Contra Costa Herald

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

Police seek shoplifters who stole almost $3,500 of fragrances from Concord beauty store

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Screenshot from surveillance video and inset photos of suspects top left and right. Courtesy of Concord Police.

By Concord Police Department

If you were thinking about buying perfume for your special someone this Valentine’s Day, make sure you get to the store before this man and woman! View the surveillance video.

On January 23rd, just before noon the couple shown in this video entered a local beauty store and made a beeline to the fragrance section. There, they selected thirty-three bottles of a variety of perfumes and placed them into a bag. With haste, they left the store failing to pay for the almost $3,500 worth of merchandise!

Although we made light of the case at the beginning of the post, we take these crimes very seriously. We would love to get the suspects identified and make them answer for their crime. So, if you recognize either of them please contact the Concord Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit at PDInvestigations@cityofconcord.org or you can call our anonymous tip line at (925) 603-5836.

Suspect arrested in Richmond hit and run that killed four-year-old boy

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The victim of the hit-and-run, named Heitor, who died from his injuries on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of RPD.

By Richmond Police Department

On Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at 5:00 pm, Richmond Police officers responded to a hit and run collision in the 2200 block of Coalinga Avenue. A 4-year-old child was struck and killed in the collision.

RPD turned to social media, our community members, and local media outlets to request their assistance in locating the suspect vehicle.

Our community partners answered our request and assisted in sharing our request tens of thousands of times on social media platforms. Local media outlets assisted by providing extensive news coverage. All of these things combined to assist us in identifying the driver and suspect vehicle.

Saturday at 7:00 pm, RPD Traffic Investigators arrested the suspect for this hit and run. On Sunday, Feb. 9, the suspect and suspect vehicle were located and are in police custody. The suspect was booked on charges of hit and run resulting in death.

RPD is grateful for the outpouring of support from our community in helping us bring this driver to justice. Thank you from RPD and from the victim’s family for helping them achieve some closure.

Video screenshots of suspect vehicle. By RPD.

**Spanish Translation**

***SOSPECHOSO ARRESTADO EN COLISION QUE REAULTO EN MUERTE***

El Viernes, 7 de Febrero, a las 5:00 PM, Oficiales de la Policia de Richmond respondieron al bloque 2200 de la Avenida Coalinga en una investigación donde un vehicúlo atropello y mato a un niño de 4 años de edad.

La Policia de Richmond solicito la ayuda de nuestros miembros de la comunidad, usando redes sociales y noticias locales para encontrar el vehicúlo del sospechoso.

Nuestros miembros de la comunidad nos ayudaron con compartir este incidente miles de veces en redes sociales. Noticias locales asistieron con reportar una amplia cobertura de noticias sobre el incidente.

Todas estas cosas combinadas nos asistieron en identificar al sospechoso y el vehicúlo.

El Sabodo a las 7:00, Investigadores de tráfico arrestaron al sospechoso. El sospechoso fue transladado a la carcel con cargos de huir la escena de colision que resulto en murte.

La Policia de Richmond esta agradecido por el soporte de la comunidad por ayudarnos el traer el sospechoso ante la justicia.

Gracias de parte de la Policia de Richmond y de la familia de la victima en lograr un poco de cierre en este caso.

Two men charged with burglary of over $65,000 in jewelry from Walnut Creek Macy’s

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

Earlier this week, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felonies against Christopher Dopp, a transient with no known address, and Richard Lange, from Richmond, for last week’s burglary of the Walnut Creek Macy’s store at Broadway Plaza. During the early morning burglary of January 24, the defendants took $65,244 of gold jewelry from display cases.

The defendants were spotted by store employees on the first floor of the store as the pair smashed display cases. The defendants fled the scene after the employees saw the pair destroying the display cases. Ultimately, Walnut Creek Police Officers apprehended the burglars as they left the store. In total, the damage to the store totaled over $80,000 from the broken glass.

The bail for each defendant is set for Lange at $170,000 and Dopp at $35,000. The defendants are not in custody as they bailed out.

The specific felony charges are as follows:

Lange: Second Degree Burglary, Grand Theft of Personal Property, Vandalism Over $400 Damage — Special Allegation Serious or Violent Felony Prior & Special Allegation Two Prior Offenses

Dopp: Second Degree Burglary, Grand Theft of Personal Property, Vandalism Over $400 Damage

Case information: People v. Dopp, Lange, Docket Number 01-192927-2

Concord Police Department holding DUI enforcement operations Saturday night

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Officers from the Concord Police Department will be out on 1/24/2020 between 8:00PM and 2:00AM looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

DUI saturation patrols will take place in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests. In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads.

In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Concord Police Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Concord Police Department encourages drivers to follow these tips to avoid a DUI:

  • Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
  • See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
  • Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
  • Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.

Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the Concord Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

91-year-old Antioch man with dimentia missing since early Saturday morning

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George Pack and his 1994 Nissan Pathfinder. Photos courtesy of Antioch Police.

Last seen in Clayton, early Saturday morning

By Lieutenant Joe Donleavy #6011, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, at 1:15 AM, Antioch Police Officers took a missing person report after George Pack failed to return home (3037 Butternut Street) after visiting a friend in another part of Antioch. Mr. Pack was last seen wearing a green short sleeve polo shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. He is possibly driving his red 1994 Nissan Pathfinder (CA license 3HLV677). The vehicle has a 49er spare tire cover on the back. The vehicle was last seen on Marsh Creek Road near Diablo Parkway in Clayton early on the morning of Sept. 21, 2019.

Mr. Pack suffers from dementia. A Silver Alert has been issued in this case. If you see Mr. Pack, please immediately call 911 or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch at 925-778-2441 or you may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

County Republicans decry Bauer-Kahan, Assembly Democrats for vote against resolution condemning professor who called for murdering police

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Frazier, Grayson, Wicks vote against resolution, as well

Sacramento, Calif. — While presiding over last Friday’s session of the California State Assembly, Assemblywoman and Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (AD-16), who represents parts of the San Ramon Valley, voted in opposition to House Resolution 22 which would have condemned the comments of a University of California, Davis professor who advocated for the murdering of police officers.

Bauer-Kahan along with 53 of her Democratic colleagues defeated HR22, effectually condoning specific statements such as “it’s easier to shoot cops when their backs are turned,” and “people think cops need to be reformed. They need to be killed.”

Assemblymen Jim Frazier D-Discovery Bay (AD-11), Tim Grayson D-Concord (AD-14) and Buffy Wicks D-Oakland (AD-15) who each represent other parts of Contra Costa County, also voted against the resolution condemning the professor’s statement.

“On the eve of Memorial Day weekend, it is especially disgusting that Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan would lead the Assembly to effectively condone rhetoric advocating for the murder of police officers,” said Contra Costa Republican Party Chairman, Matt Shupe. “The men and women who serve us as police officers routinely put themselves in harm’s way for our safety and don’t deserve this type of brazen disrespect from our legislative leaders.”

San Ramon Police seek suspect in attempted kidnapping of teenage girl on Friday, Feb. 22

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From San Ramon Police Facebook Page

Please see above the forensic sketch and details from the incident that was reported on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in San Ramon.

On Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 at approximately 5:30 p.m. a 13-year-old female was walking in the 500 block of Fallen Leaf Circle when an Indian male driving a white, possibly Nissan Rogue hatchback four-door vehicle, pulled up and contacted her. The unidentified male told her, “Your Dad asked me to pick you up and drop you off at your house.”

When she said “No thanks,” the male reached across to the passenger side and through the window, tried to grab the juvenile’s arm, but instead brushed her sweater sleeve as she pulled back. The juvenile ran to the nearby Iron Horse Trail and hid in the bushes until the subject left the area. The juvenile immediately called her mother and father (as evidenced by her call log).

The suspect is described as follows:

*East Indian male

*Dark skin color

*35-50 years old

*Light blue circle around the left eye

*Shaggy hair

*Spoke with an Indian accent with a lisp

*Wearing a black hooded jacket over a light blue or grey Nike shirt

*Ring on right hand with two overlapping snakes

The suspect vehicle is described as follows:

Possibly a Nissan Rogue. 4 Door hatchback, white in color, yellow star with smiley face sticker on front windshield, partial California plate of 7HM…6, back passenger side windows darkly tinted.

Any tips can be reported to the San Ramon Police Dispatch Center at (925) 973-2779.

Man dies in fatal auto vs. pedestrian traffic collision in Concord on Saturday

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Scene of the fatal accident at Port Chicago Highway and Arnold Industrial Way on Sat., Feb. 2, 2019. Photo by Concord PD.

By Lieutenant Sam Staten, Concord Police Department

On Saturday, February 2, 2019, at approximately 6:20 PM, Concord Police Officers responded to the intersection of Port Chicago Hwy and Arnold Industrial Way regarding an auto vs. pedestrian collision. Officers arrived on scene with AMR and Fire Department personnel and located a white male adult lying in the roadway.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the pedestrian was crossing the roadway when he was struck by a vehicle traveling south on Port Chicago Hwy.  The driver of the involved vehicle stopped at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.  Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the collision.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call Concord Police Department Traffic Investigator Justin Wilson at (925)-603-5962.

Fatal auto vs. bicyclist collision in Concord early Wednesday morning

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By Sergeant Adam Hart, Concord Police Traffic Bureau

On Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 12:05 AM the Concord Police Department received a call regarding an auto vs. bicyclist collision on San Miguel Road near Systron Drive Officers arrived on-scene along with medical personnel from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The bicyclist was identified as a 60-year-old male from Concord. The identity of the deceased bicyclist is not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin by the Contra Costa County Office of the Coroner.

The driver of the vehicle is a 57-year-old male from Antioch. He remained at the scene and was the caller who called in the collision. He is cooperating with the investigation. He was not injured during the collision.

Alcohol/drugs are not believed to be a factor in this collision at this time.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Preliminary investigation has revealed that both the vehicle and the bicyclist were travelling south on San Miguel Rd. at the time of the collision.

San Miguel Road between Systron Drive and the entrance to 1080 San Miguel Road was closed for approximately 3.5 hours to perform roadway measurements, collect evidence, and conduct the investigation.

Additional details are not being released at this time.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this collision is encouraged to contact Officer Lawrence at (925) 671-5097.

Coroner’s inquest finds Antioch man shot by Pittsburg police died “at the hands of another person, other than by accident”

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Terry Amons in July, 2017 from his Facebook profile.

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

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announced that a Coroner’s jury has reached a finding in the January 12, 2018 death of Terry Dean Amons Jr. who was shot by Pittsburg Police. The finding of the jury is that the death is “at the hands of another person, other than by accident.” See related Antioch Herald article.)

The Coroner’s jury reached a verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident,

suicide, natural Causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

See a KRON4 news report about Amons’ death.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.