GULF OF ADEN (Jan. 3, 2020) Fire Controlman 2nd Class Michael Read, left, from Walnut Creek, Calif., and Fire Controlman 3rd Class Justin Janssen, from Crofton, Neb., perform a routine inspection on the surge antenna of the starboard close-in weapon system aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60). The Normandy is part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Earlier this month the Contra Costa Anti-Violence Support Effort (CASE) team, led by a Pittsburg Police Department task force officer, launched an investigation after receiving information from the state Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS) that a Bethel Island resident had firearms registered to him despite being prohibited. Further investigation found he attempted to purchase silencers through the mail.
The CASE team obtained a search warrant for his residence from a judge.
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, CASE agents executed the search warrant at the residence on the 2000 block of Taylor Road in Bethel Island. CASE agents seized four AR-15-style assault rifles, nine handguns, 10 rifles, one shotgun, four lower receivers, one silencer, 20 large capacity magazines, and approximately 5,000 rounds of ammunition.
The man was arrested. He is identified as 57-year-old Jeffery Irvine. Irvine was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) on the following charges:
-Manufacturing an assault rifle
-Possession of an assault rifle
-Prohibited person in possession of a firearm
-Prohibited person in possession of ammunition
-Ghost gun
-Illegal transfer of a firearm
Irvine was being held at the MDF, in lieu of $240,000 bail. He has since bailed out.
The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Pittsburg Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, Contra Costa County Probation Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.
Read MoreBy Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
Earlier this week, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felonies against Christopher Dopp, a transient with no known address, and Richard Lange, from Richmond, for last week’s burglary of the Walnut Creek Macy’s store at Broadway Plaza. During the early morning burglary of January 24, the defendants took $65,244 of gold jewelry from display cases.
The defendants were spotted by store employees on the first floor of the store as the pair smashed display cases. The defendants fled the scene after the employees saw the pair destroying the display cases. Ultimately, Walnut Creek Police Officers apprehended the burglars as they left the store. In total, the damage to the store totaled over $80,000 from the broken glass.
The bail for each defendant is set for Lange at $170,000 and Dopp at $35,000. The defendants are not in custody as they bailed out.
The specific felony charges are as follows:
Lange: Second Degree Burglary, Grand Theft of Personal Property, Vandalism Over $400 Damage — Special Allegation Serious or Violent Felony Prior & Special Allegation Two Prior Offenses
Dopp: Second Degree Burglary, Grand Theft of Personal Property, Vandalism Over $400 Damage
Case information: People v. Dopp, Lange, Docket Number 01-192927-2
Read MoreBy Concord Police Department
On Saturday night, Jan. 25 our Special Enforcement Team located a subject wanted on a felony warrant in the 3000 block of Willow Pass Road As we set up to try and take him into custody the male, identified as Kevin Villatoro, decided to try and make a run for it out a back window. Unfortunately for him we were ready for that.
Mr. Villatoro ran though a residential area off Euclid Drive where he tried to hide himself. Again, we had a plan for that too!
With help from Contra Costa Sheriff helicopter Starr 3 and Pittsburg Police Department K9 “Kyra”, Mr. Villatoro was quickly located hiding behind a house. He chose to ignore multiple commands from officers and was ultimately apprehended by K9 Kyra. Mr. Villatoro was treated for his injuries and later booked into county jail on multiple felony charges.
As a thank you to K9 Kyra one of our officers Venmo’d her handler to treat her to some In-N-Out. Kyra’s eyes tell the ending to this story.
According to the Pittsburg Police Department, “Officer Oreja and K9 Kyra were requested by the Concord Police Department to help locate a violent, possibly armed, wanted felon believed to be hiding within an established perimeter. Once on scene, Officer Oreja and K9 Kyra began searching yards with the assistance of STARR 3 (helicopter) overhead. STARR 3 advised they had a heat source coming from a backyard which Officers were about to enter. K9 Kyra searched the yard and apprehended the hiding, motionless, suspect making it safe for Officers to enter and take him into custody.
This is another great example of why Police K9’s are such a useful tool in our day to day job. Concord PD bought Kyra a cheeseburger for a job well done! Scroll right to see how happy she was to eat her treat.” #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #winforthegoodguys #youcanrunbutyoucanthide #PPD #k9unit #workingdog #CPD #Police
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The Contra Costa County Library is hosting two candidate forums in advance of the March primary. Voters attending the forums can hear directly from the candidates about their experience and positions on relevant issues. The forums will stream live on Facebook and re-air on Contra Costa Television (CCTV).
The Hercules Library will host a forum for the Board of Supervisors District V race on Tuesday, February 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. East County residents interested in watching the District V forum can attend a viewing party at the Pittsburg Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the library community room.
The Brentwood Library will host a forum at the Brentwood Community Center on Thursday, February 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Candidates for the Board of Supervisors District III seat will take part in the moderated forum.
County residents unable to attend the forums can watch live on the Contra Costa County Library Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ccclib/. The forums will also be archived on the Library’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/theccclib.
All forums will re-air on Contra Costa Television (CCTV). CCTV is available on Comcast channel 27, AT&T U-Verse channel 99 or Astound channel 32. For a full schedule, visit ccclib.org.
The Library is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and the West County League of Women Voters, Contra Costa County Elections Department and Contra Costa Television (CCTV).
For more information, contact Rich Hall at rhall@ccclib.org, (925) 608-7770.
Read MoreOne of the most exciting developments in Oakley history is underway. The City of Oakley broke ground on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for the Contra Costa Logistics Center, a two‐million‐square‐foot project from Kansas City‐based NorthPoint Development.
The light industrial, warehouse, distribution, e‐commerce fulfillment, and light manufacturing space will be located on the former site of the DuPont Chemical Plant at 6000 Bridgehead Road.
The City has planned for development at the site since 2002 and it is now becoming a reality. Once completed, the campus is expected to generate 2,800 full and part time jobs and bring in $388,400 annually to the City’s General Fund as well as a contribution of $420,000 per year in revenue to the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District once compete.
NorthPoint Development has similar light manufacturing and distribution properties in 21 states with a client portfolio that includes Ford, Amazon, and Adidas.
“This is a large‐scale economic driver,” said Josh McMurray, the City of Oakley’s Community Development Director. “This is a catalyst not only for Oakley, but for the region. The amount of jobs and benefit to the county as a whole are just great.”
Plans call for five buildings to be constructed on 143 acres along the southwest portion of the site, with the additional 232 acres remaining natural.
Construction is underway following this week’s groundbreaking and a tenant for one full building has already been secured. NorthPoint hopes to finish the full buildout within four years.
As part of the project, NorthPoint Development will also complete roadway improvements on nearby streets including the intersections of Wilbur Avenue and Bridgehead Road and Bridgehead Road and Neroly Road, as well as alterations on Main Street at Empire Avenue and on Big Break Road at Main Street.
“We are thrilled to be starting construction this month on the Contra Costa Logistics Center in Oakley,” said Jed Momot, NorthPoint Development’s Chief Strategy Officer. “We believe the central location of Oakley being able to reach the population within the Bay Area and Northern California as well as the surplus of qualified labor will attract logistics, manufacturing, and e‐commerce businesses to locate within the park.
Momot went on to say that two buildings have planned construction starting this month, with the three other buildings to follow. He added that the project offers many unique characteristics such as rail service situated on the BNSF line and direct access onto Hwy 160 to Hwy 4.
Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick said that this new development will create a vital, long awaited economic hub in Oakley.
“Since Oakley’s incorporation as a city 20 years ago, this property has been considered a key to job growth and a potential hub of industry,” said Mayor Romick. “To see this project come to fruition is so gratifying and exciting for the entire Oakley community.”
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
A suspect who barricaded himself inside his residence in Tara Hills near San Pablo, last week has been charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. 30-year-old Jimmey Allen Parrish was charged with two counts of possession of an assault weapon, possession of a machine gun, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.
On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at about 8:43 PM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of a person with a gun at a home on the 2400 block of O’Toole Way in the Tara Hills neighborhood in unincorporated Contra Costa. At the time Parrish apparently brandished a weapon and possibly fired some shots. There were no injuries.
Deputy Sheriffs attempted to make contact with Parrish but were not able to. At about 11:30 PM, the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and negotiators responded to the location. Negotiators continued trying to make contact with him. The SWAT Team on Wednesday morning entered the heavily fortified home and detained Parrish. He was later taken to the hospital and arrested on Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Parrish is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $353,000 bail.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. Tips could be emailed to: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreBy Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer, CCCC College District
The Contra Costa Community College District (District) Governing Board (Board) has selected Eugene Huff as interim chancellor. Huff’s contract begins January 23, 2020, with an end date of December 31, 2020, or until a permanent chancellor is selected.
Huff began his service with the District in 2001 in human resources. He was promoted to Vice Chancellor of Human Resources in 2004 and has been the District’s chief negotiator since that time. He was promoted to his current position of Executive Vice Chancellor, Administrative Services in 2013. In that position, Huff has overseen fiscal services, human resources, information technology, police services and risk management areas.
Before coming to the District, Huff spent over a decade in the private sector in human resources and operations management roles, and led the start-up of the human resources function for a non-profit organization. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and his master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Purdue University.
“The Governing Board is excited and grateful that Gene has agreed to serve as our Interim Chancellor,” said Board President Rebecca Barrett. “His many years of steady administrative leadership in the District has prepared him for this opportunity, and we are confident the District will be in good hands until a permanent chancellor is on board.”
The District continues its national search for a permanent chancellor and is assisted by the Collaborative Brain Trust (CBT) and Dr. Brice Harris, a longtime California community college educator and Chancellor Emeritus of the California Community Colleges. Huff will not be a candidate for permanent chancellor. The goal will be to complete the search process and announce the new chancellor in April 2020, with a start date of June 1-July 1, 2020.
Prior to joining the District, Mr. Huff worked at Whirlpool Corporation for 11 years in operations and human resources. Mr. Huff is married and has one grown daughter and one granddaughter. He enjoys diving, gardening and travel.
The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.
Read MoreOfficers from the Concord Police Department will be out on 1/24/2020 between 8:00PM and 2:00AM looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
DUI saturation patrols will take place in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests. In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads.
In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Concord Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.
Concord Police Department encourages drivers to follow these tips to avoid a DUI:
- Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
- See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
- Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
- Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.
Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.
Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the Concord Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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