Contra Costa Herald

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

Quick response leads to 4 arrests at Concord shopping center

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The stolen merchandise recovered (center and four suspects. Photos: Concord PD

Juveniles suspected of stealing $3,400 in merchandise; Pleasant Hill PD assists

By Concord Police Department

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, officers responded to a report of four subjects running toward the exit after stealing merchandise from a local store. When officers arrived, the suspects fled in different directions—but our officers quickly pursued and apprehended all four juvenile suspects. All four were booked and then transported to Juvenile Hall.

All stolen merchandise—valued at approximately $3,400—was recovered. Detectives are investigating whether these individuals are connected to other recent high-value thefts from the same store over the past two weeks.

A big thank you to Pleasant Hill PD for their assistance!

Thanks to the quick response and teamwork, another theft was stopped, and our community remains a little safer.

Pinole company learns employee is a felon, arrested for possession of “ghost” guns

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The ghost guns and ammunition seized from the suspect’s work van. Photo: Pinole PD

Clarence Odell Cortez of Lathrop hid them in work van; 5th arrest in 3 years all on weapons, drug charges; already bonded out of custody

By Pinole Police Department

Officers in Action. Looks like someone took the Halloween spirit a little too far! An employer’s surprise check uncovered a felon with ghost guns hiding in a work van.

An employer was doing a spot check of one of their employees at a job site in the 1400 block of Fitzgerald Drive and learned the employee was a convicted felon in possession of a rifle in the company work van. Pinole officers responded and the employee was safely detained. During a search of the company van, a ghost (unserialized) rifle and ghost pistol with matching ammunition was located in the van.

Clarence Odell Cortez of Lathrop, CA was arrested for multiple felony charges including felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Our officers handled it quickly and thankfully the only thing disappearing was the suspect’s freedom!

According to localcrimenews.com, Cortez was previously arrested four times in 2023 and 2024, three times by San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department and once by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department. Charges included possession of burglar’s tools, addict in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner, felony committed while released on bail or own recognizance, carrying a loaded firearm – previous felony conviction, possession of an assault weapon, convicted felon carrying a concealed firearm, violent felon in possession of body armor, short-barrel firearm sentencing, manufacturing, distributing, transporting, importing, selling or giving an assault weapon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of 8:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24 he had bonded out of custody.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

4 arrested for illegal drug manufacturing, distribution operation in Pittsburg

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A Con Fire hazmat team leaves the house where the operation was located. Bags of counterfeit prescription pills and a mask were confiscated. Video screenshots by Pittsburg PD

Each held on $2 million bail; Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies and helicopter, Antioch PD, Con Fire hazmat team assist

By Pittsburg Police Department

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2025, our SIU (Special Investigations Unit) detectives, along with patrol officers, served a search warrant at a Pittsburg residence connected to an illegal narcotics manufacturing and distribution operation. While those involved may have imagined themselves as criminal masterminds, the reality was far less impressive—and now their operation has been shut down.

Four suspects were detained and later booked on multiple felony charges, including conspiracy, sales and manufacturing of controlled substances. Their criminal enterprise has been dismantled.

We want to extend our sincere appreciation to STARR1, our partners at the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office and Antioch Police Department, and to Contra Costa Fire’s hazmat team for ensuring the safety of both our officers and the surrounding community throughout the operation.

Personnel from multiple agencies assisted in the effort.

Most importantly, SIU detectives seized more than 100,000 counterfeit prescription pills—approximately 70 pounds—many of which likely contained fentanyl, methamphetamine, or other dangerous substances. These pills were intended for distribution on our streets, and their removal undoubtedly prevented potential overdoses, injuries, and deaths in our community.

Tuesday morning, Oct. 21, 2025, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed charges on all four individuals, with bail set at over $2 million each.

 

Woman arrested for stabbing man to death in Bay Point home

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Believed to be her husband; 57-year-old Libelyn Utt held on no bail

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

Thursday morning, October 23, 2025, at about 11:26, Muir Station deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a medical-police call at a residence on Solano Court in Bay Point.

Deputies entered the home finding a man bleeding from stab wounds. They provided first aid until the fire department and an ambulance arrived on scene. The man was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

The suspect, believed to be the victim’s wife, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. She is identified as 57-year-old Libelyn Taculod Utt of Bay Point (born 8/7/68). She was booked on a murder charge and is being held without bail.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, she is five-feet and one-inch tall, 115-pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, and is Asian-Pacific Islander.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit are continuing the investigation. There are no outstanding suspects and no threat to the public. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Corrections Dep’t sergeant from Martinez charged with multiple lewd acts involving children

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Sergeant William Daniel Eberly. Photo: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

44-year-old William Daniel Eberly held on $1.025 million bail

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

A 44-year-old Martinez resident William Daniel Eberly (born 4/21/81) faces multiple felony charges for alleged lewd acts upon children.

There was a bench warrant out for his arrest after the DA filed the complaint. Eberly was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

He was arraigned, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Martinez on an 11-count complaint that includes forcible lewd acts on a child under 14 and lewd acts on a child aged 14 or 15. Two victims, identified in court documents as Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2, will remain anonymous to protect their privacy.

The alleged offenses occurred between November 1, 2020, and December 12, 2024, in Contra Costa County. Eberly was employed as a correctional sergeant with the California Department of

Corrections and Rehabilitation at the time of his arrest.

Eberly pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment. The judge set bail at $1,025,000 and granted two criminal protective orders requested by the District Attorney’s Office. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 3 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 22 at the A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez.

“Crimes against children demand our unwavering commitment to justice,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “Thanks to the thorough work of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, we will vigorously pursue this case while ensuring the victims and their families receive the protection and support they deserve throughout the legal process.”

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 210-pound Eberly is Hispanic. According to other news reports, he previously worked as a San Quentin prison guard.

According to localcrimenews.com, Eberly was previously arrested in 2013 by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for Contempt Of Court: Disobey Court Order/Process and in 2020 by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant.

Case No. 01-25-03633 | The People of the State of California v. William Daniel Eberly

William Daniel Eberly CCDA Charging Document

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Oakland man arrested following Hwy 24 shootings, pursuit, crash in Walnut Creek

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Carlos Ray Thomas was arrested by CHP on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Photo: CHP-Golden Gate

Booked for multiple felony charges, including attempted murder

Three vehicles shot, victims uninjured

By CHP – Golden Gate

Oakland, Calif.—An Oakland man is in custody after shooting at vehicles on State Route 24 (SR-24) on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 9, 2025. 57-year-old Carlos Ray Thomas of Oakland was arrested by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers after crashing on I-680 in Contra Costa County following the shooting.

On Thursday, October 9, at approximately 3:45 p.m., officers assigned to the CHP Oakland Area office were dispatched to a freeway shooting on eastbound SR-24, west of Old Tunnel Road. Responding officers learned that a victim’s vehicle had been struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle. The victim was uninjured and stopped near the scene. Two additional victims contacted CHP after arriving at their homes to report that their vehicles had also been struck by gunfire.

Following the shooting, multiple witnesses called 9-1-1 and provided dispatchers with a description of Thomas’ vehicle, which continued into Contra Costa County. Just after 4 p.m., Thomas crashed his vehicle in the center divide on southbound I-680 near Olympic Boulevard in Walnut Creek. Thomas exited the vehicle and was attempting to flee the scene on foot when multiple CHP units arrived and took him into custody without incident. A firearm was also recovered.

The CHP’s Golden Gate Division Special Investigations Unit responded to the scene and assumed primary investigative responsibility. At approximately 4:30 p.m., all eastbound lanes of SR-24 were diverted onto southbound SR-13 to allow investigators to process the scene. The lanes were reopened just after 7:00 p.m. Thomas was later booked into Santa Rita jail on multiple felony charges, including attempted murder and shooting from a vehicle.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Thomas is being held without bail and his next court appearance for an Attorney and Plea Hearing is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17 at 9:00 AM in Dept. 112 of the Alameda County Superior Court Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

GoFundMe account set up for twin daughters of Walnut Creek double murder victim

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Linlin Guo (right) and her mother Beimin Cheng (left). Source: GoFundMe

Justice for Linlin Guo & Her Mother – Support Her Children’s Future

By Allen D. Payton

According to a GoFundMe account set up by Lucy Chen, “On September 18, 2025, our dear friend Linlin Guo and her mother Beimin Cheng were tragically murdered in their home in Walnut Creek, California. The suspect, Howard Wang, Linlin’s husband, has been arrested and charged with double homicide. (See related articles here, here and here)

Linlin leaves behind 8-year-old twin girls who are now without both their mother and grandmother. The family is reeling from unimaginable grief and urgently needs support.

This campaign has been started with the consent of Linlin’s family. All proceeds will go directly to:

– Funeral and memorial expenses for Linlin and her mother

– Legal costs related to custody of the children

– Ongoing living and educational support for the children

This is more than a tragedy. It’s a wake-up call to the silent epidemic of domestic violence. Linlin was a loving mother, daughter, and friend. Her story deserves to be heard, and her children deserve a secure future.

If you wish to read more about the case, here is a link to the news article, https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/walnut-creek-man-charged-with-murdering-wife-mother-in-law/. More information can be found here, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/accused-killers-mistress-faces-charges/3956455/.

Please consider donating or sharing this page. Every gift, no matter the size, brings comfort and hope to Linlin’s family.

With gratitude,

Lucy Chen

(On behalf of Linlin’s family and cousin Jie Shao, who is the campaign’s beneficiary)

为郭琳琳和她母亲伸张正义——帮助两个孩子的未来

在2025年9月18日，我们亲爱的朋友郭琳琳和她的母亲程蓓敏在加州 Walnut Creek 家中惨遭杀害。凶嫌是琳琳的丈夫，Howard Wang，他已被警方逮捕并被控双重谋杀罪。

琳琳留下了一对8岁的双胞胎姐妹，现在孩子不仅失去了母亲，也失去了外婆。这个家庭正经历着巨大的悲痛与创伤，也急需社会的支持。

本次募款活动是经过琳琳家人的同意发起的，所有善款将直接用于以下用途：

– 支付琳琳与她母亲的丧葬费用

– 两位孩子的抚养权法律诉讼费用

– 两位孩子今后的生活与教育支出

这不仅是一场家庭悲剧，也让我们正视家庭暴力的可怕与沉默。琳琳是一位充满爱心的母亲、女儿和朋友，她的故事不应被遗忘，她的孩子更值得拥有一个安全的未来。

如需了解更多案件信息，请点击相关新闻链接，https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/walnut-creek-man-charged-with-murdering-wife-mother-in-law/. 更多详情, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/accused-killers-mistress-faces-charges/3956455/.

请伸出援手，捐款或转发此页面。无论金额大小，都是对这个家庭的关爱与希望。

衷心感谢，

Lucy Chen

（代表郭琳琳的家人及其表亲 Jie Shao 邵洁，也是本次募款的官方受益人）

 

San Pablo man sentenced to life for 2017 Richmond murder of ex-girlfriend

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Lawyer Dushan McBride (2017 Richmond PD photos) and murder victim, 29-year-old Rashanda Franklin. Photo source: gunmemorial.org

51-year-old Lawyer Dushan McBride convicted of killing Rashanda Franklin with her children in the car

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

Martinez, California – A judge today, Friday, October 10, 2025, sentenced 51-year-old Lawyer Dushan McBride (born 1/14/1974) to life in prison after a jury found him guilty earlier this year of murdering Rashanda Franklin in 2017. (See related article)

The Honorable Judge Mary Ann O’Malley sentenced McBride to 95 years to life in state prison. This consists of a determinate sentence of 20 years and 4 months, followed by an indeterminate sentence of 75 years to life.

McBride, who was 43 at the time, waited for Franklin, 30, in a church parking lot where she dropped off her children for school. He had been following and harassing her for weeks after she ended their two-year relationship but was not the father of the children. Fearing for her safety, Franklin called 911 and drove away with her children still in the car.

As both vehicles neared the intersection of 29th Street and Rheem Avenue in Richmond, McBride cut off Franklin’s car and got out to confront her. The 911 recording captured Franklin’s desperate plea: “I’ve got my kids in the car.” McBride replied, “I ain’t playing with you,” then shot and killed her.

In addition to murder, McBride was sentenced for related offenses of firing into an occupied vehicle, stalking, using a firearm to cause death and inflicting great bodily injury in circumstances involving domestic violence.

Rashanda Franklin. Photos: Facebook

“This tragic case underscores the devastating reality of domestic violence, which claims far too many lives,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “While no verdict can bring back a mother taken from her children in such a senseless act of violence, this sentence provides the victim’s family with a measure of justice and accountability. It also sends a clear message that stalking and harassment are warning signs that must be taken seriously, and that those who perpetrate such violence will be held responsible under the law.”

See surveillance video in ABC7 News report.

According to localcrimenews.com, McBride is Black and was also arrested in November 2020 for theft as reported by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 220-pound convict was arrested on May 2, 2025, and is currently being held in the Martinez Detention Facility.

For anyone experiencing domestic violence, help is available at Contra Costa’s Family Justice Centers cocofamilyjustice.org, by calling STAND! for Families free from Violence 1-888-215-5555, or at StaySafeContraCosta.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

87 arrests, 11 for DUI in Pleasant Hill in September 2025

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Source: Pleasant Hill PD

By Allen D. Payton

The Pleasant Hill Police Department provided the public with a look at some of the police activity that took place in September 2025.

There were 2,197 calls for service. That makes 18,780 total incidents for this year. That’s 5.2% more calls for service, compared to this time last year. Five were crimes against persons, including one aggravated assault and four robberies, both decreased over August.

Source: Pleasant Hill PD

The 94 crimes included two residential burglaries, four business burglaries, six auto thefts and 82 larcenies such as shoplifting, theft from a car, bike theft, purse snatch, etc. All but business burglaries decreased over August.

Of the 87 arrests for the month, 11 were for DUI, 74% were for misdemeanors, 26% were for felonies and all involved adults.

A post on the PHPD Facebook page reads, “We’ll continue sharing this information monthly on social media, but for a more extensive look at our crime stats, please visit https://www.phillca.gov/1384/Crime-Statistics.”

7 arrested in Concord mall smash and grab burglary, one with assault weapon

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A glass entry door to the Sun Valley Mall in Concord was broken through in the attempted smash and grab burglary and gun seized from one of the suspects on Sunday morning, Oct. 5, 2025. Photos: Concord PD

4 following early Sunday morning police pursuit, collision

18-year-old from Richmond, 6 juveniles

By Concord Police Department

On Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, at 3:52am, Concord PD Dispatchers received a call from Sun Valley Shopping Center Security regarding a burglary in progress. A large group of suspects had forced entry through glass doors. Officers quickly arrived at the mall and located the suspects exiting.

Four suspects entered a vehicle and fled, leading officers on a short pursuit. The driver lost control, was involved in a solo vehicle collision and then fled on foot. The three he left behind in the car were immediately taken into custody. There were no injuries as a result of the vehicle collision.

The driver was located a short distance away, hiding in bushes and taken into custody. The other three subjects that had been left behind at the mall were also immediately taken into custody. One of them was found to be in possession of a firearm with modifications that made it an assault weapon.

There are no outstanding suspects, and all are facing an extensive list of charges. The six male juveniles, all from San Pablo and Richmond, were booked at the Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall. Marcos Ramirez-Castro, 18, from Richmond, was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.