Transcripts For WRC News4 At 5 20140829

What station did he exit . You know, what time of day . What line . What platform were you on . We have cameras all over. A lot of times well see, oh, he was, you know, a tall man in a dark shirt and dark jeans. Well, maybe he was wearing shoes with neon shoe laces, and thats a defining character. Reporter the most recent victim tried to take a picture of his face. He actually noticed me taking a picture of him, and while the doors were closing, and he just ran. Reporter metro doesnt encourage people to take pictures of possible perpetrators on trains. Now, yes, as we mentioned just a few minutes ago, indecent exposure happens on metro more than you might think. Coming up tonight at 6 00, well tell you just how often and also explain a very quick and subtle way you can report any incident like that to police. Live at penway town station, kristen wright, news 4. Kristen, thanks. After five long weeks of testimony, prosecutors and Defense Attorneys in richmond right now are making their final pitch to jurors in the mcdonnell corruption trial. Former Virginia Governor Bob Mcdonnell and his wife maureen are accused of accepting money and gifts from a businessman in exchange for promoting his company. We have Team Coverage with Northern Virginia bureau chief julie carey and reporter david culver outside the courthouse in richmond. Well, Maureen Mcdonnells attorney has already wrapped up his closing arguments. Bob mcdonnells attorney is talking to jurors right now. After that prosecutors get a final turn. At the heart of this case, did they conspire to help businessman Jonnie Williams, to use the power of the Governors Office in exchange for gives and loans. The mcdonnell attorneys argued today absolutely not. Proof their claim Jonnie Williams really didnt get anything. In closing arguments mcdonnells defense attorney took aim first at the prosecutors accusing them of tearing the former governors life apart without finding proof he did anything for Jonnie Williams. His attorney told jurors, the federal government has not produced any evidence, least of all that Bob Mcdonnell committed bribery or defrauded a bank. Maureens attorney cast his client as a victim of Jonnie Williams. She was gaga for him. She says the former first lady was a cash nut about she says she cannot be guilty if her motives are not corrupt. Now, lets talk about corrupt motives. At that moment a picture of Jonnie Williams appeared on the video monitor. Supporters seated behind the mcdonnells laughed. Maureen mcdonnells attorney also told jurors his client cant be convicted of the public corruption charges because shes not a public official. Prosecutors began the day with a fiery closing argument. Although the trial has often seemed to focus on maureen mcdonnell, her angry breakdowns and broken marriage, but today Bob Mcdonnell was squarely in prosecutors sights. Said the government lawyer, this is bribery, this is corruption. This is the real thing. Dont let it stand. He was on the Jonnie Williams grave where i train. Do what you can when opportunities arise, and ill keep paying you. Heres what prosecutors had to say about the former governors explanation for why he drove Williams Ferrari back to the mansion. Mr. Transparency and mr. Honesty out and out lied to his staff, said the prosecutor. Now, our team trial coverage continues with my colleague david culver as he takes a look at some of what jurors will consider when they do begin deliberations. Jurors in this case have heard 24 days of testimony and evidence, not including todays closing arguments. It is a lot of so much so. There are notebooks that have been filled since the start of this trial. Jurors, the 12 men and women, will have to go through this during the dib ragses, but in closing today the prosecution emphasized one thing in particular to jurors as they look at the 14 counts of corruption prosecutors stress that the government did not need to show that the mcdonnells and Jonnie Williams completed a corruption deal, but only that the deal was struck. Prosecutors told jurors we dont have to prove Bob Mcdonnell did any of the official acts as long as we prove its a corrupt agreement. The defense says the evidence does not even show that. Ultimately, it will be up to the jurors to decide whether all that evidence and testimony rises above the burden of reasonable doubt. Julie. Now, coming up on news 4 at 6 00, for those of you following the trial, weve seen many times the picture of governor mcdonnell holding up his arm, seeming to show off a rolex watch. Coming up on news 4 at 6 00, why that photo speaks volumes, say prosecutors. Im julie carey, news 4. Thank you both. There are also new developments in the assault case against chris brown. The singer is charged with punching a fan and breaking his nose after Howard Universitys homecoming last year. His trial was supposed to begin later this month, but as news 4 Mark Seagraves just learned, a plea deal may be in the works instead. Chris brown could be close to a plea deal with d. C. Prosecutors over his assault charge. Court records show brown was scheduled for a status hearing related to a plea deal in d. C. Superior court today, but was unable to attend. That hearing is now rescheduled for tuesday morning. A spokesman for the u. S. Attorneys office declined to comment except to confirm that a status hearing is scheduled for next week. Brown and his bodyguards were both charged with assault aing fan outside the w hotel last year. A judge found the bodyguard guilty. He is appealing that conviction. Brown had been close to a plea deal several weeks ago, but rejected that deal and instead requested a trial. New Court Records indicate brown and prosecutors have now reached a plea agreement. Brown is scheduled to appear in Court Tuesday morning. His past appearances at d. C. Superior court have been marred by large crowds trying to get autographs and aggressive u. S. Marshalls who closed down the sidewalk around the courthouse. Brown will not respond to requests for comments. Mark seagraves, news 4. An elementary schoolteacher from virginia will be spending time in prison for preying on underaged girls. Cory shaw today. Prosecutors say he lives in charlottesville and had inappropriate contact with a 15yearold girl from woodbridge. They say he used skype, snapchat, and kik to send and receive sexually explicit photos and videos with the girl. He had contact with at least 18 other underage girls as well. A man who reportedly called a fellow parishioner to tell him his wife may be dead is now charged in her murder. A grand jury indicted cole abiel in connection with his wifes death at their home in gaithersburg. After he called someone from his church, that person called 911, and when police got ahold of him, he was in Northern Virginia. Court records show that the police had been to histime townhouse within the year for Domestic Violence allegations. Now to a developing story overseas where officials in the u. K. Have now raised the Terror Threat to severe amid the ongoing situation with the Islamic Militant group isis. News 4 Scott Mcfarland is here in the studio with more on that change and what it could mean here in the states. Scott. The threat level increase means the British Government believes an attack is highly likely. It comes in the wake of that barbaric execution of american journalist james foley by an isis militant with a british accent. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned today isis poses a greater threat that al qaeda. The video of foleys death shows that threat is no longer the ambition to create an extremist in the heart of iraq and syria is a threat to our own security here in the u. K. It is a poisonous ideology of islamist extremism that is condemned by all faiths and by all faith leaders. Back here in the u. S. Homeland security and the fbi say theyre not aware of any specific or Credible Threats from isis, but metro says its now raising its threat level. News 4 has learned the Transit Agency has sent an internal memo, and its sent from their Transit Police department. It tells officers to remain vigilant about the threat from jihadists and reminds about the upcoming anniversary of the 9 11 attacks just a short distance away. Homeland Security Officials say theyre taking steps also to enhance security at overseas airports. Those that have direct flights to the u. S. We checked. Airport officials at dulles and at reagan tell us there havent havent been any substantial changes to their security. Wendy. Scott mcfarland. Students safety at risk . Some High Schoolers were forced to sit on each others laps this week because their school bus was so crowded. Prince georges county bureau chief Tracy Wilkins has the story from upper marlboro. Reporter prince Georges School bus route 076 had Serious Problems yesterday on its way to the high school. It was really overcrowded. People had to sit on each others laps. Some people had to sit three to a seat. Reporter it got so crowded that the abouts driver had to call for assistance. We have a recording of that radio transmission. This bus is overcrowded. I have so many students on here that one student two students, three students are sitting on other students laps. I think its a safety hazard to all the students. Especially for the bus driver. Some of the students did complain about how they just wanted to get to school at the time. We always want to make sure students are safe and are timely getting to school. Reporter there were issues during the first few weeks of school, they admit, but School Officials need to know about them so they can be fixed. The first two weeks are always making adjustments every single day with bus routes based on maybe increased registration in certain areas, based on, you know, whether students are being dropped off and picked up at different locations. Reporter this morning we followed bus 076 and saw that it didnt make as many stops today as it did yesterday, resulting in fewer students. Parents hope thats an end to issues on this route. I dont think its coming up at 6 00 did this bus driver do what she should have done when handling an overcrowded bus . Well say what school Officials Say about that. In upper marlboro, im Tracy Wilkins, news 4. Less play means a shorter day. One local school is now College Park Academy made the change yesterday. Thats according to a report in the washington post. Its Charter School in prince georges county. Classes will end at 3 20 instead of 3 55, but that will mean seven hours without a break. Teachers suggested they cut the recess. They say students seemed really tired at the end of the day. School bus cameras dont seem to be having a big impact on maryland drivers. Violations are still happening at the same rate. Thats according to the Montgomery County School Officials. State records reviewed by the news 4 iteam showed that more than 3,000 drivers were caught illegally passing a stopped bus. In just one day. The Maryland State Department of education is reporting nearly 900 violators in Montgomery County. More than 600 in prince georges. Close to 400 in annnie arundel. Going down. The simple reason these power lines came crashing down and why the cleanup will not be so simple. Plus, a Northern Virginia doctor is busted in a drug ring. Find out why police are so concerned about some of his clients. Nothing but red and feeling hot over the next couple of days. Our temperatures will be above the average of 85 degrees, and were talking about a chance of rain. When and where n a maryland woman is accused of stabbing two babies to death cannot be held criminally responsible. That is the findinging of a psychiatric evaluation that was released in court in Montgomery County today. Mona fersanford and another woman are accused of during an attempted exorcism in january. Theyre also accused of wounding the womans two older children. Sanfords Attorney Says the big issue in this case is mental health. If somebody is in the throes of a psychiatric diagnosis and cant control themselves its not a function of evil intent. Its a function of something else. Prosecutors will review the hospitals report to determine whether they will challenge those findings. If they do, a judge will decide whether sanford goes to trial. Stay away from the water. Thats the message for people who are near rock creek after more than 1,000 gallons of raw waste spilled into the creek. In a word, the work is on right now to fix the sewer line, and everybody being told now to avoid the water in Rock Creek South of the national zoo to georgetown. News 4s derek ward is live now with an update on this stinky mess. Derek. Well, a stinky mess, indeed. You know, this goes to show how many so many things in our city are interconnected. Were at a work site here, a job site in adams morgan, and its not necessarily this site, but just beyond there, where you see those cones, thats where the problem was earlier this week. This section of the city is connected, so what went on here wednesday actually had some baring on rock creek. As much as of a disruption as it appears to be, its not the worst that some residents of this adam morgan neighborhood have endured this week. They finally got rid of whatever it was, so the pipes going down the sidewalks that were some fluid was going through there on regular intervals. That was raw sewage from a blockage that was found on wednesday. I assumed whenever anybody flushed, thats when we heard the, you know, kind of woosh come down the pipes. Reporter crews were inspecting a sewer line when they discovered the blockage in the line. They set up a bypass system taking the sewage around the blockage while repairs get underway, but it still caused it to overflow into rock creek. About 1,200 gallons of untreated waste water that would usualingly he wanted up here. It was untreated compared to the spill that is we sometimes have of combined sewage, which would be diluted with storm water. The stinz went up in the affected area pretty much from the calvert street bridge down to georgetown so, what if you or your pets do find yourself up the creek for one reason or another. Anything that comes in contact, whether its a human or a pet or Fishing Equipment or anything else that might have come in contact with the water, its probably a good idea to wash it off, sanitize it as much as you can if that has happened just as a precaution. As for the other work, crews expect that to be done by early next week. And this precaution about sanitizing anything that comes into contact with creek water in that section, well, thats only going to be in place until about sunday. We are live in northwest, eric washed, news 4. Back to you. Thank you. New orleans is marking this day with a mixture of sorrow and pride. It has been nine years since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the city. Levees failed and flooded nearly every neighborhood there. At least 1400 people were killed. Survivors waited several days for help, youll recall. New orleans was uninhabitable for weeks. Nearly a decade later the citys foot present is smaller, but new orleanseans are proud. Theyve rebuilt and weathered a National Recession and recovered from a massive bp oil spill in the gulf of mexico. That was, of course, in 2010. Nine years ago. Yeah. Thats still so vivid. The last nine years, it doesnt seem like a very long time, but technology has advanced. We have more detailed forecasts, and we know city leaders have learned a lot. What day is it going to maybe rain on someones picnic . That is the question everybody wants to know, but first, let me tell you, everybody is going to get hit with the steam, the heat. Thats the humidity. Then were talking about scattered storms. Some days a little higher threat than others. Lets get through the forecast here. Outside weve got some gorgeous conditions. Right . The beach too. Even for saturday, its getting a touch humid on saturday. The high is 79 degrees. At the beach. Maybe ocean city are headed there. Some folks were even late trying to avoid the traffic, and afternoon storms. Our best chance comes on sunday. The High Temperature 84 degrees. Then 83, with just a chance on monday. Again, sunday. The highest threat of scattered storms at the beach, and now were getting ready to move into another heat wave. This will be the fourth of the year. Fourth of the season. Yes. That means drink plenty of water. Stay indoors and wear loosefitting clothing. A lot of people at the practice with more Cool Conditions than hot. Super nice conditions out there. Now were at 82 degrees. We dropped to 72 by 9 00. Perfect for dining out or anything you plan on doing outside. Now, let me show you the system that we are going to have to deal with as we make our way through the holiday weekend. This weather front, its a warm front. Its going to be pushing some warm air back over us. Then eventually a cold front further back to the west. Its going to come through and give us ae hands for showers and storms. Including on labor day. Lets detail it out for you. Here we are this evening. Mostly clear skies tomorrow afternoon. A few clouds. Calling it mostly sunny. You can see a few dots of rain there, but i think were going to stay dry. On sunday our threat, yes, its going to be making its way in during the afternoon, north and west. Hagerstown, around areas like frederick, maryland, around lubbocksville, martinsburg during the afternoon. This is 4 00, 5 00 on sunday. Then it continues moving through up until about 8 00, 9 00 making its way out. The thing is, though, with higher humidity, anything that we get means the chance for some downpours and low visibility around the area. Thats for sunday. Monday, yes, a chance too, but i think only a slight chance. Lets talk about tomorrow afternoon right now. West virginia has the highest threat for showers and storms that will be in the mountains. 85 degrees shenandoah, petersburg, at 87 degrees. Again, partly sunny skies. We do just fine here. That means the university of maryland game kickoff time 3 30. Partly sunny. A little sticky. Again, dress accordingly. Temperatures will be in the upper 80s, and for the Labor Day Weekend sunday, again, your best chance of rain labor day. Just one or two storms around the area. Here it is. Your storm team fourday forecast from 87 tomorrow. Again, were just going to start getting wound up here. 94 on sunday. We get the big heat and the best chance of storms. Labor day, a bit better at 91 degrees. 30 chance of us seeing showers and storms, and then a 40 chance as everybody heads back to work and back to school on tuesday. Still the heat. Wait until you see houn the heat will stay with us. Thats coming up later in the newscast. But right now youre trying to get out of dodge. Fallen power lines are causing some major road closures and Power Outages in alexandria. Sn route one from slaters lane to first street shut down for several hours now. Three utility poles fell over around noon today. Not known what caused that. Its not believed to have been knocked over by a car, truck, or even bad weather. At one point there were 1,100 people without power, but thats now down to 120. The problem may not be fixed until late tonight. Theres your mess. Now at 5 00 new reaction tonight from the family of joan rivers. Her daughter wants fans to know about the hospitalized comedian. And a School Closes early because a cat was roaming the halls. Yep. Why did officials make the call to send people home . Hitting the road for the holiday . Gas prices are lower, but just how low will they go . Your Summer Vacation is cheaper this year. Gas prices are back down. News 4 reporter adam tuft is live at tysons corner. Hey, adam. Hey, wendy. One last long summer weekend. Enjoy it, everybody. Yes, some good news here at the gas pump. Prices are lower, and in some cases much lower than the same time last year. Reporter three is the number youll find most on the boards around the area. Of course, with the occasional four mixed in, but for the Labor Day Weekend this year all of us are seeing lower prices than last year. As low as 3. 20. Reporter he says he finds cheaper gas away from the metro area. Taking a look at how the prices stack up this Labor Day Weekend compared to last, in d. C. 3. 60 this year, 3. 75 last year. 3. 38 in maryland this year. 3. 55 last year. In virginia 3. 19 this year. 3. 36 last year. And the National Average 3. 43 right now. Last year it was 3. 56. Drivers say even though prices are down a bit, they continue to shop around. I would prefer to get gas further south than north. Reporter johanda drives every day often fighting the congestion on 66, so gas prices are near and dear to her. She says sometimes she has to pay whatever price is on the board. It is what it is. If im on e, i dont think i want to risk sitting in traffic on 66 trying to get to manassas trying to get to 13. Reporter her oneway trip usually takes about an hour and a half. Back here live at tysons corner. Why are gas prices so low, and how long are they likely to stay that way . Hmm . Tell you about that coming up next hour at 6 00. Reporting live in tysons corner, adam tuft, news 4. At 5 00 a local doctor accused of dealing drugs. How police say he was able to get access to victims who were under age. And rescuing rube where i. How an entire community is rallying to help this sweet little dog who was shot helping to get her back on her feet. And in the last hour we got our first picture of a suspect wanted for attacking a teenager near a shopping area. Well explain who you should be on the lookout for after the break. Right now at 5 30 its happened again. Another flight fight. Whats wha sent one traveller over the edge this time . Its the common that has a local university speaking out. Why a former School President says women should simply drink less to prevent sex assaults. The daycare van stolen with children inside. The car was coming, so i just went the car reporter the one thing that a 9yearold did that helped save the day. First at 5 30 now, a major drug ring bust in Northern Virginia involving a doctor and more than 11,000 prescription pills. One of the most troubling parts of this case . Prosecutors say he knew these people were abusing the drugs or reselling them. News 4s Darcy Spencer is live in arlington with more on this. Darcy. Reporter as you may know, wendy, a lot of people are suffering with Prescription Drug addiction, and everyone i spoke to today said they were outraged that a doctor away woo do something leak this, potentially contributing to the problem. This doctor works out of this Office Building right off the lee highway. To give you an idea of the kind of money were talking about. He would allegedly get 500 to 1,000 for each prescription wee write. The person could then go to a pharmacy and cash it in for 60 o oxy oxycodone pills. Reporter it was within this well ps center that prosecutors say a doctor conspired with five others to hand out more than 11,000 highly addictive painkillers, oxycodone. Dr. Simons is now under indictment for faking prescriptions and distributing those pills. The door is locked at the office. Its on the second floor of Virginia Hospital Centers arlington medical building on lee highway. The Doctors Medical license has been suspended. Thats so sad to hear. It is a relief to know that he was finally caught. Those people that were involved in that because, you know, it does give the medical profession a black eye sometimes. Reporter prosecutors say he wrote and filled the prescriptions in virginia and other states. Those pills were valued at 735,000, and the doctor allegedly knew the people who bought the pills were abusing the medications or even reselling the drugs for profit. According to the indictment, the doctor allegedly never met any of the socalled patients. They say he also wrote out prescriptions to the other suspects in the case, to friends, to relatives, and in some cases simply made up names. The indictment says he directed his medical assistant to verify the prescriptions when pharmacies would call and created fraudulent patient histories and medical records to make it look like he had legitimate patients. They go where the money is, and instead of caring about peoples health, they care about, you know, honoring how to make a dollar, and thats really a shame. Reporter this fraud went on for about a year and a half, so how did this doctor eventually get busted . Im going have more on that part of the story coming up news 4 at 6 00. Reporting live from arlington, Darcy Spencer, news 4. The 14yearold accused of opening fire outside the national zoo on Easter Monday will likely be in custody until he is an adult. Today a judge decided the boy should be committed to a juvenile facility. The boy pleaded involvement. Two people were hurt in that shooting. They have both recovered. It will be decided later if the teen will stay in that facility until he is 18 or 21. Well, police have identified a suspect in a Sexual Assault on a teenager in Prince William county. Scott mcfarland at our live desk. Police have been looking for this person for two days, and now they say they know who is responsible. Theyre looking for Juan Carlos Lopez ramirez. He is also known as noah, were told. Investigators say he pushed a 19yearold woman down an embankment along lee highway in gainesville at about 10 00 wednesday night. They said he sexually assaulted her. The woman was able to get away and flag down a driver for help. Police also say ramirez may have visible injuries to his face, his shoulder, and his hands from his struggle with the woman. If you have seen him, you are asked to call police. At the le desk, im Scott Mcfarland. Thank you, scott. George washington universitys former president is getting a lot of buzz online for some controversial remarks he made this week. Dr. Steven trackenburg appeared on the diane ream show while discussing the topics of fraternities and sororities. The issue of Sexual Assault came up. Heres what he had to say. Without making the victims responsible for what happens, one of the groups that has to be trained not to drink in excess are women. Part of the problem is you have men who take advantage of women who drink too much, and there are women who drink too much. We need to educate our daughters and our children on that regard. Now, following a viewer phone call the doctor said later he did not anticipate his comments to be taken so literally. After more than seven hours just last night, the debate continued about plans to build a firing range near Sugarloaf Mountain in maryland. The facility would be located about ten miles south of frederick. The Frederick News post is reporting that hundreds of people attended that public hearing. It went on for more than seven hours last night. Opponents of the firing range worry about the negative effect gunfire would have on the peacefulness of that area and the horses that live and train in a nearby stable. Frederick county zoning board will ultimately decide whether or not to allow it. The pilot that was killed in the crash earlier this week has been identified as corporal of the air national guard. The f15 went down near the virginiawest virginia border soon after he reported a problem. After 30 hours of searching, his body was found at the crash site. There are indications he never managed to eject from that aircraft. He was a decorated combat veteran with 17 Years Experience on the f15. He was flying the plane from massachusetts down to new orleans for routine maintenance when the plane went down. The daughter of joan rivers is speaking out tomorrow at 6 34, it sets at 7 44. Were at 70 degrees early in the morning, and tomorrow morning we will, i think, see a little bit of patchy fog around the area, but should not be impacting travel if are you going wait a little while and get on the road early tomorrow morning. Should not slow you down. We get close to 80 degrees. Right around lunchtime. At noon. Then its into the low and mid 80s starting at 2 00, and when we get to the low and mid 80s, temperatures are going to hold there. Not just into the late afternoon, but into the early evening hours as well. Heres a look at the High Temperature. Folks around falls church and areas like fairfax, 85 for a High Temperature. College park, 86. 87 degrees. 85 around germantown as well as around sandy spring. Frederick, maryland, mount arie, 86 degrees for a High Temperature. Monday, grilling forecast. 2 00 to 5 00 p. M. Have a erall this comes on a week with several big developments. It was this week that we learned that two americans were killed fighting for isis in syria, and the barbaric execution of american journalist jimz jim foley at the hands of an isis militant from great britain. Nbcs brian moore joins us. He is live on capitol hill. Brian. Hi, wendy. The United States and United Kingdom has some of the same fears about foreign fighters, but the reactions are quite different. As the United Kingdom elevated its Terror Threat level, Prime Minister David Cameron warned isis extremists may reach far beyond iraq and syria. We are in the middle of a generational struggle against a poisonous and extremist ideology that i believe well be fighting for years and probably decades. Reporter he wants to limit travel and revoke passports of british jihadis to prevent attacks at home