Latest news with #GinaEsposito
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘They can't get complacent': Monroe police go undercover dressed as high school students
Monroe Police are disguising themselves as high school students to remind school staff to be on alert. Channel 9's Gina Esposito learned it's part of a Monroe Police operation to ensure school's are keeping up with security. The disguised officers were able to get inside multiple schools, no questions asked, dressed in jeans and a hoodie. Police said they've been doing this since 2018. The idea came from an SRO assigned to Union Academy which then expanded to all schools in Monroe. In every operation undercover officers were able to get into the school, police said. 'One time a student allowed an undercover officer to come in a door and the teacher gave him a late pass even though he didn't belong there,' Lt. Morgan Malone of the Monroe Police Department said. In another operation, an officer walked into a high school, signed under a student's name and sat through a class, Malone said. ALSO READ: Former student arrested for bringing AR-15-style rifle to Union County school campus They've tested two schools this year, including Union Academy Charter. Police say an officer disguised as a student got in and walked around for 20 minutes. Parents said students were then reminded to wear their badges. 'After every operation the school resources officer debrief with the school administration, so whatever the issue was.. I believe one was that they were able to access through a maintenance gate that was unlocked,' Malone said. 'Certainly that was taken care of after the fact.' An officer also visited Rocky River Elementary disguised as a staff member, Malone said. Union County Public Schools said one of its staff members stopped them and sent them to the front office. While the officer was stopped, Malone said officers have always been able to get inside, and the goal is to change that. 'I think as a parent it's definitely frightening,' Malone said. 'It's something we have to think about, but hopefully it will be a tool and the education will help the school and even the students in the school understand that they can't get complacent; they have to keep their guard up.' Channel 9 reached out to Union County Public School about these undercover operations. School leaders said they support this effort, and they conduct their own safety assessments. The district added that they work with other law enforcement agencies and score each school's vulnerabilities. The results are then reported to administration, so they can make the needed changes. The district says it expects staff members to be leaders in identifying people who don't belong in schools. VIDEO: 'So vague': Parents demand change at Union County school after threatening incidents
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Deputies on breakfast break save choking man at Waxhaw restaurant
A group of Union County deputies were having breakfast at a Waxhaw restaurant when their morning break quickly turned into a life-saving mission. Inmate saves Mecklenburg County detention officer from choking The restaurant's owner told Channel 9's Gina Esposito that he's glad the deputies were there because he's not sure what would've happened if they hadn't been. Union County Sheriff's Office deputies were having breakfast early on May 4 at Stacks in Waxhaw. 'The waitress came over and asked us if we could go help this guy that was choking,' Deputy Sarah Tucker said. 'He was a booth over from us.' A 78-year-old man was struggling to breathe. 'One of our sergeants, Sgt. Williams, performed the Heimlich (maneuver) on him,' the deputy said. The food was dislodged, and the man could finally breath. Union County Sheriff's Office spokesman James Maye said they are thankful the deputies were in the right place at the right time. 'It goes without saying, I don't think they expected to do that in that moment, but I'm glad they were there because this situation could've ended differently,' said Maye, public information officer. The deputies said they do annual life-saving training, including how to save a choking victim, CPR, and how to use an AED. The waitress declined to speak with Esposito about the rescue. VIDEO: SRO saves choking student in high school cafeteria
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal funding cuts leading to crisis in local food pantries
Cuts to federal funding are impacting Second Harvest Food Bank of the Metrolina, and trickling down to other local organizations. Channel 9's Gina Esposito found that even in Union County, smaller food pantries are facing big problems. Common Heart in Union County said their back wall is normally filled with food, but some of the shelves were bare on Friday, and a normally-stocked fridge was diminished. But while the supplies are fewer, the bustling of carts was non-stop at the food pantry in Waxhaw. Box after box went into about 200 cars that were lined up. 'My husband and I are seniors, and the grocery store prices have risen. We come out to get a supplement,' said Doris Mills. Behind the scenes, Ryan Kolbe with Common Heart says he wasn't sure if they'd even have meat to give out. 'It's really difficult with all the uncertainty and I'm glad this pantry turned out well. Second Harvest was able to get this together, but going through the weeks leading up to it, not knowing if there was going to be enough,' Kolbe said. On April 13, the nonprofit sent Common Heart a letter saying cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, by 50%. As a result, Second Harvest is distributing less produce, dairy and frozen meat to its partner agencies, like Common Heart. For this quarter, there wouldn't be any milk, eggs, or cheese. The following week, Common Heart got a notice that it wouldn't get its TEFAP food allocation for the rest of the month. 'On May 2, looking at our freezer, we had four boxes of ground beef left that was enough to serve one or two pantries, then we would have nothing,' Kolbe said. He says they were able to pick up some TEFAP food last week, but he worries it may not be enough to feed all of the people who really need it. Common Heart says because of the uncertainty with their meat supply, they need people to donate canned meat like tuna fish. They're also asking for people to donate to cover the costs cut by the federal government. You can help by taking part in Channel 9's Food Drive at this link. (VIDEO: Community helps rebuild food truck swept away in Hurricane Helene)
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Drone intercepted at local prison; 3 arrested, contraband seized
A coordinated operation on Friday successfully intercepted a drone attempting to deliver contraband into Anson Correctional Facility. Repeat offender suspected after drone delivers contraband in South Carolina prisons The operation involved officers from the Polkton Police Department, deputies and detectives from the Anson County Sheriff's Office, and agents from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. During the operation, three people were arrested on-site, and items related to the contraband delivery were seized. >>Starting at 5 p.m., Channel 9′s Gina Esposito speaks with officials about the investigation. The Polkton Police Department released a photo of the contraband, which included meth, K2 paper, Suboxone strips, two packs of Newports and other items. Roland J. Snoke, David A. Johnson, and Trudy M. Gibbs were arrested and each charged with providing contraband to an inmate and received $ 100,000 secured bonds. More arrests are expected, including 10 inmates. The investigation is ongoing. VIDEO: Man freed after 20 years in prison, denies involvement in 1990 murder of Charlotte woman
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
1 dead after chase ends with crash in Anson County, police say
One person has died after a chase ended with a crash Monday in Anson County, police said. Channel 9′s Gina Esposito was at the scene on Little Creek Road, between Randall and Plank roads. She was working to find out how many people were in the car that crashed. The Anson County Sheriff's Office said they initiated the chase early Monday morning in Wadesboro. Deputies told Channel 9 officers with the Polkton Police Department came in to assist. ALSO READ: Police work to match human remains found in Anson County to missing Pennsylvania woman The sheriff's office said the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was also called in to help with the investigation. They were in the area Monday, collecting evidence and speaking with law enforcement officers involved. The Polkton police chief told Channel 9 they would release more information on the people that were inside the car as soon as possible. 'It's a situation none of us want to deal with, I can tell you that. We didn't want to be put in that position but we gotta do what we gotta do,' Polkton Police Chief Tim Hutchinson said. We'll bring you the latest developments starting tonight at 5 p.m. on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Check for updates. WATCH BELOW: 60-year-old man found dead following home invasion in Anson County
