By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Monday at about 9:30 PM, Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report of a shooting on the 500 block of Market Street in North Richmond that may have been preceded by a verbal dispute.
When Deputies arrived, they found three male gunshot victims. All of them were transported to a hospital where they remain
The suspect is outstanding.
Anyone with any information on this incident or the identity of the suspect 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.
Read MoreBy ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick
I would first like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope your holiday season was enjoyable while allowing you a chance to reset before the busy year ahead.
In April of 2017, I was named the Interim Fire Chief for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and was appointed by the Board of Directors as the permanent Fire Chief in October. As I worked on getting up to speed with all the functions of the Fire Chief position, I found that the year was really about working to stabilize our service level and establishing a solid foundation upon which to build future service improvements.
When I started in April of 2017, it was apparent that there were many systems and processes that needed to be improved. Initially, my primary objectives were addressing the District’s retention challenges and assuring that the District operated as efficiently as possible with the revenues available. This required transitioning the District to a three-station operation model (although the current District Mater plan calls for 9 stations to adequately serve the District).
The District has a long road ahead in its effort to improve service to our customers. I believe the District’s staff has made good strides and begun to build a solid foundation for future growth. I am a firm believer in working as a team. What we have done over the past nine (9) months within the District internally is give our line-personnel additional responsibility and a voice in the future of the District. Specifically, we created several line staff committees where decisions can quickly move up the chain of command to accomplish tasks much faster. Some of the District’s internal committees include: operations committee, technology committee, public relations / information (PIO) committee to name a few. These committees not only improve communications but ultimately improve the level of service the District provides to the communities the District serves.
Here is a summary of some of our 2017 accomplishments:
- Internal Audit Discovers Additional Funding: as the new Fire Chief, one of the first priorities was to understand the District’s financial processes and assure the District was operating as efficiently as possible with the revenue that is provided to the District. After many countless hours, meetings, and seeking professional assistance, $6.2 million in one-time funding was identified from the past three budget cycles. These monies will be used on one-time expenses in the near future, including facility improvements and equipment replacements. As of this notice, the District has not utilized any of the $6.2 million one-time funds and we will not do so until all external District audits are complete. In addition to identifying these onetime funds, the District has established a balanced budget that is sustainable for at least the next ten (10) years.
- Improved Capital Replacement Funding: We have established a facility and equipment based capital reserve funding program and are in the process of replacing worn equipment and refurbishing our long-neglected facilities. In the near future I will begin to share how antiquated the District’s infrastructure (stations, equipment, engines) is and what challenges the District will have as we work to increase services.
- Restructured the Organization: We have successfully transitioned to a three-station operation model and increased administrative staffing. This has provided a strong financial base to build future improvements on and assures adequate personnel to guide the District on its path to improved service levels. The addition of administrative staff will assure we complete budgeting and auditing functions in a timely manner, move forward on developing a service improvement plan, and stabilize our current service level.
- Improved Communications: in 2017, as a District, we began to take control of our own messages and sharing our story with the citizens we serve. We invested heavily in re-launching our own website (www.eccfpd.specialdistrict.org) where citizens can now live stream board meetings and obtain relevant and up to date information on the District. In addition, we have launched several new and updated social media pages on behalf of the District. The Social Media channels now available for citizens to get relevant and up to date information about the District are:
o Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EastContraCostaFireProtectionDistrict
o Instagram https://www.instagram.com/east_contra_costa_fire/
o YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUo1LReabUPEcz5BL0Awn5g
o Twitter https://twitter.com/eccfpd
o Nextdoor
- Partnered with California Fire Foundation to supply aid to victims: ECCFPD, in cooperation with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1230 and the California Fire Foundation, can now provide emergency financial assistance to fire and natural disaster victims. The goal is to provide immediate short-term support in the aftermath of a fire or other natural disaster which displaces victims.
- Public Outreach: Our firefighters have begun visiting schools, preschools and attended many community events as well as hosted a series of our own events such as fire station open houses, Santa visits, and health and safety fairs. This was aimed at becoming more visible to the public. 2017 was just the start; in 2018 we have a calendar full of events we will be participating in.
- Station 53 Name Change: To better reflect a District identity, we changed the identifying number of Station 93 to Station 53 to ensure all stations in Battalion 5 were in the same numeric sequence. Upon additional station growth, those stations will also be in the 50 series.
- Strike Teams Established: For the first time in more than a decade, our District was able to assist other fire districts on major fire calls. In a period of two months, our District sent an engine in October to the Napa/Sonoma County Fires. In December, we sent an engine to Southern California to the Creek Fire in Los Angeles County and the Thomas Fire in Ventura/ Santa Barbara counties. The crews worked to save the Wildlife Way Station north-east of Los Angeles and protected several hundred exotic animals.
- New Turnouts: You may have noticed a new look to our firefighters as they recently switched to black turnouts (Protective uniform clothing). Our old turnouts are at the point of not meeting safety requirements. As of this release, all personnel’s turnouts are being replaced as part of the new capital replacement funding program. Traditionally, we have worn tan turnouts, but the black ones were something our line personnel wanted, plus the color change was a cost neutral decision.
- Firefighter Retention: Late in 2017, our fire board approved a new union contract which includes a pay raise that more fairly compensates our firefighters for the lifesaving work they perform. Although we are still the lowest paid, among other surrounding fire districts across the Bay Area, the gap has significantly closed which should help with our retention issues. The new contract also includes a 50%-50% sharing of future health care costs for active and retired fire fighters. This will significantly reduce the cost of our healthcare liability.
- Critical Incident Management: Firefighting is a demanding profession and it can take a toll on our firefighters. In 2017 the District worked to improve the Districts Critical Incident Management and Peer Support team and brought on a Voluntary Fire Chaplain and mental health professionals to provide support to our members•
- Planning for the Future: The District is well on its way to developing a strategic implementation plan for improving the level of fires service within the District. We have retained a legislative consultant to establish a relationship with the state legislature, are in the process of retaining a strategic planning consultant, and will be developing a long-term funding and implementation plan to increase fire district services in the future.
These are just some of the highlights and achievements the District accomplished in 2017 and we look forward to improving the District in 2018. In 2018, we have many initiatives on our plate which include potentially moving to a five-member elected fire
board, developing a strategic plan to increase service levels, and improving the District’s infrastructure so we can build upon it when / if additional revenue becomes available.
As a District, we are always seeking public comments and participation. I encourage and recommend that all ECCFPD’s citizens and business owners become engaged with and learn about ECCFPD’s current service level restrictions and organizational challenges. This can be accomplished by becoming familiar with ECCFPD’s: website, Master Plan, social media channels and attending District meetings.
I look forward to a productive 2018 and continuing to push this District forward towards a higher level of service.
ABOUT THE EAST CONTRA COSTA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT: The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District is a rural-funded fire district that protects approximately 249 square miles and over 114,000 residents. The District provides firefighting personnel and emergency medical services (basic life support) to the residents and businesses of the Cities of Brentwood and Oakley, the Township of Discovery Bay, and the communities of Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek, and Morgan Territory.
As of July 1, 2017, ECCFPD has three (3) fire stations staffed by three (3) firefighters, for total district staffing of nine (9) firefighters per day. The district responds to over 6,900 calls a year that depend on approximately 9,000 fire engine responses. ECCFPD’s Master Plan calls for nine (9) stations to adequately provide coverage to the District’s citizens and businesses.
You can visit us on the Districts website, www.eccfpd.org or through our social media pages on Facebook (East Contra Costa Fire Protection District), Instagram (@east_contra_costa_fire) , Twitter ( @ECCFPD ), Nextdoor and our YouTube channel (East Contra Costa Fire Protection District) for more information on the Fire District.
Read MoreSecond Cardoza daughter dies; Bail for suspect increased to $2,130,000
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has filed an additional murder charge against 23-year-old Noe Saucedo of Pittsburg.
On Friday the DA’s Office filed formal charges against Saucedo. He was charged with murder, felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of heroin.
Saucedo remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $2,130,000 bail.
We are saddened to report that two-year-old Camila Cardoza was officially pronounced deceased at the hospital. Camila was a passenger, along with her sister Lenexy, in a vehicle that was struck by a stolen pick-up truck driven by Noe Saucedo on Wednesday on Somersville Road in Antioch. Lenexy was killed in the collision.
The investigation into the collision is ongoing by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Antioch Police Department and the Office of the Sheriff per the officer-involved protocol. Investigators are trying to determine why suspect Saucedo stole the Ford F-250 pick-up truck in Pittsburg, why he accelerated away from a Deputy Sheriff who was following him, and why he ran through a red light at the intersection of Somersville Road and the eastbound Highway 4 off-ramp before colliding into another vehicle. In addition, tests are being conducted to determine if Saucedo was impaired in any way.
Anyone with any information on this incident or who may have witnessed it 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.
For further news about this case on ABC7 News, click here.
Read MoreWhat: Pension Reform – Bipartisan Speaker Series
Who: State Senator Steve Glazer and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker
Date: Monday, January 22, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Citizen participation: Q & A after presentations
Where: San Ramon City Hall, Council Chamber, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon
California’s growing pension liability is threatening California’s economic future, unless elected leaders show the courage to take on needed reforms, according to Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-Dublin, who will kick off their 2018 Bipartisan Speaker Series on the topic on Monday, January 22.
On hand will be pension expert David Crane, president of Govern for California, whose mission is to support legislators willing to tackle tough fiscal issues. Crane, also a Stanford lecturer in public policy, will speak on the economic stresses that California faces with its growing pension liabilities.
“As pension liabilities continue to soar, California faces a looming fiscal crisis that could cripple California’s ability to offer basic services,” Glazer said. “This is the sleeper issue of our time, and if we don’t act on it, we will be forced to make budgetary decisions that will create extreme hardships on families across the state.”
Baker added: “Our pension system is already crowding out essential government services, and threatening our future financial health. It is our duty to put politics aside, and find a long-term solution while economic times are better. We should not kick the can down the road, and wait until economic times are worse, and the crisis deeper.”
Over the last two years, Sen. Glazer and Assemblywoman Baker have held more than a dozen bipartisan town hall meetings in an effort to break down partisan barriers to arrive at common sense solutions to California’s problems.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
On Monday, Jan. 15 a group of Californians, representing 21 of the 58 counties throughout the state, gathered in Marysville to declare their independence and intention to form a 51st State of New California. Contra Costa County is the only Bay Area county to be included in the list and is represented by Scott Bennett, the county chair and delegate to the Convention the group held on Saturday, Jan. 13 at which they approved their State Declaration of Independence. New CA Executive Summary
Other counties that currently have representatives include Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Yolo and Yuba. Recent additions which don’t have a representative listed on the group’s website are Santa Cruz, Orange and Imperial Counties.
However, according to their map page the counties that would not be included in the new state are Alameda, Solano, Napa, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz in the Bay Area, as well as Sacramento, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, as well as the southern portion of Los Angeles County. The group estimates the new state will have a population of 15 million, leaving approximately 25 million remaining in the current State of California. Plus, the new state will have 25 to 27 members in the U.S. House of Representatives versus the 53 currently representing California.
In a press release the organizers of the grass root effort state that, “New California is a new state in development exercising its Constitutional Right to form from the State of California. The process to form New California is authorized and codified in Article 4 Section 3 of the United States Constitution.” That clause requires the state legislature approve the effort.
The group explains the process on their website.
Fundamentals of the Declaration of Independence
New California Declaration of Independence contains 2 major statements. The first is the actual Declaration which severs the political connections between New California and the State of California while and summarizing the motivations for seeking Independence.
The second statement are known as the Grievances. The grievances are clear dereliction or abuses by the governor and government of California, outright violations of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution as the sovereign. Grievances provide a distinct example demonstrating to the world the governor and government of California is failing to provide a federal form of government.
The group offered their reasons or grievances, formally in their documents, as “due to the past and current government of California having failed in their oath of office, obligations, and responsibilities.”
They also offered a more complete list of grievances, informally on their website stating, “The current state of California has become governed by a tyranny” and in their press release. That states, “After years of over taxation, regulation, and mono party politics the State of California and many of its 58 Counties have become ungovernable. The nature of the State becoming ungovernable has caused a decline in essential basic services such as education, law enforcement, fire protection, transportation, housing, health care, taxation, voter rights, banking, state pension systems, prisons, state parks, water resource management, home ownership, infrastructure and many more.”
In the group’s document entitled, “Affirmation of Allegiance to the United States of America and Justification for the Formation of the State of New California” they state that “With faith, diligence, and our sacred honor, we do hereby declare our Unity with Natural Law and the United States of America’s Constitution. We stand firm in our pledge to maintain and support the freedoms of the people of our Nation and New California at all times, at home and abroad. With God as our witness, honoring the foundational principles, we take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, to stand together as free citizens of New California, to be a sovereign state of that nation which we hold dear, the United States of America.” Justification & Declaration for forming New CA
In their State Declaration of Independence, modeled after and including much of the same language as the one signed by the nation’s Founding Fathers in 1776, which offers their intentions to form the new state:
“We the people of the Counties of New California solemnly publish and declare these counties are, and of Right ought to be, a free and Independent State, that we strive to be free from the State of California, and that as a Free and Independent State, have full power to establish and maintain law and order, to promote general prosperity, and to do all other acts and things, which an Independent New California State may rightfully do.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the Counties of New California, appeal to the California Legislature and the Federal Congress to pass resolutions to create the State of New California.”
The group also explains the process of forming the new state.
State Splitting Process
“The process begins when a state’s legislature first votes to split the state. Once the measure in the form of a resolution passes both the California Assembly and Senate, it is submitted to Congress.
Once there, the matter is discussed. If both chambers the House and Senate of Congress vote to pass it, the state can then be split. There seems to be two options on how a state can split. In the first instance, the state decides how it’s going to be split before sending the proposal to Congress. “
They didn’t offer a second instance.
Attempts to reach both Preston and Bennett by phone call and text were unsuccessful. The phone number provided for Bennett turned out to be incorrect. However, Preston did respond to an email asking about the maps on the group’s website with, “See attached. Call me later about maps. We will be producing a new map today. Thanks.”
One of the attachments included an updated list of counties participating in the effort. Contra Costa County is listed with the words “Rural”, as are the counties of Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma. New California Counties list
Please check back later for details should Preston respond with more information and or we obtain the correct phone number for Bennett and are able to speak with him.
Offer Your Support and Learn More
Other Californians are invited to support the effort by signing up and offering their own three grievances they have with the current state government, on the group’s website: www.newcaliforniastate.com/independence-declaration.
For those interested the group will be holding a reading of Grievance 1 in three locations to be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Also, the group will hold their seventh Liberty Tour in Marysville on February 10, 2018 contact Vice Chair Paul Preston at newcaliforniarepublic@gmail.com or by calling (530) 632-9786 or Toll Free at 877-828-2753.
Read MoreBail set at $1,130,000 for Pittsburg resident Noe Saucedo
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office this afternoon filed formal charges against Noe Saucedo, the suspect who drove a stolen pick-up truck on Wednesday that crashed into another vehicle on Somersville Road in Antioch. He is being charged with murder, felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of hero-in. 23-year-old Saucedo of Pittsburg remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $1,130,000 bail.
The investigation into the collision is ongoing by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Antioch Police Department and the Office of the Sheriff per the officer-involved protocol. Investigators are trying to determine why suspect Saucedo stole the Ford F-250 pick-up truck in Pittsburg, why he accelerated away from a Deputy Sheriff who was following him, and why he ran through a red light at the intersection of Somersville Road and the eastbound Highway 4 off-ramp before colliding into another vehicle. In addition, tests are being conducted to determine if Saucedo was impaired in any way.
Yesterday, the four-year-old girl who was killed in the vehicle collision was identified as Lenexy Cordoza. Her two-year-old sister and mother remain at the hospital.
“Clearly, suspect Saucedo took a series of actions that led to this tragedy,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “We are saddened by the loss of life and offer our deepest sympathies to the family.”
Anyone with any information on this incident or who may have witnessed it is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreMartinez, CA – On Friday, January 19, 2018, Interim Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced the Commercial Bribery conviction by jury trial of Aziz Artykov, age 50, formerly of Walnut Creek.
Aziz Artykov, a former resident of Avalon Bay Walnut Creek Apartments was found guilty of paying bribes to a former Avalon Bay employee, who was in charge of running Avalon’s affordable housing program at that location. The bribes were paid to further Artykov’s illegal scheme of subletting affordable rate apartments at market prices and to extract graft payments from immigrants looking for a place to live at an affordable rate.
In 2011, as part of government approval to build housing, Avalon Bay agreed to rent 20% of its apartments at an “affordable housing” rate, set forth by County rules. At that time, this amounted to 85 apartments which could be rented for $820 for a studio to $1,154 for a three-bedroom apartment. Qualified residents had to earn less than 50% of the County average mean income, which in 2011, was approximately $48,000 for a household of four. In comparison, market rates were appx $1,500 for a studio to $3,000 for a three bedroom.
Artykov, obtained a three-bedroom affordable apartment during the initial opening and began sub-letting rooms in his apartment for market rate prices. Many of these renters where Russian-speaking immigrants, who refused to cooperate with law-enforcement. Artykov also conspired with other residents, who had also obtained affordable housing units at the complex, to live elsewhere while he sub-let their affordable rate units at market rate prices. In one example, defendant conspired with his cousin, Davron Tirov, to sublet 2 rooms in Tirov’s 2-bedroom apartment for $1,700 each while Tirov paid $1,045 under the affordable housing program. The profit went into Tirov’s bank accounts which paid for Artykov’s cheap rent and Tirov’s cheap rent. Witnesses at trial testified that Tirov was living with his girlfriend in another apartment in the complex, so was never at the affordable rate apartment that he leased.
By the end of 2011, all the affordable rent apartments had been rented and Avalon compiled a waitlist, which grew to over 300 people, before the waitlist was closed.
In order for Artykov to get his selected applicants affordable rate apartments, he befriended the Avalon community manager and from 2011-2015 began paying him cash bribes. The bribes bought access to the waitlist and as the payments increased, the former employee moved the names that Artykov gave him to the top of the waiting list, where those selected people obtained apartments far more quickly than people who had been on the list for many years. Artykov also gave the employee names of persons who weren’t on the waitlist, and they immediately got the next available affordable rate apartment.
Trial witnesses and former residents testified that Artykov approached them and offered to move them into larger apartments quickly if they paid him between $5,000-$15,000 upfront. Artykov knew from having access to the waitlist that these people were next in line to get an apartment. One witness who refused to pay the graft, testified that Artykov offered him an alternative deal, where the witness would let Artykov use his name and financial documents to rent an affordable apartment and Artykov would sub-let the affordable rate apartment at market rate for one year before agreeing to let the resident move into the apartment.
Another witness, testified that Artykov put her on the waiting list, but she forgot about it until almost two years later, when Avalon called to offer her a two-bedroom affordable rate apartment. After she moved in, Artykov kept contacting her about paying him $5,000 for getting her the apartment. When she refused, Artykov threatened to harm her children. She moved her children out of the apartment complex to live with other relatives. When she still refused to pay the $5,000, Artykov ratted her out after one year of living there, and told Avalon that she had a job that made her ineligible for the apartment. Avalon followed up on Artykov’s tip and determined she would not be re-certified at the affordable rate. This witness complained to Avalon management, and was heard to say, “I should have just paid.” Avalon management interviewed this witness and another witness who revealed the scheme between Artykov and the employee. Avalon Management confronted the employee, who immediately confessed and was fired.
Avalon turned over their findings to the District Attorney’s Office and Inspector Rich Van Koll took over the investigation. He brought in a Russian speaking police officer to meet undercover with Artykov at the nearby Starbucks, but Artykov was too suspicious and paranoid to do business with a complete stranger but did make incriminating statements to the officer about what he could offer to do for the right price.
The District Attorney’s office charged the ex-employee, Matt McVicker, with commercial bribery and he took a plea deal to testify against Artykov both at a grand jury and the jury trial which started on January 4 and ended with a guilty verdict after nine days of trial.
Defendant was allowed to continue to be out on bail with a restraining order to stay away from Avalon Bay and the witnesses who testified against him. His sentencing date is April 6, 2018 in Department 8 of the Contra Costa Superior Court.
Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague, head of the County’s Consumer Protection Unit, prosecuted the case. This case is the first commercial bribery trial in the county in the last 35 years.
Read MoreBy Chief Brian Helmick
Your number just might be up… If your address number isn’t! If we can’t find you, we can’t help you. Very often the address we’re responding to is not visible. Addresses covered by paint and shrubbery are hard to see. Night and weather conditions may affect their visibility too. Many addresses are not even up. This extends the time it takes for us to bring help to you – when seconds are critical!
Make sure your address is easily visible from the street. if you live on the water ways make sure your address is visible from the back and front of your home. East Contra Costa fire protection district responders thank you in advance for making sure your numbers are up. For more information please visit our web site at WWW.ECCFPD.ORG.
Read MoreThe Contra Costa County Public Works Department will perform roadwork on Kirker Pass Road at the intersection of Hess Road (south) on Wednesday and Thursday, January 24 and 25, 2018, weather permitting, to replace the center-divide crash cushion system.
Traffic will be controlled with temporary single-lane closures reducing the two lanes to a single lane in both directions. Turning left from Kirker Pass Road (southbound) onto Hess Road will not be permitted during the work. The lane closures will occur between the hours of 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Changeable message sign boards and other construction signs will be placed in advance of the work.
Read MorePittsburg woman arrested on multiple counts
By CHP – Contra Costa
In a post on the CHP – Contra Costa Facebook page on Wednesday it states, “Officer Martin Lendway is a true CHP MOTOR with Blue & Gold running through his veins!! He had successful surgery on both legs and has started his long road to recovery. We truly appreciate everyone’s warm wishes and thoughts & prayers. We are grateful for such a supportive community.” In a previous post on Tuesday, it states, “THOUGHTS & PRAYERS FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Join us in our thoughts and prayers as Officer Lendway goes into surgery today for his injuries and wishing him a safe & speedy recovery. Thank you for all your support, we greatly appreciate it.”
On Monday, January 15, 2018 at about 6:15 pm, a Contra Costa CHP Motorcycle Officer, Officer Lendway #19914, was on scene assisting citizens involved in a non-injury two vehicle traffic collision at SR-4 eastbound and Port Chicago Highway.
Officer Lendway assisted the vehicles involved (a black 2013 Ford F-150 and a silver 2014 Lexus ES350) off the roadway and to the center median area where information could be exchanged. Officer Lendway then parked his CHP Motorcycle behind the vehicles with its rear emergency red and blue lights activated to warn traffic and then walked up to help the motorists.
Officer Lendway stood next to the Lexus while helping the motorist, which was parked just in front of the Ford F-150. Meanwhile, the driver of a black 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer was driving off the roadway and within the center median passing all traffic, and approaching Officer Lendway’s parked motorcycle. But the driver of the Chevrolet continued and collided into the CHP motorcycle, launching it to the right into the lanes of traffic. The driver continued and drove the Chevrolet directly into the back of the parked Ford F-150, catapulting it forward into Officer Lendway and the Lexus. The Ford partially landed on top of Officer Lendway, causing major injuries.
Then in an attempt to avoid the CHP motorcycle that was launched into the lanes of traffic, a blue 2005 Subaru Legacy and a silver 2001 Dodge Ram both swerved to avoid it and collided with each other. Six vehicles in total were involved.
CHP personnel and emergency personnel quickly arrived on scene and began treating Officer Lendway for his injuries. He was then transported to a local Hospital for major injuries but thankfully non-life threatening.
The female driver of the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, Tammy Peggy Louise Walker of Pittsburg, DOB 10-29-1965, was investigated by CHP Officers while on scene for DUI and subsequently arrested for suspicion of FELONY DUI causing great bodily injury to another person while driving under the influence. Walker was taken to a local hospital, treated and released. Then Walker was taken to the Martinez Detention Facility where she was booked for the following charges;
-2 counts of FELONY DUI causing great bodily injury to another person while driving under the influence
-Vehicular reckless driving causing bodily injury
-Assault on a peace officer causing great bodily injury
-Driving on a SUSPENDED driver license for a PRIOR DUI conviction and causing great bodily injury to another person
Alcohol and DUI driving are factors in this collision. It is still under investigation. And if there are more people that witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it or the Chevrolet Trailblazer just prior to the collision, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980, Thank you and thank you to those citizens that stopped and help render aid to Officer Lendway.
Read More