Contra Costa Herald

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

Two Antioch female teens arrested for battery following fight at Concord restaurant Thursday

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Screenshot from KRON4 News report of fight at Concord restaurant Thurs., June 6, 2019.

18-year-old Pittsburg male also arrested for unrelated incident

By Lieutenant Sam Staten, Concord Police Department

On Thursday, June 06, 2019, at approximately 8:31 PM, Concord Police Officers responded to the 2000 block of Diamond Blvd regarding a fight at a restaurant involving several patrons. Officers arrived and encountered a large crowd outside of the restaurant. The preliminary investigation revealed that two females, who were known to each other, got into a physical fight inside of the restaurant. The fight ended prior to police arrival. Officers questioned several people including the involved parties. They determined that the fight was due to conflict that had occurred in the past between the two involved females.

As a result, a 19-year-old black female adult and a 16-year-old female juvenile (both Antioch residents) were arrested for battery. An 18-year-old male from Pittsburg was also arrested for an unrelated incident. The victim sustained a minor injury as a result of the fight. Video surveillance from the restaurant was not available at the time the police were on scene. But, video of the incident was posted on NBC Bay Area and can be viewed, here. (WARNING: Video contains graphic language; viewer discretion advised)

Anyone with additional information in regard to this incident is asked to call Concord Police Department Detective Sergeant Mark Robison at (925)-671-5074.

BART to Antioch, former Lafayette city manager honored with first-ever Bay Area Metro Awards

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A two-car eBART train in the middle of Highway 4 between Hillcrest Avenue and A Street/Lone Tree Way. Herald file photo.

Among 13 winners named from across the nine-county region

Steven Falk. Photo by City of Lafayette.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) joined forces to present the first Bay Area Metro Awards Thursday, at a ceremony in Oakland recognizing 13 people, projects, organizations and local governments advancing solutions to ease the Bay Area’s housing crisis, improve the transportation system or make the nine-county region more resilient.

Winners include:

BART to Antioch: For the 10-mile rail extension from the former Pittsburg terminus along the Highway 4 median to a pair of new stations at Pittsburg Center and Antioch.

Steven Falk: For his years of committed service to the city of Lafayette as city manager. He retired last September after 38 years working for the city.

UC Berkeley’s Y-PLAN Team: For the program that brought young people’s ideas into a regional challenge to develop community-based solutions to climate change.

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART): For the successful start of rail service connecting Sonoma and Marin counties.

HayWired Earthquake Scenario: To the U.S. Geological Survey and partners for studying a hypothetical 7.0 magnitude quake in the East Bay to help shape public policy for earthquake safety and planning.

Pacific Beach Coalition: For organizing volunteers over the past 21 years to clean up beaches along the San Mateo Coast.

Acquisition of the 23rd Avenue Community Building in Oakland: To the Oakland Community Land Trust and others, permanently preserving it as an affordable, mixed-use building.

San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority: For work on the Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Measure – Measure AA – which was approved by voters in 2016 to tax themselves to help restore Bay Area wetlands.

Joint Workforce Investment Apprenticeship Program: To a partnership between the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), its Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265, and Mission College to support the professional development of VTA employees.

San Leandro Homeless Compact: For the efforts of three partner organizations to end homelessness in the city of San Leandro: the city, the Rental Housing Association of Southern Alameda County, and the non-profit Building Futures with Women and Children.

Carl Guardino, Gabriel Metcalf and Jim Wunderman: For their dedicated and tireless work advocating for Regional Measure 3, the voter-approved 2018 measure which raised bridge tolls to fund transportation improvements and congestion relief projects.

LEGISLATIVE AWARD: Hon. Jim Beall, California State Senator.

GRAND AWARD: Recognizes three public transit operators and a public energy program for their work to save lives, protect communities and aid in rebuilding in response to the October 2017 North Bay fires:

  • Santa Rosa CityBus
  • Sonoma Clean Power, Advanced Energy Rebuild Program
  • Sonoma County Transit
  • Vine Transit (Napa County)

Launched jointly by ABAG and MTC in September 2018 with a call for nominations, the new awards program honors positive impacts on the Bay Area’s mobility, affordability, resilience and community; and recognizes efforts that make the region a better place to live, work and play.

“We honor this year’s winners to say thank you for the work they are doing and we hope that the winners’ stories will inspire others to strive for excellence in their daily tasks,” said ABAG President and MTC Commissioner David Rabbitt.

Winners received a specially designed Bay Area Metro Award at the recognition ceremony.  A six-member jury that included members of ABAG’s and MTC’s governing boards, as well as staff and a community representative, met to consider some 80 nominations in early 2019. The list of winners, with more details, can be found here: https://mtc.ca.gov/whats-happening/news/special-features/2019-bay-area-metro-award-winners.

 

Multi-county police pursuit starting in Pittsburg ends with driver’s arrest in Sonoma County Tuesday

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Screenshot from Contra Costa Sheriff’s helicopter video of suspect surrendering at end of pursuit on Tues., June 4, 2019.

By CHP-Golden Gate Division

Tuesday afternoon shortly before 1:30 pm, the Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg, CA attempted to stop a Toyota truck within their jurisdiction. The driver fled from officers at a high rate of speed. Pittsburg officers deployed a Starchase, LLC tracking device and discontinued the pursuit.
A Contra Costa Sheriff’s helicopter and CHP Airplane Air-37 arrived over the suspect vehicle and followed it from above. The suspect continued to flee through Contra Costa, Solano, Napa and Sonoma Counties. After the Contra Costa Sheriff Helicopter discontinued their involvement, CHP H-32 arrived overhead.

Due to law enforcement monitoring from overhead, it allowed ground units to get into position and deploy spike strips. Once the vehicle became disabled by the spike strips, the suspect pulled to the shoulder and surrendered.

The CHP – Napa Office and the Sonoma Sheriff is jointly investigating this incident.

To see video of the pursuit, click here.

Guardrail repair work on Vasco Road June 3-6

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The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will repair guardrails on Vasco Road from Camino Diablo Road to the Alameda County line. The work will occur from June 3rd – June 6th between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The work may be rescheduled based on weather conditions. Electronic message boards will alert drivers of the scheduled work. There will be traffic control through the work area and drivers can expect delays.

Byron Highway safety improvements construction to begin June 5

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Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction on the Byron Highway Traffic Safety Improvements Project. The project consists of an asphalt overlay on Byron Highway between Byron Hot Springs Road and the Alameda County line, restriping the centerline to feature double yellow no-passing lines and a centerline rumble strip, and replacing striping and pavement markings. Additionally, all signs along Byron Highway will be replaced to meet new reflectivity standards. The total project length is approximately 3.8 miles.

Construction will begin on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, with completion in late July 2019, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work hours will generally be in the evening from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am to minimize impacts to commute traffic. Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes during construction.

Funding for this project is provided by the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and gas tax revenues provided by the SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act. More information for this project can be found at http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.

Delta Blitz operation on Sunday, May 26

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Photo by CCCSheriff.

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

With the start of boating season this weekend, the Marine Services Unit of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is hosting a Delta Blitz on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

Numerous local, state, and federal agencies will be taking part in this operation and will focus on boating safety, education and enforcement in the Delta.

The ‘ABC’s of Boating’, a handbook of boating rules, is available from most boating shops. Boaters can go to the California Division of Boating and Waterways website at www.dbw.ca.gov for information on boating safety and the California Boater Card. If anyone has any questions about boating safety, please contact the Marine Services Unit at (925) 427-8507.

Construction to begin on Marsh Creek Road Monday

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The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will begin construction of the Marsh Creek Road Traffic Safety Improvements project. The project will consist of installing a centerline rumble strip, restriping of the centerline, and traffic sign replacement and upgrades along the 14-mile stretch of Marsh Creek Road between the Cities of Clayton and Brentwood. Improvements will also include a streetlight installation on a wooden pole, and two solar flashing beacons at the intersection of Marsh Creek Road and Deer Valley Road.

Construction will begin on Monday, May 20, 2019, with completion by July 1, 2019, barring unforeseen circumstances. Drivers can expect traffic delays up to 30 minutes. Work hours will be 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to minimize impacts to commute traffic.

Funding for this project is gas tax revenues provided by the SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act and the Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. More information for this project can be found at http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.

Curran, Motts, Rosa win at Antioch Speedway, more races Saturday night during County Fair

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Brent Curran #132 moved further up the B Modified point list with his second win. Photo By Paul Gould

Bobby Motts Jr #13 celebrates his Hobby Stock win with his daughter Madison Motts. Photo By Paul Gould

By Don Martin, II

Brent Curran won his second 25 lap All Star Series B Modified Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The race had three yellow flags during the first four laps as Kenny Shrader set the early pace. An inside pass in Turn 4 of the fifth lap gained Curran the lead from Shrader. Curran continued to set the pace through a pair of yellow flags during the next 10 laps, and point leader Cameron Swank pitted on lap eight. As Curran pulled away to win by about a straightaway, Shrader won a good battle with Todd Gomez to finish second. Previous winner Tommy Fraser and reigning champion Trevor Clymens completed the Top 5.

Bobby Motts Jr won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. Motts was driving the car that he built for his daughter Madison, who was riding passenger with him in this race. Motts raced into the lead at the start with point leader Chris Sorensen and Josh Leach running closely behind him. Second changed hands a couple of times after restarts on laps four and seven, but Motts continued to set the pace. The lead three cars ran closely until Sorensen and Leach hooked bumpers briefly in Turns 1 and 2 on the 15th lap. They broke free on their own, and Sorensen closed in on Motts on the final lap. However, Motts took the checkered flag ahead of Sorensen, Leach, Breanna Troen and Ken Johns.

David Rosa’s Dwarf Car win was the 60th of his career at Antioch Speedway. Photo By Paul Gould

David Rosa won the 20 lap Dwarf Car Main Event. This was the 60th career feature win for the two-time Street Stock champion. Chuck Conover led early, and it wasn’t long before David Michael Rosa and father David Rosa were running closely behind in a good battle for the lead. A low pass in Turn 2 of the 11th lap gained David Rosa second from his son, and he made an inside pass on the front stretch to take the lead from Conover on lap 14. Moments later, David Michael Rosa’s race came to an end with a Turn 1 crash. David Rosa continued to lead the race as 10th starter Scott Dahlgren and Devan Kammermann settled into second and third. With Dahlgren pressuring him in the remaining laps, David Rosa kept his cool and scored a well-earned victory. Dahlgren settled for second, followed by Kammermann, Chuck Conover and Toby Brown.

Richard Papenhausen #4p rolled to his third straight DIRTcar Late Model win. Photo By Paul Gould

Richard Papenhausen won his third-straight DIRTcar Late Model Main Event. Papenhausen ran second for one lap before leader Mike Hynes spun in Turn 4. Papenhausen led Rod Oliver and Danny Malfatti on the restart and would rapidly pull away from everybody. Malfatti and Kimo Oreta had a good battle going for third until Malfatti pitted on lap 13. Papenhausen lapped second place Oliver late and won the race easily. Oreta settled for third, followed by Malfatti and Hynes.

Saturday night, the Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars will run special races during the Contra Costa County Fair. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Unofficial Race Results

Antioch Speedway All Star Series

B Modifieds

Heat Winners (6 Laps)-Tommy Fraser, Mark Garner. Main Event (25 Laps)-Brent Curran, Kenny Shrader, Todd Gomez, Tommy Fraser, Trevor Clymens, Mark Garner, Kevin Brown, Kelly Campanile, Dennis Gilcrease, Tommy Clymens Jr.

Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners (6 Laps)-John Wacht, Josh Leach. Main Event (20 Laps)-Bobby Motts Jr, Chris Sorensen, Josh Leach, Breanna Troen, Ken Johns, Jacob Mallett Jr, John Wacht, Will Buirch, Jeff Betancourt, Dalton Jewel.

Dwarf Cars

Heat Winners (6 Laps)-Travis Dutra, Mario Marques, Toby Brown. Main Event (20 Laps)-David Rosa, Scott Dahlgren, Devin Kammermann, Chuck Conover, Toby Brown, Troy Stevenson, Jerry Doty, Travis Dutra, Giovanni Bertolli, Mario Marques.

DIRTcar Late Models

Heat Winner (6 Laps)-Richard Papenhausen. Main Event (20 Laps)- Richard Papenhausen, Ron Oliver, Kimo Oreta, Danny Malfatti, Mike Hynes, John Soares.

7 from East Contra Costa among 13 indictments targeting East Bay drug trafficking rings

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3 from Antioch, 2 from Pittsburg, 2 from Bay Point

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

SAN FRANCISCO – Thirteen defendants were indicted on narcotics trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Chris D. Nielsen.  The indictment follows the arrest of five of the defendants on April 30, 2019, and the execution of search warrants at thirteen locations, including nine residences in Contra Costa County, Humboldt County, Fairfield, Suisun City and Modesto.

Three defendants are from Antioch including 66-year-old Lorenzo Lee, 63-year-old Deborah Polk and 40-year-old Timothy Peoples. Two others from Pittsburg were indicted, 46-year-old Jeffrey McCoy and 38-year-old Deshawnte Gamboa, as well as 57-year-old Anthony Brown and 26-year-old Evan Martinez-Diaz, both of Bay Point

All thirteen defendants were charged in a single indictment which charges controlled substance offenses involving methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base. The defendants and the charges pending against them are as follows:

 

Defendant Age Residence Charges Maximum Statutory Penalty
LORENZO LEE, a/k/a “O.G.” 66 Antioch, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
Distribution of and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, Including Cocaine, Cocaine Base, Methamphetamine, and Heroin (Counts 4, 7, and 13-15)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
JEFFREY MCCOY 46 Pittsburg, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
Distribution of Controlled Substances, Including Cocaine Base, Cocaine, and Heroin (Counts 2-7 and 9)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
ANTHONY BROWN, a/k/a “Ant Man” 57 Bay Point, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
Distribution of Cocaine Base

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Count 7)

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
DESHAWNTE GAMBOA 38 Pittsburg, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
Distribution of Heroin (Count 9)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
DEBORAH POLK 63 Antioch, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (Count 15)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 16)

 

21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(2)

 20 years imprisonment

 

3 years supervised release

 

$500,000 fine
EVAN MARTINEZ-DIAZ 26 Bay Point, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine (Counts 13 and 14)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
MAGO AGUILAR-PACHECO 38 West Covina, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine
CESAR ALVARADO 38 Desert Springs, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 1)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and Methamphetamine (Counts 11-14)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
JESSE LOPEZ, III 30 Fowler, California Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl (Count 8)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
JOSE DELGADILLO, a/k/a “Tepa” 41 Fairfield, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Counts 1 and 10)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
MARCO DELGADILLO, a/k/a “Tonio” 39 Fairfield, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 10)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
LUIS TORRES-GARCIA, a/k/a “Guero” 33 Rio Dell, California Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances (Count 10)

 

21 U.S.C. § 846

 Not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life

 

Not less than 5 years supervised release and up to life

 

$10 million fine
TIMOTHY PEOPLES, a/k/a “Tee” 40 Antioch, California Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine Base (Counts 17 and 18)

 

21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

 Not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to 40 years imprisonment

 

Not less than 4 years supervised release and up to life

 

$5 million fine

The defendants arrested on April 30, 2019, were originally charged by complaint.  The complaints have been unsealed.  Eight defendants were charged in complaints that were supported by an affidavit describing the underlying investigation (the Affidavit).  In addition, a separate complaint was filed against defendant Timothy Peoples, and that complaint has been unsealed as well.

According to the Affidavit, this investigation started in 2017 and involved the DEA, the United States Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Antioch Police Department, Oakley Police Department, and Concord Police Department.  In 2017 and 2018, the investigators used informants to conduct a series of purchases of cocaine, cocaine base and heroin from JEFFREY MCCOY.  In furtherance of their investigation, the agents also obtained federal wiretap orders in 2018 and 2019 to monitor communications over telephones used by the conspirators.

According to the Affidavit, the agents also seized significant quantities of narcotics from various defendants during the investigation.  The following chart summarizes the seizures, which are discussed in more detail in the Affidavit:

DATE SEIZED CIRCUMSTANCES
5/15/2018 4 kg of heroin mixed with fentanyl and $46,000 Seized from courier after leaving LEE’s residence
8/8/2018 18 lbs of methamphetamine Seized en route to TORRES-GARCIA from Jose DELGADILLO
1/26/2019 2 kg of cocaine Seized en route to meeting point with LEE
2/9/2019 7 kg of narcotics and $104,505 Seized from courier after leaving LEE’s residence
2/9/2019 20 lbs of methamphetamine and 1 kg of cocaine Discarded from courier’s vehicle after leaving LEE’s residence

In addition, any sentence following conviction will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by member agencies of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.