Victim identified as 60-year-old Castro Valley man
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Homicide detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff have arrested two male juvenile suspects in connection with a killing that took place in North Richmond on Friday, November 30, 2018.
On that day at about 6:25 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the intersection of 4th Street and Silver Avenue in North Richmond for a report of a person that had just been shot. Deputies arrived on scene and found a man in his vehicle near a home on the 300 block of Silver Avenue. He suffered from a gunshot wound. The Fire Department, an ambulance and the crime lab responded to the location. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The victim is identified as 60-year-old Raymond Vasquez of Castro Valley.
Detectives say Vasquez apparently went to North Richmond for a drug transaction. An altercation occurred with the suspects and one of them shot Vasquez. The juveniles fled the scene. During the investigation, Detectives identified the juvenile suspects who were both arrested this afternoon in Richmond. They were booked into Juvenile Hall on charges that include murder, robbery, conspiracy and participating in a gang. The suspects are not being identified; they are 15 and 17 years old.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Thursday, November 29, 2018, at about 7:14 AM, a motorist reported to Sheriff’s Office Dispatch that there was a person lying on the roadway along Crockett Boulevard between Cummings Skyway and Pomona Avenue. Crockett Fire Department responded to the location and later pronounced the person deceased at the scene. It appeared the person suffered a gunshot wound.
Homicide detectives from the Office of the Sheriff launched an investigation into the killing. They later identified the victim as 30-year-old DeMichael James Gandy-Williams of Vacaville. During their follow-up, detectives contacted investigators at the Fairfield Police Department.
Sheriff’s Office detectives later went to a motel on the 4300 block of Central Place in Fairfield to interview a person about the killing. The person was later determined to be the suspect in the murder of Gandy-Williams. The suspect refused to come out of the motel room. At about 4:40 PM, the detectives requested assistance from the Fairfield Police Department, which sent patrol officers and the SWAT Team to the location. The suspect surrendered peacefully at about 9:26 PM and was arrested by Sheriff’s Office Detectives.
The suspect is identified as 46-year-old Toriano Collier of Vallejo/Napa. He was interviewed and later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and probation violation. He is being held without bail.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreDexter Vizinau, President of the Richmond, California-based CyberTran International, will be participating in a panel discussion at the innovative transportation conference, known as Infraday West on Wednesday, Dec. 5 in Los Angeles at the Intercontinental Hotel. Infraday West Agenda 12-5-18
The conference is described as “projects meet money, policy, innovation, risk in a powerful single day event uniting the leaders in the public and private infrastructure sectors in talks around funding, developing and maintaining infrastructure projects in the U.S.”
It is expected to be “a powerful one-day forum uniting over 300 senior infrastructure executives. Local, State and Federal authorities will unite with some of the top financiers, consultants, constructors, engineers and technology innovators to discuss new opportunities and challenges facing the market.”
The panel discussion in which Vizinau will participate, to be held from 3:00-3:45 p.m. is entitled, Delivering Mega-Rail Projects in California and Beyond – Opportunities and Challenges. It will also include the following panelists: Doug Johnson, Transportation Planning Manager, San Francisco Planning Department; Craig Covil, Chief Development Officer, Gavio+Halmar; Kevin Sheridan, Director of Capital Projects, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission / Altamont Corridor Express; Elizabeth Lun, Interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Planning and Project Delivery, Metrolink; and Carl Holmes, Assistant General Manager of Planning, Development & Construction, BART.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our company to let decision-makers and others in the infrastructure industry know of our low-cost, electric, solar-powered transit system being developed, here in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area,” said Vizinau. “We look forward to sharing with them about our disruptive, American-made technology and help influence the direction of the discussion and market.”
The CyberTran system has already been built and tested and is the most advanced of all innovative transit systems being developed in the U.S., that have not yet been deployed. The company won a national contest by the Federal Highway Administration in 2015 and to date, has been granted seven patents during the final phase of system development. CyberTran’s strategic partners include the Lawrence Berkeley and Livermore Labs, U.C. Berkeley and the Partnership for Advanced Transportation & Highways (PATH).
CyberTran will be hosting a booth at the conference. To learn more, either stop by or visit www.cybertran.com.
Note: The publisher of the Contra Costa Herald has a financial interest in CyberTran International.
Read MoreBy Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged defendant Jonathan Szkotak with one felony count of second-degree robbery. On April 3, 2018, Szkotak allegedly went to a CVS pharmacy in Danville where he brandished a firearm at the pharmacy staff and demanded specific pills. Szkotak is a registered pharmacist with the California Board of Pharmacy. He works in Alameda County for the Alameda Alliance for Health.
Szkotak allegedly approached the pharmacy counter wearing a blue surgical mask and displayed a firearm. Given that he used a gun during the course of the robbery, our office charged Szkotak with a firearm enhancement.
CVS reported to the Drug Enforcement Agency a loss report of Clonazepam and Buprenorphine. In total, 17 tablets of Clonazepam were missing and 57 tablets of Buprenorphine (three different brands) as a result of the April 3rd robbery. Upon Szkotak’s arrest, the police found a quantity of crushed Buprenorphine in the defendant’s wallet.
Szkotak’s court appearance is January 14, 2019 in Martinez. He is out of custody on a $200,000 bond.
He was charged with the following: Second Degree Robbery – Enhancement 1, Personal Use of a Firearm
Case information: People v. Jonathan Szkotak, Docket Number 01-187866-9.
Read MoreArrested in Texas, awaiting extradition back to Contra Costa County
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
On Wednesday, November 28, 2018, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged 19-year-old Tristan Amir Curl, a resident of Oakley, California and a student living in Austin, Texas, with six felony counts of making criminal threats, one felony count of stalking and one felony count of threatening a school official.
The charges are a result of a two-month investigation by the Oakley Police Department, District Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into a series of threats on social media. In September, several underage females were contacted by an unknown person on social media who was threatening to rape and kill them.
The same subject threatened to shoot students at Freedom High School in Oakley and then threatened to murder the school principal. Investigators subsequently identified Curl as the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant for him, which was approved by a Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County.
On November 20, 2018, Curl was arrested in Austin, Texas where he attends college. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office had a senior inspector in Austin to assist the Oakley Police Department with the arrest and collection of forensic evidence.
Curl remains in the custody of the Travis County, Texas Sheriff’s Department while awaiting extradition back to Contra Costa County. The Austin Police Department and FBI provided substantial assistance with the investigation.
Case information: People v. Curl, Dockett Number 01-187978-2
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
This morning at about 12:01, a Deputy Sheriff initiated a traffic enforcement stop on a gold-colored Lexus in the area of San Pablo Dam Road and Mifflin Avenue in El Sobrante. The Lexus ran a red light and went through the intersection of San Pablo Dam Road and El Portal Drive at about 50 miles per hour.
The driver did not yield and led the Deputy on a pursuit. The suspect drove in excess of 100 miles per hour on city streets. The pursuit was terminated because of speeds. The Deputy shut off his patrol car’s emergency lights and siren.
Approximately 12 seconds later and after losing sight of the suspect vehicle, the Deputy came across the Lexus overturned in the area of San Pablo Avenue and Road 20 in San Pablo. The vehicle apparently rolled over several times before landing on its roof. The driver was unresponsive. Deputies attempted to render first-aid. The Fire Department and an ambulance also responded. The driver was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is not being identified at this time.
The officer involved fatal incident protocol was invoked. This incident is being investigated by the District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and San Pablo Police Department. It is not immediately known why the suspect fled from the Deputy Sheriff.
Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
See more from a report by ABC7 News.
Read MoreBy Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District
The Contra Costa Community College District (District) has decided to close all College and District operations on Tuesday, November 20th and Wednesday, November 21st. due to ongoing poor air quality. The District Office and Colleges (Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, San Ramon Campus, Los Medanos, and Brentwood Center) will resume regular operations on Monday, November 26th.
While the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is forecasting improved but fluctuating air quality over the next few days, the District has decided to err on the side of health concerns of its students and staff. The District has been closed since Thursday, November 15, 3:00 p.m., due to very unhealthy air quality in Contra Costa County.
Read MoreMonday night at about 9:28pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a three-vehicle collision at Highway 4 eastbound at Willow Pass Road in Concord. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, three vehicles were located at the scene (a Chevrolet Chevelle, a Nissan Sedan, and a Mitsubishi Lancer) and tragically the driver of the Mitsubishi (19-year-old male) was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Chevrolet sustained major injuries and was determined to be under the influence and later arrested. The driver of the Nissan had only minor injuries and did not go to the hospital. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased driver. Please direct inquires to them.
In the initial investigation, it appears that the driver of the Chevrolet (Willie David Hamlin, DOB-12/25/1971, from Antioch) was traveling eastbound on SR-4 at a high rate of speed approaching Willow Pass Road in Concord. He veered his vehicle to the right and crashed into the metal guard rail to the right of the roadway. Then he allowed his vehicle to veer back into the lanes of traffic and collided with the Nissan, but only caused minor damage. He then continued across the lanes towards the #1 lane where he collided in a broadside manner into the Mitsubishi with the 19-year-old driver, subsequently killing him. The 44-year-old driver of the Nissan only sustained minor injuries and was able to walk away. Hamlin suffered major injuries (but not life threatening) and was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. While there, CHP conducted a DUI investigation and he was subsequently placed under arrest for FELONY DUI and GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER. Due to Hamlin’s injuries, he remains at the hospital for treatment but upon his release, CHP will take him into custody and book him into the county jail. His release from the hospital at this time is unknown.
This collision is still under investigation and if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. Thank you.
Unfortunately, this is another reminder of the carnage and impact that DUI driving can cause and to know that impaired driving is 100% preventable, 100% of the time is even more disastrous. Please never drive impaired.
Read MoreBy Timothy Leung, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa Community College District
Due to the ongoing and unpredictable poor air quality we are experiencing throughout Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Community College District has decided to close all locations – Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, Brentwood Center, San Ramon Campus and District Office on Monday, November 19, 2018.
We hope to re-open Tuesday, but will make a final decision by 3:00 PM on Monday.
Read MoreBy Claudina Medlock
You risk your life
On a regular basis
You’ve seen pain and heartache
In so many faces!
How do you do it?
How do you get through some days?
When you’ve seen so much horror
And in so many ways!
You serve to help others
Putting your life on the line
But the things you must carry
You must have a strong mind!
I don’t know how you do it
I don’t know how you stay strong
I admire your courage
Things could so easily go wrong
Yet you still keep on fighting
And keep saving lives
Putting others before you
The goal is everyone survives!
But so often we look past
All the horror you see
And the things you must go through
To save someone like me
So if no one has told you
Then I’ll tell you today
Thank you my Hero
For the price that you pay
For the emotional heartache
For the nightmares at night
For the risk that you go through
And any internal fight
For the struggle while sleeping
For the stress that you bare
But today I will tell you
That I truly do care
I want to wish you true comfort
I want to wish you happiness
Because someone like you
Deserves peace and nothing less
So I’m sorry my Hero
That no one stopped to check on you
And I’m sorry my Hero
For not saying thank you … for all that you do!
Read More