Contra Costa Herald

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

San Pablo man arrested for possession of child pornography

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Francisco Perez. Photo by CCCSheriff

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

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff recently received a tip regarding a person who was allegedly in possession of child pornography. Detectives started an investigation and later obtained search warrants for the suspect’s home and computers/electronic devices.

On November 20, 2018, Detectives arrested 34-year-old Francisco Perez of San Pablo. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on one count of possession of child pornography. Perez has since been released pending further investigation.

Perez was previously employed by a food service company that provided food to San Domenico School in San Anselmo. At that time, he used the false name of Mario Arguetta. There is no evidence to suggest any student has been a victim.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office or the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at (415) 479-2311.

Discovery Bay woman in wheelchair injured by hit-and-run driver in Antioch Sunday morning

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Screenshot from a KTVU Fox 2 News report of Debra Bozeman and her granddaughter.

Police seek suspect

By Acting Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Antioch Police Field Services

On Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at approximately 2:56 AM, the Antioch Police Department received a call about a person and wheelchair in the middle of the road in the 3600 block of Lone Tree Way. Officers arrived on scene and located the subject, a 65-year-old resident of Discovery Bay, unresponsive and suffering from major injuries. The victim was transported to an area hospital where she remains in critical condition.

It was determined that the victim was crossing the roadway in her wheelchair when she was struck by a passing vehicle. The responsible vehicle fled the scene and has not been located.

The Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Officers are currently following up on evidence left at the scene and potential surveillance footage of the collision.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Any further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line 925-779-6874. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Traffic Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext 84265 or ejohnsen@ci.antioch.ca.us. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

According to a KTVU FOX2 news report, the woman has been identified as Debra Bozeman and is in the intensive care unit of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Her family is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Two juvenile suspects arrested in Friday’s North Richmond homicide

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Victim identified as 60-year-old Castro Valley man

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

Homicide detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff have arrested two male juvenile suspects in connection with a killing that took place in North Richmond on Friday, November 30, 2018.

On that day at about 6:25 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the intersection of 4th Street and Silver Avenue in North Richmond for a report of a person that had just been shot. Deputies arrived on scene and found a man in his vehicle near a home on the 300 block of Silver Avenue. He suffered from a gunshot wound. The Fire Department, an ambulance and the crime lab responded to the location. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The victim is identified as 60-year-old Raymond Vasquez of Castro Valley.

Detectives say Vasquez apparently went to North Richmond for a drug transaction. An altercation occurred with the suspects and one of them shot Vasquez. The juveniles fled the scene. During the investigation, Detectives identified the juvenile suspects who were both arrested this afternoon in Richmond. They were booked into Juvenile Hall on charges that include murder, robbery, conspiracy and participating in a gang. The suspects are not being identified; they are 15 and 17 years old.

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

County Sheriff’s Detectives arrest suspect in Thursday Crockett homicide case

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

On Thursday, November 29, 2018, at about 7:14 AM, a motorist reported to Sheriff’s Office Dispatch that there was a person lying on the roadway along Crockett Boulevard between Cummings Skyway and Pomona Avenue. Crockett Fire Department responded to the location and later pronounced the person deceased at the scene. It appeared the person suffered a gunshot wound.

Homicide detectives from the Office of the Sheriff launched an investigation into the killing. They later identified the victim as 30-year-old DeMichael James Gandy-Williams of Vacaville. During their follow-up, detectives contacted investigators at the Fairfield Police Department.

Sheriff’s Office detectives later went to a motel on the 4300 block of Central Place in Fairfield to interview a person about the killing. The person was later determined to be the suspect in the murder of Gandy-Williams. The suspect refused to come out of the motel room. At about 4:40 PM, the detectives requested assistance from the Fairfield Police Department, which sent patrol officers and the SWAT Team to the location. The suspect surrendered peacefully at about 9:26 PM and was arrested by Sheriff’s Office Detectives.

The suspect is identified as 46-year-old Toriano Collier of Vallejo/Napa. He was interviewed and later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and probation violation. He is being held without bail.

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

Pharmacist charged with robbing local pharmacy in Danville

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Pharmacist Jonathan Szkotak.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged defendant Jonathan Szkotak with one felony count of second-degree robbery. On April 3, 2018, Szkotak allegedly went to a CVS pharmacy in Danville where he brandished a firearm at the pharmacy staff and demanded specific pills. Szkotak is a registered pharmacist with the California Board of Pharmacy. He works in Alameda County for the Alameda Alliance for Health.

Szkotak allegedly approached the pharmacy counter wearing a blue surgical mask and displayed a firearm. Given that he used a gun during the course of the robbery, our office charged Szkotak with a firearm enhancement.

CVS reported to the Drug Enforcement Agency a loss report of Clonazepam and Buprenorphine. In total, 17 tablets of Clonazepam were missing and 57 tablets of Buprenorphine (three different brands) as a result of the April 3rd robbery. Upon Szkotak’s arrest, the police found a quantity of crushed Buprenorphine in the defendant’s wallet.

Szkotak’s court appearance is January 14, 2019 in Martinez. He is out of custody on a $200,000 bond.

He was charged with the following: Second Degree Robbery –  Enhancement 1, Personal Use of a Firearm

Case information: People v. Jonathan Szkotak, Docket Number 01-187866-9.

Oakley teen charged with making criminal threats, stalking and threatening a school official

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Arrested in Texas, awaiting extradition back to Contra Costa County

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

On Wednesday, November 28, 2018, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged 19-year-old Tristan Amir Curl, a resident of Oakley, California and a student living in Austin, Texas, with six felony counts of making criminal threats, one felony count of stalking and one felony count of threatening a school official.

The charges are a result of a two-month investigation by the Oakley Police Department, District Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into a series of threats on social media. In September, several underage females were contacted by an unknown person on social media who was threatening to rape and kill them.

The same subject threatened to shoot students at Freedom High School in Oakley and then threatened to murder the school principal. Investigators subsequently identified Curl as the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant for him, which was approved by a Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County.

On November 20, 2018, Curl was arrested in Austin, Texas where he attends college. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office had a senior inspector in Austin to assist the Oakley Police Department with the arrest and collection of forensic evidence.

Curl remains in the custody of the Travis County, Texas Sheriff’s Department while awaiting extradition back to Contra Costa County. The Austin Police Department and FBI provided substantial assistance with the investigation.

Case information: People v. Curl, Dockett Number 01-187978-2

Investigation into fatal solo vehicle collision in San Pablo after suspect flees from Deputy Sheriff Tuesday morning

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Screenshot of an ABC7 News report shows the suspect’s vehicle following the collision which resulted in the driver’s death in San Pablo, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.

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

This morning at about 12:01, a Deputy Sheriff initiated a traffic enforcement stop on a gold-colored Lexus in the area of San Pablo Dam Road and Mifflin Avenue in El Sobrante. The Lexus ran a red light and went through the intersection of San Pablo Dam Road and El Portal Drive at about 50 miles per hour.

The driver did not yield and led the Deputy on a pursuit. The suspect drove in excess of 100 miles per hour on city streets. The pursuit was terminated because of speeds. The Deputy shut off his patrol car’s emergency lights and siren.

Approximately 12 seconds later and after losing sight of the suspect vehicle, the Deputy came across the Lexus overturned in the area of San Pablo Avenue and Road 20 in San Pablo. The vehicle apparently rolled over several times before landing on its roof. The driver was unresponsive. Deputies attempted to render first-aid. The Fire Department and an ambulance also responded. The driver was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is not being identified at this time.

The officer involved fatal incident protocol was invoked. This incident is being investigated by the District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and San Pablo Police Department. It is not immediately known why the suspect fled from the Deputy Sheriff.

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

See more from a report by ABC7 News.

DUI crash on Highway 4 Monday night results in fatality

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By CHP-Contra Costa

Monday night at about 9:28pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a three-vehicle collision at Highway 4 eastbound at Willow Pass Road in Concord. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, three vehicles were located at the scene (a Chevrolet Chevelle, a Nissan Sedan, and a Mitsubishi Lancer) and tragically the driver of the Mitsubishi (19-year-old male) was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Chevrolet sustained major injuries and was determined to be under the influence and later arrested. The driver of the Nissan had only minor injuries and did not go to the hospital. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased driver. Please direct inquires to them.

In the initial investigation, it appears that the driver of the Chevrolet (Willie David Hamlin, DOB-12/25/1971, from Antioch) was traveling eastbound on SR-4 at a high rate of speed approaching Willow Pass Road in Concord. He veered his vehicle to the right and crashed into the metal guard rail to the right of the roadway. Then he allowed his vehicle to veer back into the lanes of traffic and collided with the Nissan, but only caused minor damage. He then continued across the lanes towards the #1 lane where he collided in a broadside manner into the Mitsubishi with the 19-year-old driver, subsequently killing him. The 44-year-old driver of the Nissan only sustained minor injuries and was able to walk away. Hamlin suffered major injuries (but not life threatening) and was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. While there, CHP conducted a DUI investigation and he was subsequently placed under arrest for FELONY DUI and GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER. Due to Hamlin’s injuries, he remains at the hospital for treatment but upon his release, CHP will take him into custody and book him into the county jail. His release from the hospital at this time is unknown.

This collision is still under investigation and if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Unfortunately, this is another reminder of the carnage and impact that DUI driving can cause and to know that impaired driving is 100% preventable, 100% of the time is even more disastrous. Please never drive impaired.

San Mateo man arrested as Sheriff’s Office shuts down illegal gaming operation in Pacheco

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Illegal casino operation in Pacheco shut down. Photos by CCC Sheriff.

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

Detectives from the Special Investigation Unit of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff launched an investigation into an alleged illegal gaming operation on the 5000 block of Pacheco Boulevard after receiving a tip from a citizen regarding a casino at that location.

Through their investigation, Detectives were able to corroborate the information provided by the citizen. Detectives later secured a search warrant for the location, which was served last night. Inside the establishment, they found 37 computer terminals, which offered slot machines, video poker, and other games of chance.

The computers were seized along with some cash. Detectives arrested 48-year-old Vinson Anies of San Mateo. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or call the anonymous tip line at (866) 846-3592. Tips can also be emailed to: tips@so.cccounty.us.

Deputy Sheriffs arrest Livermore man in Danville following stolen car chase that began in Pittsburg, Tuesday afternoon

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Driver Darryl Maiale in a photo from his Facebook profile posted on July 11, 2017.

Chase began on Highway 4 at Bailey Road in Pittsburg

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

On Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 6, 2018 at about 2:55 PM, a Deputy Sheriff located a stolen vehicle on westbound Highway 4 at Bailey Road. The Deputy started following the vehicle but, did not attempt to stop it.

The vehicle suddenly sped away, leading the Deputy on a pursuit. The Deputy terminated the pursuit because of the suspect’s wreckless driving and the successful deployment of the StarChase GPS tracking technology.

The vehicle traveled at high speeds on Highway 4, Highway 242 and I-680 for approximately 15 miles before being located a second time by Deputy Sheriffs in the area of I-680 and Stone Valley Road.

The vehicle exited Stone Valley Road leading deputies on a pursuit again. The suspect vehicle crashed at the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Orchard Court, where it struck a Sheriff’s Office radar trailer and came to rest in the parking lot of a business.

The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody at that time. He is identified as 24-year-old Darryl Maiale, the only occupant in the vehicle. According to his Facebook profile, he is a resident of Livermore and attended Granada High School.

He was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. He will be booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for charges that include vehicle theft, felony evading, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest.