Contra Costa Herald

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

Two Richmond residents shot in San Pablo, one dies

By Leave a Comment

Both 36 years old

By Peggy ChouSan, PIO, Pablo Police Department

On Monday, December 29, 2025, at approximately 9:07 p.m., San Pablo Police officers responded to the 1400 block of Rumrill Boulevard regarding reports of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located two adult male victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Despite life-saving efforts, one victim, a 36-year-old Richmond resident, succumbed to his injuries. The second victim, also a 36-year-old Richmond resident, remains in critical condition. The identities of the victims are being withheld pending further notification.

San Pablo Police Department Detectives responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. This incident is being investigated as a homicide, and the investigation remains active. No additional details are available at this time. The suspect(s) remain outstanding.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the San Pablo Police Department Investigations Division at (510) 215-3150.

Suspect in Christmas Eve Brentwood Officer involved fatal shooting ID’d as Stockton man

By Leave a Comment

The rifle Morgan possessed prior to the shooting. Photo: Brentwood PD

Convicted felon

By Lt. Mark Louwerens, Brentwood Police Department

Brentwood, CA – The suspect in the fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on Christmas Eve has been identified as, Romaine Alexander Morgan, 43-year-old male from Stockton, CA.

Further investigation following the shooting revealed Morgan was a convicted felon, had an extensive history of convictions for weapons related charges, including two convictions for armed robbery where Morgan served prison time.

As previously reported, on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at around 10:55 p.m., Brentwood Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the area of Balfour Road and Foothill Drive for suspicion of DUI.  Officers contacted the driver, a male in his 40’s, who was the only occupant in the vehicle.

While speaking to the driver, officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, officers located a loaded, high-powered rifle inside the vehicle.  When officers attempted to arrest the driver, he physically resisted arrest, refused to follow verbal commands and ultimately grabbed the high-powered rifle.

An officer-involved shooting occurred in which one officer fired their weapon. Several officers rendered emergency medical aid until paramedics arrived on scene. However, the suspect succumbed to gunshot wounds at the scene.

No officers were seriously injured during this incident.

The attached photo depicts the rifle Morgan possessed prior to the shooting. The rifle had no serial number and given Morgan’s felony conviction status, he was a prohibited person from possessing any firearms.

According to localcrimenews.com, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 365-pound Morgan was Black and had been arrested four times including once by Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies in 2022 for prisoner possessing a weapon and three times by San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Deputies: in 2024 for battery on a spouse, cohabitant, former spouse and threats of violence; on March 6, 2025, for threats of violence; and again on Sept. 26, 2025, for drunk in public/release with no criminal charges after hold.

The vehicle Morgan was driving in this incident was registered to Morgan.

The investigation remains ongoing and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident protocol investigation continues. Body-worn camera and in-car camera footage will eventually be released in accordance with the law.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation, please contact the Brentwood Police Department at (925) 809-7911. Callers may remain anonymous.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Tech helps catch driver with stolen license plate in Danville

By Leave a Comment

Flock Safety camera technology helped police stop a license plate thief Dec. 20, 2025. Photos: (Left) Flock Safety; (Center & Right) Danville PD

Great Police Work!

By Danville Police Department

On Saturday, December 20, 2025, a Danville resident reported their license plate stolen from their vehicle. Using Flock Safety license plate reader technology, our officers quickly located the stolen plate on another vehicle near I-680 and Diablo Road.

Officers conducted a traffic stop and detained the driver, who was also found in possession of stolen merchandise from a neighboring city.

Excellent work by our officers and a reminder that technology and teamwork help keep our community safe!

Brentwood Officer involved Christmas Eve shooting leaves man dead

By 2 Comments

Contra Costa DA’s Office conducting parallel Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident protocol investigation 

By Investigations Lt. Mark Louwerens, Brentwood Police Department

On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at around 10:55 p.m., Brentwood Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the area of Balfour Road and Foothill Drive for suspicion of DUI.  Officers contacted the driver, a male in his 40’s, who was the only occupant in the vehicle.

While speaking to the driver, officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, officers located a loaded, high-powered rifle inside the vehicle.  When officers attempted to arrest the driver, he physically resisted arrest, refused to follow verbal commands and ultimately grabbed the high-powered rifle.

An officer-involved shooting occurred in which one officer fired their weapon. Several officers rendered emergency medical aid until paramedics arrived on scene. However, the suspect succumbed to gunshot wounds at the scene.

No officers were seriously injured during this incident.

The investigation remains ongoing and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a parallel investigation in accordance with the Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident protocol. Body-worn camera and in-car camera footage will eventually be released in accordance with the law.

No additional information is being released at this time

The suspect’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation, please contact the Brentwood Police Department at (925) 809-7911.  Callers may remain anonymous.

An email requesting the name, age and city of residence of the deceased man was sent to the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office and Sherrif-Coroner PIO. Please check back later for any updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

El Sobrante woman among 13 arrested in statewide organized retail theft investigation

By Leave a Comment

Stolen merchandise recovered during the CHP’s “Operation Silent Night” targeting an organized retail theft ring. Photos: California Highway Patrol

Operation Silent Night executed in Richmond, 3 other cities, recovers 44,140 stolen items worth more than $800K 

53-year-old Bach Ngoc Thi Bui previously arrested in 2023 for grand theft and organized retail theft

By Officer Ruben Jones, PIO, CHP Valley Division

SACRAMENTO — Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.

In September, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Valley Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) was alerted to a pair of retail theft suspects who stole merchandise in Placer County and at multiple other locations throughout the state. The Valley Division ORCTF includes investigators from the CHP, Sacramento Police Department and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.

On October 1, the Rocklin Police Department conducted a traffic stop involving the suspects and requested assistance from the Valley Division ORCTF. During the investigation, the suspects provided information identifying individuals who were purchasing stolen merchandise from them and reselling it for profit. Investigators also learned the stolen goods were being distributed and sold at flea markets in Oakland, San Jose, Galt, Modesto and Stockton.

Based on this information, ORCTF investigators conducted surveillance operations that corroborated the suspects’ statements and established links among the theft suspects, those purchasing and reselling the stolen merchandise, and the flea-market distribution locations. Investigators subsequently obtained multiple search warrants covering six residences, three storage lockers, and one storage lot.

On December 11, a coordinated multi-agency enforcement effort, Operation Silent Night, was executed in Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro and Galt. The operation resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects. Investigators seized two firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, five vans, two passenger vehicles and two trailers. More than 400 boxes and 200 bags of stolen merchandise were recovered, including cosmetics, household goods, clothing, power tools, toys, alcohol, and diapers. All suspects were transported to the Placer County Jail for booking.

Stolen merchandise recovered. Photo: CHP

On December 12, Cal Expo provided an exposition hall to assist with the processing and cataloging of the recovered merchandise. In partnership with affected retailers, investigators documented a total of 44,140 stolen items valued in excess of $800,000.

The following are those who were taken into custody:

  • Bach Ngoc Thi Bui, 53, El Sobrante
  • Isaid Garcia Chapas, 41, Oakland
  • Irene Cruz Barragan, 35, Oakland
  • Daniela Cruz Barragan, 33, Oakland
  • Robert Lorenzo Luna-Varela, 34, Oakland
  • Jefferson Isaed Garcia-Rivera, 22, Oakland
  • Jennifer Garcia Cruz, 19, Oakland
  • Elan Rosales Montes, 35, Oakland
  • Claudia Ivet Cruz Barragan, 42, Oakland
  • Yolanda Carrillo Martinez, 45, Oakland
  • Ivan Miranda Espinoza, 33, Oakland
  • Yuridia Sandoval Ramirez, 35, Oakland
  • Eryn Wilfred Corea Guevara, 29, Oakland

“Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime. It impacts businesses, workers, and communities across California. This investigation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and our retail partners, and our commitment to holding organized theft networks accountable.”- CHP Valley Division Chief Tyler Eccles

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, the filing of criminal charges of organized retail theft, conspiracy to commit felony crimes, receiving stolen property, among numerous allegations against the 13 defendants.

The charges stem from numerous thefts that had occurred within Placer County that culminated in a multiple agency operation last week in Oakland that recovered over $700,000 worth of stolen merchandise and extensive counterfeit merchandise. This collaborative investigation and prosecution is made possible by Placer County’s retail theft initiative.

The defendants appeared in court that afternoon and defense attorneys were appointed to represent them. The next court date was scheduled for December 22 in Department 20 at 8:30 am.

Since the ORCTF’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 4,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 4,700 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.5 million stolen goods valued at over $68.7 million statewide as of November 30.

According to localcrimenews.com, Bui is a female and was also arrested by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department in August 2023 when she was a Pittsburg resident for conspiracy to commit a crime, grand theft, receiving or concealing stolen property and organized retail theft.

The CHP extends its appreciation to all participating law enforcement agencies, task force members, Cal Expo, and retail partners whose collaboration led to the success of this investigation. The case remains ongoing.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Concord: Sunvalley Mall jewelry store robbery Sunday morning

By 2 Comments

Smash-and-grab suspects flee scene; shopper shares her experience, claims “whole mall was…evacuated”

By Concord Police Department

On Sunday, December 21, 2025, at approximately 11:53 a.m., Concord Police Department dispatch received multiple reports of a smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store inside Sunvalley Mall. Suspects used hammers to break display cases before fleeing the scene in a waiting vehicle.

Officers arrived within two minutes of the initial calls. While some witnesses initially reported possible gunfire, officers quickly confirmed that no shots were fired during the incident.

The suspects had fled toward the highway prior to officers’ arrival. There were no reported injuries, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The incident remains under investigation.

In a Facebook post by Yolanda Schamoni who was shopping in the mall at the time, she shared her experience.

“We just had the scariest experience at Sun Valley Mall. I was there with my son and grandson. We don’t know what happened yet whether it was a shooting with the robbery or just a robbery, but all of a sudden the whole mall was being evacuated my son was standing in line for us to see Santa while I took my grandson to the bathroom and the next thing I know everyone’s running for the exits I was upstairs my son was downstairs thank you to the good Samaritan family that kept him safe until we were reunited, but I can tell you being locked in stores when you’re just out to have your kids sit with Santa because someone’s robbing with guns is not the best feeling.

“Please, I urge the parents out there to start parenting their children. These are kids that parents must know something is going on if they’re going somewhere with guns and robbing people parents do better.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch man arrested for stealing mail from 22 Brentwood victims

By 2 Comments

The mailboxes of 22 victims in Brentwood were broken into. Photo: Brentwood PD

Craig Whiteley, Jr. fled scene with two other suspects; found with keys, drugs, cash, ammo

By Brentwood Police Department

In the early morning hours of December 14, 2025, at approximately 5:38 a.m., Brentwood Police officers responded to a report of suspicious activity near community mailboxes in the 2700 block of Empire Avenue.

A witness reported seeing three male suspects flee on foot after being startled, leaving behind the vehicle they arrived in. When officers arrived, they found the community mailboxes had been compromised and stolen mail belonging to multiple residents was located inside the suspect vehicle, which had been left running.

Officers quickly set up a search of the surrounding area and located 37-year-old Craig Allen Whiteley, Jr. from Antioch who matched the suspect description and appeared to have recently fled on foot. A records check revealed the individual was on felony probation for firearm- and mail theft-related offenses.

During the investigation, officers recovered evidence linking the suspect to the mail theft. A subsequent search led to the discovery of keys used to access mail boxes, narcotics intended for sale and ammunition.

Mail, keys, cash, narcotics and ammunition recovered from the scene. Photos: Brentwood PD

The suspect was arrested and booked into County Jail on charges including probation violation, mail theft, narcotics possession and additional related offenses.

All 22 victims had their stolen mail successfully recovered and returned.

Excellent work by our graveyard officers for their swift response and diligent investigation.

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity immediately to help keep our neighborhoods safe.

According to the Brentwood Police website, Whitely is five-feet, 11-inch tall, 160-pound white male.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of Dec. 17, 2025, at 9:11 PM, Whitely was out of custody with no charges filed.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

City of Antioch settles class action civil rights lawsuit against police

By Leave a Comment

Agreement aligns with U.S. DOJ reforms; this part of case only includes attorney’s fees

By Allen D. Payton

The City of Antioch announced Friday morning, Dec. 19, 2025, it has reached a settlement agreement “that strengthens accountability and transparency in the Antioch Police Department (APD) through updated policies, independent oversight and measurable reporting. The agreement is structured to align with the U.S. Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) governing APD reforms.”

The settlement is subject to court approval and is associated with Trent Allen, et al. v. City of Antioch, et al., United States District Court, Northern District of California (Case No. 3:23-cv-01895-TSH), a class action lawsuit against the City, as well as police officers and chiefs. As previously reported, Allen is one of four suspects convicted of the 2021 murder of Arnold Marcel Hawkins and the attempted murder of Aaron Patterson. He and a variety of other plaintiffs claimed civil rights violations by the officers.

Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris and associates filed the lawsuit in April 2023, naming five then-current and former officers, for their racist and other offensive texts and mistreatment of citizens, plus, three past police chiefs, the City of Antioch and Does 1-100. (See related articles here and here)

The plaintiffs included Shagoofa Khan, the 2017 Antioch Youth of the Year who was one of the lead protesters in the city in 2020, was arrested a few times including once for felony arson in January 2021 and at former Chief Tammany Brooks’ farewell party later that year, and was the subject of one of the vile texts; Adam Carpenter, Joshua Butler, Diego Zavala, the son of Guadalupe Zavala, who was unarmed when he was shot and killed by police in 2021 after a seven-hour stand-off with police (whose last name is listed in the lawsuit as Savala), and Allen, whose murder case resulted in the release of the texts.

The suit described what occurred between the named Antioch Police officers and the plaintiffs as a “conspiracy and/or conspiracies” and claims they were “the failure and/or refusal (by the former chiefs)…to prevent or aid in preventing” them from occurring. The suit further claimed the four department leaders “maintained customs, policies, and/or practices which encouraged, authorized, condoned, ratified, failed to prevent, and/or failed to aid in the prevention of wrongs conspired to be done by” the named officers.

The suit sought multiple forms of damages including “past, present and/or future wage loss, income and support, medical expenses”; special damages, any and all permissible statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees.

UPDATE & CORRECTION: According to City Manager Bessie Scott, the settlement does not include any money. But she later shared the City will pay attorney’s fees. Then during the press conference on Friday, Dec. 19, Burris said, “There were two parts of the case, one involving the individuals, which we settled, 23,” earlier in the year. Those did involve payments which will be reported on later once City staff has provided a response to the Public Records Act request by the Herald.

Independent Consultant to Oversee Settlement Provisions

The settlement will be administered by the same independent consultant responsible for oversight under the U.S. DOJ MOA to ensure coordinated implementation and consistent monitoring.

The independent consultant will oversee APD’s implementation of the settlement’s provisions, including providing technical assistance, reviewing affected policies, and issuing regular reports on APD’s progress toward substantial compliance. The independent consultant will also ensure APD remains in substantial compliance for the required period of time. If APD is not making adequate progress, the monitor may seek further orders of the court to compel compliance.

The independent consultant is required to report to the City Council every six months. Reports to Council will be public. The City also anticipates public reporting related to community engagement/community policing efforts and statistics on traffic stops and police interactions related to use of force.

“This settlement agreement reinforces the reform work already underway, ensures sustainable transparency measures and updates core policies to modernize how APD continues to provide constitutional policing services to the residents of Antioch,” said Scott.

“This agreement will ensure we continue prioritizing the community and safety,” said Chief of Police Joe Vigil. “We will continue working towards greater transparency, accountability and community engagement as we work through this agreement.”

Key elements of the settlement include:

Expanded transparency and oversight

  • Data collection and analysis requirements
  • Audits and reviews
  • Reporting requirements to track progress and compliance

Policy and procedure updates to modernize APD operations

  • Non-discriminatory policing
  • Use of force, including canine deployment
  • Hiring and promotions
  • Complaint intake, review, and resolution
  • Supervisor responsibilities and accountability
  • Police officer communications
  • Body-worn camera use

Community engagement

  • Provisions to expand APD’s community engagement and support accountability through public-facing practices.

The City will provide additional information as implementation milestones are established.

Jaden Baird, City of Antioch PIO contributed to this report.

Kensington Police Department launches Blue Envelope Program for inclusive, neurodiversity-aware policing

By Leave a Comment

Example of front and back of a Blue Envelope. Source: Kensington PD

Part of growing statewide and national effort to help facilitate smoother interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder during traffic stops.

By Lt. Amit Nath, Kensington Police Department

The Kensington Police Department is launching its new Blue Envelope Program, a voluntary initiative designed to make traffic stops and other police contacts safer and less stressful for drivers with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, anxiety, dementia and other communication differences.

With the launch of this program, Kensington becomes one of the first police agencies in the Bay Area to offer a dedicated Blue Envelope option for drivers, joining a growing movement across California and the United States to better support neurodivergent community members during interactions with law enforcement.

The Blue Envelope is a clearly marked, bright blue envelope that participants keep in their vehicle. Inside, they can store their driver’s license, registration, proof of insurance, emergency contact information, and a brief description of their preferred communication style (for example, needing extra time to answer questions or preferring written instructions). During a traffic stop, drivers can hand the envelope to the officer s a quiet, respectful way to signal that they may need additional patience, clear language, or other accommodations.

“The Blue Envelope Program is about respect, understanding, and safety for everyone,” said Chief Mike Gancasz. “For some members of our community, a traffic stop can be overwhelming. This program gives drivers a simple tool to communicate their needs, and it gives our officers helpful guidance so they can respond with patience and compassion.”

Part of Growing Statewide & National Effort

Blue Envelope initiatives began on the East Coast, notably in Connecticut, and have since spread to multiple states, including Virginia, New York, Arkansas and others, where state agencies and local departments use the blue envelope as a standardized tool to support drivers with autism and similar conditions during police encounters.

In California, sheriff’s offices and police departments in communities such as San Bernardino County, San Diego County, Riverside County, Placer County, Sutter County, Ventura County, and several city departments have adopted Blue Envelope programs or similar models—often in partnership with regional centers and autism advocacy organizations.

Kensington’s program draws on these best practices while tailoring the materials and training to the unique needs of a small, community-focused police department.

National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities (NPS-AID) Supports the Blue Envelope Program

Supported by the National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities, the “Blue Envelope Program” is an initiative that is not mandated, but adopted by many law enforcement agencies across the U.S., designed to help facilitate smoother interactions between law enforcement officers and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during traffic stops.

The NPS-AID is a voluntary program designed to assist individuals with disabilities during emergencies by providing first responders with critical information.

Any time a disabled community partner joins the “National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals” program and resides in a NPS-AID supporting chapter jurisdiction where the “Blue Envelope Program” is in use, the oversight agency has the ability to quickly send notice via the NPS-AID system to the member which will provide the participant with information about the program and how to enroll. This notice will be delivered via email once the member completes their NPS-AID membership enrollment.

All agencies that adopt the “Blue Envelope Program” create thier own enrollment process and the exact steps can vary from agency to agency since there is no centralized program or support system for Blue Envelope. All supporting NPS-AID chapter agencies are provided special access to essential resources to help agencies create, launch, and manage their own “Blue Envelope Program”, such as envelope templates, draft policies and more, reducing the burden and simplifying the process.

How Residents Can Participate

  • Cost: The program is free and completely voluntary.
  • Privacy: No registration is required, and KPD does not collect or store medical information; all details remain with the driver and their family.
  • Where to get an envelope:

o In person at the Kensington Police Department lobby located at 10940 San Pablo, El Cerrito, CA 94530

o From a uniformed Kensington Police Officer or Kensington Police Volunteer

o At community events and outreach activities throughout Kensington

Available Outreach Materials

The following items are available free of charge at the Kensington Police Department and other participating locations:

  • Blue Envelope Program Brochure
  • Blue Envelope
  • Wallet Information Card
  • Lanyards
  • Seatbelt Covers
  • Buttons
  • Key Chains
  • Wristbands
  • Stickers

These materials help signal participation in the program and provide quick access to important information during a law enforcement interaction.

Residents can learn more about how the program works, download information, and see example materials by visiting: www.kppcsd.org/blue-envelope-program-kensington.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Police report results from Richmond’s Flock Automated License Plate Reader System

By Leave a Comment

Source: Richmond PD

Since April 2023 ALPR contributed to over 270 people arrested, over 250 vehicles recovered, more

By Richmond Police Department

The Richmond Police Department is committed to transparency and protecting the information we collect to keep our community safe. We want to share an update regarding our Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system operated by Flock Safety.

Since its inception in April 2023, ALPR data has become an essential investigative tool for both patrol officers and detectives conducting follow-up investigations, providing significant public-safety benefits. ALPR data has directly contributed to:

  • The arrest of over 272 individuals involved in criminal activity
  • The identification of a suspect vehicle in 12 separate homicide cases
  • The recovery of over 258 stolen vehicles
  • More than 889 cases where ALPR information directly led to the identification of a suspect or suspect vehicle
  • Alerted officers to the presence of over 6,670 stolen vehicles in our city
  • Alerted officers to the presence of over 759 vehicles that were wanted for felony crimes in our city

These outcomes demonstrate how the responsible use of technology helps us solve crimes, locate dangerous offenders, and support victims. Without the ALPR data provided by Flock, many of these cases, including murder cases, would most likely remain unsolved.

Earlier this year, Flock Safety notified us of a system configuration error that allowed certain external law enforcement agencies to run very limited, specific license-plate searches that could have revealed small portions of Richmond’s ALPR data. This was not full-system access and affected only narrow, plate-specific queries.

The issue was unintentional and was disabled immediately upon discovery. ALPR data is only stored for 30 days, and at this time, we have no evidence that any outside agency viewed or misused Richmond’s data, including for immigration enforcement. Because multiple agencies were affected, we temporarily turned off our ALPR system until Flock Safety provides verified safeguards and assurances to prevent future issues.

The Richmond Police Department will continue to use technology responsibly and transparently, in a manner that aligns with our community’s expectations and enhances our ability to solve crimes and keep residents safe. We remain committed to protecting your privacy, being transparent, and using technology in ways that reflect Richmond’s values and expectations. We look forward to implementing enhanced safeguards and reactivating our ALPR system so it can continue to provide valuable investigative leads, hold offenders accountable, and deliver justice for victims and their families.