Contra Costa Herald

By Brentwood Police Department

On Friday night/Saturday morning, October 19, 2019, at around 12:04 a.m., Brentwood officers responded to the In-N-Out Burger parking lot located at 5581 Lone Tree Way to investigate a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they quickly learned two victims (19- and 16-year-old males) were struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting. When the shooting occurred, both victims were standing amongst a group people in the parking lot on the west side of the restaurant. Both victims were taken to area hospitals and are expected to survive their gunshot wounds.

The suspect vehicle was described as a silver, 2017 or newer, Honda Accord sedan with rear tinted windows. The suspect vehicle was last seen traveling eastbound on Lone Tree Way towards Canada Valley Road. The shooting happened so quickly nobody could provide a suspect(s) description.

The restaurant was struck by two bullets, but thankfully no customers or employees were hit.

Preliminary information suggests this was not a random act, but the motive is still unclear.

This investigation is still ongoing and no additional details are being released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting is encouraged to call Detective Joe Nunemaker at 925-809-7761. Callers can remain anonymous.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Thursday morning, Oct. 17, 2019 at about 10:45, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the train tracks near Parr Boulevard and Giant Road in North Richmond regarding a found male body.

The Richmond Police Department was already on scene. It was initially believed the man died after being struck by a train. As this occurred in Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, Deputies began an investigation. They noticed the man suffered from a gunshot wound.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the Forensic Services Division Crime Lab responded to the scene.

The victim is identified as 40-year-old William Cody Tate of San Pablo.  On Friday, October 18, 2019, an autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of death. The Forensic Pathologist found no evidence of a gunshot wound.  The cause of death for Tate is listed as blunt force trauma and the injuries are consistent with being struck by a train.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Sunday, Oct. 20 11 AM – 4 PM

Marina Event Center, 200 Marina Blvd, Pittsburg, California 94565

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1410042409136547/

By Don Martin II

Antioch, CA…This weekend Antioch Speedway will be hosting the biggest Dirt Modified race of the year. It’s the First Annual West Coast Nationals. The A Modifieds and the B Modifieds will both be competing.

Past Modified and Stock Car competitor Chad Chadwick is making his foray into promoting with this big event. He’s hoping not just to offer the racers a big money race, but also to help reclaim Antioch Speedway’s status as one of the top tier dirt tracks in the state. “The fans will be seeing some of the best Modified racing you’ll find anywhere,” said Chadwick. “Some of the best drivers on the West Coast will be here this weekend. We have a format that will give the racers several opportunities to make it into the big race. I’m excited to be bringing this race to Antioch Speedway.”

Bobby Hogge IV #2h will be one of the drivers to beat in the West Coast Nationals at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Kniss Racing Photos.

The event kicks off on Thursday night with a practice, barbecue, cornhole tournament and live music. Both divisions will compete in heat races and Preliminary Features on Friday. The Top 4 finishers in the Preliminary Features will be locked into Saturday’s big money Main Event.

On Saturday, the two divisions will again run heat races as well as B Mains and Last Chance Qualifiers. The night ends with the Main Events offering purses of $25,000 for the A Modifieds and over $5,000 for the B Modifieds.

Antioch Speedway has held some big Modified races during the past 30 years, but this one will be the biggest ever. Just to take the green flag in the A Modified Main Event on Saturday will ensure a driver a minimum $500 payday. To win the show will be worth $7,500, and even second place walks off with a tidy sum of $3,800. The B Modified drivers will be competing for $1,500 to win their feature race with drivers earning $150 just to start.

The money being offered for the A Modifieds was enough to attract the attention of Bakersfield driver Ethan Dotson. Dotson gained national attention by winning the big IMCA Nationals event in Boone, Iowa in early September. He may come in as a top driver to beat, but an all star lineup of competitors is anticipated with the money on the line.

Bobby Hogge IV has a knack for winning some of the biggest races on the West Coast, and he’s won 70 Main Events at Antioch Speedway alone in his impressive career. Hogge picked up the lucrative victory in the Mike Cecil Memorial at Watsonville earlier this year and also left with the big prize money in the Roger Haudenshild Tribute race in Medford back in June.

Kellen Chadwick #83 has already won two of the biggest races of of the season at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Kniss Racing Photos.

When you talk about drivers to beat, Bobby’s name will be found near the top of the list. “These are the races that I look forward to,” said Hogge. “You get some of the best drivers out there, and it makes it a lot more fun and challenging for me. I’m looking forward to this race. We’ve always done pretty well at Antioch.”

Like Hogge, Kellen Chadwick, Troy Foulger and Nick DeCarlo are all past Antioch Speedway champions. Chadwick won both the Donna Soares Memorial and Jerry Hetrick Memorial at Antioch this year. He also won the Wild West Speedweek Series title for the second time this year and the $5,000 R Charles Snyder Salute in Medford.

Foulger is a four-time Antioch champion teaming with Billy Bowers, and he won the Merced Speedway title this year. DeCarlo won the Antioch championship last season and had three wins this year. This second-generation competitor bears the distinction of being the only driver to win Modified championships at Antioch, Petaluma and Watsonville.

This is just a sampling of some of the stars anticipated not just from California but from the Pacific Northwest and even Canada. Local stars such as new champion Buddy Kniss, 2017 champion Bobby Motts Jr, Sean O’Gara, multi-time Late Model champion Jeff Decker and Bob Newberry are among a roster of roughly 50 competitors expected to do battle.

The $1,500 is one of the bigger prizes being offered for the B Modifieds, and that kind of cash will bring some fast competitors to Antioch Speedway. This will include past champion Fred Ryland. Ryland has won over 50 Main Events in his career at Antioch Speedway alone as well as the 2015 championship. He won the Merced title this year. Local star Tommy Fraser, who won the championship this year along with eight Main Events, is anticipated as well.

In addition to other local stars such as Trevor Clymens and brother Tommy Clymens Jr, Todd Gomez and Kevin Brown, top racers from tracks such as Watsonville, Merced and Marysville are anticipated for this special event. There’s even reports of a few Modified racers bringing two cars to compete in both divisions.

The track has offered some big paying events through the years, and this is the biggest one yet. The West Coast Nationals promises to be a can’t miss event. This two-day event is also the final race of the season until next year. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Enrique Pina. Photo by Walnut Creek PD.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

At approximately 1:40 PM today, Wednesday, October 16, 2019, a Deputy Sheriff was conducting room checks at the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) in Richmond. While approaching a room, he noticed an inmate hanging from his bunk by a bedsheet. The Deputy Sheriff, as well as medical staff at the jail, immediately began lifesaving measures. The inmate was later pronounced deceased.

The inmate is identified as 72-year-old Enrique Pina of Walnut Creek. He was arrested on September 24, 2018 and has been in custody since then. He was arrested by the Office of the Sheriff and booked on nine felony charges that include sodomy with a child who is 10 years of age or younger, oral copulation of a child who is 10 years of age or younger, and using force to commit lewd and lascivious acts against a child under the age of 14. Pina was being held in lieu of $4.8 million bail.

Pina, who was also suffering from a terminal illness, was evaluated last month by a Mental Health Clinician from Contra Costa Mental Health (CCMH). Pina was cleared to remain on the module at WCDF and was being monitored by CCMH.

The in-custody death protocol was invoked. The investigation is ongoing by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.

Any inquiries regarding Pina’s medical and mental health should be directed to Contra Costa Health Services. The Health Services’ Public Information Officer can be reached at (925) 957-2681.

 I-80 closure near Crocket as of 4:30 p.m. By CHP-Contra Costa.

Residents of Crockett and Rodeo are advised to stay inside and shelter in place.

By Karl Fischer

Contra Costa Hazardous Materials advises anyone living near the NuStar Energy facility in Crockett to stay inside and keep windows and doors closed because of a fire.

Hazardous Materials received reports of the incident shortly before 2 p.m. Two large tanks are burning at the facility, which is at 90 San Pablo Avenue.

Hazardous Materials staff and firefighters are on scene. Hazardous Materials staff are conducting air monitoring on site. Contra Costa County’s Community Warning System has been activated, including sirens in the area.

Residents of Crockett and Rodeo are advised to stay inside and shelter in place. Turn off all heaters, air conditioners, and fans. Unless you are using your fireplace, close your fireplace dampers and vents. Cover any cracks around doors or windows with tape or damp towels. Stay off the phone unless you need to report a life-threatening emergency at your location.

Remain sheltered indoors until you receive further official instructions. Stay off the phones and do not call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency.

At this time there is no known offsite impact, and no injuries have been reported.

One of tanks are believed to contain ethanol. The other is believed empty.

According to the CHP, as of 4:30 p.m., “I-80 is shut down in both directions, eastbound and westbound, from Hwy-4 in Hercules to I-780 in Vallejo. Please seek alternate routes. (Hwy-4 e/b to 680/Benicia Bridge, Hwy-4 e/b to SR-160 in Antioch, or I-580 into Tracy.) Plan ahead, avoid the area.”

Follow us on Twitter (@CoCoHealth)  for updates.

See video of the fire in a Fox40 News report.

Contra Costa County Sheriff STARR Air Unit 1 2015. Photo by CCCSheriff

By Office of the Contra Costa County Sheriff

While assisting a law enforcement agency with a pursuit on Friday, Sheriff’s Office STARR 3 helicopter was hit continuously with a green laser that came from an uninvolved vehicle. This is dangerous as it can temporarily blind the pilot.

Once STARR 3 cleared the pursuit, it was able to direct ground units to the location of the suspect vehicle where the laser was discharged. Deputies arrested and booked the suspect for discharging a laser at an aircraft and probation violation. A green laser was recovered.

By CHP-Contra Costa

Saturday night, Oct. 12, 2019 at approximately 11:26 pm, CHP Contra Costa responded to a three-vehicle collision on Delta Road, just east of Main Street, in unincorporated Contra Costa county. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, an Infiniti sedan had crashed into a Ford pickup and then into a parked Dodge sedan on Delta Road, where it came to rest. The driver of the Infiniti (22-year-old male from Byron) unfortunately did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the scene. It was also determined he was not wearing his seatbelt. His female passenger (21-years-old from Oakley) sustained moderate injuries only and the solo male driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries only. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male.

Our preliminary investigation indicates the following; the male driver of Ford pickup was traveling east on Delta road and preparing to make a left turn into his residence. The male driver of the Infiniti was approaching the slower moving Ford, preparing to turn, at a high rate of speed. The driver of the Infiniti drove into the westbound traffic lane in an attempt to pass the Ford. As the Ford driver began his left turn, the Infiniti driver crashed into the left side of the Ford at a high rate of speed causing major damage. The Infiniti then continued east on Delta and then crashed into a parked Dodge sedan on the north side of the roadway, also causing major damage. Tragically the male driver of the Infiniti was not wearing his seatbelt and died as a result of the collision. The female passenger was wearing her seatbelt, sustained moderate injuries, and was transported by helicopter to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek and has since been released. The male driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries and was transported to Kaiser hospital in Antioch and has also since been released.

At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or drug impairment were a factor in this collision, but speed certainly was a contributing factor. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980. Thank you.

Fatality collisions and the loss of a young life are always tragic and especially if it was preventable. Seatbelts really do save lives so please buckle up every time you or passengers are in a vehicle. And please slow down at all times.