A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department letter given to a parole board recommending the release of infamous Mexican mafia hitman Rene "Boxer" Enriquez was sent without approval.

In just nine days the convicted double murderer could be walking the streets after the California Parole Board (CPB) recommended his release.  

Documents obtained by NBC 4 showed the 52-year-old killer had earned the written gratitude of some of California’s top cops, including the Los Angeles Police Department chief Charlie Beck, for his work as a snitch.

However a letter that actually recommended him for parole, which was sent by someone in the LA County Sheriff’s Department, had not been green-lighted. A department spokesman said any recommendation for Enriquez' release "was done without approval of the sheriff."

The deputy commissioner of the CPB was impressed by the amount of letters that were produced supporting Enriquez, saying calling them a few would be "an understatement."

The LAPD validated three letters, adding the department does not advocate parole for the hitman from South Los Angeles.  

Chief Beck wrote directly to Enriquez about his appearance in a gang intervention training video.

"Your life experiences and your ability to articulate them...added a tremendous amount of credibility," Beck said.

Bill Bratton signed two separate letters when LA’s police chief, including one to an FBI agent after Enriquez was the guest speaker at a gang symposium in 2009.  

Bratton applauded "his skill in presenting very sensitive and controversial information, adding it contributed to the success of the symposium."

While they recommended his release the parole board did express concern for Enriquez’ safety should he become a free man.   

Only Governor of California Jerry Brown can now stop or amend his release.  

Brown's office has refused to be drawn on how the decision may turn out.

"We do not comment on pending parole reviews. The governor has until February 22nd to act," a spokesman said.

Enriquez is the subject of the book "The Black Hand: The Bloody Rise and Redemption of 'Boxer' Enriquez, a Mexican Mob Killer." He worked his way up from enforcer to shot caller for the organization known as La Eme before his arrest.

In 1989, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. One of his victims was a female drug dealer he suspected was stealing drugs from him, and the second was a fellow gang member who had ran away from a fight.

He was controversially given a SWAT escort to an event hosted by the LAPD in downtown Los Angeles last month, where he gave a crowd of about 125 people a firsthand insight about the inner-workings of the criminal enterprise.

A pair of suspected truck thieves in southern California had to be rescued after leaping into a shallow stream to evade police when they crashed their vehicle, police said.

Officers with the El Monte Police Department had been pursuing the pair for just under five miles when the vehicle crashed on the eastbound 10 Freeway at Dalewood Street in Baldwin Park at around 3 a.m.

The cops had spotted the pair on the 605 Freeway at Lower Azusa in El Monte.

After the crash the duo got out of the truck and jumped down around 20 feet into the shallow Big Dalton Wash. One suspect broke his leg and was stuck below, while the other floated down to Baldwin Park Boulevard and Daum Drive, officers said.

Firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department had to come and rescue the suspects, and used a ladder to get them out of the wash, officers said.

Both were taken to the hospital for treatment, and are in custody of El Monte Police Department on suspicion of car theft.

A major freeway connector was shut near downtown LA Saturday morning after a deadly motorcycle crash, jamming traffic from downtown through Burbank.

All lanes of the southbound 5 Freeway were closed at the connection to the 10 Freeway at 10:50 a.m. until just before noon, according to the California Highway Patrol. Traffic was being diverted to Mission Street in Boyle Heights.

The 5 was fully reopened at the 10 Freeway just after 1:10 p.m., following the connector between the two freeways, the CHP said.

A motorcycle crashed with a vehicle on the 5 Freeway between the 10 and the junction with the 101 Freeway at about 9:45 a.m., according to the CHP.

Heavy traffic on the 5 Freeway stretched past the 134 Freeway in Burbank.

Refresh this page for updates on this developing story.

Model and actor William Levy discusses his journey from Cuba to the U.S. at age 14, giving back to his community, and the qualities he looks for in a woman.

The 34-year-old "Dancing With the Stars" champion, known for his roles in "La Tempestad" and "Addicted," also offers his advice for people chasing their dreams.

For more information on William Levy and his upcoming roles and projects visit william-levy.net/en and follow him on Twitter @willylevy29.

Previous interviews on Cafecito:

• Danny Trejo
• Thalia
• Kate Del Castillo
  
• Michael Pena
• Robert Rodriguez
• Gabriel Iglesias
• Becky G: Part 1, Part 2
• Guillermo del Toro
• Rosie Perez
• John Leguizamo
• Eva Longoria
• Demi Lovato
• Cheech Marin
• Zoe Saldana
  

Producer/Host: Feliciano Garcia
Video Editor: Michael Tomczyk
Director of Photography: Brian Caraveo
Camera: Steven Diaz
Music: RoYal Z for Humbled Soul Productions

Police identified a man officers shot and killed in Southern California Friday after a dangerous pursuit through the Inland Empire.

Jonathan Larry Harden, 23, was killed in a hail of bullets -- police didn't specify how many -- after allegedly trying to slam a stolen car into officers' vehicles, including right before officers shot him, the San Bernardino Police Department said in a detailed account of the incident released Saturday.

The shooting, on the northbound 215 Freeway in Banning, was captured on camera by witnesses.

Harden allegedly drove the stolen Scion XB at over 100 miles per hour as police pursued Friday afternoon, starting at about 1:43 p.m. The car was tracked down via a GPS device installed in it, police said.

"Several times during the pursuit he attempted to strike officer’s vehicles with his vehicle," according to the press release.

Police managed to spin the Scion twice -- the second time, Harden's vehicle "collided with the front of an officer's vehicle and shots were fired," according to the press release.

Harden died at the scene, said police, who ask anyone with information about the incident to call 909-384-5628.

Roy Moskop didn't buy roses for his wife or take her out to a fancy dinner on Valentine's Day, he's just doing everything he can to help her hold on to the memories of the life they've shared for the last 70 years.

"70 years. It went by awful fast. It didn't seem like 70 years. I remember meeting older couples when we were younger and they had 70th anniversaries and I thought at least I don't have to worry about that because I won't live that long. And it's a big surprise that we did," he said.

When 93-year-old Roy Moskop looks in his wife's face, he still sees the woman he married in 1945.

"She looks now so perfectly normal to me. Like it's the way she's always looked. And of course I know -- I see pictures, I look in the mirror -- we both look so much different. But you're with one person that long and they become part of you. And you become part of them," he said.

Roy and Helen are both 93-years-old. They started dating shortly before he shipped out to Italy to fight in World War II. Roy describes their early courtship as a "sister swap," and he never looked back.

"I was dating her sister at first. But it didn't take long before I met Helen and I realized I chose the wrong sister, he said. "It was a situation where we kind of all agreed I was better suited for Helen."

They wrote letters to each other every day during the war, and were engaged within weeks of his return to the states. and married shortly thereafter.

Helen suffers from Alzheimer’s now, and Roy has watched her inevitable decline, powerless to stop it.

"I just want to be sure that she's happy. I remember a lot of things that we had together, the places we traveled, and I greatly appreciate that we had a life that she made possible. And I owe her a lot," he said.

For the last two years they've lived in the Windsor Senior Center in North Dallas. Roy is sharp and active, as energetic as any 93-year-old could be.

But Roy chooses to live with Helen inside the Windsor's dedicated Memory Unit wing, designed for caring for those residents with Alzheimer's Disease. He says he wanted to be with his wife around the clock.

"It's like the minister says, together for better or worse. Sickness and health. And right, now she needs me more than I’ve ever needed her in the past. This is my chance to pay it back," he said.

"He has made the choice to live with her and live in her surroundings. Care for her, eat with her," said Carol Cottle, one of Helen's caretakers. "He could have lived on a different part of the community, on a floor with more active seniors, and not have to be around the residents who require that extra care. But he chose to be with her 24-7."

Roy enjoys reading to his wife and reviewing their old photo albums together -- hundreds and hundreds of photographs.

"She likes it when I'm around. We hold hands a lot, that seems to comfort her," he said.

They've traveled around the world together over the decades, to every continent except Antarctica. They raised three children, and have five grandchildren. And the Moskop family is growing still.

Roy's undying love for his wife inspires the entire staff.

"I'm sitting here and listening to this and thinking every day is their valentine's Day. He is her sweetheart every day. As she is his," Carol Cottle said.

"I've been married 45 years, and for them to continue to mentor me, speaks volumes on how to live your life. And the power of that covenant of marriage," Cottle said.

Cottle says it's gentle but powerful reminder about what Valentine's Day is really about, and how the grandest romantic gesture can also be the simplest.

"She may not be able to say all the things that he might want to hear, but she touches him. She looks at him. She calls his name. That's love," she said.

Helen Moskop turns 94 on Sunday.

Roy shared his advice for young couples and newlyweds during the NBC5 interview, and even what he thinks about Valentine's Day. Watch his extended interview with NBC5 below:

Seven people were hurt after a pileup involving 107 cars in Erie County, Pennsylvania Saturday.

The pileup occurred in the westbound lanes of I-90 at mile-marker 41 near the I-86 intersection.

Seven people suffered “bumps and bruises” in the pileup though no one was killed or seriously injured, according to officials.

I-90 is expected to remain closed for the next one to two hours due to the accident.

Officials said road conditions were “icy” at the time of the accident with one to two inches of snow on the ground as well as blowing snow in the air.

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.
 

Bar patrons at an Orange County bar avoided injury despite an SUV plowing into its storefront Friday night.

The driver told Santa Ana police that she was trying to hit the brake of her SUV but hit the gas instead, according to a Santa Ana Police Department spokesman.

Police said the woman was not under the influence and was slightly injured. No one at the bar was injured, police said.

The bar, on Edinger Avenue near Fairview Street, was damaged and a fire hydrant was taken out, police said. The incident took place at 11 p.m.

When a tow truck removed the SUV parts of the building came unattached along with the vehicle, according to a cameraman at the scene.

A Pennsylvania man says a typo led to a $33,000 overcharge on his electric bill with the Philadelphia-based company, PECO. Now he’s speaking out, claiming PECO took too long to respond to him and refund him for an obvious mistake.

Steve Onufrey, 71, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, told NBC10 the ordeal began when his wife made a typo while sending an electronic bill payment to PECO in January.

“My wife did not enter in a decimal point on a bill for $339.38 and the payment went through as $33,938,” Onufrey said.

Fortunately for Onufrey, he just happened to have enough money in his account for the huge payment to go through.

“That money happened to be in the account due to the settlement on my father’s house in Northeast Philadelphia after he died last year,” he said. “The money was waiting to get taxes calculated on it prior to putting the rest in an interest bearing account.”

Onufrey reached out to PECO as well as his bank Wells Fargo. Onufrey claims reporting the overchage to PECO was a long and frustrating process.

“I was on the phone literally every day this week with agents, supervisors and managers,” he said. “All who said they would call me back that same day – no one ever did call me back.”

Onufrey says he was finally told Friday by a PECO manager that a refund check would be mailed to him on Feb. 19, which would meet the company’s 30 day standard wait time for refunds.

“Nothing was done to get this to me any earlier,” Onufrey said. “$33,000 and it is treated like a $33 overpayment.”

Onufrey admits he’s fortunate to have actually had the money in his account but wanted to speak out for other customers in a similar situation who weren’t so lucky.

“If this happened to me, I am sure this type of mistake has happened to others and will happen again,” Onufrey said. “I feel for others who are less fortunate than me financially and need a refund due to a simple mistake and a request for a legitimate refund is denied which may have a financial snowball effect that will be of harm to them.”

NBC10 reached out to a PECO spokesperson for comment Friday. The spokesperson said they weren’t able to access Onufrey’s account until Monday to verify his story. The spokesperson also said however that the normal wait time for a refund is 30 days.
 

Hospital employees battled white-out conditions to get into work Sunday morning in snow-ravaged Boston.

Some, however, were grateful to accept a generous offer from the head of the city's police department.

Necn spotted Commissioner William Evans as he drove some hospital workers to Massachusetts General Hospital.

"I think the city's doing a good job, but obviously, we hope everybody hangs in their house and lets the city do their job," said Evans. "All in all, I think we're doing the best we can do."

There is no travel ban in effect, but city and state officials have asked people to stay off the roads if they don't need to be anywhere.

Two men were arrested and booked on grand theft auto charges after a series of alleged hit-and-runs in Palmdale a little after midnight Sunday morning.

The men allegedly crashed into a California Highway Patrol vehicle that tried to block their exit from a parking lot, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies. The patrolmen weren't injured.

Pursued for about a minute by CHP and sheriff's deputies, the driver lost control and collided with the retaining wall of a house before careening into the back of a parked pickup truck, according to Lt. Adam Ellison.

A person sleeping in the truck, on Avenue R8 near Fifth Street, wasn't injured, but both suspects were, according to Ellison, who said they weren't wearing seatbelts.

The men were found unconscious in the stolen car but were revived by paramedics and taken to a local hospital, Ellison said. The two male suspects are recovering and awaiting charges.

A woman wandered onto train tracks while talking on her cellphone in Santa Barbara County Saturday morning, when she was hit by a fast-moving freight train and killed, authorities said.

She was fatally injured by a Union Pacific freight train near the Amtrak Station in Goleta at about 11:15 a.m., according to a statement from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.

The woman, Suzanne Worsham, 49, was visiting a friend at a nearby homeless encampment, deputies said.

The train was traveling at about 60 mph at the time of the collision, according to the statement, and the train conductor sounded his horn several times before the woman was struck.

Worsham's death is under investigation but believed to be accidental, deputies said.

An Alaska Airlines flight out of Los Angeles International Airport was delayed Saturday night after a passenger said they were stung by a scorpion on the plane, airline officials said.

Flight 567, which was carrying two college basketball teams, was preparing to depart at 7:50 p.m. for Portland, Ore., when the sting was reported, Alaska Airlines spokesman Cole Cosgrove said.

The female passenger was checked out by medics at the gate and released, but didn’t continue on the flight, Cosgrove said.

The scorpion was found and killed by the crew, who checked overhead compartments for any additional unwanted arachnids, Cosgrove said.

It was unclear how the scorpion got on the plane. The flight originated from Los Cabos, Mexico, Cosgrove said.

Both Oregon State University Men's and The University of Portland's Women's Basketball teams were aboard the flight to go home after weekend games in Los Angeles, according to Oregon State University radio play-by-play announcer Mike Parker. 

The flight was delayed by 40 minutes.

Olivia Woo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

A moviegoer disabled by multiple sclerosis found herself stranded on a second floor mall patio after a late night show when security shut down the escalators and elevators.

The incident happened Saturday, February 7 at the Chula Vista Center. Veronica Shelton and her husband Chris were outraged to learn security had shut down the escalators and elevators before the late showing of American Sniper ended.

Veronica has multiple sclerosis, a disease that causes muscle weakness and great pain. She suffers from dizzy spells and vertigo. Descending such a height without powered assistance could be life threatening with such a disability.

“I felt embarrassed and I felt like, I swear I felt the people right on top of me that night when I was trying to get down in a safe manner,” Veronica said.

Last Sunday the couple left the AMC theater on the second floor of the Chula Vista Center just after one in the morning.

They said the mall lights were out and the escalators and elevators were shut down.

“There was never any thought given to people who may need those services,” Chris said.

Chris said they were told on-duty security shut off the power because there were so few cars in the parking lot.

The couple said their vehicle was parked in the handicap space.

“Them making a judgment call like that. It wasn't right,” Veronica said.

Chula Vista Center security would not return calls from NBC 7. They told the couple, though, that the lights, escalators and elevators would be working till two am from now on.

“They seemed like they genuinely wanted to make a change there,” Chris said.

The Sheltons didn't want a lawsuit or federal disability watchdog intervention. They just want to keep the drama of movie night in the theater, they said.

“Honestly that is all we want, for this not to happen to anyone else,” Veronica said.

Veronica had to get down from the top floor without escalator assistance, but said she hopes her struggle will pay off for others with disabilities wanting a normal night out.

The Sheltons remain a little apprehensive about returning to the theater, but said they will be back. The theater has been one of their favorite date night spots for a long time.

This Valentine's Day, eight pups fought the urge to run from a "giant dog-eating machine" in the service of a higher calling.

Canine members of the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Search and Rescue team participated in a helicopter training session, according to a news release.

The dogs and their handlers, including the sheriff's K-9 Unit, flew for five minutes and ran through several sessions of loading and unloading from under a helicopter's whirling rotors, sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Hoover said.

The training aims to help the dogs familiarize themselves with the helicopters they'll be riding on future search and rescue missions, Hoover said. Training took place at the Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit hangar in Santa Ynez

The most dangerous part of a search and rescue mission for canine teams is loading and unloading from a helicopter with spinning rotors, according to one expert.

"The downwash from the spinning blades, along with the noise and the visual picture, are extremely scary for the dogs,” said Juanita Smith, a Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team member and dog handler.

"To a dog, the helicopter is a giant dog-eating machine that they would rather run from instead of stand up against," Smith said.

Smith said some dogs get comfortable with the helicopters on the first try while others take several sessions.

The pups aren't forced onto the helicopters and must be wiling participants, Hoover said

All SBCSAR canine teams must be certified by the CRDA. Currently, the team has 34 members including new canine search teams, Hoover said.

For more information on SBCSAR, an all-volunteer branch of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, go to sbcsar.net.

A Southern California high school basketball player was recovering Saturday from a gunshot wound he suffered on a public bus after winning a championship game.

Reginald Thimes, a straight-A student at Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood, says he was on a Metro bus heading home to celebrate winning the league title against Roybal High School on Friday when a stray bullet hit him on his side.

The 17-year-old senior said he had a strange feeling something could go wrong that night.

"I thought we were just going to lose the game but like, it turned out to be me getting shot," Thimes said.

About 10:15 p.m. Friday, three men approached a woman in a car at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue in South LA, police said. The men opened fire as she began to drive off.

Thimes was riding in the back of the bus, which had taken a detour. He was struck above his left rib by the stray bullet.

"I heard a pop, like the shattered glass, and then I'd seen the shattered glass from my peripheral, and then I dropped to the floor," Thimes said.

The teen was hit, but managed to walk off the bus and was placed in the back of the ambulance by firefighters.

"They really saved my life," Thimes said. "Once I was getting loaded onto the ambulance I seen my mom finally pull up and as soon as she looked at me she was already tearing (up) and I said, 'Don't cry, don't cry. I'll be all right.'"

Thimes was treated at California Hospital and released to recuperate at home.

His uncle was helping him recover from the wound. The bullet remained lodged in the teen's body.

"It could've hit me in my spine, head," Thimes said.

Thimes was scheduled to return to the hospital next week, about the same time his high school playoff game begins.

The woman who was shot at was treated for cuts from shattered glass, officials said.

Police were searching for the men who opened fire.

Melissa Etezadi and Oleevia Woo contributed to this story.

A brother and sister were killed and a driver was charged with DUI after a pickup truck and a minivan collided Saturday night in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Thomas Muir, 25, of Media, Pennsylvania was arrested after his truck slammed into a minivan, killing two teenagers and injuring four other people, according to investigators.

Muir was driving a 2014 GMC Sierra pickup truck northbound on Route 100 in Uwchlan Township Saturday around 6:55 p.m.

At the same time, Paul Hannagan of Downingtown, Pennsylvania was traveling on North Ship Road and turning right onto Route 100. Hannagan's wife, two children, identified as Miles and Charlotte Hannagan, and two other adult family members were inside the van at the time.

As Hannagan turned right, the pickup truck slammed into the van, according to investigators.

The force of the collision tore the minivan open. Miles and Charlotte were ejected from the van even though they were wearing seatbelts. They were both found on the shoulder of the roadway and pronounced dead at the scene.

Paul Hannagan and his wife were seriously hurt in the crash and taken to the Paoli Hospital Intensive Care Unit. The other two family members were treated and released at Paoli Hospital.

Several witnesses told police they spotted Muir driving erratically and at a high rate of speed swerving and making unsafe passing movements moments before the crash. They also said his truck struck the minivan from the rear at a high speed, causing the accident.

Muir was not injured in the crash. Police observed he smelled like alcohol, according to officials. Muir allegedly failed field sobriety tests and was taken to Chester County Hospital where his blood alcohol level was checked.

Muir was arrested and charged with two counts of Homicide by Vehicle While Driving Under the Influence, two counts of Homicide by Vehicle, two counts of Aggravated Assault, six counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Driving Under the Influence.  

Muir was arraigned with his bail set at $75,000 cash. He was remanded to the Chester County Prison pending a preliminary hearing.

Charlotte Hannagan was an 11th grade student at Downingtown High School West while Miles Hannagan was a graduate of the school.

"Words cannot express the sadness that our school community is feeling at this time," a Downingtown High spokesperson wrote. "Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the Hannagan friends and family who are dealing with this horrific tragedy. DHS West will have grief counselors and support available for any student needing assistance in the days ahead."

Funeral information has not yet been released.
 

A jump in the number of stranded sea lions has been keeping authorities busy this year, so much so that one La Jolla family had a pup on their back patio for more than a day.

SeaWorld has rescued more than 185 sea lion pups so far in 2015. That number is nearly as many as SeaWorld rescued in all of 2014.

One of those pups landed in a family's La Jolla backyard. Homeowner Chris Acks said the sea lion that wandered into the family's backyard looked malnourished.

It stayed for a day before it wandered back into the ocean, but it was long enough for five-year-old granddaughter Mary to decide the pup was a boy and to give it a name.

"He's very cute and very nice," Mary said.

The rescued pups this year have not been in good health condition, said SeaWorld’s Dave Koontz. Some pups have weighed in around 20 pounds at the time of their rescue, just over their birth weight. Normally, sea lion pups are 50 to 60 pounds.

When SeaWorld takes the sea lions in, they stabilize them and in some cases tube feed them back to health, Koontz said. They make sure the pups can compete for food in a pool before bringing them back out to sea to an area they know has food.

Koontz said there is a clear shortage of food in the water, though he could not comment on why that was the case.

The Acks family said goodbye to their temporary visitor after it wandered back into the ocean before SeaWorld could come rescue it.

If you find a stranded sea lion, don’t approach the pup or try to feed it. Instead, call SeaWorld’s rescue line at 800- 541-7325. SeaWorld has been flooded with calls about the stranded pups. At time, they will wait to come and rescue the pups because sometimes the animals will go back into the water on their own.