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I-84 in Manchester Clear After Truck Fire

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A truck carrying dry noodles caught on fire on Interstate 84 East in Manchester on Friday morning and caused major delays.

The truck was on fire near between exits 63 and 62.

Officials from the state Department of Transportation said the tractor part of the vehicle is completely gone and firefighters had to get more water to bring in. 

Drivers have been getting by in the high-occupancy vehicle lane and a lane or two could be closed for hours, according to DOT.

I-84 is now clear. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Troopers Investigating Threat at RHAM Middle School

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A threat was written on the bathroom wall at the RHAM Middle School in Hebron on Friday. 

The messaged threatened to harm the school on Monday, May 23, the superintendent, Dr. Robert Siminski, told parents. 

The school said they are working with state police to provide maximum security all day on Monday, Siminski said.

The security plan requests bomb sniffing dogs to do a full sweep of the building prior to school opening on Monday.

The school told parents to expect to see a strong state and Hebron police presence next week.

Siminski said as a precaution, he understands if parents wish to keep their child home from school on Monday.

Man Wheeled Wife's Dead Body on Dolly in NYC: Police

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A man wheeled his wife’s dead body on a dolly through a Staten Island neighborhood Friday morning then took off running when spotted by police, authorities said.

Anthony Lopez was seen wheeling the body on Post Lane in Mariners Harbor at about 7 a.m., police said. The 31-year-old ran away when police pulled up, dumping his wife's body in the grass.

It's not clear whether the suspect had committed any crimes or if he was responsible for his wife's death. It's also unclear how she died, but law enforcement sources said that her body had visible signs of trauma.

Neighborhood resident Cherise Taylor said she was disturbed when she saw the woman's body steps from her front window.

"Half naked, half dressed," said Cherise Taylor. "This don't make no sense, this is not that type of block. This is not that type of neighborhood.

Police set up a crime scene after the interaction and several streets were cordoned off.

Sources said Lopez had been arrested more than 50 times between 2000 and 2016 on charges including robbery, larceny, assault and drug crimes.

Taylor said she knows Lopez and that he lives in the area.

"He just walks around," she said. "Don't bother nobody. Everyone's got their issues."

Anyone with information on Lopez's whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Operator Seriously Injured in Motor Scooter Accident on Route 44

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State police are searching for a vehicle that fled the scene of a serious accident on Route 44 in Barkhamsted on Friday, police said.

Police said around 9 p.m. a dark grey Toyota Tacoma was traveling east on Route 44 and attempted to turn left into the Log House Restaurant parking lot. The truck crashed into a 50 cc black dirt bike, critically injuring the rider. The truck driver then fled the scene.

Police believe the suspect vehicle is a 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma in Magnetic Gray with front end, front bumper, fog light bezel and passenger side damage.

Anyone with information is asked to call (860) 626-1840 or text TIP711 with the info to 236748.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Chicago Mayor Could Be Forced to Testify on Cop Code of Silence After Judge's Ruling

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A Federal judge stuck to his guns Friday, ruling the city cannot just admit that a code of silence exists within the Chicago Police Department -- he wants to hear Mayor Rahm Emanuel describe it for himself, Chicago's NBC5 reported.

The testimony was ordered for a case where two veteran police officers, Shannon Spalding and Daniel Echeverria, say they faced retaliation after attempting to expose corruption in the Ida B. Wells housing project on Chicago’s South Side.

“Officers and supervisors were involved with running the narcotics trade,” Spalding told NBC5 Investigates. “It became very clear that there was not going to be an unbiased investigation.”

After Emanuel spoke of an unwritten code in remarks before the Chicago City Council last fall, Spalding and Echeverria’s attorneys added the mayor to their potential witness list. City lawyers fought to exclude his testimony, even offering to stipulate to the existence of the so-called “code."



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Car Stolen 4 Times Keeps Returning

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Her friends call it "Boomerang."

Maika Nicholson’s car has been stolen four times, but has also returned four times.

“I always come out to make sure it’s there because often times it’s not,” Nicholson said about her ’97 Honda Civic. “It’s been stolen in San Francisco three times and probably been broken into three or four times, I would say. I can’t even keep count anymore.”

This week, her car came back for the fourth time. San Francisco Police found it less than a mile from her Noe Valley Home.

“The first time, I was pretty upset. Now, it’s just kind of funny to me,” said Nicholson, who has even tracked the car down herself using an app on her smartphone. The third time it was stolen, the thieves dumped it a couple blocks away, without any damage.

According to SFPD’s Carlos Manfredi, they could be stealing the car for two reasons: to joyride in it, drive around town, "do donuts," or use it to commit crimes.

The Bay Area has one of the nation’s highest rates of car thefts, according to the FBI. This is especially true in San Francisco, where more than 1,300 cars have been stolen so far this year.

“Those are easy cars to break. All you need is a fork,” Manfredi said, explaining thieve usually target older models because they’re easy to break into.

Nicholson has a club on her steering wheel to deter thieves, however, officers have recommended she get a new car with a smart key, if she does not want it stolen a fifth time.

For Nicholson, though, it’s not easy to trade in an old friend.

“It’s funny because it just keeps coming back to me, so I have a little bit of a weird attachment to it,” Nicholson said.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

100 Chicago Gang Members Arrested

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The Chicago Police Department has arrested nearly 100 documented gang members on narcotics and weapons charges in what's being called one of the largest drug and violence missions in the department's history, officials said Friday.

Over the past two days, a total of 140 people were arrested, 95 of them being documented gang members, police said. At least 83 people also received "enhanced charges" for selling narcotics within 1,000 feet of a school. 

The department said it used its "strategic subject list," an algorithm that calculates "the propensity of an individual to be a victim of gun violence based on a number of risk factors, including gang affiliations, arrests and previous contact with CPD." Of the 140 arrested, 117 were on the list, authorities said. 

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson indicated the arrests were done ahead of the summer months, when city violence has traditionally spiked. 

"These initiatives send a clear message to anyone who contributes to the sources of violence in Chicago: you will be subject to the full weight of the Department and our partners in law enforcement," he said in a statement. "Put simply, violence this summer will not be tolerated."

The arrests were made particularly in two targeted districts in the city, the 11th and the 15th, both of which were deemed among the city's most violent districts.

In addition to the arrests, police said 23 weapons, $45,000 worth of narcotics, 278 packs of unstamped cigarettes and $7,000 in currency were confiscated.

Vodka Made From San Francisco Fog

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Now, enjoying Karl the Fog will mean more than just looking out your window on foggy mornings - you can drink it, too.

Alameda, California-based company Hangar 1 just came out with its latest vodka, containing Northern Californian fog in it.

A product of locality and sustainability, this limited-edition crisp beverage called Fog Point contains a portion of harvested water from the San Francisco fog and vodka from a local California wine.

“This revolutionary experiment yields an extraordinarily crisp, pure, and gluten free sipping vodka with elegant hints of pear, citrus, and honeysuckle” according to the vodka’s description.

At $125 each bottle, all profits from Fog Point will be donated to water conservation.

The locations that were used to place fog mesh-catchers in order to turn the fog into fresh water include Sutro Tower, Berkeley Hills, Outer Sunset and El Sobrante.

Sausalito, San Francisco Oakland make up eight of the 12 locations in California where the limited-edition vodka can be found.

For more information, visit the Hangar 1 website.



Photo Credit: Hangar 1

US Infuriates Russia by Sending Tanks Within Miles of Border

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A military exercise in Eastern Europe that involves hundreds of American, British and Georgian troops has led to increased tensions between the West and Russia, NBC News reported.

The joint-military action, Exercise Noble Partner, was designed to bring the Georgian military closer to NATO. The drill comes at a time of growing tension between the Western alliance and the Kremlin.

The Vaziani Training Area where the drills took place is just 45 miles from the Russian border, infuriating Moscow.

"We regard this ongoing 'exploration' of Georgia's territory by NATO forces as a provocative step aimed at escalating the military and political situation in the South Caucasus," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.



Photo Credit: AP
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11-Year-Old Boy Missing From Hartford Found

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An 11-year-old boy that went missing in Hartford on Friday has been found.

A silver alert was issued for Christopher Charlton, who was last seen wearing a yellow t-shirt and black dress pants.

Charlton's mom said he was found safely on Saturday. 



Photo Credit: Hartford Police

More Equipment Stolen From Colchester Ballpark

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Police are searching for the suspect who stole important equipment from a Colchester little league.

On Sunday, the Colchester Baseball and Softball League realized someone had broken into one of its storage sheds and stolen equipment, including the controller for the scoreboard.

“I was like 'why?' What’s the point of stealing it?” said Sebastian Golubeff, a Colchester player.

The league said there were no signs of a break-in at the press box and storage shed. It appears whoever snuck in either had the key or the door was accidentally left unlocked.

With no controller, the scoreboard now remains off.

“I kept asking my dad after each inning because he does the score book,” said Jacob Ambrose, a Colchester player.

The league valued the equipment at $2,500 and had paid for it through donations and fundraising.

“I just think it’s horrible. You know, the kids are the ones that ultimately pay the price,” says Doug Wyatt, a parent of a baseball player.

“It’s heartbreaking. So yeah it affects the kids, it affects the parents, it affects the community,” said Nicole Golubeff, another baseball player parent.

The league said a practice pitching machine and grounds keeping equipment were also taken.

They are looking at replacements but hope they’re not needed and someone has a change of heart.

“We don’t want to ask any questions. We don’t want to pursue it legally. We just want the scoreboard controller and other stuff back,” said Chris Ferrante, president of the Colchester Baseball & Softball League.

The league is working to change the locks on all sheds at the fields.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: What You Should Know

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People across the country struggle with mental health. 

Whether it's seeing a loved one dependent on alcohol or struggling with dark thoughts, most people have been touched by mental health disorders.

The state's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) services people everyday who may struggle. 

Last year, DHMAS found that more people came to them for help with substance abuse over any other disorder. 

For Connecticut, a statistical report is put out by the Evaluation, Quality Management and Improvement (EQMI) Division of DMHAS.

For the fiscal 2015 year, 99,468 people were admitted to DMHAS programs, according to the report. This number accounts for people who may have one or multiple admissions. 

Out of those admitted, 68 percent were directed to Mental Health programs, while 75 percent went to Substance Abuse programs. Substance Abuse programs had 19,904 more people admitted than Mental Health programs, the report said.  Some people were submitted to programs that serve both.

DMHAS said 7,210 people out of the 109,444 they serve received services for both Mental Health and Substance Abuse programs. 

For both mental health and substance abuse programs, more than 35 percent said alcohol was their primary drug, while 33 percent said heroin, more than 12 percent said Marijuana and close to 7 percent used cocaine, the report said.

However, specifically for substance abuse programs only, 44 percent of people named heroin as their primary drug, while 30 percent named alcohol, according to the report.

In Connecticut, out of the top 20 diagnoses, the top five are related to substance usage. 

About 23 percent of people admitted to DMHAS mental health programs were diagnosed with severe opioid use disorder.

Another 9 percent were diagnosed with other/unspecific alcohol dependent, 4.9 percent with schizoaffective disorder, 4 percent with major depressive affective disorder recurrent and 3.2 percent with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Under the "major diagnoses" category, major mood disorder, major depression accounted for 85.5 percent. 

Anyone looking for more information on mental health and substance abuse or programs can go to the DHMAS website. 

Police ID Suspect Involved in East Hartford Murder

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The suspect involved in an East Hartford murder has been identified by police.

Michael Gaston, 27, of Hartford, is wanted for his involvement in the murder of Marshall Wiggins on Monday. 

Police responded to Rector Street at 11:16 p.m. to investigate reports of gunshots and found Wiggins, a resident of the street, inside a car and suffering from gunshots.

Wiggins was brought to Hartford Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police are investigating and anyone with information should call the East Hartford Police Department tip line at 860-289-9134.



Photo Credit: East Hartford Police

Killingly Man Accused of Selling Crack-Cocaine: Police

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A Killingly man is accused of selling crack-cocaine, police said. 

State Police obtained a search warrant for the home of Marcus Gordon, 23, following stemming from a lengthy narcotics investigation. 

Citizens made a number of complaints about narcotics possibly being sold from Gordon's home on Mechanic Street, police said. 

Troopers found a number of pre-packaged crack-cocaine rocks concealed in a Dr. Pepper concealment can.

DCF was called to the scene because of two children living in the house, 6 and 8 years old.

Gordon faces possession of narcotics and intent to sell charges. He was held on a $50,000 bond. 



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Man who Wheeled Corpse Down Street Charged with Murder

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A man seen wheeling his wife’s dead body on a dolly through a Staten Island neighborhood was charged Saturday with murder, authorities said.

Anthony Lopez was spotted early Friday morning carting the body along Post Lane in Mariner's Harbor. He ran away when police pulled up, dumping his wife's body in the grass.

Police nabbed him just before 11 a.m. Saturday after receiving a tip that he was seen in East Harlem. He gave up after a brief foot chase.

Lopez, 31, had changed his appearance by shaving his head, police said.

Later in the day, police charged Lopez, a Bronx resident, with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse, authorities said.

There was no indication that he has a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.

Law enforcement sources said there was evidence of trauma on the body of Lopez's wife, who has been identified as 26-year-old Aduba Obiamaka.

Investigators haven't disclosed the possible cause of death.

The sight of Lopez wheeling the body along the street was alarming, neighbors said.

Cherise Taylor said she was disturbed when she saw the woman's body steps from her front window.

"Half naked, half dressed," said Cherise Taylor. "This don't make no sense, this is not that type of block. This is not that type of neighborhood.

Lopez had been arrested more than 50 times between 2000 and 2016 on charges including robbery, larceny, assault and drug crimes, police sources said.

Taylor said she knows Lopez and that he lives in the area.

"He just walks around," she said. "Don't bother nobody. Everyone's got their issues."



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

2nd-Oldest Female Orangutan Dies

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The world's second-oldest female orangutan, who lived at Brookfield Zoo, has died, according to the Chicago Zoological Society.

Maggie, a 55-year-old Bornean orangutan, was Euthanized Friday "a gradual decline in her health, as degenerative changes associated with her advanced age began to severely impact her quality of life," Brookfield Zoo said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The Zoological Society initially identified her as the oldest, but later said she was the second-oldest known orangutan in the world. 

She suffered from arthritis, heart disease, hypothyroidism, and round cell sarcoma, according to Brookfield Zoo's veterinary staff.

Born at San Diego Zoo in 1961, she was described as curious, intelligent, and playful by the primate staff who cared for her. Maggie had four offsprings while there before being transfered to Brookfield Zoo in 1995, where she served as a surrogate mother to two infants. The youngest, Kecil, is now 2 1/2 years old.

"Maggie will be truly missed," Brookfield's Animal Programs Department said of their "beloved" orangutan.



Photo Credit: Chicago Zoological Society

NYPD Cop Points Gun at Witness

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A police officer cuffing a man in Harlem pointed his gun at bystanders filming him, then later punched one of them in the face, according to witnesses and cellphone video. 

"My man didn’t do nothing, just sat there recording because what they were doing is wrong," said Eric Worrell, the 17-year-old who recorded the incident. "The fact that he pulled the gun out on us was wrong too." 

The officer has been stripped of his gun and badge, police said. 

On Thursday evening, officers chased a man suspected of riding an illegal dirt-bike into a public housing project on West 134th Street. They struggled with him while making an arrest, witnesses said.

Worrell, Kalen Adams and Jenico Harvey were in front of the building, and began recording the altercation with their cellphones. 

One of the arresting officers noticed them recording, pulled his weapon and pointed it at them while shouting at them to back up, video shows. 

"I thought he was going to shoot," said Ronnie Pinkerton Jr., another friend who also recorded the incident. "First thing I thought, he was going to shoot." 

Minutes later, a second video appears to show the same officer walk out of the building lobby and punch Harvey in the face before wrestling him to the ground and placing him under arrest. 

"The cop was bypassing him, he could've just kept bypassing him, but just turned and hit him and wrestle him down for no reason," Worrell said. "It was crazy."

"He hit him for no reason, hit him real hard," said Pinkerton. 

Harvey is described by friends as a college student who is back in the city for summer break.

Law enforcement sources told NBC 4 New York that the video did not show Harvey allegedly yelling, "I'm going to kill you," just before the officer reacted. 

Still, neighbors who witnessed the scene or watched the video say the punch wasn't warranted. 

"For him to just get punched in the mouth, corralled and apprehended like he's a piece of cattle of some sort, in a rodeo, just makes absolutely no sense," said state Assemblyman Keith Wright.

Officers were apparently in the neighborhood to bust people riding illegal dirt bikes, part of the NYPD's larger initiative to crack down on unlicensed drivers across the city. 

A spokesperson for the NYPD said the incident is under internal review and didn't comment on whether there were any arrests in the case. 



Photo Credit: Kalen Adams

Mom Shot, Toddler Rescued After Abduction: Police

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A North Carolina man is in custody after allegedly shooting the mother of his daughter Friday and then abducting the child, police said.

Devon Anthony Whaley, 24, is facing attempted murder charges. He was arrested Saturday after a traffic stop and the toddler was found safe inside his vehicle.

The shooting happened at about 7:30 p.m. ET in a residential area in Youngsville, according to NBC affiliate WRAL. The mother, who was not identified, attempted to flee the scene in her car, but crashed less than a mile away.

The mother, who was not identified, was in intensive care, Youngsville Police Chief Daren Kirts told NBC News. Whaley has a history of domestic violence, he added.



Photo Credit: Getty/Youngsville Police Department

First Images of EgyptAir Debris Released

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The first pictures of debris from crashed EgyptAir flight MS804 were published Saturday by military officials in Cairo, NBC News reported.

An uninflated life vest, parts of the aircraft fuselage, headrests and seat upholstery with the airline's logo were visible in the images, distributed by Egypt's army spokesman via social media.

The debris was recovered Friday about 180 miles north of Alexandria, on the Egyptian coast.

Earlier Friday, France's air accident investigation agency confirmed the plane's systems sent automated messages indicating smoke was detected aboard the plane moments before it disappeared from radar, but that no conclusions are being drawn about the cause.

"This usually means a fire," BEA spokesman Sebastien Barthe told NBC News.



Photo Credit: Egypt Army
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Lesbian Couple Reaches $80K Settlement for Honolulu Arrest

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A lesbian couple who sued the city of Honolulu and a police officer are dismissing their lawsuit in exchange for a settlement, NBC News reported. 

Courtney Wilson and Taylor Guerrero will receive $80,000 for dropping the case against the city and Officer Bobby Harrison.

The lawsuit said the couple was holding hands and kissing in a grocery store in March 2015 when Harrison told them to stop and “take it somewhere else.”

The two were allegedly placed in restraints when they failed to comply and were jailed for two days on charges of assault on a law enforcement officer. The charges were eventually dropped. 

Guerrero and Wilson have since split, but they remain friends. Guerrero said she's happy with the money from the settlement, and is “glad it's over with."



Photo Credit: AP
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