Contra Costa Herald

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

Fatal Discovery Bay hit and run driver surrenders to court Monday

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Suspect: Crystal Diane Lia of Discovery Bay

By CHP-Contra Costa

On May 4, 2018, Contra Costa CHP began an investigation of a fatal hit and run on Hwy 4 at Bixler Road in Discovery Bay. In brief summary, the deceased was located the next day just off the roadway with no real leads that were presented early on, which compounded the tragic loss of life for the family of the deceased because we were unable to provide any clear details of what really happened at that time.

Our CHP Officers began the investigation and followed many leads, including working along side our special investigations unit, but were unfortunately unsuccessful in locating the suspect or suspect vehicle.

Then in late 2018, CHP received a tip with information regarding the investigation. This led to locating the vehicle involved, and a possible suspect as well. But many more hours of hard work were put into the case to obtain solid evidence, records, interviews, warrants, etc.

Then just last Friday, March 8, 2019, all the long hours and hard work of the investigation finally produced the fruits of the Officers labor. CHP was successful in filing a criminal complaint for Vehicular Manslaughter (DUI) and Felony Hit & Run with enhancements. The judge set bail at $300,000.

The suspect was not immediately located. But later a peaceful & successful surrender was negotiated with the suspects attorney and the suspect, Crystal Diane Lia, 36yr old from Discovery Bay, surrendered to the court Monday, March 11, 2019.

If you have any information regarding this incident from May 4, 2018, or the morning of May 5 2018, and would like to come forward to provide that, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980.

Although the life that the suspect took cannot be replaced, we hope that this will begin to bring some closure to the family that lost their loved one nearly one year ago.

Charges filed against El Sobrante murder suspect

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

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed formal charges against Jorge Ortega Campos in connection with the killing of Michael Bagwell in El Sobrante in January. (See related article).

On January 26, 2019, at about 12:22 PM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of shots fired with a man down in the intersection of Jasmine Court and Jasmine Way in El Sobrante. Deputies arrived on scene and found a man deceased at that location. He suffered from gunshot wounds. The victim was identified as 52-year-old Michael Bagwell of Richmond.

Homicide Detectives from the Office of the Sheriff identified 38-year-old Campos of Richmond/Pinole as the suspect in the killing. Detectives later that day discovered Campos was being held in the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) on unrelated charges. Apparently, an alert resident called police when he saw Campos acting suspiciously on Mountbatten Court in Concord. That resident was able to detain him until police arrived. At the time, Campos was booked into the MDF on numerous charges including drug possession and parole violation.

Campos is still being held at MDF. His charges now include murder and carjacking in connection with the killing of Bagwell. He is being held without bail.

The investigation into this case is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message or email: tips@so.cccounty.us.

UPDATE: 65-year-old man who died in custody at Martinez Detention Facility Wednesday night identified as attempted murder suspect from Antioch

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

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at about 11:09 PM, a Deputy Sheriff found an inmate who was unresponsive during a room check at the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF).

The Deputy immediately called for jail medical staff to respond. Life-saving measures were performed on the inmate. An ambulance and the fire department responded to MDF. The inmate was transported to Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. He was later pronounced deceased.

The identity of 65-year-old male inmate is not being released at this time.

The investigation into this death is ongoing. Per the in custody fatal incident pro-tocol, the investigation is being conducted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Sheriff.

THURSDAY, 3/7/19 9:38 PM UPDATE –

The investigation into the in-custody death at the Martinez Detention Facility is continuing. The investigation is being conducted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Sheriff per the in custody fatal incident protocol.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at about 11:09 PM, a Deputy Sheriff found an inmate who was unresponsive during a room check at the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF). The Deputy immediately called for jail medical staff to respond. Life-saving measures were performed on the inmate. An ambulance and the fire department responded to MDF. The inmate was transported to Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. He was later pronounced deceased.

The 65-year-old male inmate is identified as Leartis Johnson of Antioch. He was originally booked into the MDF on May 16, 2018 by the BART police. His original charges included murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and robbery.

His death appears to be health related.

Sacramento man found guilty for 4 counts of murder from 2017 fatal DUI collision in San Pablo

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Screenshots of CBS13 Sacramento new report, Nov. 26, 2017.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

On March 4, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant Fred Lowe of Sacramento guilty of seven felonies, including the murder of four victims from a collision caused by Lowe on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. After the fatal crash, Lowe fled the scene of the incident and was later found by law enforcement officers. Lowe was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and he had five prior DUI convictions. Lowe’s blood, drawn four hours after the crash was measured at .19% and an expert testified that his blood alcohol level at the time of the crash would have been approximately .24%. (See related CBS13 Sacramento rews report)

Lowe sideswiped the victim’s Nissan Rogue as he traveled at an unsafe speed east bound on Interstate-80 west of El Portal Drive in San Pablo. After the initial impact from the crash, Lowe’s vehicle forced the Nissan Rogue against the center divider at which point the Nissan Rogue went over the divider into oncoming west bound traffic, where it was hit by two westbound vehicles. Three additional people in those vehicles were treated for serious injuries.

The four deceased victims are Joseph Horn, his father Darryl, Baden Biddle and his father Troy Biddle. Joe Horn’s older brother Jared was the driver of the Nissan Rogue and was only slightly injured. The Biddle Family were relatives of the Horn’s visiting from out of state over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Lowe now faces a maximum sentence of over 125 years to life in state prison. Sentencing will occur on March 29, 2019 in front of the Honorable John W. Kennedy – Department 8 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Derek Butts prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. The case originated in the Office’s Homicide Unit.

The tragic loss of life in each of these incidents underscores the very real danger to the citizens of our County when drivers choose to get behind the wheel and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The District Attorney’s Office and the law enforcement agencies of Contra Costa County are committed to ensuring the safety of the public on our roadways and to the prosecution of those who drive under the influence to the fullest extent of the law.

The felony counts against Lowe for his verdict:

  • Count 1, Murder
  • Count 2, Murder
  • Count 3, Murder
  • Count 4, Murder
  • Count 5, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Injury Within 10 Years of Two Other DUI Offenses
    • Enhancement 1, Great Bodily Injury
    • Enhancement 2, Great Bodily Injury
    • Enhancement 3, Bodily Injury to More than One Victim
  • Count 6, Driving with a .08% BAC Causing Great Bodily Injury Within 10 Years of Two Other DUI Offenses
    • Enhancement 1, Great Bodily Injury
    • Enhancement 2, Great Bodily Injury
    • Enhancement 3, Bodily Injury to More than One Victim
  • Count 7, Leaving the Scene of an Accident
  • Special Allegation, Prior Serious Felony (Counts 1-4)
  • Special Allegation, Prior Serious or Violent Felony Prior (Counts 1-7)

Case information: People v. Fred Douglas Lowe, Docket Number 05-181540-6

Contra Costa Public Works addressing storm damaged road shoulders

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March 6, 2019, Martinez, CA – Contra Costa County Public Works is addressing road shoulder embankment failures due to previous years of winter storms.  Some failures have occurred along Alhambra Valley Road, Bear Creek Road, Marsh Creek Road, Happy Valley Road, Carquinez Scenic Drive, among others.

Temporary measures have been implemented to keep the motoring public safe while the roads remain open to traffic.  In some cases, temporary concrete barriers have been placed, along with temporary stop signs, to reduce the road to a single lane at the location of the road failure.

Public Works is actively designing a permanent fix to these road failures as well as securing funds to seek environmental clearances and construct the necessary fixes.  In some cases, federal and state emergency funds are sought to recover from winter storms declared as disaster areas (as was declared in 2017).

Public Works appreciates the public’s patience as these permanent repairs are planned for and constructed.  In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these temporary measures and asks the public to adhere to the temporary traffic control measures.

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sand Bag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.  CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Air Field in Concord and Byron Air Field in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us here.

 

Marsh Creek Road closed from Clayton city limits to Morgan Territory Road

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By Steve Padilla, Director Contra Costa County Public Works Department

March 6, 2019, Clayton, CA – Marsh Creek Road is closed in both directions, between the Clayton City limits and Morgan Territory Road due to rock and mud slides.  We anticipate re-opening the road by early afternoon. Please take alternative routes to avoid this area.

Suspect in Danville murder dies from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound

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Mark Allan Sypien

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

Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Danville Police Department this afternoon received notification from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois that a suspect being sought in a homicide in Danville had apparently shot and killed himself at his parents’ home in St. Charles, Illinois.

Detectives were looking for 51-year-old Mark Allan Sypien of Dublin in connection with the killing of Danville resident John Moore. The shooting happened on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at about 2:25 PM. Danville officers were dispatched to the 3400 block of Fostoria Way for a report of gunshots. Officers arrived finding Moore suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators identified Sypien as the suspect in the killing. An arrest warrant for murder had been issued for him.

Detectives continue to work with their counterparts in Illinois.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message or email: tips@so.cccounty.us.

Annual Redefining Mobility Summit to highlight latest trends in transportation technology in San Ramon Friday

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The Contra Costa Transportation Authority will host government and industry leaders to discuss cutting edge transportation technology; Six start-ups competing for $10,000 prize money

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) will host the fifth annual Redefining Mobility Summit on Friday, March 8th in San Ramon. The Redefining Mobility Summit brings together government and industry leaders to discuss how innovative research and cutting edge technology are revolutionizing transportation.

What:      Redefining Mobility Summit

Who:       Industry leaders speaking about the future of Connected Vehicle/Autonomous Vehicle technology

When:     Friday, March 8, 2018 from 8:15am-4:45pm

Where:    Roundhouse Conference Center, 2600 Camino Ramon, Suite 100 San Ramon, CA  94583

A complete list of speakers is available here.

A brief overview of the schedule and highlighted speakers is below:
8:15am: A roundtable with transportation innovators around the world including Japan, Canada, Spain and Australia and New Zealand.

10:00am: Keynote speaker, Anousheh Ansari, Co-founder and Executive Chairwoman of Prodea Systems, space explorer, and serial entrepreneuer.

10:45am: A panel on the latest and safest self-driving car innovations from AAA and AV technology developers featuring Ignacio Garcia, VP, Autonomous Vehicle Strategy – AAA NCNU; Alan Jowett – VP of Business Development – Ottopia and others.
1:00pm: Six transportation start-ups competing for $10,000 to help them on their quest to redefine mobility including Route Reports; Detecterra; Smart Edge; Traffic Patterns;  Allvision IO; and EVSEE.

2:30pm: The future of freight, moderated by California Transportation Commission Chair Fran Inman and featuring Jonny Morris, Head of Public Policy, Embark and Paul Konasewich, Director of Business Development, PACCAR Silicon Valley Innovation Center, and others.

3:30pm: A panel on the dynamic nature of urban mobility with Ali Mortazavi; the director of Nissan R&D and AI Sohier Hall, President/CEO of Luum; Hugo Fozzati Director of Business & Operations for AutoX and others focused on shifting transportation’s mindset from thinking about moving cars to moving people.

4:45pm: Closing Remarks & Announcement of Start-up Pitch Winner About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

Cadet from Concord passes following ski slope injury at West Point Thursday

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Peter L. Zhu USMA 2019. Photo courtesy of West Point.

By LTC Christopher Ophardt, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, U.S. Military Academy

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadet Peter L. Zhu, a member of the Class of 2019, passed Feb. 28 at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York, with his family by his side, after succumbing to injuries sustained on Feb. 23 while skiing at Victor Constant Ski Area located on the academy grounds.

“I wish to extend to his family the sincere and profound sympathy of the U. S. Military Academy and all members of this command. We lost a brother today, and the pain will be felt for a long time,” said Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams.

Zhu, 21, of Concord, California, was found unresponsive by a fellow skier on Saturday afternoon on the slope. Ski Patrol conducted life-saving measures as he was transported to Keller Army Community Hospital and then airlifted to Westchester. The details of this incident are under investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zhu family during this difficult time. The entire West Point community is heartbroken over this tragedy,” said Brig. Gen. Steve Gilland, commandant of cadets. “Peter was one of the top cadets in the Class of 2019, very well-known and a friend to all. He embodied the ideals of the Corps of Cadets and its motto of Duty, Honor, Country and all who knew Peter will miss him.”

Zhu was an accomplished cadet who was President of the Cadet Medical Society and served on Regimental Staff the first semester of his senior year. He was looking forward to receiving a commission as a Medical Corps Officer and attending the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences for medical school.

According to his Facebook page, Zhu was a native of Hongku, Shanghai, China and a graduate of De La Salle High School in Concord, CA.

A memorial ceremony for the West Point community and private funeral service will be held at West Point next week.

About West Point

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America’s first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant— to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Concord Police arrest two for February murder of Concord man

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Report and photos by Concord Police Investigations Division

On February 10, 2019, at approximately 1:45 am, Concord Police Officers were called to the area of Clayton Road and Detroit Avenue on a report of a man lying on the sidewalk and with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim, 27-year-old Carlos Nunez of Concord, was declared deceased at the scene. Detectives of the Concord Police Department conducted an investigation and located surveillance camera footage from a nearby apartment complex camera that showed the suspects a block from the crime scene prior to the murder.

The investigation revealed that the victim contacted a group of persons and asked them if anyone wanted to purchase his bicycle. Two members of the group claimed that the bicycle was stolen and belonged to them. When the suspect left the area, he was followed by the two suspects who shot and killed him when he got to Clayton Rd. The suspects then stole the bicycle and other personal property from the victim.

The suspects were identified by detectives and warrants were issued for their arrest. On February 22nd, Jose Hernandez-Barajas, 21 years old, and Luis Angel Mendoza, 19 years old, were arrested for Nunez’s murder. Both are residents of Concord. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has charged both with Murder, Robbery, and Personal Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime. They are currently both incarcerated in the Contra Costa County Jail.