Contra Costa Herald

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

Brentwood man dies in three-car collision on Deer Valley Road, Thursday morning

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Two of the three cars involved in the fatal accident on Deer Valley Road near Empire Mine Road, Thursday morning, Jan. 25, 2018. Photos by East Contra Costa Fire Protection District

By CHP-Contra Costa

Today, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 at about 7:01 am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a three-vehicle traffic collision on Deer Valley Road, just north of Empire Mine Road. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, it was determined that a Honda Civic collided with a Honda Accord, and then into a Toyota Camry. The male driver of the Honda Civic was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other two drivers only suffered minor injuries and complaints of pain.

At 7:50 am, East Contra Costa Fire units responded, according to Interim Battalion Chief-Public Information Officer Ross Macumber. He also stated that Antioch Police personnel responded to the scene, as well. According to the report by Interim Battalion Chief for Operations Craig Auzeene, there was major damage to two of the vehicles but only minor damage to the third and that Deer Valley Road was closed from Balfour Road to the Kaiser hospital.

In the initial investigation, it appears that the solo male driver (38-year-old from Brentwood) of the Honda Civic was traveling northbound on Deer Valley Road and for unknown reasons, he veered across the solid double yellow lines and into oncoming southbound traffic on Deer Valley Road, directly into the path of the oncoming Honda Accord and collided with the Accord. Then the Civic spun out of control, continuing in the southbound lane and collided with the oncoming Toyota.

The solo female driver from the Accord was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries only and the solo female driver from the Toyota was privately taken to a local hospital for only minor complaints of pain only.

Tragically the 38-year-old male driver of the Honda Civic was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Contra Costa County Coroner was dispatched to the scene to identify the deceased male and recover his body. The Coroner’s office will be the lead agency regarding the release of the deceased male identity.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs are a factor in this collision. This collision is still under investigation and if anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Sheriff’s Deputies search for suspect in shooting of three men in North Richmond Monday night

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

On Monday at about 9:30 PM, Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report of a shooting on the 500 block of Market Street in North Richmond that may have been preceded by a verbal dispute.

When Deputies arrived, they found three male gunshot victims. All of them were transported to a hospital where they remain

The suspect is outstanding.

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

Second murder charge filed against driver in stolen vehicle crash in Antioch last Wednesday

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Screenshot from ABC7 News of Camila and Lenexy Cardoza, the victims of a fatal stolen vehicle crash in Antioch, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.

Second Cardoza daughter dies; Bail for suspect increased to $2,130,000

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

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has filed an additional murder charge against 23-year-old Noe Saucedo of Pittsburg.

On Friday the DA’s Office filed formal charges against Saucedo. He was charged with murder, felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of heroin.

Saucedo remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $2,130,000 bail.

We are saddened to report that two-year-old Camila Cardoza was officially pronounced deceased at the hospital. Camila was a passenger, along with her sister Lenexy, in a vehicle that was struck by a stolen pick-up truck driven by Noe Saucedo on Wednesday on Somersville Road in Antioch. Lenexy was killed in the collision.

The investigation into the collision is ongoing by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Antioch Police Department and the Office of the Sheriff per the officer-involved protocol. Investigators are trying to determine why suspect Saucedo stole the Ford F-250 pick-up truck in Pittsburg, why he accelerated away from a Deputy Sheriff who was following him, and why he ran through a red light at the intersection of Somersville Road and the eastbound Highway 4 off-ramp before colliding into another vehicle. In addition, tests are being conducted to determine if Saucedo was impaired in any way.

Anyone with any information on this incident or who may have witnessed it is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

For further news about this case on ABC7 News, click here.

Rural portion of Contra Costa County included in effort to create 51st State of New California

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The proposed map of the State of New California in blue.

By Allen Payton

On Monday, Jan. 15 a group of Californians, representing 21 of the 58 counties throughout the state, gathered in Marysville to declare their independence and intention to form a 51st State of New California. Contra Costa County is the only Bay Area county to be included in the list and is represented by Scott Bennett, the county chair and delegate to the Convention the group held on Saturday, Jan. 13 at which they approved their State Declaration of Independence. New CA Executive Summary

Proposed design for the State of New California flag.

Other counties that currently have representatives include Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Riverside, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Yolo and Yuba. Recent additions which don’t have a representative listed on the group’s website are Santa Cruz, Orange and Imperial Counties.

However, according to their map page the counties that would not be included in the new state are Alameda, Solano, Napa, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz in the Bay Area, as well as Sacramento, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, as well as the southern portion of Los Angeles County. The group estimates the new state will have a population of 15 million, leaving approximately 25 million remaining in the current State of California. Plus, the new state will have 25 to 27 members in the U.S. House of Representatives versus the 53 currently representing California.

In a press release the organizers of the grass root effort state that, “New California is a new state in development exercising its Constitutional Right to form from the State of California. The process to form New California is authorized and codified in Article 4 Section 3 of the United States Constitution.” That clause requires the state legislature approve the effort.

The group explains the process on their website.

Fundamentals of the Declaration of Independence

New California Declaration of Independence contains 2 major statements. The first is the actual Declaration which severs the political connections between New California and the State of California while and summarizing the motivations for seeking Independence.

Proposed State Seal for New California.

The second statement are known as the Grievances. The grievances are clear dereliction or abuses by the governor and government of California, outright violations of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution as the sovereign.  Grievances provide a distinct example demonstrating to the world the governor and government of California is failing to provide a federal form of government.

The group offered their reasons or grievances, formally in their documents, as “due to the past and current government of California having failed in their oath of office, obligations, and responsibilities.”

They also offered a more complete list of grievances, informally on their website stating, “The current state of California has become governed by a tyranny” and in their press release. That states, “After years of over taxation, regulation, and mono party politics the State of California and many of its 58 Counties have become ungovernable. The nature of the State becoming ungovernable has caused a decline in essential basic services such as education, law enforcement, fire protection, transportation, housing, health care, taxation, voter rights, banking, state pension systems, prisons, state parks, water resource management, home ownership, infrastructure and many more.”

In the group’s document entitled, “Affirmation of Allegiance to the United States of America and Justification for the Formation of the State of New California” they state that “With faith, diligence, and our sacred honor, we do hereby declare our Unity with Natural Law and the United States of America’s Constitution. We stand firm in our pledge to maintain and support the freedoms of the people of our Nation and New California at all times, at home and abroad.  With God as our witness, honoring the foundational principles, we take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, to stand together as free citizens of New California, to be a sovereign state of that nation which we hold dear, the United States of America.” Justification & Declaration for forming New CA

In their State Declaration of Independence, modeled after and including much of the same language as the one signed by the nation’s Founding Fathers in 1776, which offers their intentions to form the new state:

“We the people of the Counties of New California solemnly publish and declare these counties are, and of Right ought to be, a free and Independent State, that we strive to be free from the State of California, and that as a Free and Independent State, have full power to establish and maintain law and order, to promote general prosperity, and to do all other acts and things, which an Independent New California State may rightfully do.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the Counties of New California, appeal to the California Legislature and the Federal Congress to pass resolutions to create the State of New California.”

The group also explains the process of forming the new state.

State Splitting Process

“The process begins when a state’s legislature first votes to split the state. Once the measure in the form of a resolution passes both the California Assembly and Senate, it is submitted to Congress.

Once there, the matter is discussed. If both chambers the House and Senate of Congress vote to pass it, the state can then be split. There seems to be two options on how a state can split. In the first instance, the state decides how it’s going to be split before sending the proposal to Congress. “

They didn’t offer a second instance.

Attempts to reach both Preston and Bennett by phone call and text were unsuccessful. The phone number provided for Bennett turned out to be incorrect. However, Preston did respond to an email asking about the maps on the group’s website with, “See attached. Call me later about maps. We will be producing a new map today. Thanks.”

One of the attachments included an updated list of counties participating in the effort. Contra Costa County is listed with the words “Rural”, as are the counties of Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma. New California Counties list

Please check back later for details should Preston respond with more information and or we obtain the correct phone number for Bennett and are able to speak with him.

Offer Your Support and Learn More

Other Californians are invited to support the effort by signing up and offering their own three grievances they have with the current state government, on the group’s website: www.newcaliforniastate.com/independence-declaration.

For those interested the group will be holding a reading of Grievance 1 in three locations to be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Also, the group will hold their seventh Liberty Tour in Marysville on February 10, 2018 contact Vice Chair Paul Preston at newcaliforniarepublic@gmail.com or by calling (530) 632-9786 or Toll Free at 877-828-2753.

Murder, other charges filed against driver of stolen vehicle in Wednesday crash in Antioch

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Bail set at $1,130,000 for Pittsburg resident Noe Saucedo

Noe Saucedo arrest photo. By Contra Costa County Sheriff

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

Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office this afternoon filed formal charges against Noe Saucedo, the suspect who drove a stolen pick-up truck on Wednesday that crashed into another vehicle on Somersville Road in Antioch. He is being charged with murder, felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of hero-in. 23-year-old Saucedo of Pittsburg remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $1,130,000 bail.

The investigation into the collision is ongoing by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Antioch Police Department and the Office of the Sheriff per the officer-involved protocol. Investigators are trying to determine why suspect Saucedo stole the Ford F-250 pick-up truck in Pittsburg, why he accelerated away from a Deputy Sheriff who was following him, and why he ran through a red light at the intersection of Somersville Road and the eastbound Highway 4 off-ramp before colliding into another vehicle. In addition, tests are being conducted to determine if Saucedo was impaired in any way.

Yesterday, the four-year-old girl who was killed in the vehicle collision was identified as Lenexy Cordoza. Her two-year-old sister and mother remain at the hospital.

“Clearly, suspect Saucedo took a series of actions that led to this tragedy,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “We are saddened by the loss of life and offer our deepest sympathies to the family.”

Anyone with any information on this incident or who may have witnessed it is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Walnut Creek man convicted in commercial bribery case, first one in county in 35 years

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Martinez, CA – On Friday, January 19, 2018, Interim Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced the Commercial Bribery conviction by jury trial of Aziz Artykov, age 50, formerly of Walnut Creek.

Aziz Artykov, a former resident of Avalon Bay Walnut Creek Apartments was found guilty of paying bribes to a former Avalon Bay employee, who was in charge of running Avalon’s affordable housing program at that location. The bribes were paid to further Artykov’s illegal scheme of subletting affordable rate apartments at market prices and to extract graft payments from immigrants looking for a place to live at an affordable rate.

In 2011, as part of government approval to build housing, Avalon Bay agreed to rent 20% of its apartments at an “affordable housing” rate, set forth by County rules. At that time, this amounted to 85 apartments which could be rented for $820 for a studio to $1,154 for a three-bedroom apartment. Qualified residents had to earn less than 50% of the County average mean income, which in 2011, was approximately $48,000 for a household of four. In comparison, market rates were appx $1,500 for a studio to $3,000 for a three bedroom.

Artykov, obtained a three-bedroom affordable apartment during the initial opening and began sub-letting rooms in his apartment for market rate prices. Many of these renters where Russian-speaking immigrants, who refused to cooperate with law-enforcement. Artykov also conspired with other residents, who had also obtained affordable housing units at the complex, to live elsewhere while he sub-let their affordable rate units at market rate prices. In one example, defendant conspired with his cousin, Davron Tirov, to sublet 2 rooms in Tirov’s 2-bedroom apartment for $1,700 each while Tirov paid $1,045 under the affordable housing program. The profit went into Tirov’s bank accounts which paid for Artykov’s cheap rent and Tirov’s cheap rent.  Witnesses at trial testified that Tirov was living with his girlfriend in another apartment in the complex, so was never at the affordable rate apartment that he leased.

By the end of 2011, all the affordable rent apartments had been rented and Avalon compiled a waitlist, which grew to over 300 people, before the waitlist was closed.

In order for Artykov to get his selected applicants affordable rate apartments, he befriended the Avalon community manager and from 2011-2015 began paying him cash bribes. The bribes bought access to the waitlist and as the payments increased, the former employee moved the names that Artykov gave him to the top of the waiting list, where those selected people obtained apartments far more quickly than people who had been on the list for many years. Artykov also gave the employee names of persons who weren’t on the waitlist, and they immediately got the next available affordable rate apartment.

Trial witnesses and former residents testified that Artykov approached them and offered to move them into larger apartments quickly if they paid him between $5,000-$15,000 upfront. Artykov knew from having access to the waitlist that these people were next in line to get an apartment. One witness who refused to pay the graft, testified that Artykov offered him an alternative deal, where the witness would let Artykov use his name and financial documents to rent an affordable apartment and Artykov would sub-let the affordable rate apartment at market rate for one year before agreeing to let the resident move into the apartment.

Another witness, testified that Artykov put her on the waiting list, but she forgot about it until almost two years later, when Avalon called to offer her a two-bedroom affordable rate apartment. After she moved in, Artykov kept contacting her about paying him $5,000 for getting her the apartment. When she refused, Artykov threatened to harm her children. She moved her children out of the apartment complex to live with other relatives. When she still refused to pay the $5,000, Artykov ratted her out after one year of living there, and told Avalon that she had a job that made her ineligible for the apartment. Avalon followed up on Artykov’s tip and determined she would not be re-certified at the affordable rate. This witness complained to Avalon management, and was heard to say, “I should have just paid.” Avalon management interviewed this witness and another witness who revealed the scheme between Artykov and the employee. Avalon Management confronted the employee, who immediately confessed and was fired.

Avalon turned over their findings to the District Attorney’s Office and Inspector Rich Van Koll took over the investigation. He brought in a Russian speaking police officer to meet undercover with Artykov at the nearby Starbucks, but Artykov was too suspicious and paranoid to do business with a complete stranger but did make incriminating statements to the officer about what he could offer to do for the right price.

The District Attorney’s office charged the ex-employee, Matt McVicker, with commercial bribery and he took a plea deal to testify against Artykov both at a grand jury and the jury trial which started on January 4 and ended with a guilty verdict after nine days of trial.

Defendant was allowed to continue to be out on bail with a restraining order to stay away from Avalon Bay and the witnesses who testified against him. His sentencing date is April 6, 2018 in Department 8 of the Contra Costa Superior Court.

Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague, head of the County’s Consumer Protection Unit, prosecuted the case. This case is the first commercial bribery trial in the county in the last 35 years.

Work to be done on Kirker Pass Road Jan. 24 & 25

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The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will perform roadwork on Kirker Pass Road at the intersection of Hess Road (south) on Wednesday and Thursday, January 24 and 25, 2018, weather permitting, to replace the center-divide crash cushion system. 

Traffic will be controlled with temporary single-lane closures reducing the two lanes to a single lane in both directions.  Turning left from Kirker Pass Road (southbound) onto Hess Road will not be permitted during the work.  The lane closures will occur between the hours of 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  Changeable message sign boards and other construction signs will be placed in advance of the work.      

CHP Motorcycle Officer injured by DUI driver on Monday recovering from surgery on legs

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Officer Martin Lendway following surgery on his legs. Photo by CHP-Contra Costa

Pittsburg woman arrested on multiple counts

By CHP – Contra Costa

In a post on the CHP – Contra Costa Facebook page on Wednesday it states, “Officer Martin Lendway is a true CHP MOTOR with Blue & Gold running through his veins!! He had successful surgery on both legs and has started his long road to recovery. We truly appreciate everyone’s warm wishes and thoughts & prayers. We are grateful for such a supportive community.”  In a previous post on Tuesday, it states, “THOUGHTS & PRAYERS FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Join us in our thoughts and prayers as Officer Lendway goes into surgery today for his injuries and wishing him a safe & speedy recovery. Thank you for all your support, we greatly appreciate it.”

On Monday, January 15, 2018 at about 6:15 pm, a Contra Costa CHP Motorcycle Officer, Officer Lendway #19914, was on scene assisting citizens involved in a non-injury two vehicle traffic collision at SR-4 eastbound and Port Chicago Highway.

Officer Lendway assisted the vehicles involved (a black 2013 Ford F-150 and a silver 2014 Lexus ES350) off the roadway and to the center median area where information could be exchanged. Officer Lendway then parked his CHP Motorcycle behind the vehicles with its rear emergency red and blue lights activated to warn traffic and then walked up to help the motorists.

CHP Officer Lendway and a friend. Photo by CHP-Contra Costa.

Officer Lendway stood next to the Lexus while helping the motorist, which was parked just in front of the Ford F-150. Meanwhile, the driver of a black 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer was driving off the roadway and within the center median passing all traffic, and approaching Officer Lendway’s parked motorcycle. But the driver of the Chevrolet continued and collided into the CHP motorcycle, launching it to the right into the lanes of traffic. The driver continued and drove the Chevrolet directly into the back of the parked Ford F-150, catapulting it forward into Officer Lendway and the Lexus. The Ford partially landed on top of Officer Lendway, causing major injuries.

Then in an attempt to avoid the CHP motorcycle that was launched into the lanes of traffic, a blue 2005 Subaru Legacy and a silver 2001 Dodge Ram both swerved to avoid it and collided with each other. Six vehicles in total were involved.

CHP personnel and emergency personnel quickly arrived on scene and began treating Officer Lendway for his injuries. He was then transported to a local Hospital for major injuries but thankfully non-life threatening.

The female driver of the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, Tammy Peggy Louise Walker of Pittsburg, DOB 10-29-1965, was investigated by CHP Officers while on scene for DUI and subsequently arrested for suspicion of FELONY DUI causing great bodily injury to another person while driving under the influence. Walker was taken to a local hospital, treated and released. Then Walker was taken to the Martinez Detention Facility where she was booked for the following charges;

Tammy Peggy Louise Walker arrest photo. Courtesy of KRON4.

-2 counts of FELONY DUI causing great bodily injury to another person while driving under the influence

-Vehicular reckless driving causing bodily injury

-Assault on a peace officer causing great bodily injury

-Driving on a SUSPENDED driver license for a PRIOR DUI conviction and causing great bodily injury to another person

Alcohol and DUI driving are factors in this collision. It is still under investigation. And if there are more people that witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it or the Chevrolet Trailblazer just prior to the collision, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980, Thank you and thank you to those citizens that stopped and help render aid to Officer Lendway.

 

Oakley man fatally struck by car in Knightsen Wednesday evening

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By CHP – Contra Costa

On Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at about 7:37pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision at Delta Road and Curlew Connex in Knightsen. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, it was determined that a 1999 Isuzu Rodeo hit a pedestrian that was in the roadway. The 56-year-old male pedestrian of Oakley was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the Isuzu remained on scene.

In the initial investigation, it appears that the solo male driver of the Isuzu was traveling westbound on Delta Road just west of Curlew Connex at 40 mph. The area has low visibility and is dark without any streetlights. The pedestrian was in the roadway as the Isuzu approached and by the time the driver of the Isuzu saw the pedestrian, it was too late and collided into him. The male pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The 28yr old male driver from Georgia remained on scene and was cooperative in the investigation.

Alcohol or drugs are not a factor in this collision is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

UPDATE: Pittsburg man arrested, 4-year-old girl dies from stolen vehicle collision in Antioch Wednesday

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The two pickup trucks involved in a fatal collision in Antioch on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Screenshot of video by J. Guerrero from Facebook, courtesy of ABC7 News.

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

Noe Saucedo arrest photo. By Contra Costa County Sheriff

The suspect who drove a stolen vehicle that collided into another vehicle on Somersville Road in Antioch was arrested. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility after being interviewed by detectives. (See news footage of the scene on ABC7, here.)

He is identified as 23-year-old Noe Saucedo of Pittsburg. He was booked on one count of murder and two counts of felony evading. He is being held in lieu of $1,050,000 bail.

This afternoon a 4-year-old girl who was injured in the collision was pronounced deceased at the hospital. She is not being identified.

The investigation into this collision is ongoing. Earlier, the countywide officer-involved protocol was invoked. The investigation is being handled by the D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and Antioch PD.

At about 12:47 this afternoon, the Office of the Sheriff received information of a stolen vehicle in Pittsburg. A Deputy Sheriff spotted the stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Bailey Road. The Deputy followed the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Highway 4. The Deputy did not activate the emergency lights on his vehicle.

As the suspect took the Somersville Road exit, he immediately accelerated at a high rate of speed. The Deputy then activated the emergency lights on his vehicle. Moments later, the suspect vehicle went through a red light at Somersville Road and collided into a Ford F-150 that was heading southbound.

Three people, including two children, were injured in the F-150. A 2-year-old and her mother remain in the hospital.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.