Contra Costa Herald

A gun confiscated during one of the traffic stops and subsequent arrests. Photo: Brentwood PD

Two men from Martinez, Oakley with histories of arrests, two women from Pittsburg, Brentwood; busy week for one officer

By Brentwood Police Department

Last week, a Brentwood officer was patrolling the area of Brentwood Blvd and Beverly Place and did a car stop on a vehicle for tinted windows.

The officer contacted the driver, 41-year-old James Charles Blevins of Martinez, and two additional occupants, 32-year-old Taylor Berdett Michelson of Oakley and 29-year-old Alexandra Angelina Wehr of Pittsburg. Blevins told the officer he did not have a driver’s license and was also on probation.

After the occupants were detained, a loaded “ghost” gun and ammunition were found inside the car. Blevins and Michelson, who had prior felony convictions, were arrested, along with Wehr, for gun-related charges. All three were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

A few days later, the same officer responded to the areas of Oak Street and First Street for a welfare check and arrested 35-year-old Kenya Elizabeth Orochena of Brentwood, for possession of a loaded gun.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of Tuesday, July 25, Blevins was out of custody, released by court order. According to localcrimenews.com this is his second arrest this year. He has a history of arrests dating back to 2016 by multiple agencies including several times for grand theft, vehicle theft, drug possession, burglary and drunk driving.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Michelson was still in custody as of Friday, July 21. He, too, has a history of arrests since 2013 according to localcrimenews.com by multiple agencies for crimes including possessing a stolen ID with intent to defraud, drug possession, vehicle theft, and gun charges including carrying a loaded firearm on person or in vehicle while in a public place. This is Michelson’s third arrest this year.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, as of Tuesday, July 25, Wehr was out of custody and no charges have been filed.

No other information about Orochena could be found.

A busy week for one officer – and a reflection of the hard work of all Brentwood officers.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

At Park ‘N’ Shop

By Lt. Robert Garcia, Field Operations Division, Concord Police Department

On Friday, July 21st at approximately 3:00 pm, Concord Police Department received a report of a strong-arm robbery that just occurred in the 1700 block of Willow Pass Road at Park ‘N’ Shop. The victim was getting her child out of the rear car seat of her vehicle when the suspect attempted to grab her purse. The victim and the suspect struggled over the purse, but the suspect was able to get away after punching the victim. The victim sustained minor injury as a result. The suspect got into a black SUV and drove off toward the freeway on Willow Pass Road. The suspect was described as a black male with a thin build, wearing a mask.

As this is an ongoing investigation, no other information is being released at this time. If anyone has any additional information regarding this incident, please contact Concord Police Department Major Crimes Unit at (925) 671-5074. You can also contact us on our Anonymous Tip line at (925) 603-5826.

Photo: San Pablo PD

By San Pablo Police Department

SPPD Officers received a call early Sunday morning, July 23, 2023, regarding a carjacking. The victim was held at knifepoint and ordered the victim to give him the car.

SPPD Officers were able to quickly obtain suspect and vehicle information from the victim. It didn’t take long before officers located the vehicle parked at a nearby apartment complex.

Officers were able to successfully deploy spike strips to stop the vehicle. The driver was arrested and transported to jail.

By Brentwood Police Department

On Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 around 10:15a.m., Brentwood officers responded to the 300 block of MacArthur Way for a welfare check for an adult male and adult female at a residence.

When officers arrived they made contact at the residence with an adult female, and there was evidence indicating a potential violent crime had just occurred. Officers quickly detained the female and upon searching the residence located a deceased adult male who had sustained several stab wounds. There were no other victims inside the residence or on scene.

The female suspect and male victim are in a marital relationship and live at the residence. We are not releasing the names at this time until next of kin has been notified.

The female is in police custody and there is no known threat to public safety. This appears to be an isolated incident.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Goold at 925-809-7872.  Callers may remain anonymous.

College District Associate Vice Chancellor/CFO candidates Amy Nichols and Dr. Tony Wold. Photos: 4CD

Online forums for both on Wednesday, July 26

By Marisa Greenberg, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) announces the selection of two finalists for the position of Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The finalists are: Amy Nichols and Dr. Tony Wold.
Two separate online forums have been scheduled for July 26, 2023. Employees, students, and community members are invited to attend the forums via Zoom. Each forum will last 60 minutes, beginning at 1:30 p.m., and will be recorded. A detailed public forum schedule, recordings of each forum, and an online survey to provide feedback on the candidates will be available on the District website at http://www.4cd.edu.

Amy Nichols currently serves as the Chief Business Official of the Roseland Public Schools, overseeing all fiscal and facility services for the Roseland School District and Roseland Charter School. She is driven to ensure that all students who wish to pursue higher learning are provided opportunities to do so. She is committed to fostering practices that construct a foundation of financial stability that will allow 4CD faculty and staff to craft educational and social opportunities that meet the needs of all students.

Amy’s own background was shaped by her time as a student at Diablo Valley College (DVC). She began her studies as a young student when she left high school early in order to pursue paid work. Amy was grateful that DVC gave her the options she needed to continue to learn while also working – an experience that fostered a lifetime love of learning. Twelve years after beginning her studies at DVC, Amy completed her Associate degree at DVC, and then earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Labor and Employer Relations at Penn State University. Amy holds a Master’s of Science in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin, and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Accountancy at California State Sacramento. Amy is also a credentialed teacher and holds the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) Chief Business Official (CBO) Certification.

Amy has been a dedicated educator for more than 20 years and has taught and supported curriculum development for adults at San Francisco State University’s College of Extended Learning, Mission Valley Regional Opportunity Program (ROP), and in a correctional education program offered through the Contra Costa County Office of Education. She transitioned to fiscal and business leadership roles in the California K-12 environment with roles as a Director of Technology Projects, Director of Technology and Senior Director of Procurement and Technology in the Acalanes Union High School District, Burlingame School District and Pleasanton Unified School District.

Amy believes strongly that sound financial management in educational agencies is critical for faculty and staff to successfully sustain and develop educational programs that support California’s diverse students.

She strives to provide collaborative, student focused leadership that keeps equity and transparency at the forefront of all activities.

Dr. Tony Wold has served multiple school districts as Associate Superintendent and Chief Business Officer in leadership roles in Business, Labor Negotiations, Student Services, and Student Assessment. His ability to align resources to support improved student achievement has improved student outcomes in diverse districts where over 90% of students received state and federal aid and higher socio-economic communities afforded experience in all district configurations.

Tony brings an extraordinary amount of educational experience both in and outside of the classroom, having also served as a teacher, site administrator, educational services director, and football coach in his educational career. Dr. Wold has a strong sense of the K-14 finance world and has been active in the California School Business Officials Association (CASBO), Coalition of Adequate School Housing (CASH), and serving as a mentor for aspiring Chief Business Officials. For the past year, Tony served as CBO in Residence for School Innovations & Achievement where his focus is on rebuilding systems to bring students back into schools to address the learning loss and changes in attendance behaviors resulting from the pandemic. In addition, Dr. Wold is the principal software design executive with DistrictOS, which is an agnostic SaaS platform that connects school district data systems together to allow for greater transparency in district operations to the public.

Dr. Wold recently served as Associate Superintendent, Business Services in West Contra Costa Unified School District, where he oversaw the daily operations and management of accounting, budget, purchasing, payroll, employee benefits, labor relations, school operations, athletics, safety, warehouse, transportation, nutrition services, and risk management. He was instrumental in the passing of the $575 million Measure R Bond in March 2020 and navigating a $49.9 million structural deficit to restore the District’s budget certification in collaboration with the District’s five labor associations.

A native of Redwood City, Tony received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC). He subsequently completed his School Business Management Certification and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at USC. He also earned Chief Business Official certifications from the Council of Great City Schools, and Lead Negotiators certification from the School Employers Association of California (SEAC).

Tony and his wife Lisa have been married for over 27 years and have one daughter who graduated from the University of San Francisco to join the educational system as a teacher.

About 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves a population of 1,200,997 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College with campuses in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon, and Los Medanos College with a campus in Pittsburg, and center in Brentwood. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

A Coast Guard helicopter flies over the river searching for the missing boater along the Antioch waterfront Friday, July 21, 2023. Screenshot of video by Allen D. Payton

Recovered Monday morning; conflicting information from agencies of what occurred; no investigation by APD

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Public Information Liaison Sgt. Price Kendall, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the body of the man missing in the river last Friday during a boating mishap was found.

Con Fire spokeswoman, Assistant Fire Chief Tracie Dutter said, “Someone reported a possible deceased male on the rocks near Fulton Shipyard Road on Monday at 7:48 AM. We were requested by PD to assist in recovering the body. We were on scene assisting at about 8:20 a.m. and by 8:40 a.m. the recovery was completed.”

According to Deputy Gonzalez of the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office, the man was identified as 58-year-old Douglas Cross from San Leandro, based on his driver’s license information.

As previously reported, according to Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs, “On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 1:51 PM, deputy sheriffs from the Marine Patrol Unit were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United States Coast Guard with searching for a missing boater who was apparently trying to push his 20-foot vessel to shore near the Fulton Shipyard on the San Joaquin River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office drone team were also involved in the search. The missing boater, who is not being identified at this time, was not located. (See video)

The Marine Patrol Unit continued the search on Saturday, he added.

However, according to Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Schnabel, “We suspended the search after searching until around 7:30 pm. One man had fallen overboard from a recreational boat and the other man jumped in after him attempting to get him out of the water leaving the vessel unmanned. Neither had life jackets. One man was recovered by a Good Samaritan and taken to a local boat ramp.”

Asked if an investigation was being conducted to determine what occurred and if the other man had been interviewed to get his side of the story, Sgt. Kendall responded, “No investigation is being conducted by the Antioch Police Department.”

Lee was asked the same question but did not respond prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Brentwood Police arrested three teens during a burglary in progress on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photo: Brentwood PD

Two out of custody with no charges filed; Antioch teen’s father of same name has history of arrests from 2014 to 2023

By Brentwood Police

On Wednesday afternoon, July 19, 2023, Brentwood Police officers were called to a residence located at the 700 block of Allbrook Court for a burglary in progress. When officers arrived to the residence the suspects fled.

With the help of a citizen witness, officers were able to successfully locate the suspects, identified as 18-year-old Keoni Mikala Temple, Jr. of Antioch, 19-year-old Rashad Lewis of Brentwood, and a 16-year-old juvenile. All three were placed under arrest for burglary.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of Friday, July 21, both Temple and Lewis were out of custody with no charges filed.

According to localcrimenews.com, Temple’s father, Keoni Mikala Temple, Sr. has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 including three arrests in March of this year.

We want to thank the alert citizen who provided us the critical information needed to ensure all involved were arrested. We always appreciate when our citizens help us out. This is a friendly reminder to our community, if you see something, say something!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By City of Oakley Recreation Department

The annual Kids Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, August 12th. The Derby is for children up to age 15 and registration is FREE. This is a “catch and release” derby so children will be assisted to release the fish after they have been logged.

Registration and check-in is from 8 AM – 9 AM. The Derby runs from 9 AM – 11 AM, followed by complimentary snacks and awards.

The Derby will be held on the Antioch Fishing Pier in the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline off Bridgehead Road in Oakley.

Register by clicking here. Click on Special Events then Kids Fishing Derby.

For more information, call Alicia O’Leary at (925) 625-7044 or email: oleary@ci.oakley.ca.us.

Cash and drugs seized during traffic stop arrest on Sunday, July 16, 2023, and the recovered WinCo merchandise stolen on Monday, July 17, 2023. Photos: Brentwood PD

Rodeo man out on bail; robbery suspects out of jail with no charges filed

By Brentwood Police Department

Last week was a busy week for Brentwood PD, but rest assured we are working hard and committed to keeping our community safe.

During the weekend of July 15 and 16, a Brentwood officer was driving in the area of Second Street and Brentwood Blvd., when he saw a vehicle with expired registration. The officer pulled the vehicle over, and during the traffic stop he saw drugs inside the vehicle in plain view. All in all, marijuana, heroin, and ecstasy were ultimately recovered from inside the car.

The driver, 20-year-old Mario Miranda Ortiz of Pittsburg, was placed under arrest for being in possession of drugs for sale along with other drug related charges. He was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking on Monday, July 17. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office he bonded out on Tuesday, July 18.

Arrests in Grocery Store Robbery

On Monday, July 17, officers were dispatched to WinCo Foods for a report of two suspects stealing. When loss prevention confronted the suspects, they fought the employee and fled in a vehicle with stolen property. Thankfully, the victim was ok, only sustaining minor injuries.

A Brentwood officer quickly located the suspect’s vehicle, and subsequently placed the two occupants, identified as 30-year-old Reginald Lee Jackson of Contra Costa County and 20-year-old Sammone Kiara Weaver of Rodeo under arrest for robbery (and other charges) and transported them to the Martinez Detention Facility. The property was recovered and returned to the store.

As of Wednesday, July 19 both Jackson and Weaver were out of custody and no charges had been filed.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By City of Oakley Recreation Department

For the month of August, our Friday Night Bites in partnership with Foodie Crew includes a concert featuring the band Project 4 Band who bring their blend of Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin, Smooth Jazz music to Oakley from 5PM to 9PM in Civic Center Plaza.

Bring your family, friends, and a picnic blanket or chairs and settle in for an unforgettable night of singing, dancing, and delicious food under the stars! No outside alcohol is permitted.

Concerts in the Park will continue Friday nights September 1 and October 6,

For more information about the concert, contact Alicia at (925) 625-7044 or email: oleary@ci.oakley.ca.us.