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Antioch Police seek video around time of March 14 road rage shooting near Brentwood

April 1, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

An 18-year-old female was shot during a road rage incident in Antioch Tuesday night, March 13, 2023. ContraCosta.news video screenshot used with permission.

By PIO Ashley Crandell, Antioch Police Community Engagement Unit

Honda Accord driven by victim of road rage shooting. Photo by Mike Burkholder, ContraCosta.news used with permission.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at approximately 7:51 pm, a woman was shot on Lone Tree Way at the intersection of Highway 4 near Brentwood. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is expected to survive. Officers learned this was a road rage incident between two unrelated vehicles. One of the occupants of a vehicle involved in the road rage shot at the other vehicle. In doing so, they shot an unrelated occupant of a vehicle nearby. (See related article)

The Antioch Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person and vehicle of interest in this case. We are asking anyone who drove on Lone Tree Way or was visiting the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center on March 14, 2023, from 7:40 pm to 7:55 pm to check your dashboard cameras.

We ask you to preserve the video and contact Detective Cox at (925) 481-8147 or jcox@antiochca.gov. It is important to note, we are not only looking for video depicting the crime- but any video during that time frame. Also, if you work for a delivery company or saw a delivery vehicle in the area from 7:40 pm to 7:55 pm, please contact Detective Cox with which company.

We want to thank the community for their assistance during the course of this investigation.

Filed Under: Crime, East County, News, Police

Pittsburg woman pleads guilty to major financial crime scheme at Filipino food business

March 31, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

Embezzled almost $1.4 million, paid $410K in restitution

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

A former employee of Ramar Foods International in Pittsburg has pleaded guilty at her arraignment on March 30th to felony grand theft embezzlement, identity theft, money laundering, and tax evasion. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a negotiated disposition or plea agreement with 60-year-old Mary Antoinette Narvaez Hernandez of Pittsburg. Hernandez was the accounting manager at Ramar Foods International when she committed financial crimes between 2016 and 2021.

During that time, she embezzled a total of $1,399,342.84 from the company and failed to pay $97,568 in taxes to the State of California.

District Attorney Diana Becton noted that, “Financial crimes are often complicated. That’s why our Major Financial Crimes Unit has forensic accountants who can investigate complex illegal schemes and why we have attorneys with expert knowledge of white-collar crime. The goal is always to get justice for victims. A plea agreement like this one is an effective way for the victims to receive financial restitution from what was stolen from them — and for the state to recover tax revenue that was unlawfully evaded by the defendant.”

Hernandez has already paid restitution to the victims in the amount of $410,198.90, has cooperated with Pittsburg Police, and has accepted responsibility in the matter. At the arraignment, one of the victims, the President of Ramar Foods Susie Quesada spoke in court saying Hernandez “had many friends in our company who also trusted her and helped her. It is with deep regret now that we look upon the years of working with Mary Anna tainted with lies and deception.” Ms. Quesada concluded: “It is for our employees, who like our family, were betrayed by her deception and thievery, that we applaud the myriad law enforcement professionals and this court for bringing her to justice.”

Part of the agreement includes a stay away order from Ramar Foods International, that she pays restitution, taxes owed, cannot possess firearms, arming devices, or ammunition, and must pay for the cost of the investigation and prosecution. She was sentenced to a seven-year suspended state prison sentence, three years formal probation supervision, with one year in the county jail.

She can apply to serve jail time through the Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Custody Alternative Facility. Her probation supervision includes strict terms and conditions calculated to protect the community against further financial crimes by Ms. Hernandez. A violation of any of these terms or conditions will impose the suspended seven-year prison sentence.

Case No. 04-23-00316 | The People of the State of California v. Hernandez, Mary Antoinette Narvaez

Filed Under: Business, Crime, District Attorney, East County, News

Vehicle vs. pedestrian fatality on Hwy 4 in Brentwood early Thursday

March 30, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

By CHP – Contra Costa

This morning, Thursday, March 30, 2023, at about 3:32am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Hwy 4 eastbound on the Lone Tree Way on-ramp in Brentwood. At the time of the crash, a pedestrian was within the roadway of the on-ramp. A Toyota Camry traveling on the on-ramp was unable to avoid the pedestrian and struck them. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the Toyota was not injured.

This crash is still under investigation. If you have additional information you believe would assist in the investigation please contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez, (925) 646-4980

Filed Under: CHP, East County, News

One of two homicide suspects in death of Pittsburg convenience store clerk arrested in Antioch

March 30, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Jessica Russo was arrested by Pittsburg Police in Antioch on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Photos of scene by Allen D. Payton. Gregory Rossignon is still wanted for the March 22 murder.

Following hours-long stand-off outside home male suspect still wanted; his father says female suspect pregnant with male suspect’s child

By Allen D. Payton

Shortly after 2:00 pm Wednesday, March 29, 2023, the Pittsburg Police Department’s Special Response Unit served a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 block of D Street in the city of Antioch for two suspects wanted for murder of a Pittsburg convenience store clerk on March 22. During the service of the warrant, Jessica Russo was located and arrested. She was booked and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Pittsburg Police officers near the house on D and W. Madill Streets in Antioch. Members of the Pittsburg Special Response Unit with the department’s Bearcat armored vehicle.

After a methodical and exhaustive search of the residence was conducted, Gregory Rossignon remains outstanding and still wanted for murder. During the search officers approached the house and several times, broke windows, dropped a phone with a phone line into the house, called out on the loudspeaker for Rossignon to pick up the phone and dial a number to speak to police. The officers flew drones inside and outside and deployed four rounds of a chemical agent believed to be tear gas inside the home. After the second round of gas another woman emerged from the residence about 5:53 p.m. and was detained, placed in handcuffs and escorted from the scene.

Pittsburg officers at front door breaking out windows, tear gas smoke emerged from the house’s attic, and a second woman was detained.

About 7:35 p.m., Rossignon’s father, who identified himself as Gregory, Sr., arrived on the scene and asked to speak to his son “so everyone comes out of this alive”. He referred to Russo as his daughter. When shown a photo of Russo and asked if she was who he was referring to, Rossignon, Sr. said, “yes, I call her my daughter. She’s pregnant with my son’s child…my grandchild.” He told police, “I’ll strip down if you need me to and walk in there to talk to my son.” Later, a woman drove up to the scene and told officers she was the suspect’s mother. Officers took both parents to an area on Lawton Street where they waited but did not speak to their son.

A drone was sent into the house through windows police had broken out. Gregory Rossignon, Sr., the suspect’s father, arrived on the scene offering to speak to his son.

At about 9:15 p.m., an officer said he expected to wrap things up shortly, but that they had not had any contact with the suspect nor could confirm that anyone was still in the house.

The Pittsburg Police would like to thank the Antioch residents who live in this area for their patience during the service of the warrant. Several residents were escorted by police to their homes on D Street. But one mother and daughter who live next door to the house had to find somewhere else to stay for the night. Although offered to stay at a Pittsburg motel by one of the officers, they chose to stay with friends. The woman said she expected to return to her home Thursday morning.

The Pittsburg Police Department is asking anyone with information related to Gregory Rossingnon’s whereabouts to contact the local police. We are also asking anyone with information contact Detective Jonathan Elmore at 925-252-4875 or the Pittsburg Police Department Tip Line at 925-252-4040.

See more photos and video at facebook.com/antiochheraldca.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Crime, East County, News, Police

Public’s help needed in legal action against Christopher George Miller

March 30, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Arrested for sex crimes against minors in Contra Costa

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

As the seven-count felony case against Christopher George Miller continues in Superior Court in Martinez, the investigative team who arrested him in a sting operation for arranging to engage in sex acts with a minor are asking the public for help.

The investigation into Miller started in 2022 when he was employed at Deer Valley High School in Antioch as a campus supervisor. A parent of a student reported to school officials that Miller was sending inappropriate texts to the student regarding marijuana use at the school, as well as sexually suggestive messages. (See related article)

The Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) adopted the case about three weeks ago to see if Miller (who was then a former employee at the high school) would sell marijuana and arrange to meet for sex. Posing as a 13-year-old girl on a chat app Miller used, a Detective with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office started communicating with him. At one point while exchanging texts, Miller offered to sell the fictitious teen marijuana — and later the chats became more sexual in nature.

Miller arranged to meet the teen for sex at a park in Martinez on March 16th, 2023. Participating ICAC members from the Sheriff’s Office, Concord Police, Danville Police, Pittsburg Police, and the District Attorney’s Office met him at the park and arrested Miller on marijuana possession with the intent to sell to a minor and other charges related to contacting and arranging to engage in lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility and arraigned on a total of seven felony charges on March 21st. His preliminary hearing is set for April 3rd at 8:30 am in Department 25 in Martinez.

According to the charging document filed on March 20 by the CCDA’s Office, Miller was charged with seven felonies, including P0288.3(a), Contact with Minor for Sexual Offense on or about June 14, 2022; PC288.4(b), Meeting Minor for Lewd Purposes between March 10 and 16, 2023; PC288.3(a), Contact with Minor for Sexual Offense on or between March 10 and 16, 2023; PC288.2(a)(2), Distributing Or Showing Pornography To A Minor on or about March 14, 2023; PC288.2(a)(2), Distributing Or Showing Pornography To A Minor on or about March 15, 2023; PC 664/PC288(a), Attempted Lewd Act Upon A Child on or about March 16, 2023; PC 664/HS11360(a), Attempted Sale/Offer To Sell/Transportation Of Marijuana on or about March 16, 2023.

ICAC Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe notes that Miller may have been in contact with other victims. He’s asking the public to email him at the District Attorney’s Office if they have information related to Miller’s case. He can be reached at: DHolcombe@contracostada.org.

Case No. 01-23-00820 | The People of the State of California v. Miller, Christopher George

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Concord, Crime, District Attorney, Education, News, Police, Sheriff, Youth

Vallejo man faces murder charges in crash that killed mother and son in Rodeo

March 28, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Hit-and-run suspect Ralph White III. Source: KTVU

Being held on $1.32 million bail

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

Murder charges are part of a six-count felony complaint filed today by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office against 20-year-old Ralph Ellsworth White, III of Vallejo (born Feb. 11, 2003). The charges stem from a short high-speed police pursuit that resulted in a vehicle collision that took the life of a mother and son in Rodeo. (See related article)

The incident occurred on March 23rd around 7:30 pm when Hercules Police were notified by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office of a stolen Mazda SUV traveling eastbound on I-80 toward the City of Hercules. A peace officer with Hercules Police saw the stolen vehicle exit Willow Avenue and attempted to pull the vehicle over. White accelerated the SUV away from the police vehicle, and shortly after, collided with another vehicle near Parker Avenue and 4th Street in Rodeo. White fled from the crash on foot, but officers found him at a nearby liquor store. He was placed under arrest and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility in Martinez.

The impact of the collision killed the driver of the vehicle, 31-year-old Ryniqueka Dowell, and injured her six-year-old twin sons – one of whom died on March 27th from crash-related injuries. The other boy suffered a broken leg and other injuries.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, White is being held on $1.32 million bail in the Martinez Detention Facility, as of Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

White will be arraigned on March 29th at 1:30 pm in Martinez on the following charges: Two counts of murder with two enhancements for committing the offenses while on bail. White also faces felonies for fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle and causing serious bodily injury, a hit and run resulting in the death or injury to another person, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, and receiving stolen property (i.e., a motor vehicle).

Case No. 02-23-00447 | The People of the State of California v. White, Ralph Ellsworth, III

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Crime, District Attorney, News, West County

Contra Costa Health Order to require staff in skilled nursing facilities to continue wearing masks

March 28, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

 

After April 3 state order expires

Staff in local skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) will be required to continue wearing masks under a new Contra Costa County health order.

The order, which requires masks to be well-fitted and cover the nose and mouth, will also apply to paramedics, emergency medical technicians, contractors and vendors when they enter these facilities in Contra Costa. The masking order will not apply to SNF patients or visitors seeing their loved ones.

The County’s health order will go into effect on Monday, April 3, immediately after the state’s COVID masking order for healthcare settings expires.

“Requiring staff at SNFs to wear well-fitting masks will help protect their vulnerable elderly patients from being infected with COVID,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the County’s health officer, who is issuing the order. “We know from our experience during the pandemic that the people SNFs serve – seniors with serious underlying health problems – are the ones who are most susceptible to severe outcomes from a COVID infection.”

Since the pandemic began in 2020, 57% of the deaths from COVID in Contra Costa have been among people ages 75 and older.  

There are 30 SNFs in Contra Costa. Skilled nursing facilities provide a higher level of medical care than other long-term care facilities. The order will not apply to assisted living facilities, residential-care facilities or board-and-care homes, although masking is still highly recommended in those settings.  

Hospitals and outpatient healthcare clinics in Contra Costa County will not be subject to the new County order, although local health systems can choose to enforce their own masking policies. Dr. Tzvieli said hospitals have robust infection-control policies and personnel and can determine if and when masking is required.

California’s pandemic-related health emergency ended on Feb. 28. While the state is lifting its masking requirements for healthcare settings on April 3, local health officials can still issue their own masking orders.

Under the County health order, a well-fitted mask is defined as covering the nose and mouth and it’s strongly recommended that SNF personnel use higher-quality masks, such as an N95 or KN95/94, to provide the maximum protection.

County health staff were asked why the order is still necessary when there has been less than a 1% infection rate in the county in the past 60 days and according to a physician at John Muir Medical Center Concord, the latest COVID strain is treated like a bad cold and they no longer hospitalize for it.

UPDATE: According to Contra Costa Health spokesman Will Harper, “The new local order is narrowly focused on skilled nursing facilities and not any other settings. We are focusing on SNFs in this order because they are where we have seen some of the worst impacts of COVID in Contra Costa County, and we are being cautious with removing one of the last major layers of protection in this setting. As we said in the press release, requiring staff in skilled nursing facilities to wear masks will help protect the vulnerable elderly patients they serve.

From March 2020 to August 2022, deaths of residents of skilled nursing facilities accounted for approximately 27% of all deaths from COVID in the County and, looking more broadly, since the start of the pandemic, 57% of the deaths from COVID in Contra Costa have been among people ages 75 and older.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Filed Under: Government, Health, News

Search underway for two suspects in shooting death of convenience store clerk in Pittsburg

March 27, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

Suspects Gregory Rossignon and Jessica Russo. Photos: Pittsburg PD

Third suspect arrested; GoFundMe page set up for 44-year-old father of five victim

By Pittsburg Police Department

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, shortly after 9:00 PM, Pittsburg Police Officers responded to a residence on the 100 block of Bruno Avenue after receiving reports of gunshots heard. While on scene and attempting to determine what had occurred, officers heard gunshots coming from the 1000 block of Power Avenue. Shortly after, a call was received that a clerk had been shot at a convenience store on Power Avenue. At 9:41 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Power Avenue. Officers arrived on scene and found a male subject had been shot. Officers provided medical aid, but unfortunately the victim succumbed to his injuries on scene.

Through the investigation, it was learned that 37-year-old Gregory Rossignon and 34-year-old Jessica Russo, both from Pittsburg, were involved in an altercation on Bruno Avenue. During this time, several shots from a handgun were fired into the air. No one was injured as a result, and both immediately fled the area. As officers investigated this incident, additional officers responded to the convenience store.

Store clerk Abdul Raouf and his children. Source: GoFundMe

There, officers found and began life-saving efforts on the clerk who had been shot. Unfortunately, the clerk, 44-year-old Abdul Raouf, did not survive these injuries. During the investigation at the convenience store, it was determined that Gregory Rossignon and Jessica Russo were involved in this fatal incident after a confrontation with the store employees. Following the shooting, both fled from the store. Additionally, another man was identified as having been involved in this incident and later arrested at a residence in Pittsburg. This man was identified as 43-year-old Alan Agloro from Pittsburg.

Detectives have obtained arrest warrants for Gregory Rossignon and Jessica Russo and are asking anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact the local police.

This is still an active investigation, and we ask anyone with information about these two incidents to contact Detective Elmore at 925-252-4875 or the Pittsburg Police Department Tip Line at 925-252-4040. This is Pittsburg’s first homicide for the year 2023.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Raouf’s wife and five children.

 

Filed Under: Crime, East County, News, Police

Stolen car hit-and-run in Rodeo claims life of mother, six-year-old twin boy, injures other

March 27, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

Ryniqueka Dowell, Jeffrey, Jamari and Jamani Humble. Source: GoFundMe

During police chase; suspect arrested, expected to face murder charges

Hit-and-run suspect Ralph White III. Source: KTVU

By Hercules Police Department

On March 23, 2023, at about 7:27 pm, the Hercules Police Department received information from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office regarding a stolen 2021 Mazda SUV, possibly heading toward the City of Hercules on eastbound I-80. A Hercules Police Officer saw the Mazda exit I-80 eastbound onto northbound Willow Avenue. As the Officer caught up to the Mazda, the driver immediately began to accelerate. The Officer initiated a short pursuit of the SUV, before it collided into a 2017 Nissan passenger vehicle in the area of Parker Avenue and 4th Street in the City of Rodeo. The driver of the Mazda immediately got out of the vehicle and ran northbound onto Parker Ave. A perimeter was established, and the suspect was found, at a nearby liquor store. He was placed under arrest, and later transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The driver of the Nissan passenger vehicle was a 31-year-old, mother of twin boys, age six. All were inside the vehicle and sadly, the mother passed away at the scene. The children were taken to Children’s Hospital in Oakland. One of the boys was in critical condition. He unfortunately passed away.

We will be filing the case with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office tomorrow, Tuesday, March 28, and we will be seeking additional murder charges.

This incident is still an active investigation, and any additional information will be released as the investigation continues. Anybody with any additional information is encouraged to contact Hercules Police Department at (510)724-1111.

Our thoughts are with the family of the victims and the community during this difficult time. We ask that you please respect the family’s privacy, and that you keep them in your prayers.

According to KTVU News reporter Henry K. Lee, 20-year-old the suspect is Ralph White III and is being held on suspicion of vehicle manslaughter, auto theft and evading police. A tweet of a surveillance video shows the stolen Mazda crashing into the Nissan at 4th and Parker (Viewer discretion). In addition, according to a further tweet by Lee, a GoFundMe page has been set up for the family which identified the mother as Ryniqueka Dowell and the one son as, Jamari Humble and the surviving son as Jamani Humble.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

Filed Under: Crime, News, Police, West County

Two men arrested at Pleasant Hill hotel on outstanding warrant for burglary, plus drugs, gun

March 27, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

Officers approach hotel room door. Gun, drugs and cash seized on March 25, 2023. Photos: PHPD

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2023, patrol officers learned a wanted subject might be associated with a room at a local hotel. The wanted subject had a warrant related to a residential burglary in Pleasant Hill. Officers safely served the warrant and arrested the subject without incident. Another person in the hotel room also had felony warrants and was on probation.

During a probation search of the hotel room, Officers uncovered a hidden firearm, nearly a pound of methamphetamine, evidence of drug sales and a large amount of cash. Both subjects were booked into county jail for multiple felonies including the warrants. The drugs, firearm and cash were all seized.

PHPD investigators will work closely with the District Attorney to review this case. We want to thank our local community for your continued support.

 

Filed Under: Central County, Crime, News, Police

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