Contra Costa Herald

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

Owner of Concord landscaping company charged with two felonies for 2018 death of employee

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Had suspended contractor’s license at the time; death of Antioch man occurred in San Ramon

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

Segundo Collazos. From
his Facebook page posted on April 26, 2019.

On Monday, March 1, 2021, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony complaint against Segundo Collazos, the owner of Amazon’s Landscaping Company based out of Concord. (See Complaint Collazos February 2021)

The charges relate to the 2018 death of Manuel Peralta, then 68, of Antioch, California, who died while operating a rented tree stump grinder in San Ramon. At the time of the incident, defendant Segundo Collazos had a suspended license with the Contractors State License Board. The investigation began from the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety & Health Bureau of Investigations.

The first felony alleges that defendant Collazos permitted the victim Manuel Peralta to use a stump grinder in a manner contrary to manufacturer recommendations and to work in the danger zone of the cutting wheel, resulting in his death. The second felony alleges that Collazos failed to properly train Peralta on the proper and safe use of the stump grinder, also resulting in his death.

The District Attorney’s Office reminds homeowners to check that a contractor is currently licensed and insured before hiring them for residential construction work. Homeowners can check the validity of a license number on the Contractors’ State Licensing Board website or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752).

“When a Cal/OSHA investigation reveals evidence a worker’s serious injury or death involves criminal misconduct, our Bureau of Investigations Unit refers those cases to the local District Attorney’s Office for prosecution,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Doug Parker. “We thank the Contra Costa County District Attorney for their work on this case. Employers must be made aware that disregarding the requirement to train and supervise workers using dangerous equipment can lead to tragedy and possible jail time.”

Deputy District Attorney Ryan Morris is prosecuting the case on behalf of the People. DDA Morris is assigned to our Office’s Special Operations Division.

Case information: People v. Segundo Collazos, Docket Number 01-195521-0.

Man found shot to death near Concord shopping center early Monday morning

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By Concord Police Department

Early this morning, just after midnight, CPD received a call reporting a male down in the roadway near a shopping center located in the 1100 block of Concord Ave. Officers found a 26-year-old male who appears to have been killed from several gunshot wounds. Witnesses described a dark colored SUV that may have been involved. Detectives are actively working the case and there is no further information for release at this time.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Loercher at (925) 603-5922 or our anonymous tip-line at (925) 603-5836, referencing case #21-02004.

See crime scene video by CBS KPIX5.

Police seek help finding suspects in home invasion armed robbery in Orinda Sunday

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

Sunday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2021 at about 2:53 PM, Orinda police officers responded to Don Gabriel Way in Orinda for a report of an armed robbery at a residence.

The victim was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed. The suspects stole valuables and then fled. The victim called the police. He was not injured.

Police searched for the suspects using a helicopter, drone and police K-9 but were not able to locate them.

The investigation is ongoing.

The suspects are described as two African American males. One was wearing a green florescent construction vest, black colored hoodie jacket w/red stripe, black pants and white shoes. The other was dressed in a baby-blue colored hoodie jacket, black pants, and black and white shoes. The vehicle they were driving is a silver-colored Mercedes Benz.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact 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 early Friday morning murder of Richmond man in El Sobrante

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Victim identified, shot multiple times in his car

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

Friday morning at about 1:10 AM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 300 block of Joan Vista Street in El Sobrante for a report of a person who had been shot in a vehicle.

Deputies arrived at the location and found a man in a car suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputies performed life-saving measures until responding medical personnel arrived. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

The man is identified as 30-year-old Jovanne Hollman of Richmond.

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.

Contra Costa DA Becton supports California Supreme Court decision to prevent minors from being tried as adults

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By Allen Payton

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton issued a statement regarding Thursday’s California Supreme Court decision to uphold the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1391 (Lara).

Proposition 57, passed in the November 2016 general election, requires prosecutors to commence all cases involving a minor in juvenile court. Senate Bill No. 1391 enacted in 2018, amended Proposition 57 to prohibit minors under the age of 16 from being transferred to adult criminal court.

In the case of O.G. v. The Superior Court of Ventura County, the Court of Appeal held that Senate Bill 1391 is inconsistent with Proposition 57 and thus invalid. The state Supreme Court overruled the lower court’s decision.

“We agree with the majority view that Senate Bill 1391 was a permissible amendment to Proposition 57 and we reverse the judgment in this case,” the decision reads.

“Today’s unanimous decision by the Supreme Court is an important moment for the criminal justice system to give children a chance at rehabilitation for crimes they committed during their youth,” said Becton. “I have always believed this law was constitutional and should be followed. Our local judges in Contra Costa County have also agreed with me.”

“The juvenile justice system currently is not working,” she continued. “I established a task force to examine how to reform our juvenile justice system. We must think differently on how we treat children and ensure we strategically allocate resources to focus on prevention and rehabilitation efforts.”

The full Supreme Court decision is available here.

Scott Alonso, PIO, CCCDA contributed to this report.

Formal charges of murder, other crimes filed against suspect in Discovery Bay homicide and Antioch drive-by shooting

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Also tied to Brentwood store robbery; bail lowered from $11 million to $9.8 million

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

This morning detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Antioch Police

Department and Brentwood Police Department jointly filed their cases against 26-year-old Darryon Williams of Stockton. He is the suspect in Saturday’s multiple shooting of first responders in Antioch, a murder in Discovery Bay and robbery in Brentwood. The Contra Costa D.A.’s Office has filed the following charges against Williams: Complaint filed vs. Williams February 24 2021

  • Murder
  • Second degree robbery
  • Shooting from a vehicle
  • Assault on peace officer/firefighter with semiautomatic firearm (6 counts)
  • Assault with a semiautomatic firearm (3 counts)
  • Fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly

Williams remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $9,790,270 bail. According to Scott Alonso, PIO for the Contra Costa DA’s Office, Williams’ arraignment will be held Thursday, Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 1 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court building in Martinez.

The Office of the Sheriff would like to thank the Antioch and Brentwood Police Departments for their assistance during our homicide investigation. The three agencies worked together closely and collaboratively. The investigation is ongoing.

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

The Antioch Police Department can be reached at (925) 778-2441. Anonymous text tips can be sent to 274637 with the keyword ANTIOCH. The Brentwood Police Department can be reached at (925) 809-7911.

Discovery Bay homicide victim shot by same suspect arrested for drive-by in Antioch Saturday night, search on for suspect’s son and his mother

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Photo and information: CCCSheriff

Suspect identified, being held on $11 million bail

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

Tues., Feb. 23, 2021 UPDATE: From the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office – Regarding the Discovery Bay homicide on Saturday, Kimberly Meeks and her son were located this morning and they are safe.

On Saturday, February 20, 2021, at about 8:51 PM, Antioch police officers, AMR medics and Con Fire personnel were shot at by a subject in a drive-by shooting. Two were hit and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect fled the scene and was pursued by numerous law enforcement agencies. The suspect was taken into custody in the City of Richmond. The suspect was later identified as 26-year-old Darryon Williams of Stockton.

Later that evening, the Antioch Police Department requested Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies contact a person related to their case and conduct a welfare check at a residence on the 2100 block of Newport Court in Discovery Bay.

Delta Station Deputy Sheriffs arrived at the residence and found the door to the home open. Deputies conducted a protective sweep of the house and discovered a deceased individual inside with apparent gunshot wounds. The person was later identified as 64-year-old Michael Iliff of Discovery Bay.

Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives and crime lab personnel responded to the location. They were assisted by the Antioch Police Department, CHP and other agencies.

Investigators later identified Williams as the suspect in the murder of Iliff. After being interviewed by detectives, Williams was booked today at about 1 PM into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: one count of murder and ten counts of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $11 million bail.

Kimberly Meeks and her car. Photos: CCCSheriff

Sheriff’s Office detectives are trying to locate Williams’ four-year-old son and the mother of the child, 31-year-old Kimberly Meeks of Discovery Bay. She has links to the Stockton/Sacramento area. Detectives have concerns about their safety. They are traveling in a dark colored Audi SUV with California license plate – 8UKN742.

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

Firefighter, paramedic injured in drive-by shooting in Antioch Saturday night, suspect from Stockton caught in Richmond

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Both first responders in stable condition with non-life-threatening wounds; ambulance and police car also struck by gunfire; incident under investigation

By Lt. John Fortner, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department & Steve Hill, Public Information Officer, ConFire

On Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at approximately 8:51 PM, Antioch police officers were called to the 1900 block of Auto Center Drive on the report of a citizen requiring emergency medical attention. A fire engine from Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire Protection District (Con Fire), and an ambulance from Contra Costa American Medical Response (AMR) also responded to the medical call.

While tending to the patient in the parking lot near Auto Center Drive, a suspect in a silver SUV drove by the team of first responders and began shooting at the group. Afterwards, the suspect turned around and drove past the group again firing a second series of shots. A 31-year-old male Con Fire firefighter and a 58-year-old male AMR ambulance transport Alliance paramedic were caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting while responding to a serious medical emergency in Antioch Saturday night.

Shots were reported at 9:08 p.m. shortly after firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene. Both first responders and the original medical call patient were transported to local area hospitals at approximately 9:30 p.m.  The firefighter was shot in the foot and the paramedic was shot in the leg and their injuries were determined to be non-life threatening. An ambulance and a police car were also struck by gunfire.

Several Antioch officers gave chase onto Highway 4 as the suspect vehicle fled westbound towards the City of Pittsburg. The vehicle pursuit traveled through Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and ended in the City of Richmond after the suspect vehicle collided with a parked vehicle. The suspect attempted to flee from the scene of the collision, but he was quickly taken into custody by officers from Richmond PD and the California Highway Patrol. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Air Support Unit also provided critical assistance. A firearm was collected at the scene.

“Tonight’s senseless shootings are a vivid reminder of the very real dangers our first responders face, often side-by-side with our law enforcement partners, as they work to save lives across our communities,” said Lewis T. Broschard III, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “We are grateful for the public outpouring of support for our wounded firefighter and AMR paramedic and for the work of law enforcement across the Bay Area to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.”

“As representatives of our firefighters, and in support of the police and EMS personnel we respond with on a daily basis, we are grateful to report both first responders injured in tonight’s shooting incident are expected to make full recoveries,” said Vince Wells, president, United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County. “I would like to thank the members of the community of Antioch and beyond for your words of concern and support regarding those injured in tonight’s incident. We expect to learn more as the investigation uncovers more details regarding this incident.”

Antioch Police Department detectives with the Violent Crimes and Special Operations Units responded to the scene, along with crime scene investigators, and took over the investigation. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected and evaluated.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Brogdon at (925) 779-6895. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Three arrested in Oakley for attempting to steal catalytic converters early Thursday

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By City of Oakley

On Thursday, February 18, at approximately 4:25 AM, officers were dispatched to the 4600 block of La Vista Drive reference unknown suspects possibly breaking into vehicles. Officers arrived on scene and located a vehicle stopped in the middle of the street, with one male driver inside and two other males in the process of getting into the vehicle. They were carrying a floor jack. The subjects were detained and an initial investigation uncovered materials consistent with catalytic convertor theft within their vehicle.

Additionally, a vehicle in the area appeared to have been a victim of an attempted catalytic convertor theft; most likely thwarted by the officers’ arrival. The three males were arrested and later booked into jail on the charges. Their vehicle was also towed.

The Oakley Police Department truly appreciates the collaboration with its citizens. Together, we can help reduce crime in our City.

 

Suspect in 20-year-old cold case Pittsburg murder arrested in Elk Grove Wednesday

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By CCCSheriff.

Being held on $10 million bail; victim was 22-year-old Danny Guyse

By Pittsburg Police Department

It was September 27th, 2000, when Pittsburg Police Officers received a call about a man who had been shot while sitting in his car at 1605 Railroad Avenue. The victim was 22-year-old Danny Guyse of Pittsburg. Sadly, after he arrived at the hospital, Mr. Guyse died of his injuries.

Pittsburg Police Detectives had very little to work with in building a homicide case. There were no viable leads at the time. The only worthwhile information was that the person responsible possibly fled the scene in a light-colored Ford Mustang.

As with all homicide investigations, detectives continually worked the case over the following year. Ultimately, the investigation was assigned to the department’s Cold Case Unit in a continued effort to determine Mr. Guyse’s killer.

Over the next two decades, numerous suspects and persons of interest were developed and investigated.

In 2019 detectives got a break in this case and identified 44-year-old Paea Tasini as possibly involved in this homicide. As a result of the newly learned information, detectives authored a search warrant where detectives obtained additional information critical to the case.

Based on the newly obtained information and continued work by detectives, this case was taken to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for review. On February 17, 2021, the District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging Tasini for the murder of Danny Guyse. Tasini was additionally charged with another count of attempt murder related to a separate shooting that also occurred in 2000. Late Wednesday evening, with the assistance of the Elk Grove Police Department, detectives located Tasini at his residence in the city of Elk Grove and placed him under arrest. Tasini is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on a $10 million bail.