Officer Leaves Hospital Day After Shooting

April 24, 2015, 12:10 pm

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A day after police said a drug suspect said he didn't "want to have to do this" before opening fire on a Philadelphia Police bicycle officer in West Philadelphia, that officer left the hospital while being escorted by his fellow officers.

Officer Daniel "Danny" Kostick was pushed out of Presbyterian Hospital shortly before 2 p.m. Friday.

• Gunman Says 'I Don't Want to Have to Do This,' Shoots Cop

He told reporters outside the University city Hospital that he looked forward to seeing his children.

The father of two was shot after he and his partner approached a man inside a white van in the area of Wilton Street and Girard Avenue around 10:15 p.m., said police.

• Statue of Liberty Deemed Safe After Evacuation

The man, suspected of drugs, then backed up and took off. Kostick caught up to the suspect around 51st and Master streets.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross explained what happened next: "They're having a brief discussion... the male turns to him and says, 'I don't want to have to do this' and then he fires at Officer Kostick. Kostick returns fire, striking the male."

A bullet struck Kostick in the right arm. After the shooting, fellow officers rushed him to Presbyterian Hospital in University City for treatment.

Ross said Kostick, an eight-year veteran assigned to the 19th District, was in "good spirits" during treatment.

The 35-year-old suspect remained at Hahnemann Hospital in critical condition Friday.

Photo Credit: NBC10 - Drew Smith

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$2.5 Million Bail Set for Mom of Abandoned Quadriplegic Man

April 24, 2015, 11:25 am

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A 21-year-old quadriplegic man's mother is behind bars unable to post $2.5 million bail.

Authorities arraigned Nyia Parler, 41, on multiple charges including attempted murder and assault early Friday morning.

• Quadriplegic Man's Mom Waives Extradition

Nyia Parler charged with Attempted Murder and related charges. $2.5 million bail. A preliminary hearing date to be set early next week.

• Mom of Abandoned Quadriplegic Man in Hospital

— Philadelphia DAO (@Philly_DAsOfc) April 24, 2015

Parler is accused of dumping her son, who has cerebral palsy and is completely dependent on others for his care, in woods near Cobbs Creek Parkway, laying a Bible on his chest and leaving him there to die.

• Man Who Saved Quadriplegic Speaks Out

After the man's aunt received a call from his school (High School of the Future) on April 6, she began to communicate with Parler who responded by saying, "we're OK," said police.

"As far as we're concerned she's criminally liable for these actions that she did," said Philadelphia Police southwest Detectives Lt. John Walker. "And the courts will have the process in place to deal with it."

Authorities brought Parler from Maryland, where she had been in police custody since Monday, to Southwest Detectives Thursday.

Parler, who also has a 16-year-old son, went to Maryland on a bus the morning of April 6, according to investigators. They tracked her down shortly after a passerby discovered her son, who is "non-verbal," on April 10.

Authorities said she could have abandoned him as early as the night of April 5 -- which means he spent several days and nights on the ground as temperatures reached lows in the 30s. A blanket was over him and his wheelchair was about 10-feet away.

Philly police issued a warrant for Parler's arrest on April 11, but they were unable to bring her back to the city for a short time as she was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness at a Maryland hospital. She waived her extradition Tuesday, two days before she returned to Philly.

Authorities said Parler may never be allowed to see her son again.

Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police

Women Face Glass Ceiling in Pa. Politics

April 24, 2015, 11:57 am

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Pennsylvania elects fewer women to public office than almost anywhere in the United States according to data obtained by the NBC10 Investigators.

Women make up 55% of Pennsylvania's population but only comprise 17.8% of the state legislature.

The state has never elected a female governor or a woman to the United States Senate.

• Investigative Series: Crumbling Commonwealth

And men make up the entire 20-member congressional delegation for the Commonwealth.

“If a young woman or particularly a young girl looks at politicians they don’t see a lot of people who look like them, still," Director of the Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University Debbie Walsh said.

Walsh tracks how successful women are at getting elected to public office.

• Investigative Series: Council Chaos

“New Jersey and Pennsylvania have pretty strong gatekeepers," she said. "The parties play a pretty powerful role in who runs for office.”

The state Democratic and Republican parties offer candidate training no matter the gender of the candidate.

"I don’t think women are given the same opportunity to walk through the same doors as men," PA state Democratic Party executive director Diane Bowman said.

“I think each district has its own story," State Republican Communications Director Megan Sweeney said. “I think that’s what we’re working on right now.”

Both parties say they are interested in qualified candidates no matter their gender.

2 Firefighters Hurt Battling Blaze

April 24, 2015, 12:25 pm

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A two-alarm fire left two South Jersey firefighters injured Friday afternoon.

Flames broke out around 2:45 p.m. at a home along the 100 block of Mohawk Trail in Medford Lakes.

• Tornado Touches Down Near PSU

Burlington County dispatchers said two firefighters were hurt battling the blaze and treated at the scene.

As SkyForce10 hovered overhead a short time later, thick smoke could be seen coming from the home, which is surrounded by trees.

• Concrete Delivery Truck Knocks Out Power

Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Fetus at NJ Recycling Center Not Able to Breathe: ME

April 24, 2015, 12:36 pm

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A female fetus found at a South Jersey recycling center was too immature to breathe.

On Friday, the Camden County Medical Examiner's office released its autopsy findings on the fetus found the previous afternoon at ReCommunity Camden on Mt. Ephraim Avenue in Camden.

• $2.5 Million Bail Set for Mom of Abandoned Quadriplegic Man

"A medical examiner determined the fetus was not capable of breathing and died to extreme immaturity," said a release from the Camden County Prosecutors Office. "The age was determined to be approximately 19 weeks and the gender was female."

An employee found the fetus on a conveyor belt around 3 p.m. Thursday.

• NJ Recycling Center Employee Finds Fetus

It wasn't clear where the fetus came from but the plant said that the truck that dropped it off likely did so earlier Thursday afternoon.

The fetus was mixed in with standard curbside recyclables including plastic bottles, cardboard and paper, said ReCommunity.

• Pediatricians Warn of Sleep Risks for Babies

The recycling facility processes waste from across the region but most of the waste -- likely including the load where the fetus was found -- comes from South Jersey.

Anyone with information on the fetus should call Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Edwin Berwick at (856) 225-8694 or Camden County Police Det. Randy Smith at (856) 757-7420.

Photo Credit: NBC10

1 Hurt After Lansdale Police SUV Slams Into Car

April 24, 2015, 1:37 pm

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A person was hurt after Lansdale Police SUV slammed into a car Friday afternoon, county dispatchers tell NBC10.

The crash happened at 3:40 p.m. along Main Street at Chestnut in the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania town.

• Concrete Delivery Truck Knocks Out Power

The front of the SUV was left crumpled and the entire driver's side of the gray Mazda sedan was severely damaged. The impact of the crash pushed the sedan onto the sidewalk and into the wall of a massage parlor.

Dispatchers said one person was taken from the scene for medical treatment, but it was unclear if they were a civilian or officer.

• 2 Firefighters Hurt Battling Blaze

Photo Credit: Jimmy James/@jimmyjamesphotography

Police Name Main Line Burglary Suspect

April 24, 2015, 2:49 pm

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Police on the Main Line searched for a burglar suspected of breaking into a woman's home then hopping onto a SEPTA train to make his escape.

On Friday, Radnor Township Police identified the man seen on surveillance video from SEPTA’s Norristown High Speed Line as Matthew Heckman of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

• Caught on Cam: Suspect Hops on SEPTA After Main Line Heist

Police said tips came in after they showed video of Heckman, 27, on a SEPTA train after the break-in where police said he came face to face with a Rosemont, Pennsylvania homeowner last Friday inside her Hawthorne Road home.

Police urged the public to call 911 if they know anything about Heckman's whereabouts.

• CAUGHT ON CAM: Flames Engulf SEPTA Bus

As the woman returned home around 11 a.m. on April 17 she saw a man in dark clothing and a baseball cap in her home, said police. The man told the woman not to move but she managed to run out the front door and call 911 from a neighbor’s home.

Neighbors later saw the man leave the home with a blue suitcase full of jewelry, electronics and cash and head toward SEPTA’s Norristown High Speed Line.

SEPTA investigators later found video of the man riding the train toward the 69th Street Terminal. He got off at the Parkview Station in Upper Darby, said police.

Photo Credit: Radnor Police / SEPTA Police

NJ College Baseballer Tosses Rare No-Hitter

April 24, 2015, 3:04 pm

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A South Jersey native claimed a piece of collegiate baseball history Thursday.

Senior lefty Jeff Singer threw just the seventh no-hitter in the history of Rutgers University-Camden in a 7-0 win over New Jersey rivals Montclair State University in Montclair.

• Philly Boxer Tries to Knock Heavyweight King Off Throne

Singer, a Cinnaminson native who attended Holy Cross High School, allowed four walks while striking out 10 -- including striking out the side in the ninth -- for the Scarlet Raptors’ first no-hitter since 2002. The 21-year-old Business Management major only transferred to Rutgers-Camden this season after attending Gloucester County College and Monmouth University.

Sophomore Gloucester City native Jon Theckston caught the game and scored a run.

• Bettor's Guide to the Kentucky Derby

The win came at the perfect time as it catapulted the 18-13 (12-3 conference) Scarlet Raptors into sole possession of first place in NJAC standings.

Photo Credit: Scarlet Raptors.com

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Cold Temps Put Local Crops at Risk

April 24, 2015, 4:48 pm

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The cold temps have some local farmers worried about their crops. NBC10's Ted Greenberg shows us what crops are at risk.

Woman Stabs Husband to Death: PD

April 24, 2015, 4:50 pm

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A New Castle County, Delaware woman is accused of stabbing her husband to death during an argument Thursday morning. Police have charged her with the alleged crime.

Vandals Hit Delaware Park for 7th Time

April 24, 2015, 4:53 pm

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A family-friendly spot has become the target for vandals...again! NBC10's Tim Furlong is in Townsend, Delaware with more.

NBC10 First Alert Weather: April Freeze Warning

April 24, 2015, 4:55 pm

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There is a freeze warning for most of the area overnight. NBC10 Chief Meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz has more on the cold, including the possibility of rain on Sunday.

A Look at Recent Violence Against Philadelphia Police

April 24, 2015, 4:56 pm

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Thursday evening marked the second time a Philadelphia police officer had been shot in just two months. NBC10's investigative reporter Harry Hairston takes a closer look at the violence against police.

Photo Credit: NBC10

Bulletproof Vests for K-9 Dogs

April 24, 2015, 4:57 pm

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Six dogs in the New Castle County K-9 Unit received bulletproof vests Friday.

Turtle Rescue Project at Jersey Shore

April 24, 2015, 5:01 pm

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One group at the shore is working to prevent Diamondback Terrapins from getting struck by cars as they attempt to cross local causeways. NBC10's Ted Greenberg has more on the Margate Terrapin Rescue Project.

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Free Drinks During Starbucks Register Outage

April 24, 2015, 9:53 pm

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A nationwide outage of Starbucks' point-of-sale system got some customers a free jolt of espresso.

The coffee chain confirmed the outage to store staff around 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday via a tweet on the company's Twitter account for employees. Starbucks later said in a statement, "the outage was caused by a failure during a daily system refresh."

"We are aware of the point of sale register outage at company-operated Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada," the company said in the statement. "We are actively working to resolve the outage and our stores will remain open and continue to serve our customers."

We're sorry about the POS issue and working as fast as we can to fix it. What a week!

— Starbucks Partners (@starbucksprtnrs) April 24, 2015

News of the outage lit up social networks as some stores offered customers free drinks of their choosing.

FREE STARBUCKS | SYSTEMS ARE DOWN pic.twitter.com/UCMXIukqMr

— Preston Hall (@Prestonxhall) April 24, 2015

If you're downtown come to the Starbucks at 10th & chestnut. Their registers are down so everything is free until they're back up.

— IG: aaronricketts_ (@aaronricketts_) April 24, 2015

 But not all locations were being as generous, customers shared.

Baristas now telling me that "corporate" has ordered stores to only accept cash. No more "complimentary" drinks.

— Anthony Quintano (@AnthonyQuintano) April 25, 2015

Starbucks said in the statement the outage was also affecting their Evolution Fresh and Teavana stores.

UPDATE: Starbucks said it had resolved the outage in all U.S. and Canadian stores, according to press release posted on their website early Saturday morning. The company apologized to customers for the inconvenience and said it expected to open for business as usual on Saturday, April 25.

Photo Credit: AP
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Elderly Man & GF Abducted for Rental Car Cash

April 25, 2015, 11:03 am

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For six hours on Thursday, an 86-year-old Philadelphia man and his 55-year-old girlfriend were held hostage by a group of people bent on getting cash for rental cars, police said.

George Saunders and Priscilla Jones were walking down Pennsgrove Street in West Philadelphia when they were abducted and thrown into a van, the couple and detectives tell NBC10.

• "He's Out Here Somewhere": Toddler's Mom Calls for Driver's Arrest

"[We were] going to get some groceries for the kids, some breakfast food for the kids," Saunders said.

"I don't know these people, they could do anything to us, so what I did -- I prayed. I kept praying," Jones recalled. "I was angry with the way they treated us."

• Montco-Based Bank to Shutter Six Local Branches

The couple were driven to the TD Bank at 4th and Market Streets in Old City to open a checking account, they said.

Saunders, a Korean War veteran, was forced, he said, to deposit $600 into the new account and was given a new debit card on the spot.

• Police Name Main Line Burglary Suspect

The couple was eventually set free without being harmed and the alleged abductors used the debit card to rent two cars, police said.

Investigators believe the group planned to commit crimes using those cars so that they could be ditched and not be traced back to them — rather the elderly man.

"This was well planned and well thought out," Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker said.

The scheme unraveled on Friday, however, after police used GPS to track the cars. Two people were arrested in Pennsylvania by state police. They were later identified as 23-year-old Vashti Williams and Damon Cornish, 25, both of Philadelphia.

They're charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and related offenses, police said.

Three others were stopped while driving toward New York along New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury, police said.

All five are being transported back to Philadelphia Police's Southwest Detective Division for questioning.

Police are still looking for a sixth person, a woman, in connection with the abduction and robbery.

While not physically harmed, Saunders and Jones are more hesitant of heading out for a walk.

"I feel lucky," Saunders said. "And angry too."

Photo Credit: NBC10

Millville Police Release Videos After 2 Lieutenants Arrested

April 24, 2015, 7:16 pm

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The Millville Police Department is making efforts to be transparent after one officer was arrested for alleged DUI and another for assault.

From Basketball to Broad Street: Mom Gets Ready for Run

April 24, 2015, 7:28 pm

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Former Villanova basketball player Priscilla Jackson started running to get back into shape after the birth of her children. Now, the member of the group Black Girls Run is getting ready to take on the Blue Cross Broad Street Run. NBC10's Renee Chenault-Fattah has her story.

Concrete Falls from 'Decrepit' Bridge, Lands on Passing Car

April 24, 2015, 9:22 pm

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A driver is lucky to be alive after a large piece of concrete fell from a crumbling train bridge in South Philadelphia, called "decrepit" by a local lawmaker, and smashed into their car's windshield Friday.

The silver BMW sedan was traveling along 25th Street near Dickinson in Point Breeze when the chunk fell off the 25th Street Viaduct that carries CSX cargo trains through the city, police said. It landed on the car's passenger side, destroying the windshield.

• Ditching Philly: Construction Boom Wrecking Streets

The driver was not hurt, but was shaken, police said.

"They really need to do something before somebody is killed," said Ronald Robinson, who witnessed the incident. "It's crazy."

• Elderly Man & GF Abducted for Rental Car Cash

The 1.2 mile elevated bridge, which can carry 20 trains a day shuttling products like crude oil across the city, is visibly damaged. Small pieces of concrete litter the four-lane roadway which runs beneath it. Rebar is exposed in places where concrete has worn away.

Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the district where the viaduct resides, has voiced concerns about the bridge in the past — calling for CSX to make repairs.

• How Crashing Into An Undercover Cop Car Saved My Life

"It's decrepit, it's falling apart," he said. Earlier this month, the railroad company announced the bridge would undergo a 5-year-long renovation to address safety concerns. The project is set to begin in June with engineers first wrapping the entire structure in debris netting.

"The incident today shows we should start immediately cause it's important," Johnson said. "We don't want to risk somebody else riding under this bridge and a catastrophe happening."

Officials said it appeared the falling concrete was the result of a clogged drainage system that runs through the viaduct's round columns. A CSX spokesman said the company regrets the incident.

Police have closed 25th Street between Tasker and Dickinson as a precaution until permanent repairs are made.

Photo Credit: NBC10