Contra Costa Herald

In the San Ramon City Council District 2 race incumbent Councilman Richard Adler faces Chirag Kathrani and in the race for Council District 4 incumbent and current Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio faces Jeffrey Joh. Campaign photos.

By Allen D. Payton

The incumbents facing re-election this year for San Ramon city council will run again and face opponents. Two other candidates have filed to run, one in each of the two council districts, in the November 3, 2026 Municipal Election.

In Council District 2 election incumbent Richard J. Adler faces Chirag Kathrani and in the race for Council District 4 incumbent and current Vice Mayor Marisol Rubio faces Jeffrey Joh.

District 2 Race

According to his bio on the City’s website, Adler has been a San Ramon resident since 1997. He worked for State Farm Insurance for 30 years primarily in the Auto Claims and Litigation unit.

Adler has been married to Melinda McDonald since 1981 and they have two sons, Matthew and Cameron who attended Neil Armstrong Elementary School, Pine Valley Middle School and Cal High.

He is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science in 1975 and earned a J.D. degree from Peninsula University College of Law, now Lincoln Law School in San Jose in 1985.

According to his LinkedIn profile, since May 2008 Adler has served as a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement in San Jose.

His ballot designation is Appointed Incumbent and in Adler’s candidate statement he wrote, “My top priority is to ensure the public safety of our growing and diverse community.” He is “also committed to ensuring our residents have access to mental health resources and support services that promote the well-being of our community members, especially to our children who are exposed to negative social media influence.”

Adler’s other issue is “providing the city services that our residents expect by maintaining our 63 beautiful parks, trails, community centers, libraries, recreational centers, and art and cultural programs.”

His campaign Facebook page so far only has a photo of the councilman, the phone number he has listed has one too many digits and Adler’s campaign website, https://adlerforsanramon.com currently shows his logo and just the message, “Coming Soon.”  For more information email him at rickeagle@comcast.com.

Challenger Kathrani’s ballot designation is Founder / Entrepreneur. According to his candidate statement, Kathrani ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2024 in which he received 11,000 votes or 31%, and has since then, he founded and has written articles for OpGov.news, 57 as an author and two as a co-author, about city council and school board meetings and matters and also founded OpGov.ai, which links to the same website.

In the June primary election, he ran unsuccessfully as an independent for State Assembly in the 16th District, placing a distant third out of three candidates with 3.68% of the vote.

According to his LinkedIn profile, since January he has been a full-time Community Organizer for the State of California. A self-described serial entrepreneur, Kathrani has been the self-employed President of Mangalm LLC since Feb. 2022 which works “with brands to expand in (the) United States and Canada with complete visibility of their overseas operational activities from marketing, product availability and competitors’ strategy.” He has also been the CEO of Enterprise Mobility, Inc., a software Development and consulting company, in San Ramon since August 2013.

In 2021, Kathrani founded Lead For Earth, described as a non-profit dedicated to environmental sustainability and youth empowerment.

He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computers from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1997.

On his campaign website, Kathrani writes several slogans including, “It’s time for Change, Checks and Balances are fundamental part of American democracy, San Ramon Council needs Checks and Balances. Your voice shouldn’t be shut, period, and Community First – Dedicated to listening and acting on behalf of District 2.”

His “Platform Priorities – My commitment to the residents of District 2 include, Your Voice Value, Restore Open Space Protection, Traffic Mitigation, Revive Local Economy and Responsive Representation. His “Key Priorities – Focused solutions for the challenges that matter most to our community” are Energy Costs & AI Industry, Small Business Protection, Democracy & Transparency, Affordable Housing & Integration, Plastic Reduction, Public Transportation and Appeal Fee Reform.

District 4 Race

According to her bio on the City’s website, Rubio served as Director and Vice President of the Dublin San Ramon Services District prior to winning her election for San Ramon City Council District 4 on November 8, 2022. She is running for a second term after having run unsuccessfully for State Senate against Tim Grayson in 2024.

Rubio earned a B.A. degree from the U.C. Berkeley with a major in Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology emphasis. She also has a certificate in Spanish and Trauma and Resilience Training and three Associate Degrees in German, French, and Italian.

She has a daughter who is attending college.

Rubio’s ballot designation is Councilwoman / In-Home Provider and her candidate statement says during her four years on the council she has served on 19 “regional, six city advisory, three council and three city foundation committees.” Rubio also points out she’s the only woman on the council and is a “trained scientist, former educator, and longtime environmental, disability, labor, small business and foster care advocate.” She also lists her accomplishments and ends with, “While much has been accomplished, work remains to ensure that San Ramon continues to be a safe, vibrant, and innovated model city with a strong economy.”

She includes her campaign website, www.marisolforsanramon.com, but it is not currently working but Rubio can be followed on her Facebook page.

Challenger Joh’s ballot designation is Technology Strategist. In his candidate statement the challenger writes, San Ramon has been his “home since childhood…and growing up here and attending local schools gave him a deep commitment to the community.”

He has worked in technology start-ups and while attending U.C. Berkeley, where he earned a B.A. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology in 2015, Joh served on the City of Berkeley Transportation Commission. According to his LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as, “Web3 hacker, investor, and community builder” and “Fixing science in my spare time.” His most recent job was as an Investment Manager with tokentus investment AG in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany from 2021-22.

He lists his priorities as, “First, balancing growth with preservation; Second, protecting local schools;. Third, making government fair and accessible; and Fourth, creating a connected community.”

Joh’s statement ends with “Jeffrey offers independent leadership free from special interest influence. With deep local roots and a global mindset, he will work every day to keep San Ramon vibrant and prosperous.”

On his campaign website Joh describes himself as “San Ramon-raised. Globally experienced. Community-First.” He offers, “Practical leadership for a thriving local economy, well-kept neighborhoods, and the everyday services that make San Ramon feel like home.”

Joh offers five priorities which he describes as “A practical local agenda for managed growth, strong families, responsive government, reliable infrastructure, and a civic life that brings neighbors together.” They are “Balancing Growth with Preservation, Investing in Youth & Families, Fair & Accessible Government, Infrastructure & Fiscal Discipline, and Culture & Local Vibrance”

For more information email Joh at sanramon@jeffreyjoh.com.

Photo source: CCC Sheriff’s Office

By Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office

The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County recently proclaimed August 2026 as National Emergency Management Awareness Month in Contra Costa County.

The Board proclamation stated, “Contra Costa County is committed to building a culture of all-hazard emergency management throughout the County, to include all County Departments, Cities, Towns, and Special Districts charged with establishing and maintaining the capabilities necessary to effectively prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters…”

“The County’s Office of Emergency Services, under the operations of the Office of the Sheriff and in collaboration with multiple County Departments, nineteen incorporated cities, special districts, First Responder Agencies, and community partners, works year-round to enhance our ability to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters, ensuring the community is positioned to return to normalcy after disaster…”

Here are some links for preparing for disasters and emergencies:

www.contracosta.ca.gov/5435/Public-Safety-Emergency-Info

www.listoscalifornia.org/disaster-readiness

www.redcross.org/local/california/northern-california-coastal/about-us/our-work/prepare.html

Contra Costa County is recognizing the professionals who plan, coordinate, mitigate, respond and help communities recover from disasters year-round. Learn more at https://ready.gov

A child predator from Hercules was arrested in Walnut Creek during an Internet Crimes Against Children operation. Photo source: Hercules PD

By Hercules Police Department

Hercules Police Department Detectives recently participated in a multi-agency operation hosted by Walnut Creek PD and the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, targeting adults who used social media to target children for sexual exploitation. (See related article)

During the operation, Hercules Police Department Detectives assisted in the arrest of a suspect after he traveled to Walnut Creek, believing he was meeting a child. The suspect now faces charges including attempted lewd acts with a minor (PC 664/288(a)), contacting a minor to commit a sex offense (PC 288.3(a)), and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b)).

The ICAC Task Force exists to identify predators before a real child is harmed, combining investigations, training, and victim support across our region. Operations like this one are the result of that collaborative multi-agency work. We’d like to thank all the involved officers for their tireless work and our allied agencies for their assistance.

A child predator was arrested using drone technology during a recent ICAC operation. Photo & video screenshot: Walnut Creek PD

They came to meet a child. They met Walnut Creek PD instead.

One each from Concord, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Marin County & visiting from Germany

By Walnut Creek Police Department

The Walnut Creek Police Department recently hosted a multi-agency operation with the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, targeting adults who used social media to target children for sexual exploitation. Five adults traveled to Walnut Creek believing they were meeting a child. All now face charges including attempted lewd acts with a minor (PC 664/288(a)), contacting a minor to commit a sex offense (PC 288.3(a)), and arranging to meet a minor for sex (PC 288.4(b)).

5 arrests:

• Andrew Garcia, 32, Concord
• Billie Ray Breland, 29, Antioch (born 02/12/1997)
• Rudolf Naused Robl, 42, visiting from Germany (born 07/04/1984)
• Jacek Markiewicz, 67, Walnut Creek, also charged with attempted kidnapping
• Taesu Park, 36, Marin County

Photos: Walnut Creek PD

The ICAC Task Force exists to identify predators before a real child is harmed, combining investigations, training, and victim support across our region. Operations like this one are the result of that work.

Thank you to our partnering agencies for their work on this operation: Contra Costa County Sheriff, Contra Costa County District Attorney, FBI San Francisco, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Contra Costa County Probation Department, Moraga, Brentwood, San Ramon, Concord, Hercules, Pleasant Hill, Oakley and Menlo Park Police Departments, Contra Costa County MCTF, San Francisco Sheriff’s Office and Marin County DA.

Child predators arrested in Walnut Creek with the help of Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies. Photos: Walnut Creek PD

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 237-pound Breland is Hispanic, was arrested on July 23rd and is being held in a Custody Alternative Facility on $50,000 bail. He’s also listed as White and as of Aug. 3, 2026, at 10:25 AM, he was released to Off Grounds Unsupervised Custody.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 200-pound Robl is Hispanic, but also listed as White, was arrested on July 26, is being held in the West Re-Entry Treatment and Housing facility on $475,000 bail. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 28 at 8:30 AM in Martinez Superior Court Department 5.

According to localcrimenews.com, Park is a resident of Richmond and was charged with attempted kidnapping, attempted lewd acts with a child, attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense, distributing or sending harmful matter to a minor by any means, and 288.4(A)(2) – Prior Conviction Enhancement. Every person who violates this subdivision after a prior conviction for an offense listed in subdivision (c) of Section 290, he Sex Offender Registration Act, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Victim identified; police seek shooter and getaway driver

By El Cerrito Police Department

On Monday, August 24, 2026, El Cerrito detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Jacari Taliferro Gibson, an 18-year-old man from Richmond (born 10/20/07), for murder and robbery in connection with the homicide in El Cerrito on Sunday, August 23.

At 1:20 PM, on August 24, 2026, Richmond Police officers located Mr. Gibson in the City of Richmond. El Cerrito Officers took custody of Mr. Gibson, booked him for the crimes of murder and robbery, and transported him to the county jail in Martinez. Following his arrest, El Cerrito Investigators and Officers served a search warrant at Mr. Gibson’s residence in Richmond.

Surveillance cameras near the scene of the crime captured footage of the suspect’s vehicle. This footage did not provide ECPD with a license plate. Investigators collaborated with regional jurisdictions to identify a license plate for the suspect vehicle, thanks to Flock Safety and Vigilant ALPR cameras. This information proved essential in identifying the vehicle used by the suspects to flee the scene. El Cerrito Investigators placed the vehicle on a statewide alert list.

During the evening of August 24, 2026, Vallejo Police officers located the 2017 Nissan Maxima used in the commission of the murder in the parking lot of the Del Norte Plaza shopping center, located at 11299 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito.

According to a KTVU FOX 2 News report, the 21-year-old victim was Jakai Couch, who was shot and killed in his Toyota Camry parked outside Los Moles restaurant in El Cerrito, and was expecting baby with his girlfriend.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 230-pound Gibson is listed as Non-Hispanic, and also as Black, and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on no bail.

The ECPD is still searching for Mr. Gibson’s two accomplices, including the shooter and the getaway driver. The ECPD asks anyone with information regarding their identity or whereabouts to contact investigators at (510) 237-3233.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Some BB guns look like real guns. Photos: East Bay Regional Park District PD

By East Bay Regional Park District Police Department

BB guns can look incredibly similar to real firearms, especially from a distance or during a fast-moving situation. That makes it difficult for both the public and law enforcement officers to immediately tell whether someone is carrying a BB gun or a real rifle.

That uncertainty can quickly create a dangerous situation.

It’s also important to remember that East Bay Regional Park District Ordinance 38, Section 403.1 prohibits BB guns in East Bay Regional Parks.

Please leave BB guns and similar weapons at home when visiting our parks. Following park rules helps keep visitors, staff, and responding officers safe.

The suspects’ car is described as a gray Nissan Maxima, 2016 or newer. Surveillance camera video screenshot source: El Cerrito PD

Witnesses offer descriptions of vehicle, suspects

By El Cerrito Police Department

On August 23, 2026, at 12:17 PM, the El Cerrito Police received a call of a shooting in the parking lot of the Del Norte Plaza shopping center, located at 11299 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito. El Cerrito, Kensington and Richmond Police officers responded to the scene. They discovered that a young man had been shot in the parking lot, near Los Moles Restaurant. Although officers attempted to provide medical aid, the man died of his wounds.

Witnesses reported that the suspects became involved in an altercation with the victim at his car and shot him. After the shooting, the suspects fled the area in a dark colored sedan by driving southbound on S. 56th Street.

Witnesses described the suspects as follows:

Suspect #1 – Young black male adult, wearing a black mask and a black North face brand puffy jacket.
Suspect #2 – Young black male adult, wearing a hat and a black Nike brand jacket.

Police officers, detectives, and crime scene investigators were at the scene interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.

According to a KTVU FOX2 report, the victim was 21 years old from Oakland. According to an ABC7 News report, it is the first homicide in the city in three years.

UPDATE: El Cerrito Officers have located additional information about the suspect vehicle. The suspects fled the homicide scene by driving northbound on S. 56th Street, then westbound on Potrero Avenue. They were last seen driving southbound on S. 55th Street from Potrero Avenue.

Suspect Vehicle: Gray Nissan Maxima, 2016 or newer model year

If any members of the community have information about this homicide, the El Cerrito Police encourage them to call the ECPD at (510) 237-3233.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Photos: CCC Sheriff

Deadline: Sept. 13

Interested in learning more about the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office? Apply for our Fall 2026 Citizen’s Academy!

This free, six-week program offers a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at the vital work of the Office of the Sheriff and its role in keeping our community safe. Topics include patrol, investigations, dispatch, and more, along with guided tours of several Sheriff’s Office facilities.

• October 7 to November 18 (No class November 11)
• Wednesday evenings in Martinez, 6 PM to 9 PM
• Saturday session: October 24 in Clayton, 9 AM to 3 PM
• Open to adults 18+ who live or work in Contra Costa County

For more information, visit our Community Services/Crime Prevention Unit webpage:

https://www.cocosheriff.org/…/community-services-crime…

To apply for the Citizen’s Academy, fill out this application and email it to csu@so.cccounty.us.

https://www.cocosheriff.org/…/596/638416872883770000

Deadline to apply: September 13, or until all spots are filled.

Guardian Harper as a player for the El Cerrito High School football team. Photo source: Facebook

Following a year on the run

El Cerrito victim killed in separate incident at Bay Point house party

By Allen D. Payton

According to the Fairfield Police Department, law enforcement has taken a suspect into custody over a year after a fatal shooting in Fairfield. On August 8, 2025, officers responded to a shooting in the parking lot of 1300 W. Texas Street, where a 19-year-old Ta’Marcus Williams, a former Armijo High School football player, tragically lost his life, while sitting in a parked vehicle outside a Fairfield smoke shop.

Detectives quickly identified 20-year-old Adonnis Isiah Evans (born 9/10/2005), who raps under the stage name “Lul Dada”, as the suspect and secured an arrest warrant.

According to a Hoodline report, Williams died inside the vehicle before emergency responders arrived, and police say Evans and his girlfriend then fled south toward San Jose in a waiting Nissan. Solano County prosecutors filed murder and firearm charges against Evans on August 22, 2025.

But Evans evaded authorities for over a year. While a fugitive, he continued releasing music.

Wanted for El Cerrito Football Player’s Murder

Evans is also wanted as the primary suspect in the June 2025 killing of 18-year-old Guardian Harper at a house party in Bay Point. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, on June 14, 2025, at 12:58 a.m., Deputies arrived on scene and found a person suffering from gunshot wounds in a front yard. Deputies immediately performed life-saving measures until the fire department and an ambulance arrived. The person, who was not identified at the time, was later pronounced deceased. Deputies learned that two other gunshot victims transported themselves to a local hospital and were being treated for non-life-threatening wounds.

According to a Pressbee report, Harper was a 2024 El Cerrito High graduate and played football at both Benicia and El Cerrito High Schools before moving on to American River College and San Francisco City College.

Earlier this week, the San Jose Police Department successfully contacted Evans and placed him under arrest. On August 21, 2026, he was transported and booked into the Solano County Jail, where he is facing charges of 187 P.C. (Murder).

According to the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, six-inch tall, 125-pound Evans is Black and being held in the Justice Center Detention Facility in Fairfield on no bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24th at 1:30 p.m. in Fairfield Superior Court.

“We thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance in bringing him into custody,” Fairfield Police concluded in a post on their Facebook page.

Photo: CCC Library

Beginning September 9, reopening approximately May 31, 2027

By Contra Costa County Library

The Ygnacio Valley Library, on Oak Grove Road in Walnut Creek, is preparing to turn an exciting new page. The branch will temporarily close starting September 9 through approximately May 31, 2027, to undergo essential infrastructure and facility improvements designed to enhance climate control, safety, and energy efficiency for the community.

As part of Contra Costa County Library’s ongoing effort to update and maintain its facilities, this project will address critical structural and interior building systems:

• HVAC System Replacement: Installation of an all-electric, energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round.
• Roofing Upgrades: Replacement of the building’s roof to protect the facility and ensure long-term stability.
• Electrical & Lighting Upgrades: Comprehensive updates to electrical infrastructure alongside energy-efficient lighting upgrades throughout the branch.

This renovation project is made possible through dedicated local support from Measure X funds, supplemented by Contra Costa County Library reserves.

• Closure Timeline: The Ygnacio Valley Library will temporarily close beginning Wednesday, September 9, and reopening approximately May 31, 2027.
  • Tuesday, September 8, is the final day for patrons to pick up existing holds at the Ygnacio Valley branch.
  • Starting September 9, 2026, all uncollected holds will be moved to the Walnut Creek Library (1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek).

During the closure period, the book drop and parking lot will be closed. Books and other physical materials can be borrowed or returned at any open Contra Costa County Library branch, including the Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord and Pleasant Hill libraries.

For account questions during the closure, please call (800) 984-4636.