these are the guys of the heroes who is the villain in all of that all but coveted title goes to butler county ohio prosecutor michael moser the man responsible for this is a bit like spring t.v. at you know now not here either not for us either so and all how prosecutors apparently saw said about that and he's a good possibility still the pennsylvania ground i think it's a good idea since bill committed fraud. you have for days now i've been seeing reports and reading the headlines about the indictment made against punxsutawney phil a poor helpless little creature ritualistically used every year exploited to predict whether or not there would be an early spring listen. he was wrong spring didn't come early for his error in judgment michael moser thought a fitting punishment would be death according to cincinnati's fox nineteen the indictment filed by butler county prosecuting attorney michael moser alleges that on or about february second two thousand and thirteen at gobbler's knob punxsutawney phil did purposely and with prior calculation and design caused people to believe that spring would

punishment would be death according to cincinnati's fox nineteen the indictment filed by butler county prosecuting attorney michael moser alleges that on or about february second two thousand and thirteen at gobbler's knob punxsutawney phil did purposely and with prior calculation and design caused people to believe that spring would come early while once hearing the fact that the beloved groundhog might die phil's handler bill deeley stepped up to take responsibility for the falls weather forecast this coupled with countless letters from children across the state bade him not to execute the small helpless creature he decided to drop the charges ah glad he decided to have a heart and not emerge or an animal for not being a psychic weather satellite good job and of course after all was said and done he claimed it was all just for fun it was all just one big joke keep this in mind he took the time to file all the necessary paperwork to officially press these charges on the dime remember the ohio butler county taxpayers moser is a county prosecutor who should be dealing with real crime an

last week butler county ohio prosecute. mike the most are indicted famed whether predicting groundhog so tony hill let's not phillips the indictor after the groundhog in accurately predicted in early spring there is full most are filled the tongue in cheek indictment after snow was forecast to fall in butler county after the official start of spring the half part of the night and it was dropped tuesday however when grosser realized that the good old phil had a defense with teeth in it and while this whole ordeal may seem quite silly it actually did help raise a very important point how could phil be so wrong about the arrival of spring when he's usually pretty accurate typically around this time of year we expect to see spring flowers beginning to bloom in gardens after sun spotted rain showers because after all spring showers are supposed to bring may flowers instead east coast americans are still dealing with the effects of an already nasty winter season has brought unprecedented amounts of snow to just about every region

>> the response has been very positive here in butler county.'m getting recipes. people are firing up their grills. they are really sick and tired of winter and they want to take it out on punxsutawney phil. >> you will be hearing from the people for ethical treatment of animals and humane society soon, sir. >> i will get letters, i have no doubt. what about the dangerous precedent for weather forecasters and stock pickers all over the world? >> i think it's wonderful. it's about time for a change, and, in fact, how about a new -- perhaps a female? how about punxsutawney phyllis? i'm looking for some significant changes the way this whole approach is taken. >> sheryl sandberg will getting in touch with you, no doubt, on the gender of punxsutawney phil. thank you for joining us. you are a county prosecutor. no doubt in a few years, this man will be a senator from ohio and then vice president. this is the first step on the road to a bright political career. >> a case with four legs, it's got traction. >> thank you so much for joining us. >> this m

the indictment was filed by butler county prosecuting attorney and it alleges that phil purposely andh prior calculation caused the people to believe the spring would come early. >> there wasn't much left as far as a penalty other than the death sentence. >> poor punxsutawney. i mean, you know, i never get forecasts wrong. he's entitled to one. let's check on your weekend forecast. yes, more winter, more cold. actually a nice little snowy treat for new cape cod last night. you picked up about four to six inches of snow. boston really didn't get much of that. really isolated on the cape. we also have lake-effect snow out there. down to the south, numerous reports of snow in the ozarks. look at how cold it s the northern half of the country has a wind chill this morning below 32 degrees. this looks like a map i would show you more like end of january or beginning of february. and that's going to set the stage for our weekend snowstorm. it's going to start on saturday in wyoming and colorado. it's going to spread right across kansas. that white coloring is three to six inches of snow. th

crazy alert punxsutawney phil adorable iconic scam artist butler county ohio chief prosecutor mike the most are as indicted and seasoned predicting ground on the charge that he intentionally misled the public about the start of it's. definitely not spring it's a snow storm and temperatures in the teens and when i came to work in the wind in the cold i said to myself something's wrong with you know parks attorney has some answers that he needs to give and i think i'm just going to have to indict so i set about to indict phil and of course i'm seeking the death penalty because let's face it phil is already behind bars with a life sentence what else is left all gloucester is now considering dropping the charges rumor has it the bill o'reilly of fox news is still planning a two hour special on the impending war on groundhog day coming up any of the ten richest americans could end homelessness in america by just doing what steve jobs did when he took over apple take a one year pay holiday so why do we celebrate billionaires will discuss it and tonight still take. him when their own country

butler county, ohio, is jokingly suing the groundhog for misrepresentation of early spring.hil fooled us and there's no telling exactly when we'll be able to get rid of the winter gear for good. >> i can look forward to it. take off the coat. the boots. i'll be fine. hats, coats, gloves. >> this is not spring. spring has not sprung for sure. >> spring certainly hasn't sprung. take a look at some of the temperatures. denver, high today of 23 degrees. that's more than 30 degrees below normal. and it is going to stay very frigid out that way and across most of the country for at least the weekend and even into next week. we have winter storm warnings and watches and advisories all across the plains stretching into the midwest for this weekend's snowstorm. it is even going to move eastward by monday. the heavy snow is falling across denver where already nearly six inches of snow has fallen. northwestern parts of kansas and parts of nebraska will see up to 3 to 6 inches of snow and we could see a foot of snow through central indiana and moving eastward into hagerstown, maryland,

butler county, ohio, prosecutor so mad about the long winter, he indicted phil for fraud.charges since then. but where is phil? joining us from punxsutawney, pennsylvania, is phil, the groundhog, the president of the groundhog club is bill deeley and ron is phil's handler. nice to have you with us, bill, we'll all jump in and start with you. i guess the legal hatchet hanging over your necks going away the prosecutor has decided he drop thad lawsuit. but are you feeling bad? feeling guilty? everyone in the country is blaming you? >> well, we're feeling a sense of relief. truly nobody wanted to go to jail. i don't want to go to jail, phil didn't want to go to jail. so we're relieved it's over. not phil's fault, guys. it's my fault. i'm the guy, and i goofed. i totally made a mistake. you got to give me credit for making a mistake. for owning up to it or whatever. >> if you could see how phil is looking at you. look how phil is looking at you while you are saying at you? staring at you in the head? >> well, as the president of the groundhog club, we are given this arcadian co

mike moser of butler county, ohio wants to indict punxsutawney phil. that's right. >> love it.him. he says with temperatures in the teens that phil was come fleetly wrong about the prediction. >> take him to court! >> about spring's arrival. moser has been seeking the death penalty. >> exactly what we need! kidding. kidding of course before animal rights people call us. >> don't take this too seriously. moser says he knows his stand will eventually soften as time goes by. and ultimately his indictment of phil will be set aside. >> of course, staten island chuck, can't remember what he predicted? >> the same thing. they always get it wrong. >> put him behind bars, i want a photo-op, i want to see punxsutawney phil behind bars. >> maybe time to change the animal. we need a dog, or maybe something else, and it shouldn't be the shadow. this is me saying -- if the dog chases his tail, we have six more weeks. my favorite part of the article, he says -- punxsutawney phil can't tell the difference between his back side and a hole in the ground. >> i love it. i love it. phil taking a be

investigators say the sergeant butch baker in the text of the elizabeth butler, who were gunned down on tuesday were ambushed. santa cruz county sheriff phil wowak says the the two officers have been tapptalking to the suspect, jeremy gouley, on the outside of a closed door to his house when they is took a turn for the worse. >> one of the shot hit a bystander in the leg. that woman is doing ok this morning. goulet is them believed have taken both of officers guns and baker's body armor. a short time that the officers near dallas research there was a shootout between the police and goulet. investigators say that he was planning to leave the state before he was gunned down by the officers. >> coming up at 6:30 a.m. we will hear from a man who fought jeremy goulet six years ago when he caught him peepee and his girlfriend inside of their house. >> stay with kron4 as we continue to track the latest in the santa cruz shooting. you could also find continuous updates on our facebook and walter pages. >> new pictures are coming in the news from overnight of a large wild fire that is burning in southern california and is forcing resid

late this afternoon, we learned that the suspect in this case regina butler has an extensive criminal history here in santa clara county dating back to 1986. since that time, she has been involved in at least four felony trials. reporting live in san jose, i'm mark sayre, kpix 5. >> butler will be arraigned on murder charges on monday. >>> 20-year-old vincent gallegos is in custody for the stabbing death of a man at a park in san jose this week. he was read the formal charges against him in court today. the body of 27-year-old eric wright was found in guadalupe oak grove park around 4:00 wednesday afternoon. a motive for the stabbing has not been determined. >>> checking bay area headlines tonight, police in san jose have shut down a massive tent city near spring street and west heading. the warnings went out several days ago to about 100 homeless people to leave. outreach coordinators are working to connect them with alternative shelters. clean-up costs are estimated between $20,000 and $30,000. >>> in san francisco, a new police substation is officially up and running tonight. mayor lee cut the ribbon to the central

following investigators say that sergeant butch baker and elizabeth butler, who were gunned down on tuesday were ambushed. >> santa cruz countyff's steaphil wowak says the two officers have been talking to the suspect, jeremy goulet , on the outside of a closed door to his house and things took a turn for the worse. >> one of the shot hit a bystander in the leg. that woman is doing good. the suspect is believed to have taken both of the policeman's gun and baker's body armor. goulet was believed to have been leaving the state. a short time later offices there down the searched and there was a shootout between police and him. investigators say he was planning to leave the state before it was gunned down by officers. >> and look at the approach to the bay bridge traffic is m nice and light. concord 45 you can't move the tv there. yuh-huh. we have a wireless receiver. listen. back in my day, there was no u-verse wireless receiver that let you move the tv away from the tv outlet. we can move it to the kitchen, the patio, the closet and almost anywhere. why would you want a tv in the closet? [ both laugh ] ♪ [ fancy voice ] brilli

elizabeth butler are were gunned down on tuesday were ambas. santa cruz countyouse before the shooting happened. >> this ability is still down to attend the mile in oakland, half a mile and san francisco. redwood city has improved, 4 mi. there 3 mi. in mountain view. we are expecting a beautiful day temperatures already in the '50s in santa rosa and novato. make that widespread that is it is out is afternoon 784 expected for on london valley, lebanese and your east bay inland valleys as well. that bill pleasanton's 71, concord and livermore upper 60s for richmond. downtown san francisco looking for a high of about 58 degrees today. 64 for ocean beach and into the north bay we are getting a little warmer than that and napa up. 7 day around the bay has a chance to talk about. a gradual cooling trend and we could see some light rain and the north bay this evening. we'll continue to feel the cool down as we head into the eawork week tuesday and wednesday. >> we continue to monitor pretty good ride around the bay area. the bay bridge, you can now see the end of the b

county. at noon, the memorial service will begin honoring detective elizabeth butler.he's a mother of two boys, both under the age of 5. she grew up in lomita. detective butler spent ten years with the santa cruz police department. also being remembered is sergeant loran baker, known as butch. the father of three had spent 28 years at the santa cruz police department and was nearing retirement. baker acted as a mentor to young officers throughout his entire career. he grew up in saratoga and graduated from bellarmine college prep in san jose. >> a special tribute happening during today's public memorial over at the hp pavilion. nbc bay area's christie smith is live at san jose international airport where a flag that once flew over ground zero after the 9/11 attacks was flown in. >> reporter: good morning. you could hear a pin drop inside of the airport terminal when the u.s. honor flag arrived here this morning on behalf of the two fallen police officers. it's been to more than 1,000 services and events across the country. it's been on the space shuttle, it's been at g

county sheriff's deputies stood at the side of the trestreet at attention as t drive by. the two were gunned down tuesday. some officers waste nod time visiting the spot where baker and butler were killed. they had bnd intervieen intervi man. he was later cornered by law enforcement and shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire. the chief of police asked the public to show support for his officers who are go back on the job. and the residents we spoke to say, they've got it. >> i think it's a good thing. it's a shame they had to be off. both for citizens and for them. it's great that they're back on duty. >> i took my daughter down, we took a couple flowers down to the police department and said just thank you to them you, know? it's a tough job. >> i do feel better to know they're back on patrol. i also feel that it was nice for them to have some time to grieve. and it's scary. we need our police. >> we feel they do a superb job in santa cruz. to get over something that tragic is very, very hard. >> reporter: the memorial service for sergeant baker and officer elizabeth butler will be held at the kaiser permanente arena in santa cruz on thursday march 7th at 11:00. for las

late this afternoon, we learned that the suspect in this case regina butler has an extensive criminal history here in santa clara county time, she has been involved in at least four felony trials. quite a rap sheet she has. >> yeah, mark. police say the victim stanley jacobson the elderly man had been dead for a while. i mean, how is it possible that people in the other apartments around nobody going by noticed anything, the stench of a decomposing body? >> reporter: that is the obvious question. if somebody's decomposing for a month, wouldn't somebody considering that the granddaughter was in there three times, police were in there once, the police say that this body was concealed under blankets, under pillows, under all sorts of stuff to where it not only did nobody see him but apparently it contained the stench of the decomposition. that is at least what they are saying at this point. concealed very well. whether that was intentional or not we don't know. >> thank you, mark sayre. >>> there's also an arrest in another san jose murder case. police booked 20-year-old vincent gallegos this week. he is accused of stabbi

. >> santa cruz county sheriff gave a minute to minute account of what happened tuesday. when sergeant baker and detective butler tracked jeremy goulet down inside his home. 3 spoke through a closed screen door for about 10 minutes. >> goulet disappeared from the door and appeared from another location and ambushed or assaulted the officers. >>reporter: goulet shot the officers with his own.45 caliber handgun. it happened so fast baker and butler didn't even have time to run. one of goulet bullet traveled fifth of a mile away. hitting a woman who had just parked her car on stanford avenue. >> is he saw an object in the air and hit her in her hip. didn't break the skin. didn't go through the clothing. >>reporter: woman was about to be interviewed by melissa as babysitter when the bullet swept across the sky. i'm glad it was far enough to not cause any injuries. >> but back on this avenue, police were making their move. goulet took off with guns and car belonging to baker and butler. he even put on sergeant baker body arm or. for some reason goulet drove around the block and tried to return home. roads were closed

. >> santa cruz county sheriff gave a minute to minute account of what happened tuesday. when sergeant baker and detective butlerracked jeremy goulet down inside his home. 3 spoke through a closed screen door for about 10 minutes. >> goulet disappeared from the door and appeared from another location and ambushed or assaulted the officers. >>reporter: goulet shot the officers with his own.45 caliber handgun. it happened so fast baker and butler didn't even have time to run. one of goulet bullet traveled fifth of a mile away. hitting a woman who had just parked her car on stanford avenue. >> is he saw an object in the air and hit her in her hip. didn't break the skin. didn't go through the clothing. >>reporter: woman was about to be interviewed by melissa as babysitter when the bullet swept across the sky. i'm glad it was far enough to not cause any injuries. >> but back on this avenue, police were making their move. goulet took off with guns and car belonging to baker and butler. he even put on sergeant baker body arm or. for some reason goulet drove around the block and tried to return home. roads were closed o

. >> santa cruz county sheriff gave a minute to minute account of what happened tuesday. when sergeant baker and detective butler tracked jeremy goulet down inside his home. 3 spoke through a closed screen door for about 10 minutes. >> goulet disappeared from the door and appeared from another location and ambushed or assaulted the officers. >>reporter: goulet shot the officers with his own.45 caliber handgun. it happened so fast baker and butler didn't even have time to run. one of goulet bullet traveled fifth of a mile away. hitting a woman who had just parked her car on stanford avenue. >> is he saw an object in the air and hit her in her hip. didn't break the skin. didn't go through the clothing. >>reporter: woman was about to be interviewed by melissa as babysitter when the bullet swept across the sky. i'm glad it was far enough to not cause any injuries. >> but back on this avenue, police were making their move. goulet took off with guns and car belonging to baker and butler. he even put on sergeant baker body arm or. for some reason goulet drove around the block and tried to return home. roads were closed

butler has confessed to the killing, police say. >>> a lion escaped his feeding cage before killing an intern at a fresno county animal park. 4-year-oldon died instantly, the 24-year-old died when the lion broke her net at cat haven in dunlap. the lion lifted a gate on the cage while hanson was cleaning the la

. >>> the santa cruz county investigators are looking for this woman, she may know why jeremy goulet shot and killed butler and baker earlier this way. she knew goulet but is not connected with the murder in any way. >>> and coming up in 30 minutes, we've got more local news for you. at 7:00 rescue efforts continue this morning for a man swallowed up by a sinkhole in florida. we'll talk with his brother about wh happened moments after that federal floor caved in. >>> plus, play ball, bay area's most famous little leaguers will be back on the field sporting new bling for spring. ♪ yer always after me lucky charms! whoa. i forgot how good these taste! [ lucky ] ♪ they're magically delicious ♪ the one and only, cheerios >>> we're back on this saturday morning. it is march 2nd, 2013. boy, that came along quickly. nice day. cool and dry in new york city. a lot of friends on the plaza. for parts of the southeast, it's going to be a snowy, wet day. pretty chilly. we'll have that forecast for your area coming up in a few minutes. i'm erica hill alongside lester holt. also in this half hour, author and illustrator

county sheriffs deputies honored returning police patrols today. the sheriff's department and chp took over city duties, while the 94 santa cruz officers grieved for investigators, loran butch baker and elizabeth butler, killed tuesday in the line of duty. >> it's tough. the first time you jump into that patrol car or walk through investigations, you know, you go past the cubicles and the offices, i think that's tough. >> reporter: many people told us officers may see a changed community. >> people are going to be more likely to speak up and, you know, call the police when they see something that isn't right. >> reporter: but some point out this is the first time officers have ever been killed in their city. >> there's also a feeling of fear, because now it's happened. we know how it feels. so can it happen again? >> reporter: sheriffs investigators continue to gather information on suspect jeremy goulay. they are looking for 28-year- old homeless woman theresa johnson, also known as theresa lamb, and emphasized she is not connected to the shootings at all, but could provide the suspect's personal history. many residents are angry he moved in under the radar. >> it's scary. and if anything comes out

butler was arrested yesterday when she returned to the home. his family says they suspected she was stealing his social security checks. >>> fresno county investigators believe a lion escaped his feeding cage before killing a volunteer at an animal park. the coroner says diana hanson died instantly on wednesday when the lion broke her he neck at cat haven in dunlap. it appears the lion managed to lift the gate on the cage while she was cleaning the larger enclosure. she may have been distracted. she was on the phone at the time. her father says the coroner told him the lion was probably just trying to play with his daughter. >> you know, i have always had a premonition that someday i would get a call like this but i just thought it would be much further in the future than at 24. >> a sheriff's deputy shot and killed the lion in an effort to save her. >>> tears poured from thousands of eyes as mourners said good- bye to two fallen police officers yesterday. [ pause ] >> and a sea of uniformed officers stood in silence outside hp pavillion to honor the santa cruz police detectives killed in the line of duty last week. inside loved ones said their heart

county sheriff phil wowak?fighting back his emotions at a press conference thursday?one in which he released new details reguarding the shooting deaths of detective sergeant butch baker and detective elizabeth butlerwak says the two had been talking to jeremy goulet on the outside of a closed door to this house when things took a turn for the worse. one of the shots hit a bystander in the leg. while traumitized that woman is okay. goulet is then believed to have taken both of the officers guns and baker?s body armor. a short time later officers had narrowed down the search?their was a shootout and goulet, who investigators say was planning to leave the state, was killed. kron four is uncovering new information that paints the shooter - jeremy goulet - as a career criminal.who allegedy raped women, and repeatedly looked into victim's windows. >> here's a timeline of his run-ins with the law. goulet was cited twice in san diego for prowling and once in 1999 and once in 2000. fast forward to 2006 in hawaii. two different women while goulet was not charged in either alleged rape. one year later.in 2007.goulet was arrested in of charges. police say goulet was peeping on a woman while shehe's accused of

county in the near future. the sheriff's detectives recovered evidence near new mexico which believe that was taken from the butlerbelieve that the three people in custody were the ones responsible for the murder. we are continuing that investigation. >> reporter: they are expected to be extradited in the near future. >> pam: 8 santa clara supervisor has the santa clara--supervisor has announced his resignation with perjury, felony misuse of funds and a violation of campaign finance laws. the supervisor of sense that he plann plans to plead " could guilty " to. to blame. and also, the st. merits n.c.a.a. improper >> i think that for years and successes. >> excessive. the amount of four years is an excessive. , i do not think that it is fair. >> with recruitment penalties seems to be less than of the amount that we got. >> pam: the st. mary's basketball received sanctions of four years' probation, with coach, randy bennett. gary radnich will have more on this, later in this newscast. the oakland first friday is back with this deadly shooting that put the event on hold. j.r. stone is live reporting on the changes. s

santa cruz county and the c.h.p., it is where they will gather for a motorcade procession to san jose for a public salute to honor detective sergeant loran "butch" baker and elizabeth butler. they were killed by an armed suspect on february 26. last night, many paid their respects at a public vigil. the flag-draped caskets of the officers are a moving tribute to them. they were loved and respected here in this community. >> it is a big loss for our community. i am just, wherever i go i can feel the sense of sadness. it is time to get our community back. >> a police motorcade procession will leave for the memorial going at 8:45 great the beach boardwalk headed north on highway 17, and traveling south on highway 85, and north on 87 to h.p. pavilion in san jose. we are told that hook-and-ladder fire trucks from santa cruz and cal fire are staged all over the procession from santa cruz to san jose flying american flags, a fitting tribute to the officers killed in the line of duty. we are live in santa cruz this morning for abc7 news. >> when the procession ends at h.p. pavilion in san jose, you can expect a huge attendance from police officers and the public to state official

county sheriff's says the detectives had been in the neighborhood looking for jeremy goulet for 20 minutes when he appeared with the 45 caliber handgun shooting and killing both detective sergeant baker and detective butler neither officer was wearing body armor at the time of the incident. of however body armor would not have helped. >>reporter: police now say goulet was arrested many times for sex reroo lateed caims including on rape charms in hawaii. he's also suspected of sex crimes involving a juvenile girl in santa cruz and when he killed the officers on tuesday, he was being questioned on a sexual assault. when confronted he was wearing officer butt remember body arm more and fired on them with guns in both hands. they returned fire killing the 35-year-old. on his body police found evidence he may have been trying to the leave town. >> but he also possessed his passport and airplane ticket to the state of new mexico and he was due to fly out this week. >> reporting in santa cruz, abc 7 news. >>> neighbors who live on the street with the tragedy happened still can't believe that this went down. tonight we have home video that shows the intense police response after the first barrage of gunfire. her

butler. the procession is expected to arrive here at hp closer to 10:00 this morning. it will include more than 200 law enforcement vehicles including vehicles from fire departments and the santa cruz county criminal justice agencies. the memorial is scheduled to get under way at noon in the audience today some 6,000 officers from all over the bay area and statewide. also thousands of just regular citizens who just feel compelled to say their final goodbyes and of course the families of the fallen officers. inside hp pavilion is ready to go. crews spending yesterday afternoon and evening making sure everything is good to go. we spoke to santa cruz's deputy chief who is really spearheading today's memorial. >> we can all come together and celebrate what they gave to our communities and honor their memory. >> reporter: and here is a look at who is expected to speak today at the memorial service. family members of the fallen officers are expected to say a few words. also, the police chiefs of santa cruz and capitola. former secretary of defense leon panetta will be here and he'll take the podium and california attorney general harris and all of the way to the top, governor jerry brown is exp

county sheriff vehicles rolling in to the pavilion. already earlier, before the profession started. they are all here to honor sergeant baker and detective butler was with the police department for 28 years, he leaves a wife, two daughters and a son who works in the department. butler was a veteran of sports for ten years, she leaves her long term boyfriend and their two young son, both were shot by a suspect last tuesday. there has been such a show of support for the department. the pavilion can hold up to 20,000 people. police officers are doing last minute preparations for the service. police and chp -- other agencies are coordinating the service here. back out here live we are looking at a picture of police directing traffic. that's because here on autumn street this is where the motorcade will becoming down. traffic will betode up. they blocked off autumn street. lots of police cars and fire agencies, getting ready for the memorial service. reporting live from san jose, ktvu channel 2news. >> thank you. we want to take you back to santa cruz where the procession is just about to get underway. you can see some of the buses there and it look