Contra Costa Herald

By Pittsburg Police Department

Late Thursday evening, shortly after 9 P.M., Pittsburg officers responded to a residence on Hermosa Avenue in regards to a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found a man outside suffering from stab wounds to his upper body. The man was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where he later died due to multiple stab wounds to the upper body.

The Pittsburg Police Department Investigations Division and CSI Team responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Detectives quickly contacted witnesses to the incident and obtained a description of the suspect and a car that was seen driving away from the location. The car, a white four-door sedan, was later determined to have fled the area towards State Route 4. Detective utilized the city of Pittsburg’s surveillance camera system, along with the recently installed county-wide Freeway Security Network, to locate the sedan as it traveled eastbound on State Route 4. With the use of this surveillance system, detectives were able to obtain a license plate for the car.

Detectives later authored an Arrest and Search Warrant for a residence located in the town of Knightsen. The Pittsburg Police Department tactical team conducted the service of the warrant early this morning and took the suspect, identified as Jimmy Lee Biles, Jr. (48 years old), into custody. It is unknown at this time the relationship between Biles, Jr. and the victim.

This case remains an active investigation and no additional details are available at this time. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notifications. This is the City of Pittsburg’s third homicide of the year.

The Pittsburg Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance and asks anyone with additional information to please contact the Pittsburg Police Department Tip-Line at 925-252-4040.

The California Geological Survey (CGS) has released five official Seismic Hazard Zones maps affecting communities in Contra Costa and San Mateo counties. The maps identify areas with potential for earthquake-induced landslides and liquefaction, and come with certain requirements for landowners and local governments.

There are three maps covering parts of Contra Costa County, including all or portions of the communities of Antioch, Concord, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, and Bay Point.

There are two new maps impacting San Mateo County, including all or portions of the communities of Woodside, San Carlos, Belmont, Burlingame, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Portola Valley, and Pacifica.

Earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater can trigger landslides or liquefaction, a phenomenon in which soil temporarily acts like quicksand and loses its ability to support structures. While shaking does most of the damage in a large earthquake, both liquefaction and landslides caused significant damage during the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. The Seismic Hazards Mapping Act mandating the regulatory maps was passed the year after Loma Prieta.

The maps establish Earthquake Zones of Required Investigation. Now that these maps are official after a 6-month public comment period, the local building department must require — before permits are issued — that licensed geologists and engineers investigate sites proposed for development within a zone for evidence of liquefaction or landslide potential. If such evidence is found, design modifications must be made in the planning stage. Examples of these modifications include deep foundations in liquefaction zones or slope stabilization in landslide zones.

Property sellers and real estate agents must inform potential buyers if property they’re selling is in a Seismic Hazard Zone, as is the case when property is in a designated flood zone.

List of Official Maps and Reports released April 4, 2019

• Antioch North quadrangle, showing Seismic Hazard Zones only – Related: Seismic Hazard Zone Report 125

• Antioch South quadrangle, showing Seismic Hazard Zones only – Related: Seismic Hazard Zone Report 126

• Honker Bay quadrangle, showing Seismic Hazard Zones only – Related: Seismic Hazard Zone Report 127

• Montara Mountain quadrangle, showing Earthquake Fault Zones and Seismic Hazard Zones – Related: Seismic Hazard Zone Report 128

• Woodside quadrangle, showing Earthquake Fault Zones and Seismic Hazard Zones – Related: Seismic Hazard Zone Report 129

The index maps below show the general areas in Contra Costa and San Mateo counties affected by this release.

The maps are available as GeoPDF files, which can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader; a GeoPDF file consists of multiple layers and gives the user greater flexibility in viewing and displaying the maps. The maps are also available as digital Geographic Information System (GIS) files. GIS files for both AP Earthquake Fault Zones and Seismic Hazard Zones released by CGS are considered Official Maps. To obtain these maps, reports and GIS data, visit the Regulatory Maps and Reports section of the CGS Information Warehouse. To view individual parcels affected by Seismic Hazard Zones and/or Earthquake Fault Zones, visit our Earthquake Hazards Zone Application (“EQ Zapp”).

By Pittsburg Police Department

On Monday afternoon, April 1, 2019, Pittsburg officers responded to a residence on Beechwood Court in regards to a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found an adult female suffering from stab wounds to her upper body. The woman was identified as Kirstiene Catapusan (28 years old). Catapusan was later transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where she died due to multiple stab wounds to the upper body.

During the investigation, it was learned that Catapusan and her cousin, identified as suspect Henry Brodie, III (29 years old), engaged in an argument inside the residence. During the argument, Brodie became enraged with Catapusan and stabbed her several times with a large knife he retrieved from the house. Family members at the residence intervened, detained Brodie and called 911. Officers arrived at the house and placed Brodie under arrested, later transporting him to the police department. During the investigation Brodie was interviewed by detective and admitted to his actions, stabbing Catapusan several times during the argument. He was later booked and transport to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Today, detectives met with the District Attorney’s Office to review the case for charges against Brodie. The District Attorney’s Office filed Murder charges against Brodie. Brodie remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility on a $2,000,000 bail. This is the city of Pittsburg’s second homicide of the year.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking residents who may be interested in serving on its 19-member Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC).

The JJCC is a multi-agency advisory body charged with creating and maintaining the County’s comprehensive Juvenile Probation Consolidated Annual Plan and coordinating county-based juvenile delinquency prevention initiatives. The state-mandated Juvenile Probation Consolidated Annual Plan is designed to improve services for Contra Costa County’s juvenile justice population by assessing existing practices and resources, identifying system needs and gaps, and prioritizing and recommending solutions.

The Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council will be composed of the following 19 members:

Nine (9) ex-officio voting members:

Chief Probation Officer, as Chair

District Attorney’s Office representative

Public Defender’s Office representative

Sheriff’s Office representative

Board of Supervisors’ representative

Employment and Human Services Department representative

Alcohol and Other Drugs Division representative

Behavioral Health Division representative

Public Health Division representative

Ten (10) additional voting members selected and appointed by the Board of Supervisors:

10. City Police Department representative
11. County Office of Education representative

12–15.  Four (4) At-Large Members, residing or working within Contra Costa County;

16–17.  Two (2) Community-Based Organization representatives;

18–19.  Two (2) At-Large Youth, age 14 to 21 years old, residing or working in Contra

Costa County

The Board is now seeking applications for five (5) of the seats identified above:

• Three (3) individuals to serve in the At-Large Seats #13, #14 and #15;
• Two (2) youth, age 14 to 21 years old, to serve in the At-Large Youth Seats, #18 and #19

Appointments to the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council will be for a term of two years. The JJCC is expected to meet on a regular basis, at intervals to be established by the JJCC. Members will serve without compensation, stipends, or reimbursement of expenses. The community-based representatives should reflect the geographic, ethnic, and racial diversity of the County and should include youth or those providing restorative justice, faith-based, or mentoring services, to justice-involved, homeless, or foster-care involved youth.

Applicants will be interviewed by the Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee:  Supervisors John Gioia, District I, and Federal Glover, District V. The nominations for the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council will then be forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors for action.

Below is a timeline of the recruitment process for the five vacancies:

• April 1, 2019: First Day of the Application Period
• May 24, 2019: Final Day of the Application Period, due by 5:00 p.m.
• June 3, 2019: Public Protection Committee Meeting: Interviews
• June 18, 2019: Board of Supervisors Consideration of Nominees

Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 335-1900 or by visiting the County webpage at http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418/. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Room 106, County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Applications can also be emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us.

Public Protection Committee Chair and Board Chair, Supervisor John Gioia, commented on the process, “We value diversity, inclusion and racial equity in Contra Costa County, and we welcome interest from residents all across our County who want to serve the community in the cause of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention.”

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, East Bay Regional Park District

To celebrate the East Bay Regional Park District’s 85th Anniversary, the Park District has planned a number of special events and programs, including FREE Park Fridays, FREE Concerts in the Parks, and a FREE multicultural festival. The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest park district in the nation with 25 million visits annually and over 122,000 acres preserved for habitat and outdoor recreation.

For 85 years, the East Bay Regional Park District has preserved and protected open space in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and provided public access to regional parks, shorelines, and trails for hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature discovery.

Today the East Bay Regional Park District is the largest of its kind in the nation with 73 regional parks over 122,000 plus acres, and over 25 million annual visits per year – more than the A’s, Giants, Warriors, 49ers, and Raiders combined.

Free Park Fridays:

Park entry and other fees will be waived every Friday in 2019 from April to December to celebrate the Park District’s 85th Anniversary. Park entrance and fees for day use parking, swimming, dogs, horse trailers, boat launching, and fishing permits will all be waived. Fee waiver does not apply to special event permits/reservations, camping and associated fees, or state fees such as fishing licenses and watercraft inspections. Fee waiver also does not apply to District concessions. Park entrance is subject to available occupancy.

Free Events/Concerts in the Parks:

Family-friendly music events with food and beverages available for purchase. Bands and performers to be announced later.

• Lake Chabot Concerts in the Park – Saturday, June 22 (Castro Valley)
• Crown Beach Concerts at the Cove – Friday, July 12 (Alameda)
• Crown Beach Concerts at the Cove – Alameda, Friday, August 9 (Alameda)
• Contra Loma Concert in the Park – Friday, August 23 (Antioch)
• Crown Beach Concerts at the Cove – Friday, September 13 (Alameda)
• John Sutter Gateway Bridgeyard Festival – Saturday, September 28 (Oakland)

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of San Francisco Bay, established in 1934. The system comprises 121,000 acres in 73 parks including over1,250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning.

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

The investigation into a woman’s body found in Bay Point on Sunday is continuing. (See related article.)

The person is identified as 27-year-old Chanin Andersen, a transient from Southern California. An autopsy was conducted this morning, Tuesday, April 2. The cause of death is pending the results of toxicology tests. During the autopsy, no signs of trauma or foul play were found.

Detectives continue to investigate this as a suspicious found body case.

On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 12:29, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report from several callers of a suspicious circumstance regarding a woman who was found down on the ground.

Deputies arrived and located a woman lying on the sidewalk on Suisun Avenue near North Broadway Avenue in Bay Point. Andersen was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives from the Office of the Sheriff homicide unit and Crime Lab responded.

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

Descriptions of shooter and driver provided by victims

By Brandon Correia, Public Information Officer, CHP-Contra Costa

Late last night on Saturday, March 30 just before midnight at 11:57pm, CHP was advised of a possible freeway shooting that occurred on HWY-4 W/B between Franklin Canyon and McEwen Road, just outside of Martinez.

Upon CHP arrival, the victim vehicle, a silver Nissan Maxima, was parked on the right shoulder with two apparent bullet holes in the windshield. The two victims in the Nissan, an adult male driver and an adult female passenger, we’re thankfully not injured and awaiting CHP‘s arrival and were cooperative throughout the entire investigation. The suspect vehicle fled the area.
We have learned through the victims the following; They were traveling on HWY-4 W/B when possibly a newer model white Toyota Corolla (or a similar style vehicle) quickly approached the back of the Nissan, began tailgating them, and then moved to pass on the left side, as the Nissan began to slow.

The victim driver related the passenger of the suspect Toyota began yelling and screaming at them. The male victim then slowed and parked the Nissan on the right shoulder in an attempt to allow the suspect to pass but the suspect vehicle also stopped on the right shoulder & parked in front of the Nissan. Then the male victim related bullets were fired at them from the passenger side window of the suspect Toyota, striking the Nissan windshield. Luckily the male and female victim both ducked below the dash and we’re not injured. Then the suspect vehicle fled the area.
The suspect passenger is described as a white male adult between 35-40 years old, bald, w/ tattoos on his face and right arm. The driver is described as possibly a mixed ethnicity adult male between 30-35 years old, with short black hair.

This incident is still under investigation and we do not have any further details or information to release.
We cannot predict when criminals are going to commit these crimes but what we can do, is a thorough investigation in which you can possibly assist us. We’d like to advise the public of these TIPS if you witness or have information regarding any freeway shooting;
1 – Know which freeway you’re on with your direction of travel, and nearest offramp
2 – Try to get a make, model and color of the suspect vehicle, and a full license plate if possible
3 – Try to get a description of the suspect or suspects, male or female, approximate age, ethnicity, clothing description, identifying marks or tattoos, etc.

If you have any information regarding this incident on HWY-4 from last night, please contact Contra Costa CHP at 925-646-4980. Or you can also call our 24-hr Tip Line at 707-917-4491.

Dr. Mayra Padilla, the dean of institutional effectiveness and equity at Contra Costa College, delivered the keynote address at the 26th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, March 26 in the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors assembly chambers. Dr. Padilla, who grew up in Richmond, graduated from Richmond High School, attended Contra Costa College, completed here bachelor’s degree in applied physics, in neuroscience from UC Berkeley. She worked as a neuroscientist at the San Francisco Brain Institute, SRI International and Sands Research, Inc. She took on the role of director for the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives at CCES to encourage students of color to pursue careers in STEM. Padilla is also the vice president for the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE), a national organization dedicated to supporting educators at HSIs. Among her many awards includes the Jefferson Award for Public Service, STEM Woman of the Year for Nancy Skinner’s Office, Contra Costa County Women’s Hall of Fame for “Building Community” and the San Francisco Foundation Koshland Civic Unity Fellowship. She was also featured in the San Francisco Business Times Notable People as an advocate for Richmond. Most recently, the Hispanic-Serving Community Colleges STEM Pipelines study funded by the National Science Foundation identified CCC as excelling in Latinx STEM student success.

By Daniel Borsuk

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 on Tuesday to adopt a pay increase plan based on a percentage of the annual salary of what Contra Costa County Superior Court Judges earn per year, a plan some supervisors expect will remove politics from the salary review process.

Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville cast the lone negative vote on the proposal presented to the board by a five-member Ad Hoc Committee on Board of Supervisors Compensation that consisted of major labor and building trade leaders.

“I’m not there yet. I still have some concerns. An 18.5 percent raise is significant. I question using the judges’ salary as an index,” Andersen said during the board meeting.

Andersen later told The Herald, “This is like a two-edged sword. It brings us to the Bay Area pay average for supervisors while county employees are below average.”

Serving on the Ad Hoc Committee on Board of Supervisors Compensation that County Administrator David Twa selected in December were Larry Hendel of the Central Labor Council of Contra Costa County, AFL-CIO, Terri Montgomery of the East Bay Leadership Council, Angie Coffee of the East Bay Leadership Council, Tom Hansen of the Building Trades Council and Clifford Bowen, who served as the Public at Large representative. The committee conducted six public meetings.

Twa will have an ordinance prepared for supervisors to adopt at an April meeting so that the new pay hike will go into effect July 1.

The ad hoc committee agreed to propose to supervisors what the Board of Supervisors in Alameda, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma do when they adjust salaries of supervisors, setting indexes based on Superior Court Judge salaries in their respective counties.

Since 2010-2011, Superior Court judge salaries have risen on average 1.7 percent a year from $178,789 a year in 2010-2011 when there was no salary raise to $207,424 a year in 2018-2019 when there was a 3.69 percent increase.

Supervisor Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill supported the labor-backed pay proposal, saying, “Thanks to our labor friends.” The District 4 Supervisor recalled how 21 years ago most supervisors needed a “second source of income as this position was a considered a part-time job. We needed to make this a fulltime job,” she said.

“I am uncomfortable discussing this topic,” said District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover of Pittsburg. “Its goal is to be tied to an index and to stay away from politics. There have been no raises given to us for a long time. This is very helpful.”

Board Chair John Gioia of Richmond supported the new supervisors’ pay proposal saying that it “depoliticizes the process and takes this issue out of our hands.”

In adopting the ad hoc committee’s report, supervisor’s salary will rise 60 percent of the Superior Court judges’ salary on July 1 making each supervisor’s salary $124,454.40. Supervisors will receive a 63 percent pay hike of Superior Court judge’s salary on Jan. 1, 2020 of $130,677.12 a year and then another pay boost of $134,825.60 a year or 65 percent of the Superior Court Judges salary starting Jan. 1, 2021 and future years thereafter. These figures do not take into account pension or medical insurance costs.

By establishing 65 percent as the county’s index on Jan. 1, 2021 and every January 1 thereafter, Contra Costa County will have the fourth highest salary percentage rate increase in the Bay Area based on Superior Court Judges’ salaries. Alameda County and Santa Clara counties raise salaries at an 80 percent rate, Sonoma County at a 75 percent rate, Marin County at a 60 percent rate, Sacramento County at a 55 percent rate, Solano County at a 53 percent rate and Napa County at a 47.09 percent rate.

Northgate High School senior Ellora Easton was recognized Tuesday as the recipient of the 2019 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards recipient for Volunteerism at Tuesday’s 26th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Celebration in Martinez. Shown with Ellora were District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen (left) and District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. Ellora started a club called the Brain Exchange at her school that is comprised of a group of students strong in various subjects, who meet weekly to help classmates in need of tutors. She is a mentor in her English language development class. Her ability to develop strong respectful relationships with her mentees, leads them to open up and enjoy their time, motivating them to succeed. Ellora and some of her peers started a group at a nearby middle school to empower girls who are Latina, African American or low-income. She also started a speaker series at her school called Northgate Listens; a local congresswoman and educational leaders came to speak about important topics like inequality in the school system.

Supervisors Receive County Historical Society Update

Facing a growing need to expand in order to house an increasing array of valuable artifacts tracing the county’s history, Contra Costa Historical Society Board President John Greitzer delivered a brief report to supervisors on the museum located at 724 Escobar St., Martinez.

“We are basically booming,” said Greitzer who noted that a $47,000 stipend from the county represents about 33 percent of the nonprofit organization’s budget.

Recently the museum installed a new temperature and humidifier system designed to help preserve artifacts and material in the building. A new fire protection system was also installed.

School visits are on the rise at the Contra Costa Historical Society. Recently 88 students from Deer Valley High School in Antioch conducted research at the museum, he said. One student found his grandparents naturalization papers, Greitzer said.

The Contra Costa Historical Society has provided assistance for the Bay Point Historical Society, Pleasant Hill Historical Society and Martinez Historical Society, he said.

“You are very unique,” said Supervisor Andersen. “You are a valuable tool for our students.”

Supervisors Approved Without Discussion the Following Consent Items:

Contract modifications with the law firm of Goldfarb & Lipman to update the firm’s billing rates for specialized legal fees concerning the county in its capacity as the Successor Agency to the Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency.

Approved increasing a Health Services contract amendment to $25,000 with Concord Yellow Cab, Inc. to a new payment limit of $165,000 to provide additional non-emergency transportation services for county residents with HIV disease. There is no change to the original term of April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019.

Approved and authorized the Conservation and Development Director John Kopchick to execute an exclusive negotiating agreement with City Ventures Homebuilding, LLC for the construction of 24 town home units, approximately 2,000 square feet of commercial space, and a public plaza on a 1.16 acres vacant site at Parker Avenue/Investment Street and Railroad Avenue in the Rodeo area.

Approved and authorized the Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston to execute a contract amendment with J. Steinman Enterprise to increase the payment limit by $50,000 to a new limit of $125,000 for laundry equipment maintenance services with no change in the contract term of April 1, 2017 through May 31, 2020.

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

This morning, March 31, 2019 at 12:29 AM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report from several callers of a suspicious circumstance regarding a woman who was found down on the ground.

Deputies arrived and located a woman lying on the sidewalk on Suisun Avenue near North Broadway Avenue in Bay Point. The unidentified woman was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives from the Office of the Sheriff homicide unit and Crime Lab responded to the scene.

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

Occurred in Contra Costa County years ago. Out on $1 million bail Wednesday morning.

By Allen Payton

According to a Facebook post by the Placer County Sheriff, “Tuesday afternoon, detectives with the Placer County Sheriff’s Crimes Against Persons Unit arrested Gerald Norman Fogel, 57, of Foresthill at his residence. Fogel was arrested for ten counts of Committing a Lewd Act Upon a Child Under 14-years old.

Sheriff investigators learned of the abuse which occurred numerous years ago in Contra Costa County. Working with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, detectives obtained an arrest warrant from Contra Costa County and a Placer County search warrant.

Fogel was booked into the Contra Costa County Jail with a bail of $1,000,000. He is a former Fremont firefighter and former volunteer Fire Captain for the Foresthill Fire Protection District.

As of Wednesday, Fogel was able to bail out and a concerned resident contacted the Herald stating that Fogel is living in Concord within a short distance of three elementary schools and a child care center.

Please check back later for updates to this report.