby Police.

The 14-year-old girl was heading to a friend's house Wednesday afternoon when the suspect leaned out his window and told the girl her friend was in his home along the 200 block of North 9th Street in Darby, police said. 

Once inside, Hill forced himself on the girl, investigators said.  The assault was interrupted by a knock on the suspect's door and, when he answered, the person heard the girl's screams and called 911, police said.

Hill, who slammed the door shut and ran out of the back of the home, remained on the loose for more than 24 hours.

The day after the assault, the suspect called the Darby Police station and told detectives he would not turn himself in and to "come and get me," according to investigators.

But Hill's brazen refusal to cooperate only lasted until early Friday morning -- when he and his mother showed up at the station.

The suspect is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 1 p.m. Friday.



Photo Credit: Darby Police

Deadly Fire at Philly Boarding House for Vets

0
0

Authorities are investigating whether smoke alarms were working properly in a North Philly boarding home for veterans after the deadly blaze tore through the residential property, killing one man and displacing two dozen others.

Firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke and flames in The Dillard House on the 3000 block of North 22nd Street around 3 a.m., according to reports.

Rescuers found the 57-year-old man dead on the 3rd floor of the building, which is part of the Alliance of Youth Mission Ministries -- an organization that serves the disadvantaged, homeless and displaced veterans, officials said.

The unidentified victim, who may have been disabled, could have been smoking inside his apartment, said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer, who added a walker was found near the man's body.

It took crews about 16 minutes to get the blaze under control.

The fire also displaced 23 others, who were staying in the 40-room property, authorities said.

The deadly blaze broke out a short while after a fire in a West Philly high-rise displaced dozens of residents.

What Caused Schuylkill River Sheen?

0
0

What caused that colorful oily sheen floating on the Schuylkill River Wednesday?

The U.S. Coast Guard claimed it was caused by runoff from a water main break along 28th Street in the Grays Ferry section of the city.

The Philadelphia Water Department, however, disputed that claim.

"The Water Department has investigated and determined that the sheen on the Schuylkill River yesterday was not related to the water main break at 28th and Dickinson," said Water Department spokesman John Digiulio.

The sheen appeared up river from where the water main ruptured. Photos of the slick were also posted to social media hours before the break was discovered.

The oily, rainbow-colored, mass was visible from the Schuylkill River Path throughout the day Wednesday.

Pictures were posted to social networks starting Wednesday morning and by the afternoon, the sheen was visible from NBC10’s Comcast Center camera as it floated around Locust Street.

After NBC10 alerted Mayor Michael Nutter’s office to the possible slick, the city called the Coast Guard and asked them to investigate. The Coast Guard controls the waters below the Fairmount Dam.

The Coast Guard confirmed Thursday that they responded and found runoff debris. They cleared the mess from the water by Thursday afternoon.

"The water department is not aware of what caused this oily sheen, however, we will work with the other agencies involved to investigate this to see if a source can be identified," said Digiulio.

The Coast Guard wasn't aware of any threat to the public from the bright-colored event.

The Region 3 office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency didn't receive any information about the event causing any health hazards, said EPA spokesman David Sternberg.

 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Carlesha Moved Into Hiding, Abductor Confesses

0
0

A 22-year-old woman kidnapped along a Philadelphia street and held hostage for three days is recovering in private one day after an emotional reunion with her family.

Nursing aide Carlesha Freeland-Gaither returned to Philadelphia early Thursday morning, her family and police in tow, after being rescued from the grips of her accused captor, Delvin Barnes, in Maryland. A criminal complaint detailing federal charges against Barnes, a man authorities described as a “vicious predator,” says he has confessed to the crimes.

Thursday marked Freeland-Gaither's first return to the city after she was abducted in Germantown Sunday night. The entire violent encounter was caught on surveillance video.

She has since been moved to an undisclosed location where she will be able to begin to process the violent experience and heal, Philadelphia police said.

Detective Jim Sloan, the lead local investigator on the case, recounted meeting Freeland-Gaither at a Maryland hospital Wednesday night.

“I entered the room. She was upset. I just told her ‘I’ve been looking for you.’ She started to cry and hugged her mother,” he said, describing the moment as “touching.”

The police department is providing the Freeland-Gaither and her family with counseling and other victim assistance resources, according to officials.

Sloan praised the efforts of witness Dwayne Fletcher, who the detective said helped investigators get a jump start on the abduction case.

“He witnessed it. He watched. He called the police twice. He waited for me. This man is a hero,” Sloan said. He added that Fletcher should be given the $47,000 reward that was being offered in the case.

As Freeland-Gaither rested, her alleged abductor was in a Maryland courtroom for an extradition hearing. The judge presiding over the hearing approved Barnes’ extradition to Virginia, where he is wanted on attempted capital murder and rape charges.

Barnes donned an orange jumpsuit and appeared in court through closed circuit television. He only gave "yes" and "no" answers to the judge.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed federal kidnapping charges against Barnes Thursday evening.

Barnes admitted he abducted Freeland-Gaither and that he chose her at random, according to the federal criminal complaint.

He was extradited to Virginia late Thursday so that prosecutors there can move forward with their attempted murder case. Federal officials are expected to proceed later.


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police

15K+ to Light Candle to Honor 3-Year-Old Killed

0
0

EDITOR'S NOTE: The details of this case are graphic and may be upsetting for some readers.

Thousands of people will be lighting candles at 7 p.m. Friday to remember Scotty McMillan, the 3-year-old Philadelphia-area boy who prosecutors said was tortured and killed by his mother's boyfriend.

"How could you do that to a 3-year-old boy?" asked Jeff Messantonio, of Norristown, Pa., who started the Facebook page calling for people to simultaneously light candles, wherever they are, to "light the way to heaven" for Scotty.

More than 16,000 people joined the event and plan to honor the Chester County boy, who investigators said had already died before arriving at a local hospital Tuesday night.

“When his body went into the emergency room our ER nurses — who see a lot of terrible things — when they saw his body, they wept,” said Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan.

A Chester County church is also holding a vigil to honor the boy, as well as 41-year-old Jacinda Miller, who was shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend outside the Brandywine YMCA Monday night.

The Gateway Church, located at 160 Cowan Road in Sadsbury, will remember McMillan and Miller in a service that runs from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The toddler's death shocked people across the Delaware Valley, who learned Thursday that Scotty’s own mother, Jillian Tait, and her boyfriend Gary Fellenbaum are facing murder charges after the boy was found unresponsive inside the West Caln Township trailer home the couple shared with Fellenbaum’s estranged wife, Amber Fellenbaum.

“Over a three-day period… he was systematically tortured and beaten to death,” Hogan said. “He was punched in the face and in the stomach, he was scourged with a homemade whip, he was lashed with a metal rod, he was tied to a chair and beaten, he was tied upside down by his feet and beaten, his head was smashed through a wall and at the end of that he had bruises on top of bruises all over his body.”

Hogan announced Thursday a total of 16 charges against Gary Fellenbaum including first- and third-degree murder charges, homicide, endangering the welfare of a child, assault and reckless endangerment. Tait faces 15 charges, including first-degree murder, according to court records.

A judge denied bail to both Fellenbaum and Tait at a Wednesday arraignment.

Messantonio said the crime disturbed himself and his wife so much, parents to an 11-month-old, that they felt compelled to do something to remember him.

"I expected a few hundred of my [Facebook] friends to respond," he said. "Not 15,000."

Messantonio asked anyone who lights a candle in Scotty's honor to post a photo of the flame and their location to the page.

"It's truly amazing to see our community come together for this little boy," he said. "Let's do this the right way for him."

He also reminded the public to refrain from making comments about the boy's relatives -- many learned of his death from the same news reports as others.



Photo Credit: Family Photo
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Postal Service Offering 7-Day Delivery for Holidays

0
0

The United States Postal Service will be delivering packages to homes seven days a week in Philadelphia, Philly-area suburbs, South Jersey and parts of Delaware this holiday season.

"During the holidays, we're raising the bar with enhanced tracking and Sunday delivery," said Philadelphia Postmaster Howard Sample, "providing excellent service and reliability that only Santa can compete with."

The 7-day package delivery service will begin Nov. 17 and run through Christmas Day.

As more customers order items from online retailers, demand for shipping has jumped.

The Postal Service predicts double digit package growth during the holiday season, in the range of 450 to 470 million packages. The company also anticipates higher demand driven by cheaper shipping prices via their Priority Mail option. To make sure mail and packages arrive by Christmas, the Postal Service provided the following deadlines:

  • Dec. 2 - First-Class Mail International/Priority Mail International
     
  • Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International
     
  • Dec. 15 – Standard Post
     
  • Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed
     
  • Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail/Priority Mail (domestic)
     
  • Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express (domestic)



Photo Credit: PR NEWSWIRE

Flying Pest Invades Pa. County, Quarantined Declared

0
0

A tiny insect has caused big worries in Pennsylvania as officials ordered a quarantine to stop the spread of the colorful pest.

The Spotted Lanternfly, a red-and-white and spotted winged insect indigenous to parts of Asia, which feeds on grapes, apples, pines, stone fruits and more than 70 additional species continues to be spotted in Berks County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

“Berks County is the front line in the war against Spotted Lanternfly,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig.

On Monday, the Department of Agriculture called for a full quarantine of the insect -- which measures about 1-inch long as an adult -- in Pike and District townships in hopes of stopping the pests before extensive damage is done to the state’s multimillion-dollar fruit and multibillion-dollar logging industries.

“Since this is new to the country we are taking every precaution possible,” said Greig. “We need to do everything we can to stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly.”

Some of those measures include telling residents to keep firewood, yard waste, lawn mowers, grills, tarps and other outdoor items indoors instead.

“Help us by looking for adult insects and their egg clusters on your trees, cars, outside furniture -- any flat surface that the eggs may be attached to,” said Greig. “We know we’re asking a lot, but we know Pennsylvanians will assist us and help save our fruit trees, grapes and forests.”

The Lanternfly, aka Lycorma delicatula, has no natural enemies and can only be controlled using pesticides that may also kill off the natural enemies of other pests, according to a report mentioned by KPBS.

The Spotted Lanternfly can lay 30 to 50 eggs at a time to the bark of a tree -- the pest especially likes the Tree of Heaven and other smooth bark trees -- leaving a gray, waxy, mudlike coating that looks like gray or black sap dripping down the tree once the eggs hatch, according to the PDA.

“We are taking every measure possible to learn more, educate the public and ourselves and eliminate this threat to agriculture,” said Greig.

If a person sees eggs, the PDA suggests scraping them off the tree, putting them into a double bag and throwing them away or placing alcohol on the eggs to kill them. The state will also inspect the specimens at any of its six regional offices.

If someone sees an adult Lanternfly, the PDA suggests gathering the insect in a leakproof container with alcohol or hand sanitizer inside. Once collected, you can take a photo of the specimen and send it to badbug@pa.gov or call the Bad Bug hotline at 1-866-253-7189.

The PDA announced that businesses and individuals in the quarantine area must move items inside or face criminal or civil penalties up to $20,000 and prison time if they don’t follow quarantine restrictions.

In hopes of educating the Berks County community, the PDA scheduled a meeting for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Berks County Agricultural Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport. Those that can’t attend can call 610-378-1327 or join the meeting online.



Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Teacher Knocked Out in Student Attack at Local HS

0
0

Police are investigating a videotaped attack on a substitute teacher at a southwest Philadelphia high school that left him motionless on the ground.

The attack started when a female student sat on a male student's lap, said 68-year-old substitute English teacher Pewu Johnson.

"He told me 'get the f*(^ out of my face,'" Johnson said.

The student then threw Johnson to the ground causing him hit his head, school district officials said. Video of the attack shows the teacher motionless in the hallway of the school while students looked on.

"The boy dropped me down with so much force," said Johnson. "I was out."

The victim was rushed to the hospital where he was examined and treated for a concussion. His alleged attacker was suspended from school.

"The assault that occurred yesterday is the result of an individual making a dramatically poor choice. The School District does not tolerate this type of behavior and is working with Bartram High School and Philadelphia Police to make sure that the student is discipline and also charged," said Philadelphia School District spokesperson Fernando Gallard .

This is the third attack on a teacher at the school in less than a month.


Will Discount Grocer Take Place of Closing Competitor?

0
0

A discount supermarket chain is set to close 46 Philadelphia area stores by early next year leaving 2,200 employees searching for work while leaving local leaders worried that areas once seen as food deserts will dry up again.

Earlier this week, Delhaize Group agreed to sell all Bottom Dollar Food assets -- including 66 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio -- to fellow discount grocer ALDI for $15 million. ALDI announced that it plans to close all the Bottom Dollars within the next few months.

“We are sorry to see Bottom Dollar go so quickly,” said Chester Mayor John Linder.

For years, cities like Chester and certain neighborhoods in Philadelphia and South Jersey had no supermarket. The arrival of Bottom Dollar gave these communities an opportunity to buy food and produce at affordable prices.

Just this past June, shoppers lined up around the block to celebrate the opening of Bottom Dollar, the second grocery – and only owned by a for-profit company – to open in Chester after the city went without a supermarket for more than a decade.

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20140612/bottom-dollar-food-opens-in-chester

“We’ve proven we can sustain a market in Chester and that’s important,” said Linder. “We certainly welcome ALDI. I’m excited they’re going to come in or at least think about coming to our city.”

The optimism of a shuttered Bottom Dollar reopening as an ALDI is shared by leaders in Philadelphia.

“I’ve reached out to some people in the industry and they said what happens normally is that there will be some level of closure and they will reopen under another brand,” said Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke (District 5).

Clarke called the closures “stunning.”

“I’m obviously very concerned particularly given the fact that we recently had two constructed in our district – pretty exciting ribbon cuttings – in areas where that there was a significant need for food product.

“We really need those food stores in these neighborhoods.”

In a statement, Illinois-based ALDI USA said it’s in the “early stages of an accelerated strategic growth plan.” That plan includes opening 650 new stores – bringing the total number of ALDIs to nearly 2,000 – and adding more than 10,000 jobs by the end of 2018.

How many of the 13 South Jersey stores and 33 stores in Eastern Pennsylvania could be included in those 650 remained unclear by week’s end.

ALDI said it would be premature to share any specific plans. Clarke noted that existing leases and tax abatements that helped draw Bottom Dollars would remain in place.

“I’m hoping that we hear something quickly,” said Clarke.

The future of the Bottom Dollar Stores remains top of mind not only for Clarke but also Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Nutter spokesman Mark McDonald said that the administration would speak to ALDI about its future plans for the closing Bottom Dollars.

Hundreds of jobs are on the line at the eight Philly stores and thousands more at other regional stores – food desert or not.

“That’s a major concern of mine,” said Linder. “That’s what’s helped make (Bottom Dollar) a success here, having people from the local community working there.”

http://aldiuscareers.com/opportunities/

ALDI said that they are accepting job applications online and at the ALDI division warehouse in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. “ALDI welcomes Bottom Dollar Food employees to consider applying for open positions at ALDI,” said spokeswoman Kathleen Gilgunn.

SEPTA, Union Reach 2 Year Agreement

0
0

It's a done deal!

Late Friday, Transport Workers of America Local 234 (TWU 234) approved a two-year agreement -- with 2,683 union members voting in favor of the new contract.

The deal is for two years and includes pay increases, according to TWU Local leader Willie Brown.

SEPTA's largest transit workers’ union had threatened to walk off the job if SEPTA didn’t meet their demands of pension reform.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Residents Evacuated Following Gas Leak in South Jersey

0
0

A gas leak in a vacant house in Gloucester Township, New Jersey left residents out in the cold Friday night.

Metal pipes removed from inside a vacant home on the 300 block of N. 3rd St. in National Park caused a gas main to break, officials said.

Homes nearby were evacuated. Initally, residents were told by PSE&G crews they would not be allowed back into their homes until Saturday, but some have already been given the OK to return. 

PSE&G turned off gas to the homes and the vacant home is being aired out. 

No one was injured in the incident.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Flickr RF

Delco Teen Bullied Over Shaved Head

0
0

A Ridley Township girl was bullied by classmates when she shaved her head in honor of her grandmother who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Accused Abductor on Suicide Watch

0
0

Delvin Barnes, the man police say violently abducted Carlesha Freeland-Gaither, is on suicide watch while facing charges in Virginia in an unrelated case.

Man Arrested in Rutgers Robbery

0
0

Police say they have arrested the person responsible for robbing two Rutgers students.

New Details in the Arrest of Delvin Barnes

0
0

NBC10's Deanna Durante reports new details on the abduction of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither as well as the investigation into her accused kidnapper.

New Hope Transit Service?

0
0

PennDOT is asking for feedback regarding transit service in New Hope, Pa.

Woman Stalked, Robbed for $2 in Tioga

0
0

A woman was robbed of $2 and credit cards in the Tioga section over the city overnight Thursday.

New Jersey Woman's Car Stolen With Beloved Dog Inside

0
0

Zulma Solis is desperate to find her beloved dog Rambo.

The 5-year old chihuahua Solis has had since he was just two months old was stolen along with her car from the parking lot of a New Jersey liquor store Thursday.

"I'm sure he's missing me as much as I'm missing him," Solis told NBC 4 New York Friday. "I want him back, I can't imagine my life without him."

Solis says she parked her 2014 Acura ILX around 7 p.m., left it unlocked and running to dash into the store on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen to grab a bottle of wine. She says she kept a constant eye on the car except for a brief moment when a thief slipped in and drove out of the parking lot with Rambo.

"It hit me my car had been stolen with my dog inside," Solis says recalling the moment she realized what had happened. "I wasn't think thinking about the car, that was my last thought."

The store's owner says police took surveillance video, but Solis says detectives still have not been able to get a look at that video.

"I don't care about the car, you can keep the car," Solis says in a desperate plea to the thief. "Just bring him back to me, that's all I care about."

NJ's Red Light Camera Controversy

0
0

The state's contract runs out soon, so drivers may not be getting those dreaded tickets in the mail. NBC10's George Spencer has the story.

Woman Hurt in Massive Burlington County Building Fire

0
0

A woman was hurt in a 2-alarm South Jersey fire that crews battled for more than an hour early Saturday morning.

Firefighters responded around 4 a.m. to a blaze at 605 Stiles Avenue in Maple Shade Township, Burlington County after a panic alarm from the building, which houses South Jersey Mowers, alerted them to smoke and flames, officials said.

Ninety minutes later, crews were still working to contain the massive fire -- which continued to tear through the building.

The victim suffered smoke inhalation and was rushed to a local hospital, where she is in stable condition, authorities said.

South Jersey Mowers - a landscaping equipment business -- has been in business since 1981, according to the company's website.

Officials closed nearby Route 73 from Main Street to Stiles Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. as crews continued to douse the flames with water.  The roadway reopened around 9:30 a.m.

Viewing all 60465 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images