Contra Costa Herald

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

Walnut Creek transient man arrested for attempted kidnapping, lewd acts on a child at library

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Marc Alexander Simon arrest photo. Source: Walnut Creek PD

District Attorney files charges, bail set at $2 million

By Lt. Drew Olson, Walnut Creek Police Department

On April 16, 2024, Walnut Creek Police Patrol Officers and Detectives arrested Marc Alexander Simon, a 27-year-old male from Walnut Creek, (born Christmas Day in 1996) in connection with an attempted kidnapping of a child at the downtown library on North Broadway. The incident occurred on April 11, and officers and detectives were able to identify the suspect and arrest him.

The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office and the above charges were filed against Simon. Simon remains in custody at the County Jail with a bail set at $2,000,000.

Case #: 24-9848

Charges:

PC 288(a) – Two counts of lewd act upon a child,

PC 664/207(b) – Attempted kidnapping for child molesting,

PC 311.11(c)(1) – Possession of over 600 images of child pornography

Although the police department does not suspect there to be additional victims, we are releasing a photo of the suspect and asking the public to call us if you or someone you know has been victimized by him.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, six-inch tall, 160-pound Simon is Hispanic, is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility. However, according to Vinelink, which obtains information from the Sheriff’s Office, Simon is listed as White.

If you or someone you know has information about this case, we encourage you to contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844 or call the Anonymous Tip Line at 925-943-5865.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Pittsburg retail theft suspect arrested

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The suspect stole more than $5,100 of merchandise from the Bath & Body Works store in the Century Plaza. Photos: Pittsburg PD

Stole over $5,100 in merchandise

By Pittsburg Police Department

Dedication and Hard Work Lead to Success

Officer Towner from the Pittsburg PD, who leads the commercial/retail enforcement unit, spearheaded a thorough investigation spanning several weeks into retail and shoplifting incidents at a local Bath & Body Works store in the Century Plaza at 4225 Century Blvd., resulting in a loss exceeding $5,100. During her investigation,

Officer Towner identified a consistent pattern and calculated approach followed by the suspect. Officer Towner successfully apprehended the suspect through her diligence and dedication during one of his attempted thefts. The suspect was arrested and booked for his crimes, and a large portion of the stolen goods was recovered.

This case highlighted the complexities of dealing with retail theft perpetrators and stressed the significance of collaborating with the local business community. Officer Towner’s unwavering commitment exemplified the Pittsburg Police Department’s dedication to public safety and combating retail crime.

Concord hair salon owner arrested for sexual assault

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Chi Gnoc Vu arrest photo. Source: Concord PD

By Sgt. Chris Souza, Special Victims Unit, Concord Police Department

CPD CASE #23-08633

On Monday, April 29, 2024, the Concord Police Department Special Victims Unit (SVU) arrested 41-year-old Chi Ngoc Vu for multiple counts of sexual assault. Vu is the owner of “Chi Hair Salon” located at 4701 Clayton Road in Concord. The sexual assaults occurred inside of the hair salon business.

The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office who filed the following charges against Vu:

PC 261(a)(2) – Forcible Rape

PC 261.5(d) – Unlawful Sexual Intercourse

PC 287(c)(2)(C) – Forcible Oral Copulation

PC 287(b)(2) – Oral Copulation of Minor Under 16

Two Counts of PC 288(c)(1) – Lewd Acts on a Child

Vu remains in custody on $275,000 bail. The Concord Police Department has reason to believe that Vu may have victimized others.

We are releasing his booking photo and urge anyone with additional information to call Detective Huffmaster at (925) 671-5080.

According to localcrimenews.com, Vu is a resident of Pittsburg.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Two Turlock, Ceres men arrested for stealing safe from Brentwood business

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Two burglary suspects arrested after being found with the stolen safe from a Brentwood business in the in trunk of their car on Wed., April 24, 2024. Photos: Brentwood PD

By Brentwood Police Department

The stolen safe in the suspects’ car trunk. Photo: BPD

On Wednesday April 24, 2024, around 11:45PM, Brentwood officers responded to 51 Sand Creek Road, the location of the Dollar Tree store, for a report of an alarm going off in the business. While officers were responding, Dispatch told officers that a safe was stolen from the business and the suspects had just fled from the scene in a car.

Brentwood officers who were circulating the area observed a car traveling at a high rate of speed in the immediate vicinity and the same car was subsequently found unoccupied in a nearby Court.

Officers began searching the area and found 27-year-old Alfredo Jose Barrera of Turlock, and 26-year-old Alejandro RamirezSilva of Ceres, hiding in nearby bushes.

Both Barrera and RamirezSilva were taken into custody, and the car they were associated to contained the stolen safe and burglary tools.

Barrera and RamirezSilva were placed under arrest for Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, Possession of Burglary Tools, and other charges. Barrera also had outstanding warrants from another county.

Barrera and Ramirez Silva were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.

This successful investigation stands as a testament to the dedication and response of our officers in ensuring the safety and security of our community and businesses.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of April 26, RamirezSilva was no longer in custody and as of April 29, Barrera was also out of custody having been cited and released.

According to localcrimenews.com, Barrera had previously been arrested in 2021 by Modesto PD and in 2022 by Tracy CHP for driving with a suspended license for reckless driving and driving while using a cellular device.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch man arrested for DUI, causing multiple vehicle injury collision in Brentwood

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While speeding on Balfour Road; bonded out of custody; police seek witnesses

By Lt. Miguel Aguiar, Brentwood Police Department

On April 30, 2024, at around 9:26 PM, Brentwood officers responded to the report of a traffic collision involving multiple vehicles on westbound Balfour Road at McViking Way, between the two shopping centers along Fairview Way. Preliminary investigation revealed, the driver of a Chevy Silverado, identified as Zachary Alan Frances Rau, a 26-year-old male from Antioch, was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed, westbound Balfour Road before colliding with a Toyota RAV-4, driven by a 31-year-old male from Brentwood. The Toyota then collided with a Honda HR-V, driven by a 37-year-old male from Brentwood.

A passenger in Rau’s vehicle, a 26-year-old male from Antioch, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment and is expected to survive.

The driver of the Toyota RAV-4 was unconscious and unresponsive when officers arrived on scene. He sustained major injuries and required extrication from the vehicle before being airlifted to a local hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries and remains unstable.

The driver of the Honda HR-V was not injured.

Rau was treated a local hospital for minor injuries and subsequently arrested and booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing injury.

The names of all others involved, and any additional information are being withheld at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Rau is white and as of 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, he had bonded out of custody.

Anyone with further information or if you witnessed the collision and have not already been interviewed, please contact the Brentwood Police Department Traffic Safety Unit at (925) 634-6911.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Former accountant for Richmond business charged with felonies for embezzlement, ID theft money laundering

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Bail set at $2 million

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

A former accountant for a paver company in Richmond has been charged with a six-count felony complaint related to embezzlement, money laundering, identity theft, and tax evasion.

53-year-old Angela Fae Brown from Olivehurst, CA in Yuba County was arraigned today on charges in Contra Costa Superior Court. Between September 2017 and November 2022, Brown engaged in an embezzlement scheme that bilked over 800-thousand dollars from her employer, Viking Pavers in Richmond. Brown used her accounting skills to exploit financial vulnerabilities in the company to illegally enrich herself for nearly five years. She did this by:

  1. Pretending to be the owner of Viking Pavers and creating a fake online account with a payment processing service linked to her personal bank account.
  2. Generating hundreds of phony invoices for services and sending them electronically to the fake account she controlled.
  3. Brown paid these fake invoices with the company’s funds through the online payment processing platform — which funneled the money into her own account.
  4. Brown’s trusted employee status — and access to various financial controls — allowed her to conceal her embezzlement scheme for a long time.

A manager eventually suspected Brown’s fraudulent actions and confronted her. Richmond Police who, along with financial forensics analysts from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, investigated Brown’s actions. She was arrested on April 19th, 2024, and is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. Her bail is set at two-million-dollars. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “In white collar crimes, it’s of paramount importance for our Special

Operations Unit to use forensic tools to recover stolen funds; funds some have gone to great lengths to conceal.”

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

  1. PC 530.5(a)-felony: Identity theft
  2. PC 186.10(a)-felony: Money laundering
  3. PC 487(a)-f: Grand theft of money, labor, or real or personal property exceeding $950
  4. PC 529(a)(3)-felony: False personation
  5. PC 186.10(a)-felony: Money laundering
  6. RT 19705(a)(4)-felony: Concealing property with intent to evade tax

— Special Allegation PC 186.11(a)(2) : aggravated white-collar crime – taking more than $500,000

Alexis Gabe homicide to be featured in “On the Case with Paula Zahn” April 24

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From City of Oakley

In 2022, our community was gripped with the disappearance of Alexis Gabe, who was a local resident of ours. Our police department became deeply involved in her disappearance and quickly began operating as if Alexis met with foul play. This case ultimately became a case involving several jurisdictions in California and the State of Washington.

The suspect was the ex-boyfriend of Alexis and he was killed during the investigation, further hampering the efforts of local law-enforcement. Partial human remains were found in Amador County later that year and positively identified as those of Alexis. (See related article)

Alexis’ case will be featured on the program “On the Case with Paula Zahn” on April 24, 2024. The program will feature interviews with family members of Alexis and Oakley Police personnel. To see the program, you will need to be able to tune into the Investigation Discovery Channel (ID Channel).

 

Arrest made in Sunday’s fatal hit-and-run crash in Concord

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Jesus Ivan Dorantes was arrested by CHP on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Photo: CHP Contra Costa

By CHP Contra Costa

Contra Costa, CA – April 10, 2024 – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Contra Costa Office has made the arrest of 22-year-old Jesus Ivan Dorantes in connection with the fatal crash that claimed the life of a nine-year-old girl. Dorantes was apprehended this afternoon and is currently being held at Martinez Detention Facility

Dorantes faces multiple charges, including manslaughter (192 PC), felony hit and run (20001 VC), and child abuse (273 PC). His bail has been set at $200,000.

CHP Contra Costa remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and service of all individuals on the road. This arrest underscores the CHP’s dedication to holding accountable those responsible for senseless tragedies on our roadways.

 

Berkeley man charged for rape, robbery of woman near North Concord BART station

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Larry Dean Ridge, Jr. also arrested March 20th for sexual battery

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

Martinez, California — 40-year-old Larry Dean Ridge, Jr. of Berkeley has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with a three-count felony complaint for forcible rape, assault and second-degree robbery against a female victim in Concord.

The incident occurred on April 8, 2024, around 6:30 pm near the North Concord BART station. The victim was walking on a pedestrian/bike trail when Ridge allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and proceeded to rape her. The victim was able to strike Ridge, who grabbed the victim’s purse and stole her cell phone and wallet. He left the purse as he fled toward the BART station.

A witness biking on the trail was able to help the victim to the BART station, where a station agent called 911. Concord Police officers arrived at the station shortly after and were able to locate and detain Ridge, who was on a BART train. After both the victim and the witness identified him as the assailant, he was arrested by officers.

On Thursday, April 11, Ridge was arraigned in Martinez on the charges, including special allegations for prior serious or violent felonies in another county. He’s being held in the Martinez Detention Facility.

His bail has been set at $1,250,000.

Case No. 01-24-01348 | The People of the State of California v. Ridge, Larry Dean, Jr.

According to localcrimenews.com, Ridge was also arrested last month by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for sexual battery in Milbrae.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Berkeley man arrested for sexually assaulting woman near North Concord BART Station

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Convicted of murder in 2005; bail set at $1.25 million

By Lt. Mark Robison, Concord Police Department

On April 8th, 2024, at 6:25 PM, Concord Police officers responded to a sexual assault that had just occurred on the BART Linear Park trail in the area of Port Chicago Highway and the North Concord BART Station. A female victim, who was walking alone on the trail, was attacked by an unknown male, who forced her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The victim fought with the suspect, and he fled toward the BART station. The victim and a witness were able to follow the suspect and called the police. Multiple officers from the Concord and BART Police Departments responded to the scene, resulting in the suspect’s detention by BART officers at the BART station. He was identified as the responsible and arrested.

The suspect was identified as Larry Dean Ridge, Jr. (40 years old, born 4/25/1983, resident of Berkeley). On Thursday afternoon, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed several felony charges against Ridge related to this assault. He remains in custody.

The Concord Police Department has no prior contacts with Ridge. He has a previous conviction for murder in 2005 and is not on parole or probation.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, seven-inch tall, 175-pound Ridge is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail is set at $1.25 million. His next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 22 in Superior Court Department 23. Ridge’s description is listed as Non-Hispanic. But according to vinelink.com, he is listed as Black.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.