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Concord man dies in two-vehicle crash near Walnut Creek

April 7, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

By CHP Contra Costa

Sunday morning, April 2, 2023, at approximately 5:42am, CHP Contra Costa responded to a two-vehicle crash on Treat Boulevard at Alderwood Road near Walnut Creek.

Our preliminary investigation indicates a Nissan van, with one occupant, was stopped facing westbound on Alderwood at Treat Boulevard. The driver of the Nissan exited and stood behind his vehicle. At this time, a Honda Accord was traveling westbound on Treat Boulevard, approaching the stopped Nissan.

The driver lost control of the Honda and simultaneously struck the Nissan and the driver standing behind it. The driver of the Nissan was pronounced deceased on scene and the driver of the Honda was transported to the hospital with major injuries.

The Contra Costa Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Sergio Quilici, a 34-year-old male from Concord.

This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this crash or the events leading up to it, call CHP in Martinez at 925-646-4980.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Central County, CHP, News

UPS driver victim of strong-arm robbery at Brentwood sports store

April 7, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Car believed used in Brentwood strong-arm robbery on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Photo: Brentwood PD

Firearms stolen

By Brentwood Police Department

On Thursday March 30, 2023 around 9:58 a.m., officers responded to Sportsman’s Warehouse to investigate a strong-arm robbery that just occurred to the rear of the business. Upon officers’ arrival, it was determined a UPS driver was robbed while unloading merchandise to be delivered to the store. Two male suspects (unknown race) approached the victim. One suspect was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants and one wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored pants. Both suspects were wearing masks and gloves. We believe there could have been a third suspect inside of the vehicle, but do not have a description.

There were no weapons displayed during the robbery and no injuries to the victim. Our Detectives have since confirmed several firearms were stolen during this incident.

The vehicle used in the robbery is believed to be a gold Toyota Camry (pictured). At the time of the robbery, the vehicle did not have a license plate. The vehicle is missing the rear bumper and has paint oxidation to the trunk and roof of the vehicle. If you have any information about the suspects or the pictured vehicle, please contact Detective Agostinho at 925-809-7870, or Dispatch at 925-809-7911. Callers may remain anonymous.

 

Filed Under: Crime, East County, News, Police

Second suspect arrested in June 2022 Walnut Creek Macy’s smash-and-grab case

April 7, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Suspect Gerald Dial of Vallejo was arrested on March 23, 2023 in the June 2022 smash and grab theft at Macy’s in Walnut Creek. WCPC video screenshot

By Lt. Holley Connors, Walnut Creek Police Department

A 19-year-old Vallejo man is in custody following his arrest in connection with the June 18 robbery at the Macy’s in Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza. Walnut Creek Police identified Jammoni Simon as one of the suspects in the robbery. Patrol and Investigations worked together to identify the suspect and a warrant was subsequently authored for his arrest. Simon was taken into custody by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office on July 5, 2022. During his arrest, Simon was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm.

Walnut Creek Police Chief Jamie Knox said the arrest is a signal to others involved in that crime and to the public. “Walnut Creek Police Department puts the public safety of those who live, work, or visit here at the highest priority,” Knox said. “We will continue to actively pursue this case; Walnut Creek is not an open target for criminals.”

The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office on July 8th and Simon remains in custody on the following charges:

PC 211, Robbery

PC 459, Burglary

PC 25850(a)(c)(6), Possession of a Loaded Firearm

Detectives continued to develop leads and determined Gerald Dial, a 20-year-old male from Vallejo, was involved and presented this case for review to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. On February 28th, 2023, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed the following felony charges against Dial:

PC 211 Robbery

PC 459 Burglary

PC 487 Grand Theft

On March 23rd, 2023, WCPD Detectives located and arrested Dial on a warrant at the San Francisco Airport. Dial was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. Dial is no longer in custody, as he posted bail.

Walnut Creek Police would like to thank the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in locating and apprehending Simon.

The Department is still actively conducting this investigation. If you have any information related to this case, please contact the Walnut Creek Police at 925-943-5844 or call our anonymous tip line at 925- 843-5865.

Filed Under: Central County, Crime, District Attorney, News, Police

Organized retail thieves arrested in Concord

April 7, 2023 By Publisher 2 Comments

Several thousand dollars of stolen merchandise was recovered from the retail thieves on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Photo: Concord PD

By Concord Police Department

On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, a newly installed Flock camera alerted a CPD Investigator to a felony vehicle in the City of Concord. The vehicle was linked to a CPD investigation for organized retail theft of thousands of dollars in merchandise from local stores.

CPD Officers were able to locate and arrest both of the suspects responsible for a multitude of crimes committed all over the Bay Area. Organized retail theft is a problem which results in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year from our local businesses and this case is just one example of technology assisting us in the apprehension of criminals.

Thank you to our friends at Park N Shop for supporting new resources CPD is employing to keep our community safer!

 

Filed Under: Central County, Concord, Crime, News, Police

Pittsburg Detectives track down, arrest murder suspect in Modesto

April 6, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Murder suspect Gregory Rossignon arrested on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Photos: Pittsburg PD

Subject of hours-long standoff in Antioch, last week in which pregnant girlfriend was arrested

Jessica Russo. Photo: Pittsburg PD

By Pittsburg Police Department

On March 22, shortly after 9:00 PM, officers responded to a convenience store on the 1000 block of Power Avenue.  There, 44-year-old Abdul Raouf, a store clerk, was found suffering from gunshot wounds and unfortunately did not survive.  Through the investigation, it was learned that while in the store, Jessica Russo had a disagreement with another store clerk.  Shortly after the disagreement, Gregory Rossignon entered the store and shot Abdul for no apparent reason.  Both Rossignon and Russo fled after the shooting.

As the investigation progressed and detectives searched for the suspects, on March 29, Jessica Russo. was located and arrested during the service of a search warrant at a residence in Antioch. According to Rossignon’s father, Russo is the son’s girlfriend and pregnant with the son’s child. (See related article)

Tuesday night, April 4, detectives received information that Gregory Rossignon had fled to Modesto and was hiding in an apartment.  Working with the Modesto Police Department and their Tactical Team, a search warrant was served shortly after 7:00 AM Wednesday.  During the service of the warrant, it was determined that Rossignon was in the apartment but refused to come outside.  After several hours of negotiating with the Modesto Police Departments Crisis Response Unit, Rossignon peacefully surrendered.  Rossignon was brought back to Pittsburg and will be booked into Contra Costa County jail for murder.

We would again like to thank community members in Pittsburg, Antioch, and now Modesto for their cooperation and patience while pursuing these suspects.  We would also like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service, the Modesto Police Department and all their staff for the dedication and resources that led to Rossignon’s arrest.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Filed Under: Crime, East County, News, Police

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 2 Comments

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.

UPDATE: The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Brian Posch, age 50-year-old transient.

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

More Antioch Police officers placed on leave, under investigation for alleged offensive texts

March 30, 2023 By Publisher 1 Comment

Mayor Thorpe to hold news conference Thursday morning; two other council members unaware of matter

By Allen D. Payton

According to an East Bay Times report, eight more Antioch Police officers have been placed on leave and are under investigation for sending each other racist and homophobic texts in violation of department policies. Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe has called a press conference for Thursday morning at 11 a.m. to speak on the matter.

The officers on leave are in addition to eight other officers also on leave while under investigation by the FBI and Contra Costa DA’s office. (See related article)

Questions were emailed to Thorpe, Acting City Manager Forrest Ebbs, City Attorney Thomas L. Smith, Police Chief Steve Ford and the police department’s spokespeople, Lt. Michael Mellone and PIO Ashley Crandell asking to verify the information in the article and for the time and location of the press conference.

Ebbs responded, “The City of Antioch is investigating allegations revealed by information received against a number of Antioch Police Officers.  The City has placed the officers on administrative leave pending the investigation of allegations.  Given that this is a confidential personnel matter, no further information can be disclosed at this time.”

Thorpe confirmed the time of the press conference, said it will be held at City Hall and that the information reported in the article didn’t come from him.

Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock said they weren’t aware of the matter before being informed by this reporter. “First I’ve heard or seen” of it, Ogorchock responded.

“I sure did not,” Barbanica responded when asked if he had heard about the matter. He then called Ebbs. Barbanica said Ebbs told him he had briefed Thorpe on the matter, just not the rest of the council.

“I told the acting city manager, we are a General Law City not a Charter City and if one council member was made aware, the entire council should have been made aware. For the mayor to be briefed and not the rest of the city council, this is unacceptable,” said Barbanica. “I asked him why I wasn’t made aware of this and why wasn’t the rest of the council made aware, and why did I have to learn of this from the media.”

The District 2 councilman said Ebbs told him Thursday morning, “in a very short period of time he was going to get communication out to the rest of the city council.” That was expected to be received by 10 a.m. prior to the press conference. “I’m waiting for the details to come out before making any additional comment,” Barbanica added. But he said he had an appointment in San Francisco at the time and couldn’t attend the press conference. “Had I been briefed about it, yesterday, I could have rearranged my schedule.”

See press conference video.

 

Filed Under: East County, News, Police

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

March 30, 2023 By Publisher 2 Comments

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

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