Martinez, 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.
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By 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.
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The 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.
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Officer Martin Lendway following surgery on his legs. Photo by CHP-Contra Costa
Pittsburg 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.
CHP Officer Lendway and a friend. Photo by CHP-Contra Costa.
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;
Tammy Peggy Louise Walker arrest photo. Courtesy of KRON4.
-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.
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By CHP – Contra Costa
On Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at about 7:37pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision at Delta Road and Curlew Connex in Knightsen. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, it was determined that a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo hit a pedestrian that was in the roadway. The 56-year-old male pedestrian of Oakley was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the Isuzu remained on scene.
In the initial investigation, it appears that the solo male driver of the Isuzu was traveling westbound on Delta Road just west of Curlew Connex at 40 mph. The area has low visibility and is dark without any streetlights. The pedestrian was in the roadway as the Isuzu approached and by the time the driver of the Isuzu saw the pedestrian, it was too late and collided into him. The male pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The 28yr old male driver from Georgia remained on scene and was cooperative in the investigation.
Alcohol or drugs are not a factor in this collision is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. Thank you.
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Organizers Claudette and Johnny Staton (second from left and center) and volunteers gather before the 2017 Christmas Giving program begins.
“Your generosity overwhelms us”
Dear Editor:
Families wait in line for their turn to pick up Christmas gifts for their children.
On behalf of the parents and their children who are the recipients of the kindness and generosity of our supporters, the International Orphan Relief Foundation would like to say thank you for sharing your love with them through our 10th Annual Christmas Giving program.
During the Christmas and holiday season IORF volunteers aided families who are struggling to make ends meet in East County. This year we were able to distribute more than 400 pairs of new pajamas, books, toys and food gift cards to families in need. The Christmas Giving program is one of our favorites, and seeing the smiles on the faces of the children who received the gifts is priceless.
Over the last 10 years, our program has provided more than 4,000 families with food baskets and new pajamas for children during the Holiday Season. Financial gifts are collected year-round for this program.
We are so grateful to every individual and every business who has supported our missions throughout the years. This year we would like to thank the volunteers and donors who gave their time and money to our holiday gift giving program, the Delta Advocacy Foundation, Contra Costa Marine Toys for Tots, former Mayor Elihu Harris, Allen Payton, Linda La Roche, Jilda Fairhurst, Carol Reynold, Fran McMahon, Daub 4 Kids & Staff , Robin Evenson, Teri Eslinger, Kim Cawley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Debra Willis, Fremont Bank, Key Realty, Jeff Shultz, Nina Lamadora, the Staton Productions team, Jo Ann Klement, Karen Munez, Donna and Mrs. Crupi.
Your generosity overwhelms us. Our warmest wishes to all of you in this New Year of 2018. For more information please visit our website at http://www.iorf.org/.
Claudette & Johnny Staton
International Orphan Relief Foundation
Brentwood
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The two pickup trucks involved in a fatal collision in Antioch on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Screenshot of video by J. Guerrero from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Noe Saucedo arrest photo. By Contra Costa County Sheriff
The suspect who drove a stolen vehicle that collided into another vehicle on Somersville Road in Antioch was arrested. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility after being interviewed by detectives. (See news footage of the scene on ABC7, here.)
He is identified as 23-year-old Noe Saucedo of Pittsburg. He was booked on one count of murder and two counts of felony evading. He is being held in lieu of $1,050,000 bail.
This afternoon a 4-year-old girl who was injured in the collision was pronounced deceased at the hospital. She is not being identified.
The investigation into this collision is ongoing. Earlier, the countywide officer-involved protocol was invoked. The investigation is being handled by the D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and Antioch PD.
At about 12:47 this afternoon, the Office of the Sheriff received information of a stolen vehicle in Pittsburg. A Deputy Sheriff spotted the stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Bailey Road. The Deputy followed the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Highway 4. The Deputy did not activate the emergency lights on his vehicle.
As the suspect took the Somersville Road exit, he immediately accelerated at a high rate of speed. The Deputy then activated the emergency lights on his vehicle. Moments later, the suspect vehicle went through a red light at Somersville Road and collided into a Ford F-150 that was heading southbound.
Three people, including two children, were injured in the F-150. A 2-year-old and her mother remain in the hospital.
Anyone with any information on this incident 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.
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Scene of the head-on collision on Somersville Road near Highway 4 in Antioch, Wednesday, Jan. 17. Screenshot by Belinda Sedano from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
Screenshot by Belinda Sedano from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
At about 12:47 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the Office of the Sheriff received information of a stolen vehicle in Pittsburg. A Deputy Sheriff spotted the stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Bailey Road. The Deputy followed the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Highway 4. The Deputy did not activate the emergency lights on his vehicle.
As the suspect took the Somersville Road exit, he immediately accelerated at a high speed. The Deputy then activated the emergency lights on his vehicle. Moments later, the suspect vehicle went through a red light at Somersville Road and collided into a Ford F-150 that was heading southbound.
Three people, including two children, were injured in the F-150. They were taken to local hospitals. The suspect, a 23-year-old Pittsburg resident, was also taken to a hospital. He is not being identified at this time.
Screenshot by Belinda Sedano from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
According to Antioch Police Lt. Tarra Mendes, Antioch Police Officers responded to assist the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. The incident caused the closure of North and Southbound Somersville Road as well as the Eastbound Highway 4 off ramp to Somersville Road.
The countywide officer-involved protocol was invoked. The investigation is being handled by the D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and Antioch PD.
Anyone with any information on this incident 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.
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2018 Contra Costa County Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient Phil Arnold (center) with Supervisors, from left are Diane Burgis, Federal Glover, John Gioia and Candace Andersen. Photos courtesy of Supervisor Candace Andersen.
Honor Humanitarians of the Year during Martin Luther King Day Celebration
By Daniel Borsuk
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appointed Susanna Thompson and Mark Whitlock to serve on the financially beleaguered East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors, a position that the two incoming board directors may only serve on until the end 2018.
Supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the consent item at Tuesday’s board meeting. Board Chair Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill was absent due to illness.
The reason Thompson, a co-owner of an electric contractor business of Clayton, and Whitlock, owner of a Bethel Island carpet cleaning business, may only serve a year on the board is because unless both directors decide to run election campaigns later this year, their jobs on the financially challenged fire district board will come to an end.
Thompson and Whitlock beat five other candidates for the fire board posts. They replace county appointees Robert Kenny and Cheryl Morgan. Both Kenny’s and Morgan’s term expire next month, February.
Other candidates for the two county appointments to the fire district’s board were Anthony Barigiacchi of Brentwood who is an engineer with the Novato Fire Protection District; Lito Calimlim of Clayton, who is a real estate broker; Karin Schneider of Brentwood, a city of Tracy finance director; Stephen Smith of Brentwood, who is a former ECCFPD director; and Sandra Strobel, a Knightsen real estate agent
In November 2016 voters in the fire district overwhelmingly passed Measure M 62.4 percent to 37.6 percent to change the board from an appointed nine-member panel an elected board of nine directors. Currently the nine-member board consists of directors are appointed by residency.
In addition to the two directors now appointed by the board of supervisors, the ECCFPD has four directors selected by the city of Brentwood and three directors chosen by the city of Oakley.
As if the upcoming November election isn’t enough, voters in the fire district will take part in a vote by mail election in March on whether to scale down the number of board directors from nine directors to five directors. Depending on the outcome of the special election in March, voters will cast ballots in November on who gets to serve on either the nine-member or five-member board of directors.
The two 2018 elections occur in a fire district that is rapidly growing and transitioning from its agricultural roots to a bustling and sprawling suburban area where real estate values have zoomed up more than 14 percent in 2017.
Whether changing the composition or number of ECCFD Board of Directors from nine to five Directors-at-Large to retaining the number of directors at nine, will enable the district to gain more citizen support to place and pass bond measures to adequately fund the district, is a question no one can properly predict right now.
Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood, whose District 3 encompasses the troubled ECCFD, believes the change from an appointed board to an elected board will solve the district’s financial woes. “I am really pleased that the fire board is going to be elected,” she said after the supervisors approved the consent item. “Hopefully, by having an elected board, fire district constituents will feel more confident about the district and the directors will act more responsibly.”
ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick believes the elected Board of Directors will also help the financially strapped fire district turn the page on its financial woes. The question of moving from an appointed board of directors to an elected board of directors has been something the community has been asking for some time,” the fire chief said.
The key is whether an elected board of directors can do the job of convincing constituents of passing bond measures to keep the ECCFPD fiscally sound. “We need a source of sustainable funding,” said Fire Chief Helmick. “Having an appointed board has not been successful in finding long-term sustainable funding. Perhaps voters will listen to elected directors,” he said.
Even though an audit last August found the Fire District’s budget had $6.2 million in additional funds, Fire Chief Helmick, who was permanently named fire chief last October, said he is constantly competing against fire districts that tend to recruit his veteran fire fighters because those fire districts offer better pay and benefit packages than the ECCFPD. Most recently, four fire fighters left the ECCFPD to join districts offering better pay and benefit packages.
Chief Helmick, who has been with the ECCFD since the district’s formation in 2002, oversees a $15 million 2018 budget for 28 fire fighters and four battalion chiefs to staff fire stations located in Brentwood, Discovery Bay and Oakley.
Las Lomas High student Sienna Camille Terry is honored by county supervisors.
Humanitarian of the Year Awards
In other business, the Supervisors celebrated the county’s 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration and Humanitarian of the Year Awards. Community activist and retired software industry executive Phil Arnold of Concord was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award. The Air Force veteran was recognized for his community service, especially in the areas of race and humanitarian relations. Sienna Camille Terry, a Las Lomas High School student was honored as Student Humanitarian of the Year.
Supervisors Approve Sheriff-Coroner MOU to Use Naval Weapons Station
In addition, Supervisors also unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner and the United States Army to use a portion of the former Naval Weapons Station near Concord to operate a marine patrol and training facility. The agreement will last nine years at no cost to the county.
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Martinez, 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.
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By 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.
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The 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 MoreOfficer Martin Lendway following surgery on his legs. Photo by CHP-Contra Costa
Pittsburg 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.
CHP Officer Lendway and a friend. Photo by CHP-Contra Costa.
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;
Tammy Peggy Louise Walker arrest photo. Courtesy of KRON4.
-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.
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By CHP – Contra Costa
On Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at about 7:37pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision at Delta Road and Curlew Connex in Knightsen. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, it was determined that a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo hit a pedestrian that was in the roadway. The 56-year-old male pedestrian of Oakley was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the Isuzu remained on scene.
In the initial investigation, it appears that the solo male driver of the Isuzu was traveling westbound on Delta Road just west of Curlew Connex at 40 mph. The area has low visibility and is dark without any streetlights. The pedestrian was in the roadway as the Isuzu approached and by the time the driver of the Isuzu saw the pedestrian, it was too late and collided into him. The male pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The 28yr old male driver from Georgia remained on scene and was cooperative in the investigation.
Alcohol or drugs are not a factor in this collision is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. Thank you.
Read MoreOrganizers Claudette and Johnny Staton (second from left and center) and volunteers gather before the 2017 Christmas Giving program begins.
“Your generosity overwhelms us”
Dear Editor:
Families wait in line for their turn to pick up Christmas gifts for their children.
On behalf of the parents and their children who are the recipients of the kindness and generosity of our supporters, the International Orphan Relief Foundation would like to say thank you for sharing your love with them through our 10th Annual Christmas Giving program.
During the Christmas and holiday season IORF volunteers aided families who are struggling to make ends meet in East County. This year we were able to distribute more than 400 pairs of new pajamas, books, toys and food gift cards to families in need. The Christmas Giving program is one of our favorites, and seeing the smiles on the faces of the children who received the gifts is priceless.
Over the last 10 years, our program has provided more than 4,000 families with food baskets and new pajamas for children during the Holiday Season. Financial gifts are collected year-round for this program.
We are so grateful to every individual and every business who has supported our missions throughout the years. This year we would like to thank the volunteers and donors who gave their time and money to our holiday gift giving program, the Delta Advocacy Foundation, Contra Costa Marine Toys for Tots, former Mayor Elihu Harris, Allen Payton, Linda La Roche, Jilda Fairhurst, Carol Reynold, Fran McMahon, Daub 4 Kids & Staff , Robin Evenson, Teri Eslinger, Kim Cawley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Debra Willis, Fremont Bank, Key Realty, Jeff Shultz, Nina Lamadora, the Staton Productions team, Jo Ann Klement, Karen Munez, Donna and Mrs. Crupi.
Your generosity overwhelms us. Our warmest wishes to all of you in this New Year of 2018. For more information please visit our website at http://www.iorf.org/.
Claudette & Johnny Staton
International Orphan Relief Foundation
Brentwood
Read MoreThe two pickup trucks involved in a fatal collision in Antioch on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Screenshot of video by J. Guerrero from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Noe Saucedo arrest photo. By Contra Costa County Sheriff
The suspect who drove a stolen vehicle that collided into another vehicle on Somersville Road in Antioch was arrested. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility after being interviewed by detectives. (See news footage of the scene on ABC7, here.)
He is identified as 23-year-old Noe Saucedo of Pittsburg. He was booked on one count of murder and two counts of felony evading. He is being held in lieu of $1,050,000 bail.
This afternoon a 4-year-old girl who was injured in the collision was pronounced deceased at the hospital. She is not being identified.
The investigation into this collision is ongoing. Earlier, the countywide officer-involved protocol was invoked. The investigation is being handled by the D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and Antioch PD.
At about 12:47 this afternoon, the Office of the Sheriff received information of a stolen vehicle in Pittsburg. A Deputy Sheriff spotted the stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Bailey Road. The Deputy followed the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Highway 4. The Deputy did not activate the emergency lights on his vehicle.
As the suspect took the Somersville Road exit, he immediately accelerated at a high rate of speed. The Deputy then activated the emergency lights on his vehicle. Moments later, the suspect vehicle went through a red light at Somersville Road and collided into a Ford F-150 that was heading southbound.
Three people, including two children, were injured in the F-150. A 2-year-old and her mother remain in the hospital.
Anyone with any information on this incident 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 MoreScene of the head-on collision on Somersville Road near Highway 4 in Antioch, Wednesday, Jan. 17. Screenshot by Belinda Sedano from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
Screenshot by Belinda Sedano from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
At about 12:47 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the Office of the Sheriff received information of a stolen vehicle in Pittsburg. A Deputy Sheriff spotted the stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Bailey Road. The Deputy followed the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Highway 4. The Deputy did not activate the emergency lights on his vehicle.
As the suspect took the Somersville Road exit, he immediately accelerated at a high speed. The Deputy then activated the emergency lights on his vehicle. Moments later, the suspect vehicle went through a red light at Somersville Road and collided into a Ford F-150 that was heading southbound.
Three people, including two children, were injured in the F-150. They were taken to local hospitals. The suspect, a 23-year-old Pittsburg resident, was also taken to a hospital. He is not being identified at this time.
Screenshot by Belinda Sedano from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.
According to Antioch Police Lt. Tarra Mendes, Antioch Police Officers responded to assist the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. The incident caused the closure of North and Southbound Somersville Road as well as the Eastbound Highway 4 off ramp to Somersville Road.
The countywide officer-involved protocol was invoked. The investigation is being handled by the D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and Antioch PD.
Anyone with any information on this incident 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 More2018 Contra Costa County Humanitarian of the Year Award recipient Phil Arnold (center) with Supervisors, from left are Diane Burgis, Federal Glover, John Gioia and Candace Andersen. Photos courtesy of Supervisor Candace Andersen.
Honor Humanitarians of the Year during Martin Luther King Day Celebration
By Daniel Borsuk
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appointed Susanna Thompson and Mark Whitlock to serve on the financially beleaguered East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors, a position that the two incoming board directors may only serve on until the end 2018.
Supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the consent item at Tuesday’s board meeting. Board Chair Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill was absent due to illness.
The reason Thompson, a co-owner of an electric contractor business of Clayton, and Whitlock, owner of a Bethel Island carpet cleaning business, may only serve a year on the board is because unless both directors decide to run election campaigns later this year, their jobs on the financially challenged fire district board will come to an end.
Thompson and Whitlock beat five other candidates for the fire board posts. They replace county appointees Robert Kenny and Cheryl Morgan. Both Kenny’s and Morgan’s term expire next month, February.
Other candidates for the two county appointments to the fire district’s board were Anthony Barigiacchi of Brentwood who is an engineer with the Novato Fire Protection District; Lito Calimlim of Clayton, who is a real estate broker; Karin Schneider of Brentwood, a city of Tracy finance director; Stephen Smith of Brentwood, who is a former ECCFPD director; and Sandra Strobel, a Knightsen real estate agent
In November 2016 voters in the fire district overwhelmingly passed Measure M 62.4 percent to 37.6 percent to change the board from an appointed nine-member panel an elected board of nine directors. Currently the nine-member board consists of directors are appointed by residency.
In addition to the two directors now appointed by the board of supervisors, the ECCFPD has four directors selected by the city of Brentwood and three directors chosen by the city of Oakley.
As if the upcoming November election isn’t enough, voters in the fire district will take part in a vote by mail election in March on whether to scale down the number of board directors from nine directors to five directors. Depending on the outcome of the special election in March, voters will cast ballots in November on who gets to serve on either the nine-member or five-member board of directors.
The two 2018 elections occur in a fire district that is rapidly growing and transitioning from its agricultural roots to a bustling and sprawling suburban area where real estate values have zoomed up more than 14 percent in 2017.
Whether changing the composition or number of ECCFD Board of Directors from nine to five Directors-at-Large to retaining the number of directors at nine, will enable the district to gain more citizen support to place and pass bond measures to adequately fund the district, is a question no one can properly predict right now.
Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood, whose District 3 encompasses the troubled ECCFD, believes the change from an appointed board to an elected board will solve the district’s financial woes. “I am really pleased that the fire board is going to be elected,” she said after the supervisors approved the consent item. “Hopefully, by having an elected board, fire district constituents will feel more confident about the district and the directors will act more responsibly.”
ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick believes the elected Board of Directors will also help the financially strapped fire district turn the page on its financial woes. The question of moving from an appointed board of directors to an elected board of directors has been something the community has been asking for some time,” the fire chief said.
The key is whether an elected board of directors can do the job of convincing constituents of passing bond measures to keep the ECCFPD fiscally sound. “We need a source of sustainable funding,” said Fire Chief Helmick. “Having an appointed board has not been successful in finding long-term sustainable funding. Perhaps voters will listen to elected directors,” he said.
Even though an audit last August found the Fire District’s budget had $6.2 million in additional funds, Fire Chief Helmick, who was permanently named fire chief last October, said he is constantly competing against fire districts that tend to recruit his veteran fire fighters because those fire districts offer better pay and benefit packages than the ECCFPD. Most recently, four fire fighters left the ECCFPD to join districts offering better pay and benefit packages.
Chief Helmick, who has been with the ECCFD since the district’s formation in 2002, oversees a $15 million 2018 budget for 28 fire fighters and four battalion chiefs to staff fire stations located in Brentwood, Discovery Bay and Oakley.
Las Lomas High student Sienna Camille Terry is honored by county supervisors.
Humanitarian of the Year Awards
In other business, the Supervisors celebrated the county’s 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration and Humanitarian of the Year Awards. Community activist and retired software industry executive Phil Arnold of Concord was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award. The Air Force veteran was recognized for his community service, especially in the areas of race and humanitarian relations. Sienna Camille Terry, a Las Lomas High School student was honored as Student Humanitarian of the Year.
Supervisors Approve Sheriff-Coroner MOU to Use Naval Weapons Station
In addition, Supervisors also unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner and the United States Army to use a portion of the former Naval Weapons Station near Concord to operate a marine patrol and training facility. The agreement will last nine years at no cost to the county.
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