Contra Costa Herald

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

Zero tolerance on fireworks violations in Brentwood

By Leave a Comment

How to report illegal fireworks

By Lt. Mike Aguiar, Brentwood Police Department

BRENTWOOD, CA – As we approach the 4th of July, the Brentwood Police Department wants to remind its residents about the dangers associated with fireworks and the use of firearms when celebrating our country’s Independence Day.

Contra Costa County (and City) is a “fireworks-free-zone”; therefore, the possession or use of fireworks of all types and sizes (including Safe and Sane fireworks) are banned in the county and City of Brentwood (County Ordinance 44-2.002 and Brentwood Municipal Code 8.48.020). Possession of dangerous fireworks that leave the ground or explode may constitute a felony and could result in fines of up to $5,000 and imprisonment.

Additionally, the firing of firearms into the air is against the law. Bullets fired into the air return at some point and descend at approximately 300 to 400 feet per second, which poses a high danger because it can penetrate roofs and cause damage to property and unwary residents. Statistics show that fireworks and celebratory gunfire seriously injure thousands of people annually. The Brentwood Police Department will be taking a zero tolerance approach when dealing with these violations.

It’s important to also keep in mind dry conditions create some additional safety concerns. High weeds and water-stricken lawns are extremely vulnerable to stray embers or sparks caused by fireworks. Please avoid the temptation of putting yourself and your neighbors at risk.

On July 4th, the Police Department will be assigning additional officers to patrol residential neighborhoods and proactively enforce fireworks violations. Instead of setting off fireworks, the Police Department encourages people to consider free July 4th fireworks displays in nearby cities. For more information and locations visit: https://sf.funcheap.com/category/event/event-types/holidays/4th-of-july/

Reporting Illegal Fireworks

Holidays like the 4th of July result in a significant, higher caller volume each year. Should you need to contact Police for a firework related call please use appropriate numbers and be patient with call takers.

  • Injuries or fire related calls dial 9-1-1
  • Knowledge of exact location of where fireworks are being set off in real time, call 925-809-7911

Please be prepared to answer questions from the call-taker such as the location of where the incident is occurring and if anyone is injured.

Please do not report noise complaints unless you can provide the exact location of the fireworks being set off. Additionally, please do not report incidents on social media as the sites are not monitored regularly.

If you witness a violation, please contact our 24-hour Dispatch Center at 925-809-7911.

The City of Brentwood wishes everyone a fun and safe 4th of July holiday!

Richmond, Hayward men charged for cutting 911 service in parts of West Contra Costa

By Leave a Comment

Arraignment scheduled for Thursday afternoon

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charges on June 25th against two men who cut a utility line that severed 911 service for residents in Pinole, Hercules, and San Pablo.

31-year-old Jesus Francisco Arias-Ayala of Hayward and 49-year-old Daniel Antonio Mena-Diaz of Richmond were arrested by Pinole Police on June 22nd. On that evening, around 7:15 pm, officers responded to reports of a 911 system outage. They traced the issue to a bridge near the Pinole-Hercules city line on San Pablo Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Arias-Ayala and Mena-Diaz under the bridge.

After a brief chase, both suspects were apprehended, arrested, and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

After reviewing the case, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office charged Arias-Ayala with a felony for cutting utility line [PC 591], felony vandalism [PC 594(a)], a misdemeanor for resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer [PC 148(a)(1)], and a misdemeanor for possession of burglar’s tools [PC 466].

Mena-Diaz’s two felony charges are the same as Arias-Ayala, as is one misdemeanor charge of resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer.

Both men are scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 pm on Thursday, June 27th in Martinez.

Case No. 02-24-00829 | The People of the State of California v. Arias-Ayala, Jesus Francisco

Case No. 02-24-00830 | The People of the State of California v. Mena Diaz, Daniel Antonio

Richmond, Hayward men arrested for cutting 911 service in West Contra Costa

By Leave a Comment

Phone lines down twice in June due to theft of copper cables affecting Pinole, Hercules and San Pablo Police, some city departments

Calls continue to be answered by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office

Third arrest for Daniel Mena-Diaz this year; third suspect still at large

By Commander Matt Avery, Pinole Police Department

At approximately 7:20 PM on Saturday, June 22nd, our Communications Center was alerted to a disruption in our 911 and business lines. Our dedicated communications staff promptly reached out to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, swiftly rerouting our 911 calls to their communications center. Simultaneously, our patrol units were dispatched to the area where the previous copper cable theft occurred on June 4th, which led to the disabling of our 911 and business lines. Upon arrival, three male subjects, in defiance of officers’ orders, fled into an open field toward a residential area.

Our officers established a perimeter with the assistance of Hercules officers. Recognizing the need for additional resources, they requested the aid of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and a canine unit. This joint effort led to the successful apprehension of two suspects, with the third remaining at large. A thorough search of the scene revealed tools used for cutting copper cables, and one of the suspects was found in possession of such tools upon arrest.

The suspects are Jesus Arias-Ayala, a 31-year-old male out of Hayward, and Daniel Mena-Diaz, a 49-year-old male out of Richmond. Officers questioned both and they were later booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges:

That same day, a message to the public was posted on the Pinole PD’s Facebook page reading, “Our phone lines are still down. AT&T is working on restoring service but we do not have an estimated time.

In the interim:

  • Emergencies: call 911 and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office will transfer the call to Pinole Dispatch for police emergencies
  • Non-emergencies: call 510-724-1111 or 510-900-4246 to be connected to Pinole Dispatch
  • Records: call 510-914-0375 or email pdrecords@ci.pinole.ca.us

Additionally, many lines are down throughout the other City departments. Please visit: www.ci.pinole.ca.us for email contact information.”

Then, a week later on June 11th, a message was posted on the department’s Facebook, “911 PHONE LINE HAS BEEN RESTORED

911 service has been restored to the Pinole Dispatch Center. 911 calls in the cities of Pinole, Hercules, and San Pablo are being answered by our dispatchers.

The 911 and business phone outage was the result of two incidents where multiple phone cables were cut and stolen for their copper content. City staff has been working with AT&T and CalOES since the thefts to restore 911 service as well as establish temporary phone lines. City staff will continue to work with AT&T and third-party vendors to restore full telephone to all City departments.

Some Pinole and Hercules community members with traditional landline service also remain affected by the outage.”

Then in a post on the Pinole PD’s Facebook page on Saturday, June 22, the public was informed, “Our 911 and non-emergency lines are down again. The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office is answering 911 calls and transferring the calls to our Dispatch Center, which is operating on a secondary phone system.
For Emergencies

-Call 911: will be answered by CCCSO and forwarded to our Dispatch Center

-Text 911: will be answered by our Dispatch Center.”

Then, in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, June 25, the public was informed by Pinole PD, “Our phone lines remain down. The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office is answering 911 calls and transferring the calls to our Dispatch Center, which continues to operate on a secondary phone system. We have restored our 510-724-1111 line but our main business line, 510-724-8950, remains down.” Alternate contact information was also provided.

911 calls for Pinole, Hercules and San Pablo continue to be answered by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office and transferred to our Communication Center.

  • For emergencies, call or text 911 (text-to-911 is direct to the Pinole Communication Center)
  • For non-emergencies, call 510-724-1111 or 510-900-4246
  • For Pinole Records: call 510-588-1226
  • Please visit https://tinyurl.com/3apnxxen for other Police Department contact information

Several business lines for other City departments are also down. For contact information for other City departments, please visit www.pinole.gov/contact/contact_us.

The incident is still under investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Pinole Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 510-724-111.

According to localcrimenews.com, this was the third arrest for Mena-Diaz this year, including on March 4th for warrants or holds and on May 8th for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was also arrested in March 2023 for grand theft of lost property, obstructing or resisting an executive officer, and in November 2020 for trespassing.

According to localcrimenews.com, Arias-Ayala was also arrested in July 2023 by Emeryville PD for petty theft.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Oakley man, another arrested following police chase from Brentwood to Antioch

By Leave a Comment

Vehicles from Brentwood, Oakley and Antioch Police Departments used during the chase and arrest of the suspect behind the Antioch Target store on Lone Tree Way in Antioch on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Source: Brentwood PD

Multi-agency effort; Julian Santana Ramirez has history of arrests dating to 2015

By Brentwood Police Department

THANK YOU ANTIOCH PD AND OAKLEY PD

You may have seen a lot of police presence behind Target on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Well, this is why….

Around 4:30 PM, a Brentwood Officer was patrolling the area of Lone Tree Way when he saw a person he recognized as being a suspect in a theft that occurred at Famous Footwear in Brentwood. Based on prior contacts he identified 27-year-old Julian Santana Ramirez of Oakley (born 8/6/96), as the suspect. Ramirez, who is on Post Release Supervision (PRCS) in Contra Costa County, also had a felony warrant.

When the officer attempted to contact Ramirez, he fled on foot in the immediate area behind Target. Fortunately, our friends from Antioch PD and Oakley PD were there to assist us in the search.

Luckily, for us, Antioch Officer Cruz Guzman located Ramirez and a second foot chase ensued. Officer Cruz Guzman ran across Highway 4 and subsequently took Ramirez into custody.

Ramirez was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking. A second person, related to the incident was also taken into custody for outstanding warrants.

A big thank you to Antioch PD and Oakley PD for assisting us in this incident. Crime knows no borders and we always appreciate the support and assistance from our neighboring agencies.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 290-pound Ramirez is being held on no bail at the West County Detention Facility on charges of resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine, violating his probation and violating the conditions of post release community supervision.

According to localcrimenews.com, this is his third arrest this year, including in January for drug possession and giving false information to a peace officer and in April for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Ramirez’s history of arrests dates back to 2015 by Oakley PD, Antioch PD and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for crimes including robbery, threats of violence, resisting arrest, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, evading a police officer with wanton disregard for safety, purchase, possession, use of tear gas and court jurisdiction of child for parental neglect.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Olivehurst woman, accountant for Richmond business, pleads guilty to embezzling over $900K

By Leave a Comment

Agrees to pay restitution, 10-year prison sentence reduced to 3 years

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a negotiated plea with Angela Fae Brown for offenses related to identity theft, money laundering, grand theft, tax evasion and false impersonation.

Brown, a 53-year-old (born 9/22/1970) resident of Olivehurst, CA in Yuba County, was charged in April 2024 on a six-count felony complaint with a special allegation of aggravated white-collar crime. While working as an accountant, Brown embezzled over $900,000 from her employer, a paver company in Richmond. The illegal financial scheme occurred between September 2017 and November 2022, wherein Brown used her accounting skills to exploit financial vulnerabilities in the company to enrich herself. (See related article)

On June 14th, Ms. Brown accepted a negotiated disposition where she pled guilty to an amended 12-count complaint. To fulfill the terms of the plea, the court will suspend her 10-year prison term for three years and place her on formal probation so she can seek and maintain employment to pay restitution. Moreover, assets Brown accumulated during the period she was embezzling and stealing from her employer will be liquidated. The funds from the sale of those assets will be applied to restitution payments. $907,087.00 will go to the victim, and $61,860.10 to the Franchise Tax Board of California. Any violations of the terms of the plea agreement mean that Ms. Brown could be subject to the state prison system to serve the remainder of her sentence.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “When seeking justice for victims of white-collar crimes, it’s important to find effective ways to make a victim’s financial loss whole again. This agreement holds the defendant accountable for the offenses and is structured for repayment of stolen funds.”

Case No. 02-24-00513 | The People of the State of California v. Brown, Angela Fae

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 190-pound Brown is Black, was arrested by Richmond PD, is being held on no bail at a Custody Alternative Facility and scheduled to be released on Oct. 15, 2024.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

2023 Annual Report: Serious crime in Lafayette remains low

By Leave a Comment

Report cover and 2023 Lafayette Police Department staff. Photo: Lafayette PD

“Overall, crime remains low in Lafayette, a testament to the collective efforts of our community. However, there are still categories of crimes that the Police Department, in partnership with our residents, continues to strive to reduce.” – Chief Benjamin Alldritt

By Lafayette Police Department

The most recent crime report for 2023 from the Lafayette Police Department has been presented to the Lafayette City Council. The report shows that the rate of violent crime in Lafayette remains low, with only 13 reported Part 1 violent crimes in 2023. This equals 51.2 violent crimes per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 380.7 violent crimes per 100,000 and the California average of 494.6 violent crimes per 100,000 in 2022.

“Overall, crime remains low in Lafayette, a testament to the collective efforts of our community. However, there are still categories of crimes that the Police Department, in partnership with our residents, continues to strive to reduce,” said Lafayette Police Chief Benjamin Alldritt.

In 2023, the Lafayette Police received 12,007 calls for service, filed 1,168 police reports, made 302 arrests, and issued 1,022 traffic citations.

Lafayette Police Department Total Annual Calls for Service 2014-23. Source: Lafayette PD

Part I Crimes include two categories: Crimes against Persons and property crimes.  Crimes against Persons are murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, and human trafficking.  Property Crimes are burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

“Crimes against Persons are our top priority because they have the most significant impact on the victim. The Lafayette Police Department is committed to dedicating all necessary resources to investigate these crimes and bring the suspects to justice,” said Chief Alldritt.

Overall, Part 1 crimes decreased from 456 in 2013 to 277 in 2023. This represents a 39% decrease in these types of crime over the last decade.

“Proactive policing and an alert community keep crime low in Lafayette,” he continued. “If people see something, they say something. Residents quickly report, respond, and actively watch out for their friends, family, and neighbors. We appreciate that our community members continue to call in and report crimes and remain aware of their surroundings”.

10–Year Comparison of Part 1 Uniform Crime Reporting in Lafayette, CA. Source: Lafayette PD

“The professional staff are force multipliers for the Police Department,” said Chief Alldritt. “They run the administrative office, manage the City’s emergency preparedness activities and fleet maintenance, carry out crime scene investigations, parking enforcement, vacation house checks, emergency traffic control, and other programs such as “Slow Down Lafayette.”

The City of Lafayette takes a multi-departmental approach to reduce accidents in Lafayette by using the “Three E’s” of traffic safety: Enforcement, Engineering, and Education. The Police Traffic Unit meets regularly with the City’s Transportation Planner to identify problem areas where engineering solutions may have a calming effect on traffic, resulting in fewer accidents and less need for enforcement. The Traffic Unit reviews collision rates and locations, along with citizen complaints, when considering areas for enforcement efforts.   

  • Acquired two low-profile radar measurement devices, two temporary speed display signs, two speed display trailers, and two LIDAR devices to assist with speed enforcement.
  • Analyzed over 1.3 million data points on vehicle speeds
  • Reduced the number of speeders by 20%–25% in areas where display signs and traffic enforcement are used. Provided educational materials on crosswalk safety, school bus safety, e-bikes, and various weather and other traffic-related notices.
  • The Lamorinda Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation was updated and mailed out to all Lamorinda residents in 2022.
  • The Police Department encouragesresidents to sign up for the County’s Community Warning System (CWS)
  • The ALERT California wildfire program maintains a network of cameras to detect, alert, and monitor wildfires. Lafayette Police Department Emergency Services Manager John Cornell handled the installation of multiple wildfire cameras throughout Contra Costa County, which included training for multiple local fire and police departments.

Lafayette Police Department Emergency Services Manager John Cornell handled the installation of multiple wildfire cameras and coordinated camera locations and training with other agencies. Source: Lafayette PD

The city also operates an information and emergency radio station, available on AM 1670 or streaming via the city’s app, My Lafayette, for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play – Android Store.

 “I am proud of the men and women who serve the City of Lafayette with pride and dedication,” says Chief Alldritt. “The entire Police Department and our City staff and leaders are focused on providing the highest level of service possible to our residents, businesses, and visitors. From responding to calls for service, to investigations, traffic enforcement, emergency preparedness, and the myriad other things my staff do daily in service of the community.”

You can also download the slide deck of the May 28, 2024, presentation and watch a recording of the presentation to the City Council on May 28, 2024, on the City’s YouTube channel.

About The City of Lafayette

Lafayette is a charming small community located in Contra Costa County, 30 miles from The City of Oakland. It’s known for its beautiful green hills, excellent schools, and miles of hiking trails, making it an attractive place to live. The City has a population of more than 25,000 highly educated residents, with 75.2% of them holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Additionally, 73.6% of the homes in Lafayette are owner-occupied. The median home value is $1,914,700, while the median household income is $219,250. The total area of the city is 15.22 square miles.

San Pablo man arrested for attacking employee inside Pinole police building

By Leave a Comment

Pinole Police building video shows Victor jumping over the counter and into the offices of the clerk. Screenshot source: Pinole PD

By Commander Matt Avery, Pinole Police Department

On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at approximately 4:15 PM, a male subject entered the Pinole Public Safety Building (880 Tennent Avenue, Pinole) and walked around the reception area while a police employee assisted a citizen at the front counter. The subject used the drinking fountain and then attempted to open the locked lobby door leading to the police department’s inner office area. The subject then sat down and waited approximately two minutes until our staff member finished assisting the citizen.

When the citizen completed her business and left the area, the male subject approached the front counter, where our staff member greeted him. The subject responded by reaching out and ringing the counter bell several times. Within seconds, the subject grabbed our staff member by her right arm. The victim fought back, and the subject pulled her toward him, preventing her from escaping. The victim could break free from the subject’s grasp, and the subject climbed over the counter and through a window. The victim retreated into the main hallway, and the subject chased after her. The victim was able to enter the administrative office area with the assistance of another staff member. Officers in the department at the time heard the disturbance and quickly made their way toward the reception area. They confronted the subject in the main hallway and safely detained the subject. (See Facebook incident video)

The victim sustained minor injuries to her right arm caused by the subject when he grabbed and pulled her. The victim is expected to make a full recovery. The subject was arrested and identified as Chester Erwin Victor, Jr. (born 4/20/1959), a 65-year-old male from unincorporated San Pablo. He was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on burglary (PC 460(b)), kidnapping (PC 207(A)), false imprisonment (PC 236), battery (PC 243(A), assault (PC 241(A)), and a warrant.

This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Pinole Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 510-724-1111.

According to localcrimenews.com, Victor was also arrested by Solano CHP in June 2017 for DUI.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff, he is five-feet, 11-inches tall, 200-pounds, Hispanic and being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on $47,500 bail and his next court appearance is scheduled for June 26 is Superior Court.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Loaded gun, drugs confiscated from known felon during San Pablo traffic stop

By Leave a Comment

The gun, magazine and drugs confiscated from the known felon on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo: San Pablo PD

Officers in Action

By San Pablo Police Department

Wednesday night, June 12, 2024, Officer Troche was patrolling the city when he made a traffic stop on a vehicle whose driver is a known felon from previous contacts. The driver was found to have an outstanding warrant. Inside the vehicle Officer Troche located a loaded firearm along with a large amount of drugs.

The driver of the vehicle was booked into county jail on the warrant and felony charges.

That makes one more gun taken out of the hands of a convicted felon. Thanks Officer Troche!

 

Vandal caught for using pellet guns that caused damage to Pittsburg businesses

By Leave a Comment

Damage caused to a Pittsburg business, the suspect’s car caught on surveillance camera video and pellet guns confiscated by police. Photos: Pittsburg PD

Eight felony counts

By Pittsburg Police Department

Over the past few months, a series of vandalisms targeted multiple businesses on Garcia Avenue in Pittsburg. The vandals used a pellet gun to shoot at the glass windows of these establishments, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to thousands of dollars.

In response to these incidents, the property owner took proactive measures by installing surveillance cameras. These cameras successfully captured footage of the culprit in action, providing a vital lead for the investigative efforts of Detective Lefterov. Through diligent work spanning several weeks, Detective Lefterov gathered substantial evidence and successfully identified the individual responsible for the vandalism.

Subsequently, several search warrants were issued and executed, leading to the confiscation of a BB gun, an air rifle, numerous copper BBs, and suspected illicit substances. The suspect was apprehended and charged with eight counts of felony vandalism.

Four juveniles cause extensive damage at new Brentwood school

By Leave a Comment

An April 15, 2024, photo shows the Montañez Elementary under construction. Photo: Brentwood Union School District

Released to parents pending criminal charges; school scheduled to open in fall

By Brentwood Police Department

On Sunday, June 9th, 2024, around 8:30PM, our Dispatch received a call from a security company regarding four juvenile males who had just vandalized the Isaac R. Montañez Elementary School site located on the 2300 block of Smith Road. The juveniles were still on site and when officers arrived, they attempted to flee on their bikes, however they were safely taken into custody.

The project manager for the site arrived on scene to assess the damage and discovered the four juveniles had discharged all of the fire extinguishers on the property causing an extensive amount of damage. The new school is scheduled to open in the fall for the 2024-25 school year.

Based on the nature of the crime and their ages (12 and 13 years old), the juveniles did not meet the criteria to be booked into Juvenile Hall and were released to their parents pending criminal charges and further investigation.