Two from Richmond, one from Oakland, one from Hayward
By Brentwood Police Department
On Monday, February 10, 2020 at 11:45 AM, officers were dispatched to Ulta Beauty Supply,in the Streets of Brentwood Shopping Center, to investigate a theft. Keilaysha Usher (24-year-old female from Oakland) Talmika Bates (24-year-old female from Hayward) and Ramiah Armstrong (22-year-old female from Richmond) left the store with about $10,000 worth of merchandise and fled in a Nissan Murano toward Lone Tree Way.
A responding Brentwood Police Officer located the vehicle at the intersection of Shady Willow Lane and Lone Tree Way and attempted a traffic enforcement stop. The driver of the Nissan collided with the patrol car and fled. The vehicle was located in a field at the north end of Slatten Ranch Road where the occupants fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood. A perimeter was set up by Brentwood, Antioch and Oakley Police units until all three females were located and taken into custody.
An additional subject, Adrian Benton, Jr. (21-year-old male from Richmond) appeared in the area to pick up the females and help them flee the area. He was also taken into custody without incident.
All four subjects are being booked into Martinez Detention Facility.
This case is currently under investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Brentwood PD dispatch at 925-809-7911.
Read MoreBy Richmond Police Department
On Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at 5:00 pm, Richmond Police officers responded to a hit and run collision in the 2200 block of Coalinga Avenue. A 4-year-old child was struck and killed in the collision.
RPD turned to social media, our community members, and local media outlets to request their assistance in locating the suspect vehicle.
Our community partners answered our request and assisted in sharing our request tens of thousands of times on social media platforms. Local media outlets assisted by providing extensive news coverage. All of these things combined to assist us in identifying the driver and suspect vehicle.
Saturday at 7:00 pm, RPD Traffic Investigators arrested the suspect for this hit and run. On Sunday, Feb. 9, the suspect and suspect vehicle were located and are in police custody. The suspect was booked on charges of hit and run resulting in death.
RPD is grateful for the outpouring of support from our community in helping us bring this driver to justice. Thank you from RPD and from the victim’s family for helping them achieve some closure.
**Spanish Translation**
***SOSPECHOSO ARRESTADO EN COLISION QUE REAULTO EN MUERTE***
El Viernes, 7 de Febrero, a las 5:00 PM, Oficiales de la Policia de Richmond respondieron al bloque 2200 de la Avenida Coalinga en una investigación donde un vehicúlo atropello y mato a un niño de 4 años de edad.
La Policia de Richmond solicito la ayuda de nuestros miembros de la comunidad, usando redes sociales y noticias locales para encontrar el vehicúlo del sospechoso.
Nuestros miembros de la comunidad nos ayudaron con compartir este incidente miles de veces en redes sociales. Noticias locales asistieron con reportar una amplia cobertura de noticias sobre el incidente.
Todas estas cosas combinadas nos asistieron en identificar al sospechoso y el vehicúlo.
El Sabodo a las 7:00, Investigadores de tráfico arrestaron al sospechoso. El sospechoso fue transladado a la carcel con cargos de huir la escena de colision que resulto en murte.
La Policia de Richmond esta agradecido por el soporte de la comunidad por ayudarnos el traer el sospechoso ante la justicia.
Gracias de parte de la Policia de Richmond y de la familia de la victima en lograr un poco de cierre en este caso.
Read MoreBART adjusted train schedules, today February 10, 2020 to improve service. The new schedule impacts all lines to some degree, especially first and last trips of the day. Some lines will see service start earlier and some will start a little later. Most changes are small tweaks and will adjust departures and arrivals by only a few minutes, but there are some more significant changes.
Major improvements include the return of two-line service into San Francisco on Sunday, the addition of Fleet of the Future trains on Saturday, earlier weekday train service for many riders, increased peak service for Concord riders in the morning and evening, and later evening direct service from San Francisco into Warm Springs.
Many of our riders plan their arrival times around the specific train they want to catch. We want to make sure all of our riders know about these adjustments in advance, so they are not caught by surprise. Train times have shifted by a few minutes throughout the day.
The new schedule is now available on our Trip Planner and on the BART (Official) App when you plan a trip on or after 2/10. Also, PDF’s of the current and new schedule timetables can also be found here.
Highlights of service changes:
Weekdays
- Morning peak-period trains that previously originated or turned back at Pleasant Hill will now originate/turn back at Concord, allowing BART to better serve more riders on this busy line by returning extra service to Concord. In September 2015, BART changed its schedule and these trains went from starting at Concord to starting at Pleasant Hill. Over the years, morning riders looking to target these short run trains because they were less crowded, shifted their origin station to Pleasant Hill. These riders may now opt to begin their trip at Concord once again. Pleasant Hill will still be served by the same number of trains in the morning, but many of them will no longer originate at the station. 3 trains will originate at Pleasant Hill in the 6 am hour. Some PM commute trains will also end at Concord instead of Pleasant Hill. Riders will no longer see “Pleasant Hill” trains on the platform signs, instead they will be “Concord” trains.
- The first trip from Richmond to Warm Springs (Orange Line) will leave Richmond at 5:04 am—17 minutes earlier than before.
- The 5:00 am northbound train from South Hayward is now a Warm Springs/Richmond (Orange Line) train to Richmond instead of a Warm Springs/Daly City (Green Line) train to Daly City.
- Passengers heading to San Francisco will need to use Dublin/Pleasanton to Daly City (Blue Line) or Antioch/SFO (Yellow Line) trains for the first San Francisco arrivals, arriving in San Francisco 8 minutes later.
- Service to San Francisco from Warm Springs will be earlier with the first Warm Springs/Daly City (Green Line) train departing at 5:01 am instead of 5:15 am.
- We are extending evening direct service on the Warm Springs/Daly City (Green Line) from Daly City to Warm Springs with an added train departing at 7:12 pm.
- We have eliminated the morning peak 9:12 am Antioch/SFO (Yellow Line) departure from MacArthur to Daly City to enable the Concord turnback trains to serve more riders.
- The evening schedule has been adjusted to better accommodate Transbay Tube single-tracking
- Saturday
- We’ve added more Fleet of the Future (FOTF) trains—two each on Antioch/SFO (Yellow Line), Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue Line), and Richmond/Millbrae (Red Line). The Warm Springs/Daly City (Green Line) will run four FOTF trains, or 50% of our existing FOTF trains.
- The first northbound Warm Springs/Richmond (Orange Line) train starts in service at Bay Fair at 5:52 am instead of Coliseum at 6:00 am
- The first westbound Dublin/Pleasanton to Daly City (Blue Line) train starts in service at Bay Fair at 5:58 am instead of Coliseum at 6:06 am.
- Sunday
- We will return to two-line service into San Francisco. The Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue Line) will serve San Francisco (see the map below). Blue line trains will terminate at Montgomery or Daly City depending on the time of day and if there is single tracking. Riders on the Blue Line who are travelling farther south will transfer to a Yellow Line train at Montgomery St.
- Warm Springs/Daly City (Green Line) and Richmond/Millbrae (Red Line) trips were eliminated to make way for the return of Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue Line), service to San Francisco.
- Headways on Sundays will be every 24 minutes on all lines, four minutes longer than the current Sunday service plan. BART staff believes this service plan will provide greater predictability and resilience in the event of a service delay.
- Trips to Millbrae will no longer require a transfer at SFO on Sundays. The Sunday map below still shows the “Purple line,” but with no transfer bubble. The Purple line was re-introduce as a unique line in Feb. 2019, and now all trips between SFO and Millbrae are considered the Purple line- regardless of what train is used to make the trip. The Sunday trains will be labelled as “SFO/Millbrae” bound trains on platform signs and we will make on board announcements so Sunday riders know they don’t need to transfer at SFO to a Millbrae train. The concept of showing two separate lines, but offering a one-seat trip with no transfer, is called “interlining.” The train switches from one route to another. BART plans to use this concept moving forward for the Purple line to allow us to be flexible with how we operate this segment of service while keeping the map simple, without added annotations, and consistent.
- The first northbound train is Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue Line), leaves 24th St/Mission at 7:50 am, and Civic Center at 7:54 am (instead of 8:04 am)
- The first northbound train on Warm Springs/Richmond (Orange Line) will start at South Hayward at 7:54am and arrive at Coliseum at 8:10am. (Previously it started at Coliseum at 8:09 am)
Read More
By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – As a member of the oldest Maritime Strike Squadron helicopter squadron, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ahren Aaron is a part of a Naval legacy. Aaron is an aviation electrician’s mate who is responsible for maintaining all the electrical components on the aircraft. He is currently serving with of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, which supports the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.
“My favorite part of my job is being able to travel and see new countries,” said Aaron. “My favorite country I have been to, was Japan because I could take a 45-minute train ride to Tokyo every weekend when I was stationed there.”
Aaron is a 2015 Ygnacio Valley High School graduate and native of Concord, California.
According to Aaron, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Concord.
“Concord taught me to be accepting of people,” said Aaron. “I was born in Northern California and I was exposed to a lot of different cultures. I do take people at face value and accept different cultures.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Sailors assigned to HSM-71 are a part of history, flying with “Romeo” helicopters, the newest and most advanced in the fleet. Helicopters are equipped with the ability to conduct replenishments at sea, search and rescue missions and support operations.
The members of HSM-71 achieve excellence in military performance and create an example for other squadrons to follow through operational readiness, innovation and weapon development.
HSM-71 sailors play a critical role in supporting the Navy’s aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers and carrier strike groups remain the centerpiece of our nation’s security strategy, supporting and protecting America’s national interests around the world. Carrier strike groups operate across the entire spectrum of military operations, according to Navy officials.
According to Admiral Mike Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, the focus of today’s Navy is squarely on warfighting, warfighters and the capabilities needed for the Navy of the future.
“I am confident we will maximize the Navy we have today while delivering the Navy that our nation will rely upon tomorrow,” said Gilday. “And we will do so with urgency. Our fleet will be a potent, formidable force that competes around the world every day, deterring those who would challenge us while reassuring our allies and partners.”
There are many opportunities for sailors to earn recognition in their command, community and careers. However, Aaron is most proud of making third class petty officer.
“I took a lot of time studying for it and then had to take a placement exam that I passed,” said Aaron.
For Aaron, serving in the Navy is a tradition passed down from generations and one Aaron hopes to continue.
“My dad was in the Navy,” said Aaron. “I joined the Navy because the Navy sat down the morale foundation of how he wanted to be as a man.”
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Aaron , as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“Serving in the Navy means I am there for my shipmates whenever they need me,” said Aaron.
Read MoreIt takes CDC five to seven days to confirm; protocols in place for dealing with patients and protecting medical staff
By Allen Payton
2-15-20 UPDATE: “We still have no confirmed cases in Contra Costa,” said Will Harper, Acting Communications Officer for Contra Costa Public Health.
In an announcement on the Contra Costa Health Services website, entitled Novel Coronavirus, Information for People Living in Contra Costa County, states: “Contra Costa residents are at low risk of becoming infected. Only people who recently traveled to China or have had close contact with someone who became ill with the novel coronavirus after recent travel in China could be exposed.”
The statement also includes, “As of Feb. 5, there have been 12 confirmed cases in the United States, including four in Northern California. There are currently no confirmed cases in Contra Costa County.”
However, that could have changed as of Friday, Feb. 7.
A report of a possible, first coronavirus case at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez has raised concerns and questions for county staff.
According to sources who have chosen to remain anonymous, a Martinez resident who returned from China on Wednesday, Feb. 5 was brought to the hospital and admitted on Friday, Feb. 7 by her husband. He said she was very sick and concerned it might be from the coronavirus. The woman is currently in the intensive care unit.
The case has medical staff concerned with what is being done with quarantining the husband, who could have been exposed for two to three days, and for the medical staff, to protect them from contracting the virus.
“All I can say is, at this point we have no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Contra Costa,” said Will Harper, Acting Communications Officer for Contra Costa Public Health.
When asked how long it takes to confirm, he responded, “It has been taking the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) about five to seven days.”
So, medical staff at the county’s public hospital may not know until sometime this week if the woman has the virus.
Harper was then asked if there are protocols in place for dealing with patients, their families and medical staff.
“We do have protocols in place about isolating for a suspect case, for both the patient and that staff has the proper protective gear,” he stated. “Our public health division, when there is a confirmed case, will do a contact investigation. They go and contact the person who has the contagious virus.”
“There are procedures in place to both protect hospital staff and for patients,” Harper reiterated. “But, as for dealing with the immediate family members, we can’t talk about specific patients, because of patient privacy. In terms of the public health role, when there is a suspected case that is not confirmed, public health contacts the person and the family and encourages them to stay at home as much as possible and monitor themselves for symptoms. It can go beyond the family, with a co-worker who has had contact. Anyone who has had contact with someone who possibly has the virus.”
When asked why the coronvirus is getting so much attention, he responded, “This is a new virus, we haven’t seen it before, and there is no human immunity or vaccine for. So, the public worries, understandably.”
“We’re taking it very seriously,” Harper added.
The CC Health Services statement continues with the following information:
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and public health agencies across the U.S. are monitoring this new disease. Contra Costa Health Services is working closely with its partners and other health systems to track the situation locally.
Hospitals in the county, including Contra Costa Regional Medical Center & Health Centers, are asking patients about symptoms of coronavirus and recent travel to China. People calling 911 will also be asked about their symptoms and recent travel to China. Contra Costa Health Services has sent information about coronavirus to local medical providers, ambulance paramedics and schools.
Symptoms of this illness include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
If you have these symptoms AND have been in China within the past 14 days or have been in close contact with someone who has been in the area, seek medical care right away.
- Call ahead before going to see a doctor or emergency room – call Contra Costa Public Heath at 925-313-6740 for instructions about where to go if you do not have a healthcare provider.
- If you have a mask to wear over your mouth and nose, please wear it as you present to your health care provider or clinic. If not, please ask for one upon your arrival.
- Tell them your symptoms and that you were in China
As this is an unusual situation, information could change rapidly. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.”
Please check back later for updates to this report.
Read MoreDriver from Antioch taken to hospital, arrested; Driver of other car from Oakley sustains minor injuries
By CHP-Contra Costa
UPDATE: the Volkswagen sedan driven by Moss was determined that it was traveling wrong way (westbound within the eastbound lanes) of Hwy-4 prior to the initial collision with the Toyota.
Early this morning, at approximately 2:09 am, CHP Contra Costa responded to a collision involving three vehicles on Hwy-4 eastbound, just east of Bailey Road. Upon CHP & emergency personnel arrival, a 2002 Volkswagen sedan, a 2015 Toyota sedan, and a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle had been involved in a collision. Unfortunately, the solo male driver of the Harley (29 years old from Antioch) was killed in the crash. The solo male driver of the Toyota (20 years old from Oakley) sustained only minor complaint of pain injuries. And the solo male driver of the Volkswagen (59-year-old Tony Moss from Antioch) was transported to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek for his injuries and suspicion of DUI driving.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male rider from the Harley Davidson.
This incident is still under investigation and requires follow up investigation as well. But our preliminary report indicates the Volkswagen and Toyota may have been involved in a collision on eastbound Hwy 4 at Bailey Road and then the Harley Davidson became involved as well, subsequently ejecting the rider of the Harley Davidson and killing him. The driver of the Toyota suffered only minor injuries, remained on scene, and cooperated with the investigation.
While at the hospital, Officers placed Moss under arrest for felony DUI. Upon his release from the hospital early this morning, he was transported to the Martinez detention facility where he was booked into the county jail for two counts of FELONY DUI: 23153(a)VC & 23153(b)VC.
As this incident is still under investigation, if anyone has information regarding this collision or events leading up to it, call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980. Thank you.
Read MoreLos Medanos College (LMC) is preparing to host its annual César Chávez Celebration on Friday, March 27, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by the awards and recognition ceremony at 7:00 p.m. LMC is located at 2700 East Leland Road in Pittsburg. The public is welcome to attend, and the event is free.
Los Medanos College hosts this event each year to honor the life of César Chávez and to recognize East Contra Costa County community leaders who continue his great tradition of service and social activism. A true American hero, César Chávez exemplifies service to community and non-violent social change.
The college is now seeking nominations for three recognition awards, which will be presented at the event. The LMC César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service, established in 1995, is awarded to local residents who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to service and who represent the core values established by César Chávez: Service to Others, Sacrifice, Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Acceptance of All People, Respect for Life and the Environment, Celebrating Community, Knowledge, and Innovation. The East County Educator Award honors members of the educational community who demonstrate the above values and a commitment to student success and equity, particularly for low-income students and students of color. The Chávez Spirit Award recognizes student/emerging leaders who are making an impact on East Contra Costa County in the areas of advocacy and social justice.
To submit nominations for the César Chávez awards, visit: www.losmedanos.edu/chavez/nominate/. The deadline for nominations is February 29, 2020.
Details about other LMC activities celebrating the life and legacy of César Chávez can be viewed at: www.losmedanos.edu/chavez/event.
Read MoreThe chief selling point to Measure J on the March 3 ballot is to “reduce congestion”, a laughably empty promise. The 75 words on the ballot create a smokescreen for a 1/2% sales tax increase.
Measure J allots $148 million to BART, who has their own mega-budget and a long history of wastefulness. Only Contra Costa would shoulder the additional tax to be handed over to BART with no assurance that Contra Costa would benefit.
This measure contains hiring restrictions that will drive up costs of taxpayer-funded projects. It requires that all apprenticeship labor must come from certain politically favored sources, rather than the largest qualified pool of applicants. Construction labor short supply due to recent wildfire rebuilding efforts. As a result, projects everywhere are currently facing massive cost overruns. This is the wrong time to impose even further hiring restrictions.
Residents may see signs on the highway referencing Measure J for current projects. This refers to a Measure J generously passed by voters in 2004. The suspicious letter designation is confusing, but clearly this is not the same. This is an additional increase for 35 years.
We encourage a no vote on Measure J.
Susan L Pricco
President, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
Read MoreBy Lieutenant Tracie Reese, Walnut Creek Police Department
On February 7, 2020 at approximately 2:10 p.m., Officers from the Walnut Creek Police Department went to a residence in the 200 block of Hall Drive in Orinda to interview 41-year-old David Martin Justice (born 6/13/78) in regard to a sexual assault that occurred in Walnut Creek. As officers arrived, Justice left the residence in a vehicle. Walnut Creek Police Officers attempted to pull over Justice’s vehicle, but Justice sped away at a high rate of speed.
Justice eventually returned to the address on Hall Drive and ran into the residence. Moments later, Justice exited the back of the residence with a shotgun pointed to his head. The Central County Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) responded to the address to assist officers on scene. The Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) established communication with Justice and negotiated with Justice for approximately four hours. Justice peacefully surrendered at 6:02 p.m. and was taken into custody.
Justice will be booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on a warrant for multiple counts of PC 261, with a bail amount of $5,000,000.
This investigation is in the early stages and further information will not be released at this time. Additional details will be provided as they become available.
The Central County Special Weapons and Tactics Team and the Crisis Negotiations Team is made up of members from the San Ramon Police Department, Martinez Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, BART Police, and the Walnut Creek Police Department.
The Walnut Creek Police Department would like to thank the Orinda Police Department, the Lafayette Police Department, the Danville Police Department and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call Detective Gerstner at 925-943-5878. WCPD Case Number: 20-4426
Read MoreIdentified as Mark Anthony Thomas. Second suspect still at large.
By Pittsburg Police Department
On December 14, 2019, the Pittsburg Police Department was notified of a person who was shot inside of a residence in the 200 block of Havenwood Circle in Pittsburg. At the time of the incident, the victim, along with his wife and children, were present when two armed and masked gunmen entered the residence and shot the victim following a brief struggle. Upon arrival, officers located a 34-year-old male resident (later identified by his fiancé as Rafael Lopez) suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso.
From initial information, officers learned that two masked gunmen entered the residence and engaged in an altercation with the man and other people inside the residence. Officers provifed aid to the main until medical personnel arrived. The man later died from his injuries. (See related article).
Detectives began working the case immediately and painstakingly poured over many leads and pieces of evidence until they were able to identify one of the shooters involved in the homicide. That shooter has been identified a 35-year-old Mark Anthony Thomas from Antioch.
According to his Facebook page, Thomas is a rapper whose stage name is M80.
On February 4, 2020, Thomas was located at a residence in the 5000 block of Ranch Hallow Way in Antioch and arrested by our agency. He is currently in custody in Martinez on murder charges.
This is an ongoing investigation and if anyone has any information to please contact Detective Ruff at 925-252-4089.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
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