News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California
Photo by Pittsburg PD.
Drugs, guns, ammo, and a lot of cash.
Everything you see in the photo was seized today by our Vice/Gang unit as a result of a search warrant in Pittsburg.
Vice Detectives recovered six firearms, including a fully automatic assault rifle, eight high capacity magazines, a cache of illegally possessed ammunition, illegal narcotics for sales and currency proceeds. Two convicted felons were arrested in conjunction with this investigation.
CJ Nickolas with gold medal from the 2018 World Taekwondo Federation competition in Greece. Photo courtesy of Ed Givans.
C.J. Nickolas, a senior in high school, is headed to Taekwondo Senior World Championships in Manchester, England in May 2019. He had to withdrawal from Heritage High School two days into his Senior year because he was one of eight athletes in the United States picked up by the United States Taekwondo (USAT) to train full time abroad and enter the European Taekwondo Open circuit. The intention was to get these athletes ready for 2024 or 2028 Olympics.
However, Nickolas has defied the odds, outperformed the initial expectation, and is headed to the World Championships this year setting him on a track for the 2020 Olympics. A few other things have to fall into place for him to make it, as well, but he’s definitely on track.
Nickolas is the son of Edward Givans, owner of Givans Taekwondo in Antioch, where Nickolas trains, and Denise Nickolas of Brentwood.
“His mom and I are very proud of C.J.,” the elder Givans said. “It’s been exciting to see him advance in his skills and the competitions.”
Arriving at this place in his life was not happenstance or luck for Nickolas. He has put long hours, and extensive time into training over the years. Nickolas has made many sacrifices to get where he is and says that even in the setbacks and losses and injuries, he knows he has to continue the grind. He says he digs deep when it’s tough and keeps pressing his way.
Nickolas is finishing out his high school through an on-line school (CAVA) while he continues to train full time. His travels in the past six months have taken him to compete in Greece, Poland, France, Croatia, Africa and Spain among other places. He has one stop in Bulgaria before he heads back to England to train for Worlds. CJ has been in Brentwood schools (Ron Nunn, Adams and Heritage) and has many ties to the community.
Sadly, he says, “I will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony with my peers and I will be at Worlds during the Prom.”
Heritage High Principal Carrie Wells provided the reason Nickolas is not being allowed to graduate with this year’s class.
“He actually is not enrolled in our district, currently. In order to be enrolled in our district, he would have had to re-enroll in January, before the current semester,” she said. “His only option would be to enroll in Independence High School in our district. There would be seat time each week and check-in with the teacher.”
“It’s not that we don’t want him to graduate with us. But, board policy is pretty specific about that,” Wells added.
Nickolas puts that in the column of sacrifices and will continue his grind to get to the coming Olympics.
Allen Payton contributed to this story.
Photo of crash scene by NBC Bay Area.
By CHP-Contra Costa
This afternoon, at about 4:34pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a head on collision involving two vehicles on HWY-4 eastbound, east of Balfour Road. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, it was determined that a 2018 Honda SUV was driven across the solid double yellow lines, into oncoming traffic, and collided head on into a 2013 Toyota Corolla. The solo male driver of the Toyota (51-year-old man from Ripon) was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of his identity. The solo male driver of the Honda was ultimately arrested for suspicion of felony DUI.
In the initial investigation, it appears that the solo male driver of the Honda was traveling on HWY-4 westbound (in that area HWY-4 is a two lane undivided highway) and then veered to the left and across the solid double yellow lines and directly head on into the Toyota traveling in the eastbound lane. Upon emergency personnel arrival, the driver of the Toyota was pronounced deceased. The driver of the Honda, a 46-year-old man from Concord, was not injured and investigated for driving under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently arrested for suspicion of felony DUI.
If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it (that did not remain at the scene to speak with CHP) please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. HWY-4 was completely reopened at 6:25 pm.
Impaired DUI driving is 100% preventable 100% of the time. There is never an excuse for it, and it cannot ever be tolerated. In this situation it tragically cost the life of an innocent person. When will we all learn… #neverdriveimpaired?
Photo: CA Dep’t of Water Resources.
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today is taking formal steps to withdraw proposed permits for the WaterFix project and begin a renewed environmental review and planning process for a smaller, single tunnel project that will protect a critical source of water supplies for California.
Today’s actions implement Governor Gavin Newsom’s direction earlier this year to modernize the state’s water delivery infrastructure by pursuing a smaller, single tunnel project through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The project is needed to protect water supplies from sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion into the Delta, as well as earthquake risk. It will be designed to protect water supply reliability while limiting impacts on local Delta communities and fish.
This action follows the Governor’s recent executive order directing state agencies to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy to build a climate-resilient water system.
“A smaller project, coordinated with a wide variety of actions to strengthen existing levee protections, protect Delta water quality, recharge depleted groundwater reserves, and strengthen local water supplies across the state, will build California’s water supply resilience,” said Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.
DWR Director Karla Nemeth took action today to rescind various permitting applications for the WaterFix project, including those in front of the State Water Resources Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and federal agencies responsible for compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Documents related to these actions are available here.
DWR will work with local public water agencies that are partners in the conveyance project to incorporate the latest science and innovation to design the new conveyance project, and work with Delta communities and other stakeholders to limit local impacts of the project.
Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), co-chair of the California Delta Legislative Caucus, issued the following statement today after the state Department of Water Resources officially withdrew its permit application to build the twin tunnels.
“It’s very encouraging that after all these years we are finally being heard by the Governor’s Office. The withdrawal of the permit application acknowledges that alternative solutions have been either overlooked or ignored. I look forward to working with the Governor and Secretary Crowfoot to build a comprehensive water plan that is a benefit for all Californians.”
Spring-run Chinook. Photo by Bureau of Reclamation.
By Nick Cahill, Courthouse News Service
Surviving an exhaustive maze of manmade barriers and hungry predators, a hardy group of salmon have beat the odds and returned to spawn in one of California’s most-heavily dammed rivers.
Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River. The dam impounds Millerton Lake, 15 miles north of Fresno, California. (Nick Cahill/CNS)
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says for the first time in over 65 years, threatened spring-run Chinook adult salmon have returned to the San Joaquin River near Fresno to complete their life cycle. The return of the hatchery-reared fish marks a huge milestone for a billion-dollar undertaking to revive an ancient population of salmon that disappeared in the 1940s with the opening of Friant Dam.
Officials announced that at least five adult spring-run Chinook born in fish hatcheries and released into the wild several years ago, have made the 370-mile trek from the Pacific Ocean back to the San Joaquin River.
Don Portz, who oversees the fish restoration program for the bureau, says the salmon that have been caught in nets prove that the joint-effort by the feds and state is going in the right direction.
“This is monumental for the program,” Portz said in a statement. “It’s a clear indication of the possibility for these fish to make it out of the system as juveniles and then return as adults in order to spawn.”
For years California’s second largest river teemed with salmon, providing food for Native American tribes and then settlers during the 1800s. But as the Gold Rush died down, Californians headed south and found the Central Valley ripe for farming.
3. Chinook salmon equipped with tracking tags being readied for release into the San Joaquin River in California. (Nick Cahill/CNS)
In their pursuit of water, farmers and government agencies ended up damming the river dry in some parts by the 1940s. Water was divvyed up and delivered in canals to farmers for crops like almonds and cotton, but the native salmon species and their spawning habitat vanished. Today, parts of the river go dry during certain times of the year and other sections have manmade barriers that prevent salmon from reaching their spawning beds.
Thanks to a nearly two-decade-long lawsuit fought by the National Resources Defense Council, things are changing on the San Joaquin. A settlement reached in 2006 with the federal government set goals of restoring native fish populations to “good condition” without overtly damaging water suppliers’ take of the river; the state and federal government plan to spend over a billion dollars to restore flows, wetlands and fish to the river.
The five Chinook captured this month returned from the ocean on their own, but had to be transported by researchers in a 500 gallon tank to bypass manmade barriers. The biologists confirmed that the fish were from a California hatchery because they were missing a small rear fin.
The five adult salmon and any others that may return will hold in the cool water below Friant Dam for the summer, before hopefully spawning in the fall.
“Now, that’s worth a toast!,” tweeted Kate Poole about the salmon’s return, senior director at the NRDC.
The long-term goal is to update the barriers to allow fish to swim upstream in the future without being transported, Portz said. Restoration efforts are meant to help spring and fall-run Chinook, Pacific lamprey and white sturgeon.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s inquest jury has reached a finding in the October 22, 2018 death of 37-year-old Salvador Contreras Morales-Cazares of Pittsburg. The finding of the jury is that the death was at the hands of another person, other than by accident.
Contreras was killed during a shoot-out with Pittsburg Police officers, following a domestic dispute that led to a police chase to Concord and back, and then barricading himself in a house.
According to an ABC7 News Report, “Morales eventually walked out of the house and onto the driveway with the gun and didn’t comply with police commands to drop the weapon, according to police. He was shot after he ‘raised the gun and fired towards officers,’ police said.”
The Coroner’s jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.
A Coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:
Accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.
Teresita Del Rosario. Photo: Pittsburg Police
By Pittsburg Police Department
In October 2018 the Pittsburg Police Department became aware of a scam involving Teresita Del Rosario, a 74-year-old Brentwood resident and a business owner in the City of Pittsburg. The case was immediately assigned to the Investigations Division where it was thoroughly investigated over the course of the last several months. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned Del Rosario was the owner of Best Haven Realty and Mortgage located at 3128 Harbor Street and offered a wide range of services, including tax preparation and notary services.
Del Rosario used her authority and trust placed in her by her customers to prey on unsuspecting victims. Del Rosario presented false pretenses to victims using a scam known as the “Advance Fee Scheme” or “Nigerian Scam” to obtain large amounts of money from them, with no intention of paying them back.
Investigators learned of a victim, a client whom she provided tax services for, that reported Del Rosario stated that she had come into a large amount of money ($2.8 million) which was tied up in an offshore account in the Philippines. Del Rosario related she needed a loan from the victim to pay for taxes and other fees, or the money wouldn’t be released to her. Del Rosario showed the victim online records and other documentation to support her claims and requested a $12,000.00 loan from the victim, ensuring him she would give him $24,000.00 by the end of the week in return payment. To reassure the victim, Del Rosario completed a notarized Promissory Note which she provided to him and displayed fraudulent documentation supporting her claims.
Through the investigation, other victims have been identified. The same scheme was used on an elderly couple who trusted Del Rosario with their tax preparation for 17 years. The elderly victims had been defrauded by Del Rosario in excess of $75,000.00 over the course of several months under the same false pretenses. Detectives have served numerous search warrants to banks and followed other leads. Ultimately, it was discovered Del Rosario was endorsing the Cashier’s Checks provided to her by the victims and endorsing them into a third party’s name to avoid detection and wiring funds to an offshore bank account.
The case was brought to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and reviewed by Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague. The Office of the District Attorney ultimately filed charges against Del Rosario for multiple charges including Grand Theft, Theft by False Pretenses, and Elder Abuse.
On April 17, 2019, the Pittsburg Police Department Investigations Division served a search warrant at Best Haven Realty and Mortgage and took Del Rosario into custody for the above-mentioned charges.
This investigation is still ongoing. It is believed that there are further victims that have been defrauded by Del Rosario and is asking for help identifying as of yet unknown victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud purported by Del Rosario or an associate of hers, contact Detective Jonathan Elmore at 925-252-4875.
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
On April 15, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant Abel Peña-Catalan of Pittsburg guilty of 14 felonies, including the molestation of two underage victims and the attempted rape of one of the victims. The criminal conduct by Peña-Catalan also included forcible oral copulation against Jane Doe #1 who was under the age of 18. The District Attorney’s Office does not disclose the age or victim’s name in a sexual assault case to protect the confidentiality of the victims.
Fortunately, a witness encouraged the victims to report the sexual abuse to authorities. In turn, the victims disclosed the molestation to a mandated reporting agency and an investigation ensued. Overall, the Pittsburg Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the investigations for both victims. Peña-Catalan at one time, lived in Alameda County where the abuse started against one of the victims. He then continued his violent and threatening assaults in Pittsburg against the minors.
“Crimes against children often involve secrecy and deception. In this case, the defendant repeatedly threatened these victims and committed horrible sexual assaults against them. The Jane Does in this case were incredibly brave for ensuring the defendant is held accountable for his crimes,” DDA Weiss said.
Peña-Catalan now faces a sentence of over 100 years to life in state prison. Sentencing will occur on May 10, 2019 in front of the Honorable Christopher Bowen – Department 40 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Diana Weiss prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. The case originated in the Office’s Sexual Assault Unit.
The felony counts against Peña-Catalan for his verdict:
Case information: People v. Abel Pena-Catalan, Docket Number 05-180571-2
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
This afternoon at about 12:26, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a medical call with police needed at Anuta Park in Bay Point. A man was reported unconscious and not breathing.
Deputies and the fire department arrived and immediately began life saving measures. The man was later pronounced deceased. The victim is not being identified at this time.
Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the crime lab responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
By CHP-Contra Costa
Wednesday night, April 10, 2019 at about 9:01 pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision with a pedestrian on HWY-4 eastbound, just west of Loveridge Road in Pittsburg. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, it was determined an adult male pedestrian (unknown identity and age) was struck by a vehicle within the #4 lane of the roadway and pronounced deceased. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male once he has been officially identified.
A solo male driver of a White Nissan sedan was traveling eastbound on HWY-4 and approaching Loveridge Road, when the pedestrian, that was reported walking in the center divide ran across the roadway and directly in the Nissan’s path. The driver of the Nissan was unable to avoid the pedestrian in the roadway and struck him. Unfortunately, the pedestrian did not survive and was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the Nissan remained on scene and was cooperative throughout the investigation.
It is unclear if drugs or alcohol are a factor in this collision as it pertains to the pedestrian and is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.