Quantcast
Channel: Local – NBC10 Philadelphia
Viewing all 60435 articles
Browse latest View live

Boy Gets Therapy Dog Back After Deadly Hit-&-Run

0
0

Hours after a hit-and-run crash claimed a boy's uncle's life and injured his father, Philadelphia Police reunited the boy with his therapy dog that went missing following the deadly crash.

A sport utility vehicle slammed into a Mazda sedan at E Luzerne and Elsinore streets in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, said Philadelphia Police.

The Arroyo brothers had just gotten inside the four-door sedan after spending the day working on a special-needs van for Osvaldo Arroyo's son when the SUV slammed into the car, said family members. The force of the crash trapped one brother -- identified by family as Francis Arroyo. The father of two later died from his injuries.

Medics rushed his brother, Osvaldo, who was driving at the time, to Temple University Hospital where he was treated and released early Monday, said family.

Inside the car was also Max, the dog of Osvaldo Arroyo's 12-year-old son Jonathan who is blind, deaf and mute and has no mobility, according to Arroyo. The 2-year-old Bichon that brings joy to the boy went missing after the crash. Osvaldo went straight from the hospital to search for his son's companion.

On Tuesday, an officer returned Max to the Arroyo home. Someone in the neighborhood spotted the dog and alerted police.

the search for Max ended Tuesday but the search for the driver of the SUV continued. After the wreck, the driver sped off once around the block, nearly hitting people on the second trip around the block, said witnesses. The SUV then sped off for good.

"That vehicle is a 2008 Mitsubishi SUV," said Capt. John Wilczynski.

A bystander tailed the SUV and told police that the driver ditched the striking SUV at Rising Sun Avenue and 9th Street in North Philadelphia -- that's about 2 miles away from the crash site. When officers arrived, the driver was gone.

Wilczynski said the SUV is registered to Alberto Vangas, known in the neighborhood as Pito Vanga, a local tattoo artist. Police hoped to speak to the 38-year-old -- who lives near where the SUV was found -- about who was behind the wheel of his vehicle at the time of the wreck.

Osvaldo Arroyo, who continues to recover from his injuries, spoke to NBC10 about his brother's death. 

"Right now I don't believe it," he said. "This happened like that and so quick. He don't got family? What if it happens to him? Somebody is going to get him because they know who it is." 

NBC10 also spoke with Francis' 14-year-old son Frankie. 

"My dad is a good guy," he said. "Nobody should have to go through this. He's got three kids, me, a 2-year-old son and one on the way. We just want to put this guy behind bars." 

Police asked anyone who might have spotted the SUV after the crash or who knows of Vangas' whereabouts to contact Philadelphia Police.



Photo Credit: Family Photo

Violent Past of Suspect in Wild Multistate Police Chase

0
0

The day after a wild police pursuit crossed two states and lasted for hours, we learned more about the suspect who police say led them on the chase and what he is accused of doing.

In documents obtained by NBC10 from Camden County Prosecutors, Robert Ritter of Blackwood, New Jersey is named as a suspect in two separate incidents in the past month or so. On July 9, Ritter allegedly pushed and shoved a loss prevention officer during a shoplifting attempt at the ShopRite along Crescent Boulevard in Brooklawn, New Jersey. On June 25, police in Blackwood said Ritter disobeyed a protection order by showing up at his victim's work and threatening her over the telephone to the point where she feared for her safety.

Those two incidents marked part of Ritter's extensive violent criminal history that led to numerous warrants for his arrest in various South Jersey jurisdictions, said Oaklyn Police.

The incident began after police spotted a white van belonging to Ritter parked behind a business on White Horse Pike Monday. Around 7:23 p.m. an Oaklyn officer spotted Ritter -- who was believed to be staying with friends -- and tried to initiate a motor vehicle stop.

Ritter initially stopped but then sped off leading to the multistate pursuit, said police.

SkyForce10 was over the scene as police pursued at slow to moderate speeds. The suspect led officers across both the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges as well as various spots in Philadelphia and South Jersey. The van eventually traveled onto Lehigh Avenue and back onto I-95 in Philly around 9:30 p.m.

While on I-95, police vehicles appeared to have the van boxed in and surrounded. However, the suspect managed to weave around the police vehicles and escape and the pursuit continued. About five minutes later, a police vehicle bumped the van -- in action called a "precision immobilization technique (PIT) -- that caused it to flip over near Philadelphia International Airport.

The officers surrounded Ritter, who was wearing a New York Giants Tiki Barber jersey, and took him into custody.

"He just looked dazed and confused at the time of arrest," said Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker.

Ritter was hospitalized following the wreck. After being released he was transferred into police custody. He is expected to face multiple counts of aggravated assault. He will be extradited back to New Jersey where he will face more charges, said police.

During the chase, no officers nor civilians suffered any injuries.



Photo Credit: SkyForce10

Caramel Popcorn Recall

0
0

A company that ships to specialty grocers nationwide is issuing a recall of its caramel popcorn because it contains butter, a milk product that wasn't declared on the packaging and can cause severe reactions in people who are allergic or have sensitivities to the ingredient.

Ohio-based KellBran Candies said it is recalling KellBran Caramel Popcorn, which was distributed through various retail specialty grocery stores in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

The undeclared allergen was discovered during an inspection by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. No illnesses or reactions have been reported to date.

The product is packaged in 8 oz. bags with expiration dates of 11/30/2015 and 12/31/2015.

Consumers with questions or concerns should contact the company direct at (330) 628-3900 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. EST.



Photo Credit: PR NEWSWIRE

Excessive Heat Warning, Tips to Stay Safe

0
0

Temperatures were expected to creep into the 90s for the second straight day Wednesday as a likely be a heat wave that could last more than one week heats up.

Philadelphia planned to open its "Heatline" call center at noon as a National Weather Service Excessive Heat Warning went into effect for the city and immediate suburbs through at least Thursday night.

Through at least next Tuesday, temps could break 90 with a heat index projected to break 100 on Wednesday and Thursday, said NBC10 First Alert Weather chief meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz.

The heat, sun and humidity can cause problems for people. During heat waves, citizens are encouraged to visit older friends, relatives and neighbors to ensure they are in safe conditions in their homes as the heat and humidity intensify. In heat waves, officials said, groups most at risk include senior citizens, pregnant women, young children, people who work in high-heat environments and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The "Heatline" number is 215-765-9040, and lines will be open from noon until midnight, city officials said. Staff will be available on the line to advise on how to avoid heat dangers and to refer anyone in need of medical attention to emergency services.

Officials urged those without air conditioning to seek relief from the heat in malls, movie theaters, senior centers or other public spaces.

In the past, the Philadelphia Health Department outlined several precautions for citizens to beat the heat, including

  • Use air conditions and fans.
  • Open windows to release trapped hot air.
  • Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic fluids.
  • Wear a head covering such as a brimmed hat or visor to protect the head and face should you need to be outdoors.
  • Shower or bathe in water that is near skin temperature.
  • Do not leave children or pets alone in vehicles.

Early warning signs of heat stress including lethargy, loss of appetite, light-headed feeling and nausea. More serious indications of major heat stress include unconsciousness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, dry skin, chest pain, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and difficulty breathing. Anyone with these symptoms is urged to seek immediate medical attention.

Hurricane said that it's unclear when the likely heat wave will end but it's possible it could go on for some time -- past heat waves in Philadelphia have lasted up to 18 days.

Pregnant Women Fear Transportation Trouble During Papal Visit

0
0

There is a growing concern about how people will move around inside the city during the papal visit. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says he's hearing from pregnant women about how they will get to local hospitals. NBC10's Deanna Durante has the details.

Dump Truck Strikes, Kills Woman

0
0

A woman believed to be in her late 20s or early 30s was struck and killed by a large dump truck as she tried to cross a street in New Jersey Tuesday, authorities say.

The dump truck, driven by 40-year-old Jhobany Cruz, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was turning right onto the marginal highway from Pleasant Avenue in Union City, near Weehawken, around 7:20 am. when he hit the woman in the crosswalk, authorities say. The driver had the green light.

The woman, who remains unidentified, was taken to Jersey City Medical Center in critical condition and later died there, officials said.

Authorities say they don't believe speed or cellphone usage were factors in the accident. Investigators are interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from the area.

Chopper 4 showed an extensive emergency presence at the scene; several police cars blocked off the road and yellow caution tape surrounded a large dump truck that was stalled diagonally in a crosswalk by a traffic light.

The truck is being weighed and inspected by the Sheriff's Crash Investigation Unit and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit of the Bergen County Sheriff's Department to determine if there were any mechanical failures and if the truck was overloaded, authorities said.

Cruz remained at the scene. No charges have been filed.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Teachers Meet Holocaust Survivors

0
0

On Tuesday, dozens of teachers from across New Jersey took part in a seminar titled "Holocaust and Human Behavior."

Helmets to Hard Hats Donation

0
0

A company is helping members of the military and veterans make the transition back into civilian life with a quality career.

Potential School Closing Concerns in Montgomery County

0
0

On Tuesday night, parents and school district leaders will discuss the fate of an elementary school in the Metachton School District.

Man Killed After Leaving Godmother's House

0
0

A man was shot and killed in the Kensington section of the city Monday. 

The 31-year-old man was riding a bike on the 2800 block of Ormes Street when a gunman opened fire. The victim was struck multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The man's godmother told NBC10 he was over her house to charge his phone prior to the shooting. Minutes after he left, she heard gunshots. 

Police have not released a description of the suspect. They continue to investigate. 

More Colleges Drop Standardized Test Requirements for New Students

0
0

High school students preparing for college may have one less thing to worry about.

Montco Softball Team Competes for National Title

0
0

The Audubon, PA Recreation Association 10 and under girls softball team is headed to Florida where they will compete for the Babe Ruth National Championship.

The girls won their district championship, won the PA state championship and most recently won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship.

Their head coach, Chris Spletzer credits his roster of girls for all of the team’s success.

The team left Tuesday from Audubon, PA and is largely traveling by van to Alachua County, FL to begin play.

The National Championship Tournament begins July 29th and runs through August 5th.



Photo Credit: Chris Spletzer

Police Use Automatic License Plate Readers

0
0

Police throughout the Delaware Valley are recording and saving tens of millions of unsuspecting drivers’ license plate pictures.  The images allow police to document when and where a driver traveled at various times.  

“Everything we’re passing and going past, it's reading,” Lieutenant James Audette of the Coatesville Police Department said as he used an automatic license plate reader perched on the back of his squad car.

Coatesville Police keep the pictures and information associated with them for 30 days before purging it from computers. Coatesville Police didn’t know how many pictures the department captured since installing the technology in 2014.

In Philadelphia police have captured 29.9 million plate pictures in the last 18 months.

Captain Dan Angelucci said the information is stored in a massive database inside the city’s real time crime center.  He said the data is stored for one year.

“It has strict audit trails,” Angelucci said. “We know exactly who ran the tag and we know when they ran that tag.”

In Camden, police have snapped 1.2 million plate pictures since January 1.  Camden police have been tracking license plates since 2011.  They keep the license plate information for five years – meaning Camden police have every picture their automatic license plate readers have captured.

Coatesville, Philadelphia and Camden Police say the automatic license plate readers help solve crimes.  Philadelphia Police were the only department to provide the NBC 10 Investigators with specific crime data linked to the automatic license plate readers.

Philadelphia Police released the following statistics since January 1, 2014:

  • Total tags read: 29,785,983
  • Stolen Autos Recovered: 521
  • Terror suspects: 106
  • Arrests: 6
“This is an extraordinary amount of government surveillance for what appears to be a very small amount of criminal activity,” Pennsylvania ACLU legal director Mary Catherine Roper said.   “There are things in your life that are simply not public knowledge.” 
Police say the automatic license plate readers allow officers to focus on other police work while on patrol.  The license plate reader watches for stolen cars or tags associated with crimes while an officer keeps his eyes on the road and beat.

Get Ready for the Delaware State Fair

0
0

Fried oreos, big rides, and farm animals! NBC10's Tim Furlong is on the ferris wheel in Harrington, Kent County with more on the Delaware State Fair.

New Eagles Players Make Top Jersey Sales

0
0

The Eagles haven't even started training camp yet but according to jersey sales two new players have already won over fans.

Impact of Beer Industry

0
0

According to a new study: brewers, importers, and distributors generate more than $250 billion dollars. Take a look at the impact the beer industry makes on our region.

Tree Falls on Wires, Disrupts SEPTA Service

Music Teacher Charged with Child Porn

0
0

A Somerset County music teacher was arrested Tuesday morning after FBI agents allegedly found child pornographic images on his home computer.

Cliff Ramsay, 30, of Raritan is charged on two counts: one for accessing child sexual abuse images and one for possessing them, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fisherman. 

On Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, the middle school teacher accessed a pornographic website and viewed images and other content relating to child sexual abuse, according to the criminal complaint. 

After the complaint was reviewed, FBI agents obtained a search warrant for Ramsay's home and discovered various forms of child pornography, officials say. Ramsay appeared before a judge in Trenton Tuesday afternoon and was detained pending a bail hearing.

Both charges are accompanied by a maximum 20-year prison sentence as well as a $250,000 fine.

The investigation of the allegations is ongoing.
 



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Man Accused of Carjacking Priest Arrested

0
0

Police arrested a man accused of robbing a Rite Aid and then carjacking a priest in Haddonfield, New Jersey last month. 

Donald Hart, 27, of Mantua, was arrested and taken into custody. 

Police say Hart entered the Rite Aid on the 700 block of Haddon Avenue at 12:10 p.m.back on June 16. Hart allegedly jumped over the pharmacy counter, took out a handgun and demanded Adderall and Oxycodone from the store employee. He then took an undisclosed amount of Adderall pill bottles and ran into the parking lot where he carjacked a priest, officials said.

Hart allegedly drove the priest’s vehicle for about a block, exited the vehicle and then fled the scene on foot. No one was injured during the incident.

Hart also may be connected to the robbery of another Rite Aid in Logan Township, Gloucester County back on May 22, according to investigators. 

Hart is currently being processed. Officials have not yet revealed the specific charges against him. 

Phillies Trade Jonathan Papelbon to Nationals

0
0

Jonathan Papelbon’s Phillies uniform hung in a locker in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre on Tuesday.

But unless Papelbon decides to dress up as a Phillie for Halloween — and don’t put that past the prankster — he will never wear the uniform again.

As the Phillies began their game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night, team officials wrapped up a trade that will send Papelbon to the Washington Nationals. Papelbon and cash considerations will be traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for minor league right-hander Nick Pivetta.  Pivetta, 22, was the Nats’ fourth-round pick in 2013.

Papelbon spent Monday’s off day at home in Mississippi and never made it to Toronto. The deal with the Nats had percolated all day and there was no need for him to make the trip north.

As Papelbon exits, team officials remain focused on trading Cole Hamels for prospects. Texas remains the team the Phillies are most focused on. The Dodgers and others are also in the mix. The Phillies would like to add some young power bats to their rebuild and Texas has several that intrigue the Phillies, led by Nomar Mazara, Jorge Alfaro and Nick Williams. Like Papelbon, Hamels has a partial no-trade clause. He cannot block a deal to Texas.

In a sign that the Phillies are committed to dealing Hamels, the team has moved him back a day in the rotation. He is scheduled to pitch Friday, not Thursday as originally planned. Of course, that’s if he is still a Phillie. The non-waiver trade deadline is Friday at 4 p.m.

Maybe the Hamels trade will come Wednesday, which is July 29. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has a history of pulling off big deals on that day. He got Cliff Lee in 2009, Roy Oswalt in 2010 and Hunter Pence in 2011. Of course, those deals were designed to fortify the Phillies for a run at World Series title. Dealing Hamels is an admission that the Phillies don’t expect to be good for a while, a confirmation that the team is in deep rebuild mode.

Papelbon, 34, signed the richest deal ever for a reliever — four years, $50 million — after the Phillies won 102 games but were knocked out the of the postseason early in 2011. He thought he was coming to Philadelphia to win “a couple of rings." The Phillies did not make the postseason during his first three seasons with the club and are headed for the worst record in the majors this season.

The Phillies unsuccessfully tried to trade Papelbon the previous two Julys. They were successful this July and Papelbon no doubt is happy about that. Earlier this month, Papelbon was vocal in saying it was time for the Phillies to trade him.

“It’s time to you-know-what or get off the pot,” he said.

Papelbon leaves at the Phillies all-time saves leader with 123. He is making $13 million this season. The Nationals assume the remainder of that salary. Papelbon had a $13 million option for 2016 which would have become guaranteed with 14 more games finished. Fox Sports reported that the option has been reworked and is now guaranteed at $11 million. The players association may have to sign off on that before the deal becomes official. It was not immediately known if the Phillies would cover some of that option.



Photo Credit: CSN Philly
Viewing all 60435 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images