Contra Costa Herald

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

Pittsburg Police join statewide operation to combat human and sex trafficking

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Dozens rescued, hundreds arrested

By Pittsburg Police Department

On January 29th, in conjunction with Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Pittsburg Police Department personnel took part in a statewide human trafficking operation. Operation Reclaim and Rebuild is an annual multi-agency initiative that focuses on rescuing victims of human trafficking, providing victims with much-needed services, and identifying and arresting their captors. Police agencies and other trafficking task forces throughout the state joined in the operation this year to continue a no tolerance focus on human trafficking and sex crimes.

This year, the Pittsburg Police Department joined with the Contra Costa County Human Trafficking Task Force, and over 100 other agencies throughout the state of California to combat Human and Sex Trafficking. This statewide Task Force is an example of how individual law enforcement agencies can work together to be more effective when they join together.

As the operation took place throughout the state, Pittsburg Police Detectives were hard at work in our own community, making three arrests related to human trafficking crimes. In addition, several other suspects in human trafficking cases were identified. These arrests are part of the over 450 arrests and 39 rescues that were made throughout the statewide operation.

We were proud to do our part in making Operation Reclaim and Rebuild a big success in Contra Costa County.

 

Hercules man part of multi-state crew arrested for stealing over $4.5 million of goods from The Home Depot

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Some of the stolen merchandise from The Home Depot recovered from Alderete’s truck. Photo: HPD

By Hercules Police Department

On January 29, 2021, at 11:19 am, an officer located a vehicle associated with multiple thefts from The Home Depot throughout the state.

On January 28, 2021, Hercules Officers were alerted of a suspect known throughout the state to steal items from The Home Depot and then make returns on some of the items stolen to make back the money for the purchased item. The Home Depot has been working cases for this suspect for over three years and believes he has stolen over $4.5 million from The Home Depot. Since September of last year, it is confirmed that the suspect had stolen over $500,000 from multiple different Home Depot stores up and down the west coast.

An officer located the suspect vehicle, a 2006 Ford Econoline Van, backed into a 1500 Sycamore Avenue parking stall. Officers waited for the man, identified as Miguel Alderete, age 49 of Hercules and Los Angeles, to return to his vehicle, where he was contacted and detained. His vehicle’s search resulted in approximately $10,000 of stolen merchandise from The Home Depot in the van. The occupants of the van were arrested and transported to jail.

A multi-state organized retail theft crew was apprehended after four years of stealing from The Home Depot. The estimated loss during that time is about $4.5 million. This crew averages about $105,000 per month in thefts.

After eluding multiple agencies, Hercules Police were able to catch the culprits, including a second suspect, identified as Antonio Marquez, age 56 from Southern California, in a shopping center across from The Home Depot. The crew had approximately $10,000 of merchandise in their possession from thefts that day in Tracy, Fairfield and Vallejo.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

 

Suspect arrested in Monday Bay Point homicide of Pittsburg man, bail set at $1 million

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By CCCSheriff at Vine.com

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

The suspect in the Bay Point homicide that occurred on Monday, January 18, 2021, has been arrested.

On Monday at about 6:36 PM, Muir Station deputy sheriffs were dispatched to the 2100 block of Willow Pass Road in Bay Point regarding a man who was shot.

Deputies found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds. They rendered medical aid until the fire department and an ambulance arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

The victim was identified as 42-year-old Tresylan Shelton of Pittsburg. An autopsy found he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Sheriff’s Office detectives investigating the homicide identified the suspect as 27-year-old Jerome Goodwin of Bay Point. They obtained an arrest warrant for him.

On Saturday, January 24, 2021, detectives traced Goodwin to a motel on the 4000 block of Alhambra Avenue in Martinez. At about 4:50 PM, Sheriff’s Office SWAT team served the arrest warrant and took him into custody without incident.

Detectives interviewed Goodwin and he was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Police seek additional victims of sex crimes by Hercules man at Brentwood restaurant

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Carlos Gonzalez. Photo: Brentwood PD

By Brentwood Police Department

In December 2020, we initiated an investigation where Carlos Gonzalez, male, 35 years old, from Hercules was accused of sexual assault involving a male juvenile. Gonzalez was formerly the manager of the Chipotle restaurant in Brentwood where the sexual assault took place against the victim seeking employment at the restaurant. The preliminary investigation resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for Gonzalez. On 12/30/2020, Gonzalez was arrested without incident at his residence in Hercules. Gonzalez was booked into county jail on multiple felony sex crimes involving a minor.

Further investigation has revealed additional victims who communicated with Gonzalez through social media platforms. These victims met Gonzalez while he was managing other Chipotle restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Due to the fact Gonzalez was exposed to an unknown number of individuals while managing different Chipotle restaurants, it is believed there may be more victims that have yet to come forward.

The Brentwood Police Department is requesting anyone with information to contact Detective Talley at 925-809-7793.

Sheriff’s Office investigates Monday shooting death of Pittsburg man in Bay Point

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

On Monday, January 18, 2021, at about 6:36 PM, Muir Station deputy sheriffs were dispatched to the 2100 block of Willow Pass Road in Bay Point regarding a man who was shot.

Deputies found the victim who suffered from gunshot wounds. They rendered medical aid until the fire department and an ambulance arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

The victim is a 42-year-old resident of Pittsburg. He is not being identified at this time. An autopsy this morning found he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Hayward man arrested for armed hostage incident in Discovery Bay Monday morning

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From Vine.com through CCCSheriff’s website.

A felon on parole for kidnapping, Sheriff’s SWAT Team assisted by Antioch Police and CHP

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

Monday morning, Jan. 18, 2021, at about 5:49 AM, Delta Station deputy sheriffs responded to multiple reports of a person pointing a gun in the Starbucks located at 14804 Highway 4 in Discovery Bay.

There were reports that there were several people inside the store at the time the suspect entered.

One customer ran into one of the bathrooms, locked the door, and called Sheriff’s Dispatch.

At the time, it was first believed the employees were possibly hiding in a back office, but it was later discovered they had escaped out the backdoor shortly after the suspect entered the business.

Deputies quickly set up a perimeter and made announcements for the suspect to surrender.  The suspect was seen pacing back and forth inside. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Antioch Police Department and the CHP. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team responded.

At about 7:04 AM, the suspect opened the back door and eventually stepped outside.  A react team of deputies entered through the front door and was able to rescue the customer who was still inside the bathroom.

The suspect was initially non-compliant, but eventually surrendered and was taken into custody. A loaded handgun was found in one of the bathrooms during a safety sweep of the business.

The suspect is identified as 29-year-old Lamont Dwayne Lomack of Hayward. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: false imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition by person prohibited, carrying a loaded firearm, brandishing a firearm, and parole violation. Lomack is currently on parole for kidnapping. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

 

Following attempted police stop, car crash three arrested in Richmond with illegal guns Friday night

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Guns seized by Richmond Police Friday night, Jan. 15, 2021. Photo: RPD

By Richmond Police Department

Friday night, Jan. 15, 2021, Central District Officer Fuller attempted to stop a car with stolen license plates. The driver refused to yield and shortly after, the car crashed into another vehicle in the intersection of Marina Way and Barrett Ave. Three suspects fled the vehicle and ran onto the Union Pacific train tracks. Officers searched the area and located all three subjects.

A search of the vehicle revealed five firearms, all fully loaded. Two of the guns were rifles and three were handguns with extended magazines. The two rifles were an AK-47 and AR-15 with high-capacity magazines.

All three suspects were either on parole or had outstanding warrants for their arrests.

It is a relief to have these firearms off the streets and we are extremely proud of our officers and their commitment to keeping our community safe.

#RichmondPDCali  #richmondpd

 

West Contra Costa murder suspect in custody, held on $1,050,000 bail

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

Kenneth Jordan Lightfoot. Posted on his Facebook page Feb. 1, 2019.

The suspect in the Tara Hills murder that took place on Sunday was arrested by deputy sheriffs on Friday, January 15, 2021. He is identified as 30-year-old Kenneth Jordan Lightfoot of Tara Hills, a neighborhood in West Contra Costa County.

On Sunday, January 10, 2021, at about 12:39 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of shots fired at an apartment complex at San Pablo Avenue and Crestwood Drive in Tara Hills.

Deputies found a man who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound in a vehicle. Deputies immediately began life-saving measures until the fire department and an ambulance arrived. The victim, later identified as 30-year-old Charles Johnson of San Francisco, was pronounced deceased at the scene. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds.

Homicide detectives worked continuously on this case and identified Lightfoot as the suspect. They secured a warrant for his arrest.

On Friday, at about 2:39 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were called to a report of shots fired at the same apartment complex where the murder took place. They detained a man who was confirmed to be Lightfoot. He was later interviewed by detectives.

At about 10 PM, Lightfoot was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder and illegal discharge of a firearm. He is being held in lieu of $1,050,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Sheriff’s Office investigates Sunday murder of San Francisco man in West County

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

On Sunday, January 10, 2021, at about 12:39 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of shots fired at an apartment complex at San Pablo Avenue and Crestwood Drive in the Tara Hills neighborhood of West Contra Costa County.

Deputies arrived finding a man who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound in a vehicle. Deputies immediately began life-saving measures on the victim until the arrival of the fire department and an ambulance. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is identified as 30-year-old Charles Johnson of San Francisco. An autopsy this morning determined the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

San Ramon Police ID, seek public’s help locating suspect in NYE shooting

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Terence “Terene” Brown. Photo: SRPD

By San Ramon Police Department

San Ramon PD needs your assistance.

On New Year’s Eve San Ramon PD officers responded to the 100 block of Amberstone Lane for a shooting.

The victim was life flighted to a local hospital and is in stable condition.

The suspect was identified as 19-year-old San Ramon resident Terence “Terene” Brown who fled the location. Brown is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon. The firearm has not been accounted for.

If you have any information about Brown’s whereabouts please contact SRPD at 925.973.2779 or 9-1-1.