Contra Costa Herald

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

Brentwood man, Antioch juvenile arrested for Aug. 25th Brentwood robbery

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Police seek three other suspects

By Allen D. Payton

On Monday, Sept. 22 Brentwood Police arrested Ty William Duggins, age 19, (born 3/13/2006) of Rodeo for a robbery of an individual of a cell phone and jewelry, that occurred on August 25 in the city. According to Lt.  Mike Aguiar, he is one of five suspects wanted in the crime, including a juvenile from Antioch who was also arrested. But the police do not have the identities of the other three.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot tall, 250-pound Duggins is Hispanic (although he’s also listed as White), is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, criminal conspiracy and robbery.

He is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $150,000 bail and is next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 7 at 8:30 AM in Dept. 4 of the Contra Costa Delta Superior Court in Pittsburg.

According to localcrimenews.com, Duggins was also arrested the day before by American Canyon Police in Napa County on an outstanding warrant and for resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer.

The incident is still under investigation.

Oakland woman charged as accessory after the fact in Walnut Creek double murder

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In romantic relationship with alleged killer; also charged with first-degree residential burglary, destroying evidence

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

Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge against an Oakland woman in connection with the September 18th murders of two women in Walnut Creek.

45-year-old Yan Wang (born 7/22/1980) will be arraigned at 1:30 pm on September 30th in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez. She faces two felony and one misdemeanor charges related to the murders of Linlin Guo and Beimin Cheng.

The primary suspect, Howard Wang, was charged with the unlawful killing of both women on September 22nd. Howard Wang was married to Linlin Guo but was in a romantic relationship with Yan Wang at the time of the murders. Howard Wang is scheduled for arraignment on October 3rd in Martinez and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Yan Wang, who has no familial relation to Howard Wang, faces the following charges:

  • PC 32 (Felony) – Accessory After the Fact: Yan Wang allegedly aided Howard Wang with knowledge following the murders and with intent to help him avoid arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment for killing his wife, Linlin Guo, and her mother, Beimin Cheng.
  • PC 459 (Felony) – First Degree Residential Burglary: On or about September 19th, Yan Wang allegedly entered the residence owned by Howard Wang and Linlin Guo with intent to commit larceny.
  • PC 135 (Misdemeanor) – Destroying Evidence: On September 18th, Yan Wang allegedly destroyed cellphones to prevent evidence from being produced.

“This case serves as a sobering reminder of domestic violence’s far-reaching consequences,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton. “Our office will pursue justice with the seriousness and urgency this tragedy demands.”

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, seven-inch tall, 105-pound Yan Wang is being held in the West County Detention Facility on no bail.

Case No. 01-25-03240 | The People of the State of California v. Yan Wang

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Four more arrests made in San Ramon jewelry store smash and grab armed robbery

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Surveillance video footage shows about 20 masked suspects entered Heller’s Jewelers in San Ramon for the smash and grab armed robbery on Monday. Source: Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) / X

Out of 23 suspects who stole over $1 million of merchandise; all from Oakland, one was arrested twice before in September

By Allen D. Payton

Four more arrests have been made in the smash and grab armed robbery of a San Ramon jewelry store on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. San Ramon Police Chief Denton Carlson said the seven suspects in custody range in ages from 17 to 31. According to Lt. Leysy Pelayo of the SRPD Investigations Division they are Jacques Samuel, 18, Deandre Demisse, Jr., 19, and Jahkeal McGlothin, 18 and an unnamed 17-year-old juvenile. All four are from Oakland. They are among 23 suspects who stole over $1 million of merchandise.

As previously reported, three men have been charged by the Contra Costa DA’s Office with orchestrating the heist, Michael Lamont Ray, Jr., 31 and Ira Raheem Austin, 19, of San Francisco, and Jimmy Mack Ray, 27, of Vallejo.  Michael Ray is being held on $300K bail, Jimmy Ray with a history of arrests dating back to 2017 is being held on no bail and Austin bonded out of custody as of Wednesday, Sept. 24.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office McGlothin is Black and was out of custody as of Wednesday night, Sept. 24 with no charges filed and Demisse was released from custody on Thursday with no charges filed.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 215-pound Samuel (born 7/16/2007) is Black and being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on no bail. He currently has no scheduled court date. According to localcrimenews.com, Samuel is from San Francisco and was previously arrested by S.F.P.D. twice on Sept. 9, 2025, for kidnapping, grand theft, carrying a loaded firearm on a person or in a vehicle while in a public place, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, removing, destroying or  damaging a wireless communication device to prevent summoning assistance or law enforcement, evasion with wanton disregard for safety and driving without a license. He was also arrested that same day for carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony and again, for evasion with wanton disregard for safety.

Police seek public’s help ID’ing San Pablo arson suspect

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Photos: San Pablo PD

Can you identify this suspect?

By San Pablo Police Department

SPPD investigators are requesting our community’s assistance to identify the suspect involved in an arson incident which occurred on September 18, 2025.

On Friday, Sept. 18, 2025, at approximately 4:17AM, SPPD officers responded to reports of a vehicle fire in the 13900 block of San Pablo Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle parked within a carport, fully engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished by Contra Costa County Fire District (ConFire) personnel; the vehicle and an attached commercial building were both unoccupied at the time of the incident.

Based on information gathered from the scene, investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set to the vehicle by an unknown suspect, pictured below. He is described as a Caucasian male adult, approximately 30-40 years old, and was observed leaving the scene, on foot, wearing a black graphic t-shirt over a gray long-sleeve shirt, dark colored pants and black shoes.

If you recognize this suspect, please contact Detective J. Spiegel at JosephS@SanPabloCA.gov , or 510-215-3109. This incident remains an active investigation, and anyone with furthe information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the SPPD Investigations Division at 510-215-3150.

 

Pittsburg man arrested in Brentwood for using stolen credit card to pay tow fees

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Adam Lew’s latest arrest by Brentwood Police on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Photo: Brentwood PD.

In lobby of police department

2nd time in 2 weeks: arrested on Sept. 14 for mail, check theft also in Brentwood

By Brentwood Police Department

On Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, around 11:30AM, 36-year-old Adam Alexander Lew of Pittsburg came to the Brentwood Police Department to pay tow fees. To our surprise, Lew attempted to pay using a credit card that didn’t belong to him.

Luckily, our officers were quickly notified and immediately responded to the front lobby, where Lew was placed under arrest for using a stolen credit card. He was also found to be in possession of drugs and burglary tools.

Lew was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.

According to localcrimenews.com, Lew has a history of arrests dating back to 2013 including on Sept. 14, 2025, by Brentwood Police for mail and check theft in that city. (See related article) He was charged with forgery, possession of burglar’s tools, unlawful use of willfully obtained personal identifying information, receiving or concealing stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 175-pound suspect was being held for that arrest on $95,000 bail. Lew was out of custody as of Wednesday night, Sept. 17, 2025, with no charges filed.

He is now being held in the West County Detention Facility on $20,000 bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Three men charged for orchestrating San Ramon jewelry store smash and grab armed robbery

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Surveillance video footage shows about 20 masked suspects entered Heller’s Jewelers in San Ramon for the smash and grab armed robbery on Monday. Source: Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) / X

Michael Lamont Ray, Jr., 31 & Ira Raheem Austin, 19, of San Francisco, Jimmy Mack Ray, 27, of Vallejo

Among about 20 thieves who stole over $1 million of merchandise, used stolen vehicles for getaway

Michael Ray held on $300K bail; Jimmy Ray with history of arrests dating back to 2017 held on no bail; Austin bonded out of custody

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

Martinez, California – Three Bay Area men are facing serious felony charges after orchestrating a brazen smash and grab armed robbery at a San Ramon jewelry store on Monday, September 22, 2025, stealing more than one million dollars in merchandise.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced charges on Thursday, September 25, 2025, against Michael Lamont Ray, Jr., 31, and Ira Raheem Austin, 19, both of San Francisco, along with Jimmy Mack Ray, 27, of Vallejo, in connection with the September 22nd robbery involving about 20 masked suspects at Heller Jewelers in the City Center Bishop Ranch mall on Bollinger Canyon Road.

The trio executed a scheme that began with stealing vehicles and culminated in an escape that involved gunfire. Each defendant now faces 13 counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime, with special enhancements under Proposition 36 due to the value of the stolen property.

The conspiracy charges detail 11 overt criminal acts that involved a coordinated operation. The individuals stole vehicles to use in the crime, forcibly entered the jewelry store, smashed display cases to access and steal valuable merchandise and fired a weapon to shatter a glass door during their getaway.

The suspects then fled the scene in the stolen vehicles and evaded pursuing San Ramon Police officers until officers with Oakland Police were able to apprehend the suspects after they were seen leaving a building on the 9900 block of International Boulevard in Oakland.

“Our communities deserve safety from conduct like the audacious daylight robbery in San Ramon,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton. “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by the San Ramon Police Department, these defendants will face significant punishment for the offenses they committed.”

Becton emphasized her office’s commitment to prosecuting theft crimes, stating, “My Office will continue to work with San Ramon PD and other law enforcement partners to identify other perpetrators who participated in this brazen robbery and charge them accordingly.”

Jimmy Ray will be arraigned on September 29th at 1:30 pm in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, 11-inch tall, 170-pound suspect is non-Hispanic, was born 2/20/1998 and being held on no bail. According to localcrimenews.com, Jimmy Ray has a history of arrests by multiple agencies dating to 2017, including by Solano County Sheriff’s Deputies on July 19, 2025, for crimes including possession of ammunition, manufacturing, importing or sale of a large-capacity magazine and violation of probation. Plus, five times for robbery, three times for grand theft, twice each for burglary, use of a firearm, addict in possession of a firearm, elder or dependent adult abuse, threats of violence and vandalism, as well as for human trafficking of a victim under 18, unlawfully causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act, petty theft and a variety of other charges.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, 10-inch tall, 185-pound Michael Ray is Black, was born 7/21/1994 and is being held in the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $300,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 30 at 8:30 AM in Alameda County Superior Court, Dept. 112 of the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.

Michael Ray was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for charges including PC1170(B)-F circumstances in aggravation under CRC 4.421, carrying a concealed firearm on person and in a city, corporal injury to a relationship partner, grand theft exceeding $950 and vandalism under $400 damage.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:19 AM Austin had bonded out of custody.

Case No. 01-25-03128 | The People of the State of California v. Michael Lamont Ray, Jr.

Case No. 01-25-03129 | The People of the State of California v. Jimmy Mack Ray

The People of the State of California v. Ira Raheem Austin

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

More than $1 million of fine jewelry stolen during smash and grab armed robbery of San Ramon store

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Surveillance video footage shows about 20 masked suspects entered Heller Jewelers in San Ramon for the smash and grab armed robbery on Monday. Screenshot surce: Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) on X

Several of 20 suspects detained following chases into Oakland, Dublin  

By Lt. Mike Pistello, San Ramon Police Department

On Monday, September 22, 2025, at 1:50 p.m., San Ramon Police Department personnel responded to Heller Jewelers, located at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, for a take-over style armed robbery. Approximately 20 masked individuals entered the store and began smashing display cases, taking numerous items. Several suspects were armed with handguns, and at least one suspect fired rounds through the front entrance. Fortunately, no one was injured, and there is no ongoing danger to the public.

The suspects fled the scene in awaiting cars they had staged in the City Center valet parking area. San Ramon Police Officers pursued some of the involved vehicles but terminated due to the inherent danger to the public and because of air support was overhead and available to continue tracking the suspect vehicle.

Law Enforcement air support tracked the suspects through Contra Costa and into Alameda County. Several suspects were detained at two locations in Oakland and a second location in Dublin.

See surveillance camera and drone video footage included in the NBC Bay Area which reported police said the thieves “helped themselves to more than $1 million of fine jewelry.”

San Ramon Detectives will tirelessly continue their investigation into this incident and ask anyone who may have witnessed the robbery to contact Detective Corporal Kevin Tjahjadi at (925) 733-7316.

The San Ramon Police Department would like to thank the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the Oakland Police Department for their assistance. This incident is still under active investigation, and we will not be releasing any additional information until it is appropriate, as it may compromise the ongoing investigative efforts.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Firearm recovered at Brentwood middle school campus

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Photo: Brentwood Union School District

Concealed in student’s backpack

By Lindzie Laughridge, Community Engagement Officer, City of Brentwood

BRENTWOOD, CA- This morning, September 23rd, 2025, at approximately 8:15AM, Adams Middle School staff were alerted to a report of a student on campus who was in possession of a firearm concealed in their backpack. The Brentwood Police Department was immediately contacted and our School Resource Officer responded to the incident.

Upon further investigation, the firearm was determined to be real, and the student was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to Juvenile Hall for booking.

We are working closely with Adams Middle School, the District, and the involved parents, to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Our top priority is the safety of students, staff, and the community. We take any report of a weapon on campus extremely seriously and are thankful for the students who reported their concerns, along with the swift response from school staff.

Based on our investigation, this is an isolated incident.

Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Brentwood Police Department at 925-809-7911.

Walnut Creek man charged in double murder of his wife, mother-in-law

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Faces additional charges of making criminal threats of death and great bodily injury in 2024, preventing wife from calling police in 2023

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

Martinez, California – A 43-year-old Walnut Creek resident was charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office in a double murder.

Howard Wang was scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 pm on September 23rd in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez for the murder of his wife Linlin Guo, and mother-in-law, Beimin Cheng. The murders occurred on September 18th, 2025, at the couple’s residence in Walnut Creek. The charges include special circumstances enhancements for multiple murders. If found guilty by a jury, Wang could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Additional charges against Wang include making criminal threats of death and great bodily injury against Linlin Guo around August 31st, 2024, and preventing Linlin Guo from reporting a crime to law enforcement on January 7th, 2023.  As previously reported, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 183-pound Wang was also arrested on Jan. 7, 2023, by Walnut Creek Police for battery on a spouse, cohabitant or former spouse, removing, destroying or damaging a wireless communication device to prevent summoning assistance or law enforcement.

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This tragic case is a stark reminder of the devastating toll domestic violence takes — not only on the victims whose lives were lost, but on families and the community as a whole. Our office is committed to aggressively pursuing justice in this case.”

Case No. 01-25-03009 | The People of the State of California v. Howard Wang

See Howard Wang Charging Document

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Brentwood man sentenced to over 8 years in prison for receipt of child sex abuse materials, possession of unregistered rifle

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44-year-old Michael Lee Patterson was one of 7 arrested during 15-agency Operation Spring Clean in May 2023, including men from Oakley, San Ramon, another from Brentwood

Will also face 10 years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Michael Lee Patterson was sentenced on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, to 103 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.  U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. handed down the sentence.

As previously reported, Patterson, 44, of Brentwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 18, 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025, to both counts. According to the plea agreement, Patterson attempted to meet an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to perform sexual acts on her.  After his arrest the week of May 31, 2023, Patterson was found to be in possession of over 600 videos and 1,000 images containing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Law enforcement also found Patterson in possession of a short-barreled rifle, which he had not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.

Patterson was one of seven men arrested while the Brentwood Police Department hosted the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for an operation targeting adults who were seeking to meet minors for sex with the goal of identifying victims of child sexual abuse. A total of 15 law enforcement agencies participated in “Operation Spring Cleaning,” which encompassed over 1,200 law enforcement work hours throughout the week. The ICAC Task Force seized approximately 40 illegal firearms and 39 electronic devices, executed eight (search warrants, and impounded five vehicles.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) San Francisco Field Office Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam also sentenced Patterson to a 10-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonah P. Ross is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USSS, ATF, Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Brentwood, Concord and Walnut Creek Police Departments, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.