North Texas Cruise Passengers Happy to Be Home

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Passengers Cheer Escape From "Horrible" Cruise

Passengers from the disabled Carnival Triumph are glad to be back on land after five nightmarish days marked by overflowing toilets and food shortages.

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A ticket to paradise turned into a cruise from hell.

About a dozen of North Texans who were on board the Carnival Triumph finally made it home on Friday.

The ship, which was adrift in the Gulf of Mexico for five days after an engine fire, was finally pushed to Alabama on Thursday night.

Friday morning, some North Texas passengers were flown home to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Gloria Hoagland, of Plano, was part of a Jazzercise group on the cruise. When the ships engines caught fire, the crew didn't know how bad the damage was until nine hours later, she said. That's when that the crew confirmed they were stuck at sea.

"Every day, we kept getting a report -- it was one more day, one more day, so we weren't convinced that we would even arrive on Thursday night," Hoagland said.

Conditions on the ship quickly deteriorated after the ship lost power. Hoagland said the ship started listing some, causing problems on the lower decks.

"The sewage -- when the boat lists back and forth, the sewage did spill out of the toilets onto the floors, came out of the walls, drainage, you know. That's why we stopped showering three or four days ago, because the sewage was coming up from the drain and, with no electricity, you couldn't see what was going on in the bathroom," she said.

Sheila Ruble, of Frisco, was staying on one of the lower floor rooms with some of her friends. When the power went out, trouble poured out into her room.

"There was sewage that came up from the shower drainage," she said. "We did not stay in the room. The stench, the hot, the heat, was so bad down there, we moved up to the fourth floor outside."

The stench forced hundreds of passengers to look for higher ground and fresh air. Passengers dragged bed sheets, mattresses and towels to the deck to set up tents and places to sleep.

Hoagland said the crew members did a great job helping passengers any way they could, from fresh clothes to food. Passengers even helped out other passengers.

"I was very fortunate, because I was in a cabin. I actually met two older women who were down in two and, with the sewage and stuff, their cabin got ruined. And we invited them up and they slept with us for the next four nights. We just sort of made it work," Hoagland said. "People were sharing cabins, people were sleeping in the hallways. My room was clean, so we were inviting people over to use our balcony, get some fresh air, because without the balcony, you smelled sewer and diesel and bad things. I'm thankful for some fresh air."

Because most electricity was out, passengers were fed sandwiches and melons, Hoagland said. She said the lines were long, but people waited in them in order to eat.

Ruble said Carnival offered passengers a reimbursement for the trip, as well as an additional $500. The company also paid for the return trip home and even offered passengers a free cruise in the future.

Ruble loves cruises and had plans to go again with her girlfriends. But after this ordeal, she plans to wait a little while before hopping on an ocean liner.

"The first couple of days -- 'Hey, this is cool. Let's do this again next year.' And then when we were with each other for days and nights, we were like, 'You know, I think we're good catching up for another five years,' so I don't know if we're going to be doing it anytime soon," Ruble joked.

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Valentine's Day Orders Disappoint Some Customers

Deanna Dewberry, NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit

NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit heard tales of woe from viewers who spent big bucks on flowers only to learn their loved ones got bad flowers, the wrong flowers, or no flowers at all.

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NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit heard tales of woe from viewers who spent big bucks on flowers only to learn their loved ones got bad flowers, the wrong flowers, or no flowers at all.

That was the case with Elvia Sustaita, a Bedford resident who was initially thrilled to see a floral delivery on Valentine's Day.

"I opened the box and my heart fell," said Sustaita.

A family friend had paid $60.00 for a breathtaking bouquet of Stargazer Lilies and Tulips from ProFlowers.com. Instead Sustaita got a box of soggy, dead flowers.

"We are serious about bringing customers freshness, quality, and value and ProFlowers consistently has the highest customer satisfaction rates among flower companies. We guarantee that our flowers will last at least seven days or customers can get their money back or receive a replacement bouquet." 

The family friend who sent the flowers got her $60.00 back, and replaced the dead bouquet with fresher blooms from a local grocer.

ProFlowers isn't the only online florist who heard complaints after Valentine's Day. NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit found hundreds of complaints posted on FTD's Facebook page with one unhappy customer calling FTD – Failed To Deliver. NBC 5 Investigates heard from dozens of viewers who told us they got dead flowers or no flowers at all.  Still others got flowers – just not what they ordered.

One NBC 5 employee was supposed to get a bouquet of 11 roses from FTD. Instead she got a bouquet with 5 roses mixed with less expensive flowers  and filler.

FTD told NBC 5 Investigates,"There may occasionally be issues and we have dedicated customer service representatives in place to resolve these issues …" 

But resolving those issues takes time. When we called FTD and other on-line florists, we were told the wait time was as long as 60 minutes. That's enough to leave consumers who were already frustrated seeing red – and not from flowers.

If you got flowers or the flowers you sent were less than you expected, you should contact the company. You may try emailing if wait times are too long. You should also take a picture of what you received as proof. Most companies do have customer service policies.

According to the JD Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction report, 15% of those who buy flowers online have problems with the shipping process. That's more than twice that of online orders for things like apparel and shoes. ProFlowers.com ranked number one in that survey.  

But Sustaita thinks she'll forego using online companies when she orders flowers.

"It makes you stop and think what you're going to get," she said.

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Miami Fugitive Shot, Killed by Police

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Days after he attacked a Miami-Dade police officer and escaped, fugitive Alberto Morales was shot and killed by police, according to the Southlake Department of Public Safety.

A message posted to the Southlake DPS Facebook page early Saturday morning reads:

Fugitive suspect Alberto Morales has been shot and killed by law enforcement. Shortly before midnight, and acting on information received by a local resident, police responded to an area near Lake Grapevine. Police officers located the fugitive and a foot pursuit ensued. As a result of the fugitives actions he was shot and killed by officers.

Officers Scout Vacant Homes for Morales

Police are following leads from the public in the continued manhunt for Miami fugitive Alberto Morales.

Police Going Door-to-Door in Search for Fugitive

Four days after he attacked a Miami-Dade police officer, fugitive Alberto Morales is still on the loose.

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The message went on to say that any updates would come from the Grapevine Police Department. NBC 5 has crews covering the story and we will update as more information becomes available. Tune in to NBC 5 Weekend Today beginning at 6 a.m. for the latest.

On Thursday, federal agents went door-to-door in the neighborhoods near the Grapevine Wal-Mart, where they talked to homeowners and searched barns and sheds in the area.

Grapevine-area Constable Tim Burch is assisting in the search for Morales, who is considered armed and dangerous.

"He's had to have gone somewhere and gotten some clothes, you would think, or he's holed up in a barn somewhere or gained access to a home somewhere. Who knows?" Burch said then.

Investigators say, based on the time shown on suveillance video, Morales only had about a 10-minute head start on police after the attack.

The last confirmed sighting of Morales was soon after the Monday night attack, when construction workers spotted him running near the Kimball Avenue exit of state Highway 114 in Southlake.

Police had described Morales as a "dangerous" and "desperate" fugitive.

On Thursday, Grapevine police released a photo of a distinct tattoo of a Native American on a horse that Morales has on his left arm. Authorities also said that he was likely in new clothes and could be seeking food, water and shelter.

Morales Unchained

Up until Thursday, Grapevine police had told NBC 5 they believed Morales could still have been in shackles when he escaped but now say they believe the felon may have disabled the restraints before the escape.

Burch told NBC 5 that the shackles used in prisoner transport are difficult to free oneself from.

"A transport belt, if used properly, in the many years I've been in law enforcement, I haven't seen anybody get loose from one of them," Burch said.

Miami-Dade police said there will be a full investigation into how Morales escaped from his shackles.

Officials: "He's Not Going Back to Prison"

Grapevine officer Robert Eberling said inmates who knew Morales in prison have told investigators that he had vowed not to return.

"He's made it pretty clear that he's not going back to prison," Eberling said.

On a recording of a 911 call released Wednesday, Pardinas can be heard breathing heavily as he tells the operator that he's been stabbed. He described Morales' height, weight and appearance and then added: "He's a schizophrenic."

On another 911 call, a bystander told the operator: "There's a guy with a gun and somebody on the floor bleeding." The caller than clarified that "the guy with the gun is helping the guy that's bleeding."

Pardinas was accompanied by Miami-Dade Detective David Carrero during the transfer. They flew to Houston with Morales and then decided to drive the rest of the way after he became disruptive on the flight.

They had stopped near the Wal-Mart while waiting for a third officer who was flying in to the Dallas area join them. Department policy requires three officers to be present for ground transfers of prisoners.

Pardinas, 54, remained hospitalized in Dallas on Wednesday after undergoing surgery. He's "making progress" and expected recover, a Miami-Dade police spokesman said.

In a news conference at Parkland Hospital Wednesday, authorities said Pardinas was stabbed very deeply in the neck and back and that he suffered a collapsed lung.  While his condition is improving, he is still listed in serious but stable condition.

Pardinas and Carrero were taking Morales to Nevada to serve a sentence of 30 years to life for a conviction of sexual assault with a weapon.

This report compiled from several NBC 5 reporters covering the story.

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Shootout Victims ID'd as Cabin Investigation Continues

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Dorner Believed to Have Hidden in Big Bear-Area Cabin

A neighbor near a Big Bear-area cabin where suspected murdered and former LAPD Officer Christopher Dorn is believed to have hidden says he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary inside the cabin in the remote area near the mountain resort community. Patrick Healy reports from the Big Bear area for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2013.

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Forensic experts will determine whether the charred remains found Tuesday after a deadly shootout at a Big Bear-area cabin are those of Christopher Dorner -- the former LAPD officer wanted in a series of shooting deaths that were part of a revenge plot involving law enforcement agents and their families.

Timeline: Revenge-Plot Slayings | Map: LAPD Manhunt | 10:30 a.m. PT: Memorial for Slain Officer

Investigators remained Wednesday at the burned cabin where a man believed to be Dorner was involved in a shootout that killed a San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy -- one of four deaths connected to the 33-year-old fired officer in a revenge plot that targeted law enforcement officers and their families.

The slain officer was identified Wednesday afternoon as Detective Jeremiah MacKay, 35. The father of two young children, MacKay was a 15-year veteran of the department, Sheriff John McMahon said in a press conference.

Deputy Alex Collins was also struck during the shootout and is expected to recover after surgeries at Loma Linda University Medical Center, McMahon said.

A positive identification of the charred remains found in the cabin will require forensics tests, authorities said.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Dorner's driver's license was found in the cabin. The AP cited a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

Positive identification might require days or weeks to complete, police said.

"Those types of identifications can be expedited, and I'm sure everything will be done to do that in this case," LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said at a Wednesday morning news conference.

Until that identification is confirmed, the LAPD will continue protecting law enforcement officers and their families that were named as possible targets in an 11,400-word manifesto apparently written by Dorner, according to the LAPD.

"About a dozen or so" subjects mentioned in the Dorner document remain under protection, Neiman said.

Neiman did not provide details on the investigation in the San Bernardino Mountains, adding that San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department investigators will address questions regarding events at the cabin. The sheriff's department planned to conduct a news conference Wednesday, but it was not immediately clear when that would occur.

The homicide investigations involving Dorner will continue, Neiman added.

"We don't just stop a murder case simply because we suspect that the suspect in that case is no longer with us," Neiman said. "There are some families that are literally traumatized."

A man believed to be Dorner entered the cabin Tuesday afternoon after abandoning a stolen vehicle near Highway 38 at Seven Oaks Mountain Cabins in the unincorporated community of Angelus Oaks (map). The man never came out of the structure, which was destroyed in the fire.

It is not clear how the fire started, and McMahon on Wednesday said that authorities were not involved in starting the blaze.

"We did not intentionally burn down that cabin to get Mr. Dorner out," the sheriff said.

Several walls of the cabin were knocked down with an armored vehicle, then authorities heard a single gunshot from inside, a law enforcement source told NBC4.

The cabins are southwest of Big Bear, where Dorner's burned-out vehicle was discovered Thursday after he allegedly shot and killed a Riverside police officer.

Brief Pursuit Leads to Cabin Shootout

Events unfolded Tuesday after authorities initially responded to a stolen vehicle report at 12:22 p.m. in the 1200 block of Club View Drive in Big Bear, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

A man believed to be Dorner held a couple captive at a Big Bear cabin near a command center that was set up to coordinate the multi-agency search, according to sources inside the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The two were interviewed by investigators and released.

The pair came to the house on Tuesday morning, surprising the man believed to be Dorner, who was inside, according to a spokesman for the California Fish and Wildlife Department.

The couple was tied up by the man, but the woman was able to free herself and call 911, officials said.

Initially, it was reported that the two captives were mother-daughter housekeepers. Mountain Vista Resort owners Karen and Jim Reynolds on Wednedsay night told media that they were tied up by the man before he stole their SUV.

After leaving the cabin, Dorner is believed to have stolen two vehicles before the gunfight.

A Department of Fish and Wildlife warden first noticed a driver matching the fugitive's description driving on Highway 38 at about 12:45 p.m. near Glass Road. The warden then called for backup and three additional CDFW wardens in two separate trucks began pursuing the driver, said Lt. Patrick Foy, with CDFW.

Foy said the man was driving a purple Nissan -- which he may have commandeered from the two captives -- when he was first spotted by the CDFW warden. The driver crashed the Nissan before carjacking a white pickup truck, Foy said.

One of the wardens exchanged gunfire with the subject before the man fled into the cabin, authorities said. Officers could hear audio of the cabin shootout, Neiman said.

"It was horrifying to listen to that firefight," Neiman said. "To hear those words, "officer down," is the most gut-wrenching experience you can have as a police officer."

The manhunt conducted over a widespread area of Southern California led to Big Bear Thursday after the discovery of Dorner's burned-out pickup south of Big Bear Lake. The truck was found about seven hours after Dorner shot and killed a Riverside police officer, according to investigators.

Officer Michael Crain's 10:30 a.m. memorial service was attended by some 8,000 people Wednesday.

NOTE: NBC4 incorrectly reported that the pair held captive inside a Big Bear cabin were mother-daughter housekeepers. A couple who own the Mountain Vista Resort on Clubview Drive on Wednesday evening told media that they were tied up by the man before he stole their SUV. 

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Carter Passes Bird as Mavs Put Away Kings 123-100

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Vince Carter scored 26 points to pass Larry Bird on the NBA's career scoring list, and the Dallas Mavericks headed into the All-Star break with a 123-100 victory against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Carter earned his nickname with circus dunks but can't quite rattle the rim like he used to. He's more dangerous these days from one of the places that made Bird did plenty of damage: the 3-point line.

The 14-year veteran turned aside a Sacramento rally in the third quarter by going 5 of 7 from long range and scoring 17 of Dallas' last 21 points in the period. He ended the night with 21,796 career points for 29th on the all-time list, five ahead of Bird.

"There were open shots and I was shooting them to make them. I wasn't shooting to get attention," said Carter, who also became the 11th NBA player with at least 1,600 3-pointers. "I've talked to Larry before. He is a legend and one of the greatest to play the game."

Tyreke Evans scored 23 for the Kings, who lost their 18th straight regular season game in Dallas dating back almost 10 years.

The 3-pointer that pushed Carter past Bird came from a couple of feet behind the line with 2.9 seconds left in the third quarter and gave Dallas a 92-77 lead.

"It seems like every night, one of our guys is breaking a record," said Shawn Marion, one year shy of Carter in NBA experience. "It's cool what we've accomplished in this league. And we got a `W.' All that stacked on top of each other is good."

Carter was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, and the Mavericks made six straight from long range spanning the third and fourth quarters. Dallas finished 13 of 34 from 3-point range. 

"It speaks to how well he's taken care of himself and longevity," said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, who played with Bird in Boston. "You don't pass Larry Bird on the scoring list unless you've been in it a long time."

Dirk Nowitzki finished with 17 points, including a 3-pointer to put Dallas ahead 100-79 early in the fourth quarter. Nowitzki also had eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

The Mavericks were up 18 early in the third quarter before Sacramento went on a 17-6 run to get within seven. Nine of the points came on free throws, and DeMarcus Cousins had a pair of baskets early in the run.

The Mavericks, who rallied from 17 down for an overtime win in Sacramento last month, didn't let the Kings do the same thing on their home court, thanks to Carter. He hit consecutive 3-pointers to end Sacramento's surge and start the Mavericks on a 19-11 run over the final five minutes of the third quarter.

The Kings, playing their fourth game in five nights before the All-Star break, didn't get closer than 17 in the fourth quarter. Cousins and Jason Thompson had 17 apiece, and James Johnson had 16 off the bench.

Cousins, who had a game-high 13 rebounds, stayed out of trouble for Sacramento after his previous two meetings with Dallas were marred by incidents. He was suspended for a game in December for hitting O.J. Mayo in the groin area during a game in Dallas, and was ejected for a flagrant foul after elbowing Carter last month in Sacramento. The foul helped the Mavericks clinch the overtime win.

Cousins, who insisted the contact was incidental both times, exchanged handshakes and hugs with Mayo and Carter after the game.

"He's going to figure it out," Sacramento coach Keith Smart said. "Believe me, whether it's going to here with the Kings or with anyone else. It's going to happen for the young man. Life is going to settle down and all his game is going to come together."  

Neither team led by more than six before the Mavericks went on an 18-4 run for a 57-40 lead late in the first half. Darren Collison had eight points, including a three-point play when he took a feed from Marion for a layup after Marion jumped over diminutive Sacramento guard Isaiah Thomas to catch an entry pass from Nowitzki.

Collison finished with 18 points and nine of Dallas' 27 assists.

The Dallas spurt included the first points from Mayo, whose dunk on an assist from Collison ended an 0-for-4 shooting start for the Mavericks' leading scorer. Mayo finished with 10 points but was 0 of 7 from long range.

It was an efficient first half for the Mavericks, who had 15 assists and just two turnovers while shooting 49 percent and taking a 59-44 lead. 

NOTES: Mavericks C Chris Kaman missed his eighth straight game with a concussion sustained in practice Jan. 28. He has passed the league-mandated concussion test but is still experiencing headaches. ... Kings G Marcus Thornton missed the game with a bruised right hand. He sustained the injury against Memphis. ... Eight different Mavericks scored in a 30-point first quarter. Nowitzki and Marion led with six apiece. ... Isaiah Thomas, who is headed to Houston for the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend, extended his free throw streak to 35 over seven games. He was 3 of 3.

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Search Continues for "Dangerous, Desperate" Fugitive

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

The search continues for Alberto Morales who police say stabbed a Miami police officer Monday night in Grapevine and hasn't been seen since.

Search Continues for Fugitive

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Police across North Texas are continuing an active, extensive manhunt for a fugitive officials have described as "dangerous" and "desperate."

Investigators set up a command post inside of the Grapevine Police Department and are working with officers from Miami-Dade and the U.S. Marshals following leads to find Alberto Morales.

Morales escaped from police custody on Tuesday after stabbing a Miami-Dade police officer in the parking lot of a Grapevine Walmart. (Read more on that incident in this story)

Search for Morales Centers Around Walmart

Prisoner Alberto Morales, 42, has been a fugitive since police say he stabbed one of the two Miami-Dade detectives who were transferring him Monday while they were in Grapevine awaiting the arrival of a third officer who was flying in to join them. The police search Wednesday centered around the Walmart in Grapevine.

Search for Fugitive Focuses on Walmart Scene

Grapevine police say they are looking at surveillance tape from the Walmart where Alberto Morales escaped from custody.

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Local investigators said they had some tips on Morales' whereabouts overnight, but that none of the tips received have provided viable leads.

Late Tuesday night, a possible Morales sighting turned out not to be the wanted suspect. Police also questioned two men in a Ford SUV they thought Morales may have stolen, but it wasn't connected to the escape.

Police are warning neighbors to watch out, describing Morales as a "dangerous" and "desperate" fugitive from the law.  He's facing life in prison for aggravated sexual assault as well as serving time for other charges. Officers say if Morales is still in North Texas, he'll need a warm place to hide out.

"Make sure your garage door's shut, your doors are locked, you're secure and make sure your house is secure. If your cars are locked out on your driveway, if you happen to park them out there, your keys are where they are.  You know where everything is. Just be aware of your surroundings,"  Lt. Todd Dearing of the Grapevine Police Department said.

"If you see someone that looks like him, please call us.  Even if you're on that edge of, 'Is it or isn't it?'  Call us.  Let us go out and talk to the individual, because you never know when that one person's going to call in, and that's actually going to be him," said Dearing.

Investigators say it's possible Morales has gotten some help and escaped from the area. He's now on the state's Top 10 Most Wanted List and a reward of $10,000 has been issued for information that leads to his capture.

Previous Coverage:

NBC 5's Greg Janda contributed to this report.

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Escaped Prisoner Joins Texas Most Wanted List

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Hunt Continues for Fugitive

The manhunt continues for a prisoner who stabbed a police escort and escaped last night as he was being transferred from Florida to Nevada. Grapevine police say Alberto Morales used his eyeglasses to attack the officer. They believe Alberto Morales is still in the Dallas area.

Extensive Manhunt Under Way

Multiple law enforcement agencies are in an extensive manhunt for a prisoner that stabbed a Miami-Dade Police officer and escaped custody.

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Multiple law enforcement agencies are in an extensive manhunt for a prisoner that stabbed a Miami-Dade Police officer and escaped custody in Grapevine Monday night.

Two Miami-Dade detectives were transporting prisoner Alberto Morales between Miami and Las Vegas. The officers had a connecting flight from Miami to Houston and then on to Las Vegas.

Miami-Dade County officials said prior to landing in Houston, Morales began acting erratically, which resulted in the officers and Morales not being allowed to board the connecting flight to Las Vegas.

Instead, the detectives rented a vehicle and began traveling from Houston to Las Vegas, with a stop in the Dallas area where a third detective was en route to meet them and assist with the ground transport.

Around 11 p.m., the officers and Morales were in the parking lot of a Walmart at 1601 West Highway 114, awaiting the arrival of the third officer, when one of the officers got out of the vehicle and went into the store to use the restroom.

While that officer was in the restroom, Grapevine police said Morales was able to take off his eye glasses, break off the frame, and use the sharp, broken end as a blade to attack the lone officer guarding him, 54-year-old Jaime Pardinas, stabbing Pardinas once in the chest and three times in the back before fleeing.

Pardinas was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

A large manhunt is under way, involving multiple agencies, as Morales is a violent offender and considered dangerous. The State of Texas has placed Morales on their 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list and is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

At 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Grapevine police said they are looking for a 2008 white Ford Explorer with Texas license plate 19ZJW8.  The vehicle was reported stolen from a Super 8 motel sometime overnight Monday.  Police said there was a handgun in the vehicle and officials was stolen in crose proximity to the last known location of Morales.

Still Loose, Still Bound

At the time of escape, it's believed Morales was wearing a belly band with his hands shackled to it. Police believe he may still be in shackles. Morales fled the scene on foot, and Grapevine police still believe he is traveling on foot.

"He is considered dangerous at this time and he is still at large, so we're seeking the public's assistance in finding him," Grapevine police spokesman Lt. Barry Bowling said. "As far as we know he may still be in shackles, and the clothing description we had at the time we got the report was that he was in some grey shorts and a blue shirt."

"We don't think he could have gotten too far," Bowling said. "We're concerned about where he might be since he's at large and we do think he's still very dangerous."

Robert Ebberling with the Grapevine Police Department said Morales will have four charges from today's incident, including attempted criminal capital murder, attempted criminal murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, and escape -- each carrying a $1 million bond.

Ebberling said Morale has no known connections in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Law enforcement officers are considering the entire DFW area as their search radius.

Some schools in the area were even placed on lockdown during different parts of the day due to police activity in the area.  Those lockdowns have since been lifted.

Prisons of the Past

All law enforcement officials have reinterated that Morales has a lengthly, violent criminal history and needs to be treated with extreme caution.

Miami-Dade officials said Morales was apprehended in Nevada in 2008 and was brought back to Miami and incarcerated pending a court case from 2003 in which Morales was charged with two counts of Burglary/With Assault or Battery Armed, two counts of Kidnapping/With a Weapon to Aggravated Battery, and five counts of Sexual Battery/With a Deadly Weapon/Serious Injury.

Morales plead guilty to these charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be run consecutively to a sentence in Nevada. We are still looking into Morales' criminal history in Nevada.

NBC 5 has crews on the scene to gather more information. As this is a developing story, details may change.

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Obama Delivers Vision for the Middle Class

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President Barack Obama delivered an ambitious State of the Union speech Tuesday that began with a sweeping plan to "reignite" the American middle class and culminated with a rousing call for new restrictions on gun ownership.

Both agendas face stiff opposition from his Republican opponents in Congress. But the president, trying to sustain the momentum from his re-election victory and an unabashedly progressive inauguration address, threw the gantlet at their feet.

Appearing before a joint session of Congress, Obama started with a challenge to enact a series of tax reforms, spending cuts and job-building government investments that he said wouldn't raise the federal deficit.

"The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next," Obama said. "Let's agree, right here, right now, to keep the people's government open, pay our bills on time, and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America. The American people have worked too hard, for too long, rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another."

Obama's economic proposals included:

• Cutting Medicare subsidies to drug companies
• Raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour from $7.25 and linking it to increases in the cost of living
• Creating a federal program to fix deteriorating bridges, ports, pipelines and schools
• Making "high-quality" pre-school available to all children
• Rewarding schools that emphasize science, technology, engineering and math
• Withholding federal aid to colleges that don't keep tuition costs down

"Nothing I'm proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime," Obama said. "It's not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth. "

The speech, Obama's fifth State of the Union, was watched by millions of people and marked Obama's next significant step in pursuing his second term agenda -- and outlining what he hopes to be his political legacy.

As in the case of all modern-era second-term presidents, Obama has relatively little time to spend his political capital toward something broad and meaningful. So he put together a speech that could be seen as a sequel to his remarks last month at his second inauguration, when he aimed big with a call for stricter gun control, the right for gays to marry, a better response to climate change, and expanded rights for immigrants.

But most of America isn't as worried about these things as they are about the fitful economic recovery. That is why Obama, still struggling to meet the lofty expectations of his 2008 election, spent most of his speech on that issue, framing his arguments by appealing to the American ideal of equal opportunity for all.

"A growing economy that creates good, middle-class jobs -- that must be the North Star that guides our efforts," Obama said.

"Every day," he continued, "we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills needed to do those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?"

He started with a list of examples he said proved America's progress: the return of troops from war, the creation of six million new jobs, an uptick in the purchases of domestic automobiles, a decline in the purchase of foreign oil, a "healing" housing market and a "rebounding" stock market.

"Together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger," Obama said.

But that progress, he said, was tempered by the reality that "millions of Americans whose hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded."

He added: "It is our generation's task, then, to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth: a rising, thriving middle class."

Obama described his plan as "a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with spending cuts and revenue, and with everybody doing their fair share."

It will begin, he said, with reforming Medicare by cutting subsidies to drug companies and higher payments from wealthy senior citizens.

At the same time, Obama said, the tax code needs to be reformed, to eliminate tax loopholes and deductions "for the well-off and well-connected."

Virtually all of his economic proposals face a tough fight with Republicans in Congress. Republicans have already reluctantly agreed to increase tax rates on the wealthiest Americans in exchange for extending Bush-era tax rates for everyone else. But they will likely push back on Obama's latest plan. They say the president isn't serious enough about cutting spending.

In that context, Obama's speech could be viewed as a prelude to their upcoming battle over the budget as more than a trillion dollars in automatic spending cuts are scheduled to go into effect next month. The impact, Obama said, would be devastating.

"We can't just cut our way to prosperity," he said.

Obama appealed to both parties to seek compromise.

"I realize that tax reform and entitlement reform will not be easy," the president said. "The politics will be hard for both sides. None of us will get 100 percent of what we want. But the alternative will cost us jobs, hurt our economy, and visit hardship on millions of hardworking Americans."

Obama saved his most emotional appeal until the near-end of his address, when he said that the December massacre of children in Newtown, Conn., had changed the debate over gun control. Obama and his allies in Congress have proposed bills that would ban certain types of weapons, or expand background checks. He challenged Congress to consider them all.

"If you want to vote no, that's your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun."

He invoked the case of Hadiya Pendleton, the 14-year-old Chicago girl shot and killed days after performing at Obama's Jan. 21 inauguration. Her parents attended the speech.

"They deserve a vote," Obama said.

"Gabby Giffords deserves a vote," he added, referring to the former Congresswoman debilitated by a January 2011 assassination attempt.

He continued: "The families of Newtown deserve a vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote. The families of Oak Creek, and Tucson, and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence -- they deserve a simple vote."

Obama pushed for other things that he hopes will establish his legacy long after he leaves office four years from now. He urged Congress to pass legislation that would allow many immigrants in the country illegally to become citizens. He proposed new research into dealing with climate change.

Obama announced that 34,000 troops would leave Afghanistan in the next year, reducing the total U.S. military presence there by half, on course for a full withdrawal by the end of 2014.

And he promised to seek treaties to reduce the number of nuclear weapons around the world. That message included a repudiation of North Korea's test this week of a nuclear device. 

The State of the Union was followed by a rebuttal from Republican freshman Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a rising GOP star who could run for president in 2016. He accused Obama of hurting the middle class with tax increases and deficit spending.

"I hope the president will abandon his obsession with raising taxes and instead work with us to achieve real growth in our economy," Rubio said.

Obama is scheduled spend the next few days on the road, talking elements of his speech in campaign-style stops in North Carolina, Georgia and Chicago.

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A visual interpretation of Obama's State of the Union address -- word size based on frequency said during speech :

Word cloud made with WordItOut

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Charred Human Remains Found in Rubble of Burned-Out Cabin

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Fire Officials Told to Stand Down in Big Bear Cabin Fire

It was still unclear Thursday afternoon what started the fire at a Big Bear-area cabin where a man believed to be Christopher Dorner may have barricaded himself. For safety reasons, the fire department was told to stay back and let the fire burn out on its own. John Cádiz Klemack reports from Highway 38 near Mentone for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2013.

More Than 1,000 Tips in Christopher Dorner Manhunt

Police say more than 1,000 tips have been received in the search for an ex-LAPD officer accused in three shooting deaths. Toni Guinyard reports for the NBC4 News at Noon on Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013.

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Charred human remains were found Tuesday night in the debris of a burned-out cabin in the Big Bear-area, where law enforcement officials were involved in a shootout with a man believed to be a fired LAPD officer wanted for at least three shooting deaths, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

"Identification will be attempted through forensic means," the sheriff's department said in a statement released at 11 p.m Tuesday.

Hours before the announcement, leading law enforcement agencies and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa denied reports that the charred body of Christopher Dorner was discovered in the rubble.

NBC4 reported the discovery based on a report from NBC News, citing a source inside the Los Angeles mayor's office. Villaraigosa told NBC News' Andrea Mitchell that, contrary to reports, officials have not found the body and that the cabin was still too hot to enter as of 8 p.m.

Officials at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department also refuted reports that Dorner's body had been found inside the burned-out cabin.

"We believe (the suspect) is still inside that cabin that caught fire … (but) no one has been inside the cabin," said Cindy Bachman, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

"We believe that the person that barricaded himself inside the cabin and engaged in gunfire with our deputies and other law enforcement officers is still inside there even though the building burned."

Homicide investigators are on scene, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

During an 8 p.m. news conference, LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said that the LAPD will continue protecting law enforcement officers and their families that were named as possible targets in an 11,400-word manifesto apparently written by Dorner.

"Until we have confirmation, A, that a body was located and, B, that that body belongs to Christopher Dorner, the Los Angeles Police Department is gonna continue on with its high-profile protection detail of our officers," Smith said.

He added that it could take days or weeks to positively identify any body that may be recovered from the charred rubble.

The manhunt for Dorner turned into a fatal gunfight earlier in the day involving deputies and a standoff that burned a cabin in which authorities said they believe Dorner was barricaded.

One San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy was killed and another was wounded in a shootout before the standoff, according San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon.

At about 4:15 p.m., aerial video showed a structure on fire at the standoff location, Seven Oaks Mountain Cabins in the unincorporated community of Angelus Oaks (map).

The man in the cabin never emerged Tuesday afternoon after authorities shot tear gas into the structure and ordered him to surrender, an anonymous law enforcement official told NBC4.

Several walls of the cabin were knocked down with an armored vehicle, then authorities heard a single gunshot from inside, the source said.

The cabin was engulfed in flames shortly thereafter, but it's not clear how the fire started.

"It's my understanding that since the fire started, there has been no gunfire," Bachman said at an early evening news conference.

She said authorities have had no communication with the person in the cabin.

Timeline: Revenge-Plot Slayings | Read: Full Manifesto | Map: LAPD Manhunt

The cabins are about 5 miles southwest -- as the crow flies, over a mountain range -- from the town of Big Bear, where Dorner's burned-out vehicle was discovered Thursday after he allegedly shot and killed a Riverside police officer.

On Tuesday, deputies initially responded to a stolen vehicle report at 12:22 p.m. in the 1200 block of Club View Drive in Big Bear, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. A man matching Dorner's description stole a white 2005 RAM pickup, according to the report.

Rick Heltebrake, 61, told NBC4 that a man resembling Dorner approached him with a rifle and demanded the pickup. Heltebrake said the man assured him "I don't want to hurt you," and ordered him to take his dog and get out of the truck.

The man believed to be Dorner allegedly held a woman and her daughter, both housekeepers, hostage at a Big Bear cabin near a command center that was set up to coordinate the multi-agency search, according to sources inside the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The pair was interviewed by investigators and released.

The gunfight with the man believed to be Dorner began after a California Department of Fish and Wildlife warden noticed a driver matching the fugitive's description driving on Highway 38 at about 12:45 p.m. near Glass Road.

The warden attempted to pursue the driver but the chase was hindered by narrow roads, said Lt. Patrick Foy, with CDFW.

The warden then called for backup and three additional CDFW wardens in two separate trucks began pursuing the driver, Foy said, adding that all responding officers are part of a six-warden unit assigned to the manhunt.

Foy said the man was driving a purple Nissan -- which he may have commandeered from the two women hostages -- when he was first spotted by the CDFW warden. The driver crashed the Nissan before allegedly carjacking a white pickup truck, Foy said.

The driver opened fire on the truck carrying two CDFW wardens, Foy said. The pair, whose vehicle was shot numerous times, was not injured. But one of the wardens was close enough to the shooter to note that he looked like Dorner, Foy said.

He said that one of the CDFW wardens exited the truck and fired some 15 rounds at the suspect's vehicle, though it was not clear if the driver had been struck by the gunfire. The driver then fled into the forest and barricaded himself inside a cabin, authorities said.

Responding deputies encountered the gunman, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said.

"A brief exchange of gunfire occurred between the suspect and our deputies," San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said.

The two deputies were transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where one was declared dead.

Dorner was believed to have an arsenal of weapons that includes a semi-automatic rifle.

Highways 38 and 330 were closed for several hours in the Big Bear area. Officers in protective gear were checking vehicles at a Highway 38 roadblock south of Big Bear.

SWAT units and armored vehicles were seen traveling up the mountain road.

The Bear Valley Unified School District placed several campuses on lockdown.

The search for Dorner has focused on the San Bernardino Mountain resort community of Big Bear since Thursday, when his burned-out pickup was discovered south of Big Bear Lake. About 30 law enforcement personnel remained in Big Bear Tuesday morning.

Dorner's Nissan Titan pickup was found about seven hours after he allegedly opened fire on officers in Riverside County. The search for Dorner, fired from the LAPD in 2008, has included Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties and the San Diego area.

Teams on the ground and in the air searched the Big Bear area after Thursday's discovery of Dorner's burning pickup, but authorities said there had been no reported sightings of Dorner.

On Tuesday, investigators asked residents in the cities of Big Bear Lake, Moonridge, Sugarloaf, 7 Oaks Community (Converse Flats), Bluff Lake, Jenks Lake and Angelus Oaks who have surveillance cameras at their residences to review the video, starting on midnight Feb. 7.

Dorner was identified Feb. 6 as a suspect in the shooting deaths of a couple, including the daughter of a former LAPD captain, in Irvine. He was charged with murder Monday in the Feb. 7 shooting death of Riverside Officer Michael Crain.

More than 1,000 tips have been received since the LAPD announced a $1 million reward in the case. 

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American Pope Unlikely, Experts Say

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American influence on the Papal Conclave that will elect the next pontiff has never been stronger. But the odds of an American becoming pope remain distant at best, Vatican scholars and journalists say.

That's in large part because the United States, with more Catholics than any European country, is already seen as having too strong a hand in global politics and economic matters. So why give us the papacy, too?

"America was a missionary country up to the beginning of the 20th Century, and we like to think of ourselves as the center of the world, but Rome doesn't," said Charles Hilken, a St. Mary's College of California history professor who specializes in papal elections.

Last year, Pope Benedict XVI named three new American cardinals, bringing the country's total to 19, 11 of whom are younger than 80 and thus qualified to vote in the papal election. That's nearly 10 percent of the conclave.

Only Italy, home of the Vatican, has more eligible voters, with 28.

Of the American dark horses, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has the best chance to succeed Benedict, who will abdicate this month, observers say.

"Look, the Holy Spirit has his little jokes, as they say in the Curia, so you never know what the conclave will do, and Dolan is certainly the most appealing American candidate, likely the most ever," said David Gibson, a writer for Religion News Service and the author of a biography of Benedict. "But he's still a huge long shot."

The reality is that the U.S. is not where the Catholic Church wants to focus its energy, Gibson said. While popes have always come from Europe, the church's future is widely seen as lying in the Southern Hemisphere: in South America, and in Africa, where membership is booming.

"If they go outside Europe for the first time, Latin America is the best bet," Gibson said.

In that sense, we still could see the first "American" pope, albeit one from Brazil (home of the largest Catholic population, more than that of Italy, France and Spain combined), or Mexico, with the second-largest Catholic population, or even Argentina.

There is also a promising candidate from the north: Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Canadian-born former Archbishop of Quebec who now works in a powerful position in Rome.

"That's more likely than it going to the U.S., to be quite honest," Hilken said.

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Burglar Targets Couple on Vacation

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A Highland Park woman wants to warn others about a mistake she made, before leaving on a recent trip.

Sunny Nunan thinks she basically told a cab driver how to break into her house, while sitting in the back of his cab. 

Nunan said she and her husband were leaving for the airport, when she sent her husband back inside to get something she forgot. She reminded her husband, he could open their back door, without a key.

"Like an idiot, I say, it's no big deal, the back door, if you shake it, it releases the lock," said Nunan. 

She and her husband came home to find someone had broken into their house and stolen their laptops and jewelry.

"Two weeks before, they could have taken anything in this house, and I would not have cared, but just the timeliness of this is heart-breaking," said Nunan. 

Nunan's father passed away two weeks earlier, and the crook stole the few pieces of jewelry he left her.  

"I feel really strongly I know who did this, there were two cars in the driveway, nobody would look at this house and say that's a great house to rob, I mean, it's hard to not put the pieces together and wonder," Nunan said.

The burglar(s) stole several gold charms of her father's, including a custom gold football charm with a blue "W" on it.

Highland Park police say they are investigating several leads in the case. 

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American Airlines' Merger Could Come This Week

Scott Gordon, NBC 5 News

People with knowledge of the high-level talks said CEO Tom Horton was pushing for more time and hadn't yet accepted a lesser position with a combined company. One person suggested he was actively working to kill the deal.

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American Airlines and US Airways appear ready to announce a merger in the next few days.

One person pushing the merger said that the timeline could be pushed back because of resistance from American executives, but another source close to the Fort Worth-based carrier said negotiations were progressing and appeared to be on-schedule.

Nobody wanted to be named because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Under the merger scenario described to NBC 5 and widely reported, US Airways CEO Doug Parker would run the combined airline. American CEO Tom Horton would be named non-executive chairman for a period of one or two years.

Some board members appeared to be pushing for Horton to have a more meaningful role in the new company. His supporters on the board believe he has done a good job guiding the airline through the difficult bankruptcy process.

Horton replaced former CEO Gerard Arpey when American declared bankruptcy in November 2011.

When talk of a merger first surfaced, Horton said he preferred to wait until American exited bankruptcy as a standalone company.

Pressured by creditors, Horton then agreed to consider the idea and entered into confidential talks with US Airways and others.

US Airways executives wooed American's employee groups with offers of higher pay and benefits. AA's union leaders, who have had a testy relationship with management for years, jumped on board with the merger idea.

US Airways' executives have said if they are successful, they would keep the airline's headquarters in Fort Worth. The company would also keep the American brand. The name US Airways would go away.

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Routh Family Member Speaks

Kevin Cokely & Amanda Guerra, NBC 5 News

Cousin of Eddie Ray Routh wants people to know the state of his cousin before the killings at a gun range in Erath County.

Cousin of Eddie Ray Routh Speaks Out

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Just one year apart, Adam Routh says he and his cousin Eddie Ray Routh are as close as brothers.

"I tell you what.. my cousin was just one of the best guys ever," Adam Routh said. "I love that dude. And I'm going to stand by him 100 percent."

The Marine reservist accused of murdering former Navy SEAL and best-selling author Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at an Erath County gun range on February 2. Routh continues to be held on a single count of capital murder and two separate murder complaints. His bond is set at $3 million.

Adam Routh knew his cousin well during childhood. And later, while Adam stayed in Texas, Eddie headed to the military. The US Marine served in both in Iraq and Haiti.

Adam admits when Eddie came back to Texas, he was different.

"I mean, he was still a good guy but there was an emptiness, there was an emptiness there in his eyes," Adam Routh said. "Thinking back and all that and looking back into it.. he was more of an aggressive person."

Family members claim Routh was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Records confirm he spent time at Green Oaks Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas.

"The general public needs to understand they're bringing our boys home after doing things that nobody else could do," Adam Routh said. "They need help most of all."

Adam believes extreme mental suffering and aggression led Routh to allegedly shoot and kill Kyle and Littlefield.

"I want to speak out because what my cousin do [sic] was wrong... I fully agree with that I don't condone it," Routh said. "I will stand by my cousin 100 percent day by day. It's a terrible tragedy and I feel so sorry for the Kyle family and the Littlefield family."

"But there are measures in our government, whenever you send our boys home.. they're not right," Routh said. "You need to put our money into making our boys straight and sane, to come home so they don't do things like this."

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Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting in Fort Worth

NBC 5 News

One man is dead after an officer-involved shooting in the 3100 block of N. Pecan Street in Fort Worth Saturday night.

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Fort Worth police are investigating an officer-involved shooting Saturday night that left one man dead.

Police said that at about 10:15 p.m. officers were called to a shooting in the 3100 block of N. Pecan Street north of downtown Fort Worth. A shooting victim was taken to a local hospital, there's no word on the victim's condition.

Minutes later police tracked down a vehicle matching the description on Pecan Street in the shooting not far from the scene.

Officers approached the car on foot and confronted a man in the car, police said the driver sped toward officers. Fort Worth police said, fearing for their safety and believing an officer had been hit by the car, the other officers shot at the car hitting and killing the driver.

All of the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine administrative leave pending an internal investigation, according to Fort Worth police.

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Bacon Festival Holds Pageant, Extravagant Bacon Dishes

Attendees of the Blue Ribbon BaconFestival in Iowa prepared bacon gumbo and chocolate bacon bourbon tarts.

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Thousands of people came together in Urbandale, Iowa for the popular Blue Ribbon BaconFestival celebrating all things connected with the meat, according to the Associated Press. People arrived dressed in creative costumes like Viking hats and makeshift snouts.

The annual event saw more than 10,000 pounds of bacon cooked in every way possible. Visitors could enjoy bacon gumbo, chocolate bacon bourbon tarts, and even Icelandic bacon dishes. Some pieces of bacon were made into deserts by being dipped in chocolate or baked into cupcakes. There was even bacon gelato.

"I love bacon more than I love my job," said Katie Nordquist, who wore a tuxedo T-shirt that resembled bacon for her first visit to the festival. 

The event has attracted a lot of attention having sold about 8,000 tickets to the event in a little over three minutes. The festival also included lectures about bacon eating as well as a bacon queen pageant. A pig was even pardoned by Governor Terry Branstad.

Resident Mike Vogel made his fourth appearance to the festival wearing a complete bacon costume. "I think it's the right time of year when everybody's been cooped up," said the 39-year-old videographer. "It's a good time to get out, have some fun, try some new stuff, have a few beers and enjoy yourselves with everybody else."

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Man Dead in Officer-Involved Shooting

Andres Gutierrez, NBC 5 News

A Dallas family tonight claims police used excessive force in a shooting that killed their son overnight. But police said they had no other choice.

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Man Dead After Officer-Involved Shooting

Dallas police say a man who said he wanted to turn himself into police pointed a weapon at officers and officers opened fire killing him.

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A man is dead after a standoff that ended in an officer-involved shooting just after midnight Saturday morning.

Dallas police said they received word that 39-year old Stoney Eugene Rawlinson, a person of interest in a homicide, wanted to turn himself in to police.

According to Dallas police, arrangements were made for the man to meet with uniformed officers in a parking lot in the 6500 block of Skillman Avenue near Abrams Road.

When officers arrived they said the man was sitting inside his car armed with a gun, according to his father, Stoney Eugene Rawlinson Sr., it was a 12-gauge shotgun.

"The officers gave loud verbal commands for the suspect to drop his weapon, Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Demarquis Black said. "The suspect pointed his weapon at the officers, and fearing for their lives they fired their weapons." 

The SWAT Unit was called in since the man was still in the vehicle and officers were unsure of his condition.

After a brief standoff police determined the man was dead inside the car.

Rawlinson's father has strong feelings over the incident.

"He was giving himself up last night and I felt like he was executed last night," he said.

 

According to criminal records, Rawlinson's past included a single conviction in Mesquite for criminal mischief above $20,000 for which he recieved deferred ajudication.

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Mesquite Teen Safe and No Longer Missing

Gomez Family Photo

15-year-old Libni Gomez was last seen at 12:45 p.m. Friday.

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Mesquite Police say a 15-year-old girl reported missing Friday afternoon has called her family to say she's with her boyfriend.

Police said at about 12:45 p.m. Friday, 15-year-old Libni Gomez went outside to start the family's van parked on the street in front of their home in the 2800 block of Shelduck Drive.

When her mother and sister came out of the house a few minutes later, she was gone and the keys to the van lying on the ground according to police.

Mesquite officers searched the area but could not locate Gomez.

Mesquite police said Saturday afternoon that Gomez's father said she called and told him she was with her boyfriend and is safe.

Officers verified the information and no longer consider Gomez a missing person.

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Video Shows Ex-LAPD Cop Murder Suspect in Calif.

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Newly released surveillance video showed a wanted homicide suspect tossing several items into a dumpster behind a store in National City, Calif., 48 hours before the alleged crime spree that prompted a manhunt throughout the Southwest.

Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner is suspected in a series of attacks over the past week that left three people dead, including a Riverside, California, police officer.

Authorities say Dorner has vowed revenge against several former LAPD colleagues whom he blames for ending his career.

NBC 7 San Diego has obtained surveillance video through sources close to the investigation. The video was taken outside an auto parts store on Main Street in National City at 9:07 a.m. Monday. The store is located directly across the street from the National City police station.

On the video, a Nissan Titan truck pulls up to a dumpster and stops. For four minutes, someone unloads items from the back.

Majid Yahyai is an employee at Platinum Auto Sports.

"He was right on the tape, I mean he went, came back, made a U-turn, stopped," Yahyai said.

A man matching Dorner's description stops near a second dumpster closer to the discreetly mounted security camera.

Wearing jeans and a jacket the man walks over to the passenger door and begins searching through more belongings.

"He was for three, four minutes inside his car looking for things," Yahyai said.

This time he throws away what we now know was a magazine full of bullets with their tips carefully sawed off, a green military belt strap, and a brown camouflage helmet.

The items were discovered within a half hour by an employee.

Police aren't disclosing specifics about the items found in the first dumpster, but it was all a huge find for detectives, who were equally elated to find it was all captured on video.

For those at this shop who were there working as it happened - the encounter is a little too close to home.

"So he missed him by 20 - 30 minutes at most, if he'd of gone 20 minutes earlier probably he would've seen him back here. Scary," Yahyai said.

Yahyai said he and the employee took the items across the street to a police station. They told NBC 7 San Diego they were just happy to help in the investigation.

Saturday was the third full day of a massive multi-agency hunt for Dorner in the San Bernardino mountains, about 80 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, where Dorner's burned-out pickup truck was discovered Thursday.

A scaled-back search party took advantage of a break from stormy weather to search for Dorner using heat-sensing helicopters as vacationing families and weekend skiers frolicked nearby.

A law enforcement officer told The Associated Press authorities found weapons in the truck. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing.

Investigators have been examining the truck to determine if it broke down or was set ablaze as a diversion. Police say the truck had a broken axle.

Investigators are trying to determine whether it was already broken when they found it, or whether it was damaged when it was towed away.

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