Contra Costa Herald

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

7 Contra Costa men arrested for using internet to sexually exploit, abuse children

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11 arrested in multi-agency Predator Operation. Photos: Oakley PD

Multi-agency effort also nabs 4 other Bay Area suspects during Predator Operation; one suspect is a Boy Scouts Troop Master

By Danielle Navarro, Assistant City Manager, City of Oakley

The Oakley Police Department hosted an operation May 24 through 31 that involved identifying and arresting adults who use the internet to seek out children to sexually exploit and abuse them. This was done in conjunction with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force and it included the following agencies: Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg, Concord, Danville and Walnut Creek Police Departments, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Contra Costa County Safe Streets Task Force, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service

Oakley Police Detective J. Dombrouski coordinated the operation, supported by Sergeant K. Morris, Detectives B. Gill, N. Pistello, R. Schiff and a host of other Oakley police officers. The coordination efforts included making sure enough personnel were dedicated and in place to account for an appropriate number of takedown teams and making sure there was enough technical, forensic and investigative support to lead to a successful operation.

This operation resulted in 11 arrests of adults who established inappropriate and sexually-based online relationships with who they believed were minor children. The 11 suspects arrested attempted to physically meet up with their intended target by driving to a predesignated “meet location.” Some brought candy with them as well as sexual contraception items. One of the suspects is a known Boy Scout Troop Master; another suspect is a known behavioral therapist for children with special needs. All 11 suspects were booked into jail on felony charges.

The identities of the 11 suspects who were arrested are:

  • Anthony Joseph Taormina, male, 64, Oakley
  • Jonathan Francisco Henriquez-Garcia, male, 32, Antioch
  • Humayoun Kabir, male, 60, Antioch
  • Yerson Josue Cruz-Perez, male, 27, Pittsburg
  • Isaias Valdez, Jr., male, 30, Pittsburg
  • Jason Michael Pearson, male, 48, Concord
  • Daniel Mark Sigmundson, male, 51, Concord
  • Elio Rodriguez-Martinez, male, 29, Oakland
  • Ashneel Singh, male, 29, Hayward
  • Luis Cuevas-Morales, male, 25, Hayward
  • Zuhair Mukatash, male, 59, South San Francisco

“I thoroughly appreciate all of the efforts and diligence exhibited by all of the law-enforcement personnel, Deputy District Attorneys, and support staff members that resulted in the arrests of these very dangerous men, said Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard. “Furthermore, I am very proud of my investigations staff who coordinated everything that went into this operation, and I am honored to be their Chief. I have always appreciated proactive, task-oriented missions. This operation ranks at the top of what I consider to be the most important type of proactive, task-oriented missions. In a very literal sense, the innocence of children was saved by the efforts that went into this operation. Knowing some of the back stories that went into these arrests, I have a very visceral feeling of disgust about the men who were arrested. I believe I speak for everybody involved in what happened when I say I fully support the prosecutors as they manage the criminal filings and cases against these men while they seek complete accountability against them. Stay safe Oakley and hold your children tight.”

Charges, Arrest History & Custody Status for Contra Costa Suspects

According to localcrimenews.com:

Taormina was arrested on May 30th and charged with lewd acts upon a child, attempted kidnapping, attempting to contact a minor with intent to a commit offense, arrestee arranged a meeting with a person he knows to be a minor for the purpose of exposing his or her genitals;

Henriquez-Garcia was arrested on May 29th for attempted lewd acts with a child, arranging a meeting with a child for lewd purposes and attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense;

Kabir was arrested on May 30th for attempted kidnapping, attempting lewd acts with a child, arranging a meeting with a child for lewd purposes, attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense and distribution or exhibition of lewd material to a minor (with prior);

Valdez was arrested on May 29th for lewd acts upon a child, warrants or holds only, arranging a meeting with a child for lewd purposes and attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense. He was previously arrested in July 2022 by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department for vandalism – damage to property, carrying a concealed firearm upon person – pistol / revolver / other firearm and carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner;

Pearson was arrested on May 29 for attempt lewd acts with a child, warrants or holds only, arranging a meeting with a child for lewd purposes, attempting to contact minor with intent to commit offense. He was previously arrested in Nov. 2016 by Concord Police for battery on a spouse / cohabitant / former spouse; and

Sigmundson was arrested on May 31st for lewd acts upon a child, arranging a meeting with a child for lewd purposes and attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office:

as of Tuesday, June 4th, Taormina and Kabir had bonded out of custody;

as of Monday, June 10th Cruz-Perez was still in custody; the five-foot, five-inch, 220-pound Valdez (born 4/6/1994) is being held on no bail at the West County Detention Facility and has a court appearance scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at 8:30 AM in Superior Court;

as of Monday, June 3rd, Pearson had bonded out of custody; and

as of Wednesday, June 5, Sigmundson had also bonded out of custody.

No online information could be found from the CC Sheriff’s Office for Henriquez-Garcia.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

 

Park Happenings for June: News from the East Bay Regional Park District

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Source: EBRPD

Father’s Day themed activities Sunday, June 16; Juneteenth Free Park Day Wednesday, June 19

By Flora Csontos Acting Public Information Specialist, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

Thank you to the estimated 6,000 attendees who celebrated the East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th Anniversary at ParkFest at Lake Chabot Regional Park on May 11 and enjoyed a fun event filled with music, performances, food, and more. What a great time celebrating nearly a century of preserving open space and providing East Bay residents with access to nature close to home. Join us for more fun events throughout the year celebrating 90 years of East Bay Regional Parks, including “Explore Your Parks” programs, festivals, story sessions, picnics, and much more. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years.

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The largest creek restoration project in the Park District’s history was recently completed at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, which removed several culverts and opened up 3,000 feet of creek to a more natural run. It is also the largest creek daylighting project in the entire Bay Area.

The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project, previously referred to as the McCosker Project, provides natural habitat for special status or protected species, including the California red-legged frog, California foothill yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat, golden eagle, Cooper’s hawk, loggerhead shrike, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Water quality and streamflow were also improved by the project, providing new habitat for rainbow trout.

The project was made possible through $4 million in funding secured by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in the 2019 state budget. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved Measure WW and other state and federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wildlife Conservation Board, Coastal Conservancy, California State Parks, and voter-approved Propositions 1, 84, and 50 allocated by the California Natural Resources Agency.

For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/park-district-celebrates-grand-opening-alder-creek-and-leatherwood-creek.

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Park District launches pilot program to streamline entry at Del Valle Regional Park. East Bay Regional Park District began a new pilot project on Memorial Day weekend to expedite park entry at Del Valle on weekends and holidays. Entry to Del Valle Regional Park on busy weekends and holidays can be very challenging as visitors line up at the entry kiosk to pay for park admission and parking. With the pilot project, visitors will pay a single $10 flat fee to enter the park rather than individual fees based on park use. The $10 flat fee covers park parking, trailers, and dogs. Fishing and quagga inspection fees can be purchased at the marina area. The $10 flat fee does not apply to Regional Parks Foundation members, who receive free park entry/parking at all Regional Parks as part of membership benefits. To help expedite entry, a limited number of passes will also be available for pre-purchase online at www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle/pre-purchase-parking. As vehicles approach the kiosk, there will be a separate line for pre-paid parking, staff, members, and residents. For up-to-date information or to provide feedback, visit www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle.

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Join the Park District to celebrate Juneteenth on June 19. The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day and special naturalist-led programs on Wednesday, June 19, which is a state and federal holiday. All are welcome! Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Join the Park District to celebrate and reflect. For more information, visit https://www.ebparks.org/we-celebrate/juneteenth.

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A community meeting for the Briones Pilot Project on June 15 will share feedback on the progress made in the past year and what’s ahead for the project in its second year. The meeting is a chance for attendees to share their views on the pilot project, too. The in-person meeting will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at the Alhambra Creek Staging Area of Briones Regional Park in Martinez. The Briones Pilot Project is a two-year project created to test new ways to safely share trails amongst bikers, hikers, and equestrians. The project also improves the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/Briones-Pilot-Project.

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Enjoy Father’s Day at the East Bay Regional Park on June 16. Celebrate Father’s Day in nature or check out one of the themed activities planned in Regional Parks: Anthony Chabot Campfire: WILD Dads! at 8 p.m. at Anthony Chabot Family Campground, Father’s Day Celebration at 11 a.m. at the Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove, or Father’s Day Family Hike at 1:30 p.m. at Del Valle. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar?terms=Father’s+Day.

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Celebrate Regional Parks at Lakeside Laps on July 20. Mark East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th and the Regional Parks Foundation’s 55th Anniversary with a 5k, 10k, or half marathon at Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley. The Regional Parks Foundation event is a fundraiser supporting East Bay Regional Parks. Come celebrate wellness, community, and the beauty of the Regional Parks while enjoying a run along the lake. For more information, visit www.regionalparksfoundation.org/news-events/lakeside-laps.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Bay Area serial bank robber from Antioch sentenced to more than five years in prison

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Brandon Elder arrested for a Brentwood bank robbery on Jan. 26, 2022. (Photo: Brentwood PD) and his Facebook photo posted on Oct. 3, 2021.

Defendant robbed a bank only 19 days after release from custody for previous bank robbery

Brandon Elder has history of arrests dating to 2016 including 5 times in 2021 and 3 times in 2022

By U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California

SAN FRANCISCO – Brandon John Elder was sentenced to 63 months in prison for bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge.

Elder, 29 (born 2/14/1995), of Antioch, pleaded guilty to the charge on December 14, 2023. According to court filings, Elder walked into a bank in the Marina District of San Francisco on September 20, 2022, wearing a black hoodie, black facemask, and blue gloves. He approached the teller window, stated “this is a robbery,” and demanded “50s” and “100s.” The teller handed over $10,000 in cash to Elder, who ran out of the bank and back to his getaway car in a nearby parking garage. Elder was arrested two days later in Pleasant Hill, Calif., while shoplifting a PlayStation from a Target with $7,867 cash in his pocket. A grand jury indicted Elder on November 1, 2022, charging him with one count of bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). Elder pleaded guilty to the charge without a written plea agreement.

Elder committed this bank robbery while still on post-release community supervision. He had been released from state custody only 19 days earlier after serving a custodial sentence related to the robbery of a bank he committed on January 26, 2022, in Brentwood, Calif. In addition, Elder already had been convicted of 11 other thefts in state court, including a violent incident during which he slashed a loss prevention officer with a box cutter. (See related article)

“Repeat offenders like Brandon Elder should not be allowed to continue terrorizing the community,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “Enough is enough. This Office will ensure that criminals like Mr. Elder face serious repercussions for their actions.”

“Elder used threats and intimidation to terrorize the employees of the bank he robbed,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “His complete disregard for the law demanded justice, and justice he received with this sentence. The FBI will not waver when it comes to preserving the peace of our community by taking dangerous criminals off the streets.”

In addition to sentencing Elder to prison, Judge Donato ordered the defendant to serve a year of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

According to localcrimenews.com, Elder was also arrested five times in 2021 and three times in 2022 by multiple agencies including Vallejo PD, Dublin PD, San Francisco PD, Antioch PD, Pleasant Hill PD and BART Police for crimes including driving with a suspended license, drug possession including for sale, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, evading an officer including wanton disregard for safety, resisting arrest, failure to appear, smoking on BART and burglary. (See related article)

In addition, Elder was also arrested twice in 2016, first on Feb. 1st at 4:30 p.m. by Antioch Police on an outstanding felony warrant then again on August 19, 2016 by Antioch Police and at that time was a known gang member, who had two felony warrants for his arrest. Several APD officers went to Elder’s residence in the 200 block of Rossi Avenue where he was contacted in his bedroom. Elder was arrested and sent to county jail.

According to his Facebook page, Elder is from Oakland, lives in Antioch and is single, went to John Swet High School in Crockett and works at Safeway. His last post was on Nov. 8, 2021, while at the DMV in San Francisco.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, seven-inch tall, 135-pound Elder, who is white and has green eyes and brown hair, is being held in the Santa Rita Jail on no bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

American Discovery Trail Society sponsors ADT Challenge for this year’s National Trails Day, June 1

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Source: American Discovery Trail Society

By Ders Anderson, Open Lands

The American Discovery Trail Society announces its second annual trail challenge! In honor of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, June 1, the Challenge is an invite to anyone and everyone living near the 6800-mile American Discovery Trail. (See related article)

The goal of the Challenge is meant to be a personal one, a trail challenge that hikers, bicyclists, runners, baby stroller pushers, skaters, and wheel-chair users set for themselves. It could be…adding miles to their personal best so far. It could be…enlisting friends who don’t often exercise. It could be… the first time for a family hike. It could be… a distance hike-bike-or run relay with a group of friends. It could be…a first, really-long-distance hike, whether it’s 20, 50 or 500 miles.

Participants are asked to register at  https://discoverytrail.org/american-discovery-trail-home/trailchallenge/  where ADT trail access and route info, local trail agency contacts, and general trail use guidance will be available

Think…Outdoors…Healthy Exercise…Fresh Air…Inspiration…America’s Beautiful Landscapes…Participating in a national event with thousands of National Trail Day partners.

American Discovery Trail map. Source: ADT Society

California Trails

If you participate in the ADT Challenge, the American Discovery Trail Society will report back to the American Hiking Society on the level of participation in the ADT Challenge. National Trails Day (NTD) is an annual event that has been sponsored by the American Hiking Society (AHS) for the past 31 years. Your experience will be added to this years’ overall NTD national participation. In 2022, over 125,000 people participated in National Trails Day.

About ADT

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is the nation’s first coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreation trail. The ADT was conceived in 1989 and initially led by the American Hiking Society. In 1996 the ADT Society (ADTS) was created and has been the prime advocate for the completing a continuous trail across the United States. The ADTS considers it the east-west “backbone” of our country’s national trails system, connecting to the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail and 50 other national scenic, historic and recreational trails. In the Midwest, two options are possible: either thru Iowa and Nebraska, and northern Illinois and Indiana, or through Missouri and Kansas and southern Illinois and Indiana.

Hit the trails and take a hike on American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® Saturday, June 1

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Source: American Hiking Society

32nd annual event brings communities together outdoors to celebrate and give back to trails

Take the 2024 National Trails Day® Pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.

East Bay Regional Parks District offers variety of trails to hike

By American Hiking Society

The nationwide celebration of National Trails Day® on Saturday June 1, 2024, will bring together people from across the country, Puerto Rico, and beyond, to celebrate, enjoy, and give back to the trails. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, is an annual event aimed at advocacy, trail service, and encouraging local communities to connect in the outdoors.

Trail users, including hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, paddlers, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, and various organizations, unite on National Trails Day® to improve the trails and outdoor community. This is accomplished through collective efforts toward advocating for, maintaining, cleaning up, and celebrating trails and nature. By working together, this diverse coalition can ensure that these outdoor spaces remain accessible, safe, and enjoyable for everyone now and in the future.

Source: American Hiking Society

National Trails Day® is an event that people of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles can celebrate by participating in a local trail event. Participants can also take the National Trails Day® pledge to commit to leaving the trails and the outdoor community better than they found them. Additionally, individuals can share their trail experience by tagging #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking on social media.

Last year, more than 700 sites across the U.S. brought people together for various recreational and volunteer opportunities. More than 7,044 trail volunteers built and maintained more than 558 miles of trails as part of the festivities.

 

The East Bay Regional Park District offers multiple trails to hike this Saturday. See list, locations and maps, here: www.ebparks.org/trails.

“National Trails Day® provides a unique opportunity to bring community members of all walks of life together in the outdoors, all with a common goal of enjoying nature and preserving it,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “This is our 32nd annual celebration of National Trails Day®, and it’s incredible to see how the trails unite us and remind us of the power of our collective action and passion. Spending time on the trails offers us time to reflect on nature’s positive impact on our physical and mental well-being and the positive impact we can have on it, too. This annual event reminds us to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors and commit to doing our part to protect it for generations to come.”

2024 National Trails Day® Pledge

“In honor of #NationalTrailsDay, I’ll leave the trails and the outdoor community better than I found them.” Take the pledge by June 8 to be entered to win premium gear prize packs.

Source: American Hiking Society

Corporate & Federal Sponsors

American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors – Exclusive Beer Sponsor Athletic Brewing, Aflac, AKHG by Duluth Trading Company, REI, Osprey Packs, Fjallraven, GORE-TEX Brand, Zevo Insect, and GOES Health. Federal Partners include: National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau Of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Highway Administration.

Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

Martinez: Briones Trails Pilot Project Community Dig Day Saturday, June 1

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Source: EBRPD

Briones Regional Park, Alhambra Creek Staging Area 9 AM – 2 PM

By East Bay Regional Park District

The Briones Trails Pilot Project is a unique opportunity to give back to the parks you love! Help us maintain and enhance Briones Regional Park and create exciting new recreational opportunities on single-track trails and repair impacted natural resources during our Dig Days. The next one will be on Saturday, June 1, 2024. We will make improvements to the P9 Trail (AKA the Desert Hiking Trail) including establishing a more sustainable trail route and restoring a steep and eroding segment.

The two-yearpilot project is intended to test a variety of trail management strategies. The pilot project is limited to a portion of Briones Regional Park in the northeast corner of the park. See Project Map (or below). The pilot project was launched on Friday April 21, 2023.

The Briones Pilot Project establishes specific rules limiting trail use within the Pilot Project Zone and for two trail segments adjacent to the Pilot Project Zone, such as hiking only, biking only, or biking/hiking only and direction of travel. On weekends, trail use within the Pilot Project Zone will alternate days between bicycle and equestrian use based on even and odd calendar dates (see table). A key component of the Project is the restoration of illegally built “bootleg” trails to protect natural habitat for wildlife.

Please make sure to bring a water bottle and be prepared to work! There is poison oak in the area, so please wear work pants, long sleeves and good close-toed work shoes.

You are welcome to ride in, but you will need to provide your own bike and helmet.

June 1st Dig Day – 9:00 AM meet-up and post-dig lunch at Alhambra Creek Staging Area, 273-181 Brookwood Drive in Martinez.

Registration and Info: ebrpd.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/6729

  • Age Restrictions: Youth under the age of 18 must have a signed permission by parent or legal guardian. Youth under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Description: Join us to maintain and improve select trails and restore habitat! Learn the basics of restoration and trail work during our dig-days lead by Regional Parks staff.
  • What to Bring: water bottle, helmet, mountain bike, gloves, and PPE.
  • What is Provided: Necessary tools. We will have work gloves and protective eye wear for participants.
  • Weather: Heavy rain or unsafe wildfire smoke conditions cancel the program. Please wear layers as Bay Area weather can be unpredictable.

The Briones Pilot Project reached its one-year mark on April 21, 2024. The two-year pilot project was planned and created to test new ways to safely share trails and improve the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds. The pilot project is limited to a portion of Briones Regional Park in the northeast corner of the park. Share your thoughts and feedback on the past year of progress at the next in-person check-in meeting on June 15. Members of the community are invited to Briones to discuss the pilot project’s progress and share ideas with District staff and other trail users.

Briones Pilot Project Zone Map. Source: EBRPD

Why a Pilot Project?

Over the last decade, the number of visitors to District parks has increased significantly. The rise in numbers of visitors getting out onto trails has increased the potential for conflict between different types of trail users. Although the Park District is seeking to open new parks and provide more trails to reduce crowding on trails, the trail development process takes time. The pilot project will test some new ways to safely share trails and improve the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds.

Project Objectives:

  • Protect Resources, Habitat, Wildlife, and Watersheds: The expansion of illegal bootleg trails is a significant issue for Briones and other East Bay regional parks. These user-built trails are often not built to sustainable trail standards with appropriate drainage and avoidance of sensitive natural habitats. Illegal trails can have negative impacts on wildlife and watersheds. The project will include a robust monitoring and patrol program to document and prevent the expansion of bootleg trails in the pilot project zone.
  • Restore Natural Habitat by Closing Illegal Bootleg Trails in the Pilot Project Zone: A primary objective of the project is to engage with the trail user community to join park staff in restoring natural habitats already impacted by illegal bootleg trails.
  • Enhance the Trail User Experience: The trail management strategies being tested during the two-year pilot project are intended to allow users to safely enjoy trails by providing specific days when certain user types are limited to create more space on trails.
  • Increase Volunteer Engagement in Trail Maintenance and Habitat Restoration: Community volunteers play an important role in helping park staff monitor and maintain park trails. The pilot project provides volunteer opportunities for trail users to join in trail maintenance and habitat restoration activities.

For more information visit Briones Trails Pilot Program or call Volunteer Services at (510) 544-2229.

Orinda: Grand Opening of Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project & Eastport Staging Area Thursday

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The newly restored and daylighted Alder Creek flows through the former McCosker property in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Photo: EBRPD

Ribbon cutting for largest creek restoration project in East Bay Regional Park District’s history.

At Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

By Flora Csontos, Acting Public Information Specialist, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

Join East Bay Regional Park District on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11 A.M. to celebrate the completion of the Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve – the largest creek restoration project in the Park District’s history. The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project removed several culverts and opened up 3,000 linear feet of creek to a more natural run. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the restoration project and the reopening of the Eastport Staging Area.

Speakers will include East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth, Board President Ward 1 Member Elizabeth Echols and Ward 2 Board Member Dee Rosario.

The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project, previously referred to as the McCosker Project, provides natural habitat for special status or protected species, including the California red-legged frog, California foothill yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat, golden eagle, Cooper’s hawk, loggerhead shrike, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Water quality and streamflow were also improved by the project, providing new habitat for rainbow trout.

Stabilizing jute protects the creek’s soil while plants begin to grow in December 2022. Photo: EBRPD

The project (Alder Creek Project), which began construction in 2020, daylights, or opens up and restores to natural conditions, approximately 2,900 linear feet (approximately half a mile) of previously culverted, or buried, creek and restores riparian habitat along portions of Alder, Leatherwood, and San Leandro creeks. The 250-acre site is situated within a deep canyon of dense oak woodland at the bottom of a ridgeline of rolling grassland hills.

The restoration also created habitat for the rainbow trout (a native salmonid species) by creating stream corridors, using a step-pool system that incorporates a mix of cascades and resting and pocket pools in steeper areas. This newly created stream channel with riparian vegetation and pool riffle complexes, allows sediment transport, slows flows and helps reduce erosion to provide benefits to aquatic organisms and provide spawning sites for rainbow trout. In fact, a young-of-year (juvenile) rainbow trout was observed in the channel in spring 2021. Engineers designed the restoration project using fundamental concepts in fluvial geomorphology and engineering principles to meet the goal of creating a dynamically stable and self-maintaining creek channels that require a low level of adaptive management and maintenance practices.

Plants sprout along the newly daylighted creek in January 2023. Photo: EBRPD

The restoration project also increased the carbon sink, flood capacity on site, removed invasive species, enhanced habitat, and added revegetation. In support of inclusive public access, additional enhancement work included new nature trails and future amenity areas.

The restoration area within Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is now opened to the public. It includes an 11-car staging area along Pinehurst Road, with trail connections for a loop trail (the McCosker Loop Trail) and trails that follow the creeks on the property.

The project was made possible through $4 million in funding secured by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in the 2019 state budget. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved Measure WW and other state and federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CA Natural Resources Agency, Wildlife Conservation Board, Coastal Conservancy, California State Parks and voter-approved Propositions 1, 84 and 50 allocated by the California Natural Resources Agency.

Source: EBRPD

The Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and Eastport Staging Area are located at 920 Pinehurst Road in Orinda.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Parks district issues tick season advisory

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Source: EBRPD

It’s better to be ticked off than ticked on

By East Bay Regional Park District

Whether you’re hiking in East Bay Regional Parks, venturing into nearby open spaces, or simply relaxing in your own yard, it’s important to be wary of ticks, which are often present in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. Visitors are encouraged to keep tick safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Ticks carry germs that can cause a number of diseases, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick. It may be treated and cured with early diagnosis, but if not properly treated, it may persist in the body for years. Visit www.bayarealyme.org for more information.

What Does a Tick Look Like? In California, the western black-legged tick is the major carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long. Males are smaller and entirely brownish black. Both are teardrop shaped. Most ticks can’t fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts when they brush by.

Tick Safety Tips

  1. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
  2. Tuck shirt into pants, and pants into socks.
  3. Use insect repellent on shoes, socks, and pants.
  4. Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks thoroughly and frequently.
  5. Keep children and pets nearby. For maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.
  6. Stay on trails. Avoid brush and grassy areas.

What To Do If Bitten By A Tick

  1. Pull the tick gently from the skin using a tissue or tweezers (not with bare hands).
  2. Scrape to remove any mouthparts left behind. An item such as a credit card can be used.
  3. Wash hands and the tick bite with soap and water; apply antiseptic to the bite. Prompt removal of ticks may prevent disease transmission.
  4. See a physician immediately if you think you have found a tick attached to your skin and you have any of the above symptoms. Early symptoms may include a spreading rash accompanied by fever, aches, and/or fatigue.

Download the Park District’s Living with Ticks brochure. Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Concord YouTuber found guilty of reckless driving, speeding, fleeing police

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Posted videos of his 2022 actions exceeding 120 mph on 680, other Bay Area freeways

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office & Officer Andrew Barclay, PIO, California Highway Patrol

On April 3, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office convicted a Concord man for multiple incidents of extreme speeding and reckless driving on Contra Costa freeways, which culminated in a police pursuit through a residential area in Concord.

In late spring of 2022, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) received public complaints about a gray BMW speeding and driving recklessly on Interstate 680 between Contra Costa and Solano counties. The CHP opened an investigation, which led officers to a YouTube channel belonging to 33-year-old Scott Andrews Kitfield (born Jan. 17, 1991). The channel contained numerous dashcam videos posted by Kitfield. These videos documented his dangerous driving behavior, including speeding well over 100 mph on Bay Area freeways, racing other cars, and weaving through traffic at high speeds while endangering nearby commuters. Kitfield’s comments on the channel further confirmed his disregard for safety by boasting about his reckless actions.

CHP investigators identified Kitfield as the reckless driver in the BMW and YouTube videos.

The investigation also confirmed Kitfield frequently sped on I-680 and other Bay Area freeways, exceeding 120 mph.

Photo: CHP Golden Gate Air Operations

On July 14, 2023, investigators from CHP’s Golden Gate Investigative Service Unit (ISU) planned an operation to arrest Kitfield and stop his reckless driving. A CHP aircraft tracked his car as he drove home from Solano County to Concord in the afternoon. CHP officers saw Kitfield speeding over 110 mph on Interstate 680 as he crossed the Benicia-Martinez bridge. He even went faster than 120 mph while racing another car through Martinez.

Just after passing a CHP patrol vehicle, Kitfield swerved abruptly across the freeway and exited at Willow Pass Road and drove into a residential area. A CHP officer in a marked patrol car followed him and tried to pull him over as he turned around at a dead end. Instead of stopping,

Kitfield led the CHP officers on a chase before finally stopping his car and surrendering. Officers from the Solano County Sheriff’s Office also helped with the arrest.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of May 12, 2024, Kitfield was being held under Supervised Custody in “Another Facility”.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Concord man among three arrested for at least 11 robberies in East Bay

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Images are from two robberies that occurred in Hayward, along with two handguns that were recovered during search warrants related to this collaborative investigation. Source: Hayward PD

Multi-agency effort

By Hayward Police Department

Three arrests have been made related to a string of 11 robberies that took place in the Eastern San Francisco Bay Area over a span of seven months from August 2023 through February 2024.

The 11 robberies occurred in multiple cities in the East Bay including seven in Hayward, one in Livermore, one in Fremont, one in San Leandro and one in Castro Valley.

With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the following individuals have been taken into custody for various charges including robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping, and various weapons violations:  

  • 42-year-old Oakland resident Jaray A. Washington was taken into custody on Feb. 13, 2024. Washington is believed to be responsible for all 11 robberies.
  • 24-year-old Oakland resident Cameron Jamary Watkins was taken into custody on Mar. 11, 2024. Watkins is believed to be responsible for two robberies in concert with Washington.
  • 26-year-old Concord resident Deante Hunt was taken into custody on Apr. 4, 2024. Hunt is believed to be responsible for two robberies in concert with Washington.

During each robbery, at least one subject brandished a firearm. In some cases, the subjects moved employees and/or customers to other parts of the businesses and forced employees to hand over cash from registers and/or safes while being held at gunpoint. The subjects also forced employees and customers to hand over their personal property while at gunpoint before the subjects fled the scene. 

The coordinated effort amongst multiple agencies, including the support and resources provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States (US) Marshals Service, was instrumental in the identification and apprehension of those believed to be responsible for these crimes. We extend our gratitude to the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service for their invaluable assistance. 

Hayward Police Chief Bryan Matthews commented on the arrests, stating, “I am so proud of the hard work throughout this investigation. The coordinated effort between our law enforcement partners shows the steadfast commitment to ensure the safety and well-being, not just in our respective communities, but for the entire Bay Area.  

I personally want to commend the hard work and dedication of our Hayward detectives and detectives from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, San Leandro Police Department, Fremont Police Department, and Livermore Police Department. Your tireless efforts, thorough investigative steps, and unwavering commitment were instrumental in bringing these cases to successful resolution.  

Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work diligently so communities feel safe where they work and live. I commend everyone’s hard work to bring those believed to be responsible for these crimes to justice.” 

“I want to thank the detectives for their hard work and coordination with our allied agencies,” said Livermore Police Chief Jeramy Young. “Jaray Washington is a violent repeat offender who has been previously convicted for armed robberies in the South Bay Area. We will be tracking this case as it moves through the criminal justice system.”

According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 195-pound Washington is Black and has a history of arrests dating to 2019 for various crimes including residential robbery and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, Watkins is five-foot, 10-inches tall, 152 pounds and is Black; and the six-foot, two-inch tall, 160-pound Hunt is Black and was also arrested in 2018 by Emeryville PD for a warrants or holds only.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.