Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Two Concord men among four charged in Fremont jewelry store heist

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20-year-old Jose Herrada-Aragon, 19-year-old Andres Palestino, two others stole $1.7 million of merchandise, each face 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine

By Michelle Lo, PIO, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted four defendants, Afatupetaiki Faasisila, 20, of San Bruno, Jose Herrada-Aragon, 20, of Concord, Andres Palestino, 19, of Concord, and Tom Parker Donegan, 19, of Fairfield, in connection with the June 18, 2025, robbery of a jewelry store in Fremont.  Faasisila and Palestino were arrested yesterday and made their initial appearances in district court today.  Herrada-Aragon and Donegan are currently in state custody on other charges and will be transferred to federal custody.

Faasisila, Herrada-Aragon, Palestino, and Donegan were initially charged by complaint on December 8, 2025, and subsequently indicted on December 18, 2025.  The indictment, unsealed today, charges each defendant with one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce.  According to the criminal complaint and other court documents, on June 18, 2025, over two dozen masked individuals conducted a takeover-style robbery of a Kumar Jewelers located on Mowry Avenue in Fremont.  Surveillance video captured a gray Honda ramming into the store’s front façade to force entry.  One individual brandished a firearm at the store’s security guard, while another held the guard’s arms and forced him to the ground.  Dozens of masked individuals, including Faasisila, Herrada-Aragon and Palestino, allegedly stormed the business, which was occupied at the time.  Once inside, the robbers used hammers and other tools to smash display cases and grab the jewelry contained within, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately $1.7 million worth of jewelry.  After ransacking the store, the robbers left with the stolen goods and got into waiting vehicles to flee. (See additional details in the NBC Bay Area news report)

The complaint alleges that Donegan drove one of the getaway vehicles, leading responding police officers on a vehicle pursuit before eventually crashing the car in another part of Fremont.  There, the four defendants exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, only to be apprehended by officers.  Several pieces of stolen jewelry were recovered in the defendants’ flight path and the abandoned vehicle, which had also been reported stolen.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.

Palestino is next scheduled to appear in federal court in Oakland for an arraignment on January 14, 2026, and Faasisila is next scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on January 16, 2026.

A complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of robbery affecting interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951(a) and 2.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sloan Heffron and Wendy Garbers of the Violent Crime Strike Force are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman and Yenni Weinberg.  The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI and the Fremont Police Department.

Anyone who has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting the FBI at (415) 553-7400 or tips.fbi.gov.

According to localcrimenews.com, Herrada-Aragon was also arrested on Aug. 31, 2025, by Concord Police for warrants or holds only.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, as of this morning, Palestino was being transferred to another facility.

Further Information:

Case No. 25-cr-00435-HSG

Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.  Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Barricaded suspect arrested after self-inflicted gunshot wound during Oakley standoff

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The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Oakley Police on the scene of the standoff in Oakley Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. Photo courtesy of ContraCosta.news.

54-year-old Raymond E. Smith fired several shots at deputy sheriff; previously arrested in 2013 for assault; multiple agency effort

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

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is continuing to investigate an incident where a suspect shot at a deputy sheriff this morning in Oakley.

On Monday, January 12, 2026, at about 10:50 AM, a deputy sheriff was dispatched to a call regarding a violation of a restraining order. A deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop after locating the suspect vehicle on the 4300 block of Gold Run Drive in Oakley. Almost immediately after the stop, the driver came out of the vehicle and fired several shots at the deputy. The deputy was not struck and was able to return gunfire.

The suspect fled on foot in the neighborhood. During the search for the suspect, the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oakley Police Department, California Highway Patrol, East Bay Regional Park Police, Brentwood Police Department, and Antioch Police Department. The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Hostage Negotiation Team, Drone Unit, and a police K-9 also responded. The suspect was found barricaded at his home on the 2700 block of Placer Drive in Oakley.

After several hours of attempting to communicate with the suspect, the SWAT team armored vehicle approached the residence. A gunshot was heard. The suspect apparently tried to take his own life. Medical personnel, who were on scene, immediately implemented life-saving measures. The suspect was taken to a local hospital.

The man is identified as 54-year-old Raymond E. Smith of Oakley, who was arrested, and will be booked on charges that include attempted murder of a peace officer,

According to localcrimenews.com, Smith was also arrested in December 2013 by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and in May 2024 by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for Warrants or Holds Only.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office 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.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Richmond man sentenced to over 5 years for $80,000 retail theft spree across 11 Nor Cal counties

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Shawn Naputi faced 56 felony theft charges for more than 80 crimes from October 2023 to May 2025; arrested 16 times since 2021 for violent crimes, multiple counts of theft

By Allen D. Payton

According to the Sonoma County Office of the District Attorney, on May 8, 2024, Shawn Andre Naputi walked into the Friedman’s Home Improvement store on Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa, filled a trash can with more than $2,400 worth of Friedman’s merchandise, and headed for the exit. A sharp-eyed Friedman’s employee recognized Mr. Naputi and his vehicle from prior Friedman’s thefts and called the police. When employees started observing Mr. Naputi inside the store and Sonoma County Sheriff deputies arrived outside, Mr. Naputi abandoned the trashcan full of merchandise and walked out of the store. Sheriff Deputies spoke to the Friedman’s employees and connected Mr. Naputi to seven (7) other Friedman’s thefts, dating back to January 2024.

Once the case was referred to the District Attorney’s Office, it was forwarded to the Organized Retail Theft Unit. The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has been awarded grant funding from the State of California’s Organized Retail Theft Grant Program, administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), to combat organized retail theft. The grant funds are used by the office to establish a dedicated prosecutor and investigator focused on ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable by identifying gaps in the system and improving cooperation with retail operators and local law enforcement.

When the District Attorney’s Organized Retail Theft Unit started looking into prior Sonoma County thefts and speaking to counterparts in nearby counties, only then did the true breadth of Mr. Naputi’s criminal conduct become clear. Between October 6, 2023, and May 22, 2025, Mr. Naputi committed more than eighty (80) separate instances of theft from Bay Area retailers. The combined loss to these retailers, including Best Buy, Boot Barn, REI, Friedman’s Home Improvement, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohls, Lowes, and The Home Depot, was more than $80,000. The crimes occurred in Contra Costa County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Sacramento County, Solano County, Placer County, San Francisco County, Yolo County, Marin County, and Sonoma County.

Without naming Naputi, the Vallejo Police Department reported that on May 21, 2025, a repeat thief was arrested after burglarizing a business. Officers assigned to the Vallejo Police Department Patrol Division responded to a call regarding a suspect wanted in connection with a burglary on the 1300 block of Tennessee Street.

The property owner reported having surveillance footage from May 20 showing a male suspect breaking into the business, ransacking the location, and leaving with multiple items, including professionally graded equipment. The suspect also caused approximately $500 in damage to the business.

The following morning, the business owner was alerted by her surveillance system that the thief had returned to the property. She drove to the location and confronted him. The thief was still in possession of her stolen equipment bag. She took her bag back and the thief fled on foot.

Later that day, the thief was observed loitering near a business on the 400 block of Broadway Street. Officers quickly detained the thief without incident. A records check revealed he was on felony probation out of Solano County for vehicle theft. He also had two outstanding arrest warrants related to stealing a dog, stealing another vehicle and initiating a pursuit in Vallejo.

A probation search revealed he had a glass-shattering tool commonly used to commit burglaries. After being Mirandized, the suspect admitted to the burglary, stating he needed to get out of the sun.

The thief was subsequently booked into the Solano County Jail on multiple charges, including burglary, probation violations and outstanding warrants.

About the sentencing, Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez stated, “This case exemplifies the very reason that Proposition 36 was passed by the voters, to stop prolific thieves that repeatedly victimize our communities’ businesses which previously, under Proposition 47, provided little accountability and few consequences for retail theft.” The Naputi case “further highlights the impact of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Organized Retail Theft Unit whose primary mission is to change expectations of criminal defendants, the public, and the criminal justice system by ensuring that there will be significant consequences if these crimes are committed in Sonoma County.”

Taking advantage of legislation passed under the recent Proposition 36 and designed to combat organized retail theft, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office assumed jurisdiction from the affected counties to prosecute all crimes under one criminal complaint. With jurisdictional approval in hand, the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office filed an amended felony complaint charging Mr. Naputi with fifty-six (56) felony theft charges capturing his crime spree between October 2023 and May 2025.

On November 12, 2025, Defendant Naputi plead no-contest to six (6) felony theft charges in exchange for a prison term of 5 years and 4 months. Two years of that term will be served in actual custody, with the balance on Mandatory Supervision. On January 7, 2026, Defendant was sentenced to that term and agreed to several Organized Retail Theft Restraining Orders under the new Penal Code section 490.8. Defendant Naputi also agreed to $83,093.64 in restitution.

According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, he is 43 years old, was booked on May 28, 2025, and is being held in the Main Adult Detention Facility in Santa Rosa.

According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 200-pound Naputi is Hispanic and has been arrested 16 times since 2021 by multiple agencies including Richmond PD, El Cerrito PD, Emeryville PD, Vallejo PD, San Rafael PD, Daly City PD, Sunnyvale PD, Contra Costa CHP, and the Contra Costa County and Solano County Sheriff’s Departments. He was charged with crimes including Assault with a Deadly Weapon or Assault with Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Harm, Inflicting Corporal Injury on a Spouse/Cohabitant, Organized Retail Theft, Grand Theft, Burglary, Petty Theft, Obtaining property by theft where value exceeds $950, Shoplifting Not to Exceed $950, Taking a Vehicle without Owner’s Consent, Receiving/Etc. Known Stolen Property Over $200, Vandalism, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotic Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

In-custody death of Concord man charged with murdering parents New Year’s Eve under investigation

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Sustained self-inflicted head injuries at Martinez Detention Facility

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

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office are currently jointly investigating an in-custody death that occurred at the Martinez Detention Facility.

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at about 5:38 AM, Contra Costa Health medical staff at MDF responded to a housing module for a report of head injuries that an inmate apparently sustained as a result of him purposely banging his head while housed in a cell. Minutes later, the fire department and an ambulance were called to transport the inmate to a local hospital.

At about 8:30 AM, the inmate was medically cleared at the hospital. He was uncooperative with deputy sheriffs while being transported back to MDF. While at MDF he was given medication by medical staff.

At about 5:48 PM, a deputy sheriff found the inmate unconscious inside his cell.

Jail medical staff responded while deputies performed CPR. The fire department and an ambulance also responded and later declared the inmate deceased. The countywide law enforcement involved fatal incident protocol was invoked.

The inmate is identified as 61-year-old Kirk Richardson of Concord. On December 31, 2025, Richardson was arrested by the Concord Police Department for murder of his parents. He was booked into MDF on two counts of murder and had been held since that time.

As previously reported, on Dec. 31, 2025, at approximately 7:00 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call reporting a family disturbance in the 3900 block of Walnut Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals, a 90-year-old man and an 85-year-old woman, who were deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.  Richards on was at the residence was detained and subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.

He was arraigned on Wednesday and had another court date set for Thursday afternoon. The five-foot, ten-inch tall, 200-pound Richardson was being held on $4 million bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Rep. Harder’s Safer Response Act to protect law enforcement from fentanyl exposure signed into law

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Fentanyl. Photo: CDC

One in five emergency calls are for overdoses, exposing first responders to contamination and infection

New law spearheads nationwide effort to stop overdose deaths and crack down on trafficking

By Julie S. Kramer, Press Secretary, Office of Congressman Josh Harder

WASHINGTON – On Dec. 11, 2025, Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-09) announced that his bipartisan bill to protect law enforcement from fentanyl exposure has been signed into law, unlocking $57 million every year through 2030 for overdose training for local law enforcement. Led with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), the Safer Response Act was included in a broader package of substance use prevention and recovery legislation that passed the Senate in September, alongside the rollout of a brand-new nationwide initiative to combat the fentanyl crisis.

Fentanyl in our community puts everyone at risk:

  • Despite declines, fentanyl overdoses continue to be the leading cause of deathfor Americans aged 18-45, killing nearly 50,000 people last year alone.
  • This creates an escalating crisis for first responders, with up to one-in-fiveemergency medical service calls involving overdose response.
  • First responders are at riskof accidental exposure, contamination, and infection when responding to overdose emergencies.

“Our brave first responders never hesitate to answer the call and step in to save lives every single day, and they shouldn’t have to worry about self-exposure while they’re working to reverse life-threatening fentanyl overdoses,” said Harder. “This bill is going to bring millions for better training and modern resources to Valley departments, which will mean fewer lives lost to the deadly fentanyl epidemic. I’m grateful that lawmakers from across the aisle joined together to send this to the President’s desk, and I’m committed to ensuring our community continues to benefit from common-sense laws like this.”

How the Safer Response Act supports law enforcement:

  • New technical assistance for local first responders to address overdoses.
  • Additional training on how first responders and emergency medical services can protect themselves in the event of exposure.
  • Outreach coordination teams to bridge gaps between public and private medical and emergency response partnerships.

Harder has made cracking down on the growing fentanyl crisis a top priority – he helped pass a bipartisan bill to put more fentanyl traffickers behind bars, and he is leading new legislation to close drug manufacturing loopholes that traffickers use to escape justice. Earlier this year, Harder met with more than 200 narcotics officers representing state associations across the country, including in California, as part of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition’s (NNOAC) 2025 Delegate Conference.

Congressman Harder represents the 9th Congressional District of California. Following the passage of Prop. 50 last November, the new district boundaries will include Pittsburg, Antioch and portions of Oakley and other areas in Eastern Contra Costa County. Harder is expected to run for re-election in the new district.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Police identify victim in Richmond IHOP restaurant homicide

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Romario Garcia in photos posted on his Facebook page on June 20, 2023, (left) and June 20, 2024 (right).

Person of interest who shot co-worker has also died from self-inflicted gunshot wound, not yet ID’d

By Allen D. Payton

On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, Richmond Police Chief of Staff and Public Information Officer Lt. Donald Patchin reported that the victim in the homicide on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, “has been identified as Romario Rayo Garcia.”

Family members shared the name of the victim with KTVU-FOX2 which reported on Friday his age as 31 years old, and also reported the death of the 44-year-old male person of interest in the case. The two were coworkers at the I-HOP Restaurant in Richmond where the shooting occurred.

The following day, Dec. 30, as previously reported, while addressing an unrelated call for service in the parking lot of the San Pablo Police Department, SPPD officers were approached by an adult male subject – the person of interest in the Richmond shooting – who attempted to make contact with officers. Due to a language barrier, communication was limited. Following a brief interaction, the male subject walked away, and the officer resumed addressing the original call for service.

Shortly thereafter, officers heard a single gunshot near the Police Department parking lot. Officers immediately responded and located the male subject suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers rendered life-saving aid, and the male was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

However, Patchin added, “The suspect has not been identified. I am waiting for confirmation that next of kin has been notified from Alameda County.”

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

20-year-old Richmond man arrested for kidnapping, sexually assaulting Porterville girl

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Human trafficking suspect Mario Anthony Godinez of Richmond and the agencies that assisted in his arrest Dec. 31, 2025. Photo: Porterville PD

Human trafficker behind bars; committed felony while released on bail

Contra Costa Sheriff’s & DA’s Offices, Richmond & Benicia PD’s assist in operation

By Porterville Police Department

Incident: Meeting with a minor for the purpose of committing a lewd or sexual act, Kidnapping, Committing a Felony While Released on Bail

The Porterville Police Department is investigating a human trafficking case that resulted in the arrest of a Richmond man following a multi-agency operation.

On December 29, 2025, a female victim reported being contacted by an adult male through the social media platform Snapchat. Investigators identified the suspect as Mario Anthony Godinez (20, born 7/1/2005) of Richmond, California. Detectives determined Godinez arranged to meet the victim in Porterville, CA and subsequently transported her to his residence in Richmond, where she remained for several days before being returned to Porterville.

During the investigation, detectives learned Godinez had previously been arrested on multiple human trafficking-related charges and was on court-ordered supervision at the time of this incident.

On December 31, 2025, detectives served an arrest warrant and search warrant at Godinez’s residence in the 3400 block of Richmond Parkway in Richmond, California. The operation was conducted with assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Richmond Police Department and Benicia Police Department. Godinez was taken into custody without incident.

Godinez was booked into the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office South County Detention Facility and is being held without bail. The case has been forwarded to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Evidence recovered during the search indicates there may be additional victims of Human Trafficking connected to this investigation.

According to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Godinez is Black and his next court date is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 5 at 1:30 P.M.

According to recentlybooked.com, he is five-feet, eight inches tall, 140-pounds and was also arrested on May 26, 2025, in Solano County on a Benicia felony case.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Det. Madrigal or Sgt. Stark with the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400, through the department’s Facebook or Instagram pages, or submit information anonymously.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Two shot, killed in Concord during family disturbance

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By Concord Police Department

CONCORD, CA – This morning, at approximately 7:00 a.m., Concord Police Department officers responded to a 911 call reporting a family disturbance in the 3900 block of Walnut Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals who were deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. A third individual at the residence was detained and subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.

There are no outstanding suspects and there is no active threat to the community. CPD detectives responded and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact CPD Major Crimes Unit Detective Luciano at (925) 603-5831.

San Pablo man shoots himself, is person-of-interest in Richmond homicide

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Coworker of victim killed the day before

By Peggy ChouSan, PIO, Pablo Police Department

San Pablo, CA – On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at approximately 5:29 p.m., while addressing an unrelated call for service in the parking lot of the San Pablo Police Department, SPPD officers were approached by an adult male subject who attempted to make contact with officers. Due to a language barrier, communication was limited. Following a brief interaction, the male subject walked away, and the officer resumed addressing the original call for service.

Shortly thereafter, officers heard a single gunshot near the Police Department parking lot. Officers immediately responded and located the male subject suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers rendered life-saving aid, and the male was transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the male subject (44-year-old, San Pablo resident) is a person-of-interest in a homicide investigation which occurred in the City of Richmond on December 29, 2025. Following the shooting incident on 12/30/2025, Richmond PD Detectives responded to the San Pablo Police Department to process the scene and assume their investigation.

This incident remains an active investigation, and limited further information is available at this time. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the San Pablo Police Department at (510) 215-3150.

Police investigate Richmond homicide, possible shooting

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Victim’s coworker shoots himself in San Pablo following day

By Lt. Donald Patchin, Richmond Police Department

Richmond, CA — On December 29, 2025, at approximately 1:43 p.m., Richmond Police Department (RPD) officers responded to assist the Richmond Fire Department (RFD) at a business located in the 3400 block of Klose Way, Hilltop Mall area, for what was initially reported as a medical call.

The victim, who had been alone, was discovered unconscious by coworkers with an apparent head injury. This prompted a call for medical assistance. Upon arrival, RFD personnel determined the victim’s injuries did not appear to be accidental and requested police respond. Emergency medical personnel immediately rendered first aid and life-saving measures; however, the victim succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed evidence leading officers to believe the victim may have been shot. Richmond Police Department Homicide Detectives responded and assumed the investigation. Through diligent investigative efforts, detectives identified a person of interest in this homicide.

The person of interest, who is not being identified at this time, is a coworker of the victim and a resident of San Pablo. Detectives obtained a warrant for the individual’s arrest and were actively attempting to locate him.

On the evening of 12/30/25, the person of interest, an adult male, arrived at the San Pablo Police Department and attempted to make contact with SPPD officers before walking away. Shortly thereafter, SPPD officers heard a single gunshot and located the subject nearby, suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Please refer to the press release issued by the San Pablo Police Department for additional information regarding that incident.

This homicide investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Homicide Detective Marecek at (510) 621-1835. RICHMOND POLICE CASE 25-12467