Contra Costa Herald

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

Graffiti suspect arrested Thursday for hate crime, vandalism in San Ramon last weekend

By Leave a Comment

Jacob Leigh in surveillance camera photos. Courtesy of San Ramon Police.

By Captain Denton Carlson, San Ramon Police Department

During the morning of Sunday, July 7, 2019, members of the San Ramon Police Department responded to several reports of racially insensitive graffiti in the area surrounding Camino Ramon and Crow Canyon Road. The graffiti was spray-painted on several exterior walls of commercial buildings, as well as on an ATM in the area. Members of our agency and employees from local businesses took immediate steps to remove the graffiti in an attempt to limit the public’s exposure. Based on the initial investigation by our officers, it was apparent the graffiti was spray-painted during the early morning hours on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

On Monday, July 8, 2019, members of the San Ramon Police Department received several high-quality images of the involved suspect, which were taken by the video surveillance camera inside the vandalized ATM located at 2190 Camino Ramon. These images were immediately distributed to local law enforcement agencies in an attempt to identify the suspect. After a few days without any successful identification, we posted the photographs on our social media platforms to try and determine who was responsible for these crimes.

The response from the San Ramon Community was overwhelming. After receiving numerous investigative tips, San Ramon Police Detectives positively identified the suspect as Jacob Leigh, an 18-year-old from San Ramon. Detectives served a search warrant at Leigh’s home during the morning of Thursday, July 11, 2019. Numerous items of evidentiary value associated with the crimes committed were recovered during the search, but Leigh was not at the residence.

During the early afternoon on Thursday, July 11, 2019, Jacob Leigh arranged to turn himself in at the San Ramon Police Department. Detectives placed him under arrest, and he was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for violations of Penal Code 422.6(b) (Hate crime) and multiple violations of Penal Code 594 (Vandalism). His bail was set at $40,000.

The members of the San Ramon Police Department would like to thank the San Ramon Community for their assistance in identifying this suspect. Their commitment to justice, inclusion, and equality shined through based on their obvious displeasure associated with crimes of this nature.

For media-related inquires, please contact Captain Denton Carlson via email at dcarlson@sanramon.ca.gov, or via direct message on Twitter (@srpdcarlson).

San Ramon man, former U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs fiduciary pleads guilty to embezzling from disabled veterans

By Leave a Comment

Raj Ditta. From his LinkedIn profile.

OAKLAND – Raj Kumar Ditta pleaded guilty today in federal court to misappropriating and embezzling funds he held as a fiduciary for incompetent and disabled veterans, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, Special Agent in Charge James Wahleithner.  The plea was accepted by the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, U.S. District Judge.

In pleading guilty, Ditta, 51, of San Ramon, the owner of Ditta Fiduciary Services, admitted that from 2010 through 2012, he entered into fiduciary agreements with the VA.  Under the agreements, he agreed to act as a fiduciary for eight different veterans or beneficiaries that the VA had determined were not competent to handle their own financial affairs.  As a fiduciary, Ditta was required to establish bank accounts to receive each beneficiary’s VA income and to ensure the beneficiary’s debts were paid.  Ditta admitted that in each case, he set up a separate bank account for the beneficiary and, within months, began syphoning funds from the beneficiary’s account.  Ditta moved thousands of dollars to his own personal account and used those funds for his own benefit.  In sum, Ditta misappropriated and embezzled no less than $39,500 from the veterans and beneficiaries.

Ditta was charged by Information on May 24, 2019, with one count of misappropriation of funds held by a fiduciary, in violation of 38 U.S.C. § 6101(a), and 15 counts of theft of government money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.  Under the plea agreement, Ditta pleaded guilty to the misappropriation of funds count and, if he complies with the plea agreement, the remaining counts will be dismissed at sentencing.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers scheduled Ditta’s sentencing hearing for November 14, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.  Ditta faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for the 38 U.S.C. § 6101(a) violation.  In addition, as part of sentencing the court may order an additional period of supervised release and restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Apolinar Olivera is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessica Rodriguez Gonzalez.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

East Bay Congressman who represents San Ramon is first to quit presidential race

By Leave a Comment

Rep. Eric Swalwell. Photo from his congressional website.

By Allen Payton

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D, CA-15) was the first candidate to drop out of the race for president, when he made an announcement during a press conference at the Swalwell for American headquarters in his hometown of Dublin, on Monday. He was one of over 20 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination.

Swalwell has represented San Ramon in Contra Costa County, as well as the Tri Valley and other portions of Alameda County, since he was first elected, after beating 20-term incumbent and fellow Democrat Pete Stark in the 2012 primary election.

A member of the House Intelligence Committee, Swalwell had been calling for President Trump’s impeachment for the past year, and his main presidential campaign issue was an assault weapons ban.

In a statement on his presidential campaign website, Swalwell wrote,

I ran for President to win and make a difference in our great country — a difference on issues of the future such as finding cures for our deadliest and most debilitating diseases, taking on the student loan debt crisis, and ending gun violence. I promised my family, constituents, and supporters that I would always be honest about our chances. After the first Democratic presidential debate, our polling and fundraising numbers weren’t what we had hoped for, and I no longer see a path forward to the nomination. My presidential campaign ends today, but this also is the start of a new passage for the issues on which our campaign ran.

I entered this race determined to elevate the issue of gun violence, and at the debate, three top-tier candidates embraced my idea to ban and buy back every single assault weapon in America. Putting this idea and this larger issue of gun violence front and center in the Democratic policy discussion is an accomplishment, dedicated to the students, moms, and other activists who tirelessly demand action to save American lives.

I thank my supporters and friends, my staff, and my family for making this journey possible. I’ll never forget the people I met and lessons I learned while travelling around our great nation – especially in the communities most affected by gun violence. Too many communities feel this pain. But in every community’s grief, I see people who love one another and have inside themselves the grit to get things done to end gun violence once and for all.

I will take those lessons back to Congress, serving my friends and neighbors in California’s 15th District while using my seats on the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees to make our nation safer and uphold the rule of law for all Americans.

Thank you,

Eric

The 38-year-old Swalwell will instead seek a fifth term in Congress. Rumor has it that former State Assemblywoman Catharine Baker might run for the Republican nomination in the same district to face Swalwell, next year.

Bicyclist dies from accident with car in Alamo on Wednesday

By Leave a Comment

By CHP-Contra Costa

Wednesday afternoon, June 26, 2019 around 4:30pm, we responded to a collision on Mount Diablo Scenic Blvd near Diablo Ranch Drive. Upon arrival, we located a bicyclist down on the roadway and a Chevy SUV. Emergency medical aid was given to the bicyclist, and the adult male rider was driven by ambulance to the Athenian School where he was life flighted to a local hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries later that night.

The driver of the Chevy remained on scene and is cooperating with our investigation. The location where this collision occurred is a narrow winding roadway and it appears the bicyclist and vehicle hit head on. The rider was wearing a helmet.

If you have any information about this collision, please call the Contra Costa CHP Office at 925-646-4980.

Ken Behring, developer of Blackhawk, former Seahawks owner, passes at 91

By 6 Comments

Ken Behring. Photo courtesy of BlackhawkMuseum.org

Also founder of the Wheelchair Foundation and Blackhawk Museum

By Allen Payton

Ken Behring, best known locally as the billionaire developer of Blackhawk and founder of the Blackhawk Museum in Contra Costa County, the former owner of the Seattle Seahawks, and the founder of the Wheelchair Foundation, died at the age of 91 on Tuesday night.

In a message posted on Facebook on Wednesday evening, June 26, 2019, his son, David Behring, wrote, “My father passed away peacefully last night at the age of 91. He was both a Lion and a Dragon and could not have lived a fuller life. He loved business, sports, travel, automobiles, family, adventure, life and helping others. His family and friends will deeply miss him and pledge to carry on his legacy. Our family is so appreciative of the hundreds of phone, text and email messages that have poured in today. I will write more reflections of him this weekend.”

Kenneth Eugene Behring was born in Freeport, Illinois on June 13, 1928. He grew up poor during the Depression era in Wisconsin and began working odd jobs at age seven. Yet, he ended up making the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans several times, and owning a jet plane, plus the NFL team.

A high-school football player, he received a partial football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison but, dropped out of college due to an injury that ended his football career, and making him ineligible for his scholarship.

Behring then worked as a salesman at a Chevrolet and Chrysler dealership and at 21, he started a used car business called Behring Motors in Monroe, Wisconsin. The young businessman was earning $50,000 a year and by age 27 had $1 million in assets.

His career as a real estate developer spanned four decades. Behring planned and developed communities in Florida, California, and Seattle. His company conceived and developed the entire city of Tamarac, Florida in the 1950’s which now has a population of over 60,000.

In 1972 he moved to California, where he is best known for planning and developing the renowned Blackhawk community near Danville, as well as the Canyon Lakes Development in San Ramon. In East County, his company Blackhawk Development built the Apple Hill Estates and Summerset communities in Brentwood.

In Seattle his company created Blakely Ridge, a planned community of 2,200-homes and Grande Ridge, a 2,500-acre commercial and residential development.

Behring was the author of two books, his autobiography in 2004, “The Road to Purpose” and in 2013, “The Road to Leadership”, in which he shares his own life experiences and the need for purpose in an individual’s life.

“I am a simple man who has lived a simple life and, in the process, learned a simple lesson,” he wrote in The Road to Leadership. “I was born poor. But I will die rich – with more money, in fact, than I ever imagined existed when I was a boy. By the world’s standards, I climbed aboard the American dream and rode it to the top, becoming a leader in business.”

“Yet as I look back on all my success, I realize that doing well financially is easy compared with achieving true success: finding a purpose in life beyond just making money. Purpose is something you achieve by giving your heart, time, love and money to providing a better life for mankind.”

And give back, he did.

After purchasing the Seattle Seahawks football team in 1988, Behring established the Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation in 1995, which benefited numerous children’s charities. The foundation was the most substantial donor to the Western Washington Muscular Dystrophy Association for many years.

On his birthday in 2000, Behring established the Wheelchair Foundation at a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. To date, the organization has raised funds to pay for and distribute over one million wheelchairs to those with physical disabilities throughout the world.

Behring served on the boards of U.C. Berkeley, St. Mary’s College of California and Holy Names College. He also served as the president of the American Academy of Achievement. He has been honored as Man of the Year by Boys’ Town of Italy and the Mt. Diablo Foundation.

Behring actively contributed to the cultural community in California and the nation. He gained recognition through one of the largest and finest classic automobile collections in the world, housed in the Blackhawk Museum, in which some of the wings bear his name.

His contributions to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. resulted in improvements to two of the museums. According to MuseumNetwork.com, in 1997 Behring donated $20 million for the National Museum of Natural History to update the mammal wing, which bears his name and which opened in the fall of 2003. Then, in 2000 Behring donated another $80 million which was purportedly the largest cash donation ever given to a U.S. museum by a living person. The gift enabled what is now known as the National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center to restore and update its permanent and temporary exhibits.

Also, in 2000, Behring donated $7.5 million to U.C. Berkeley, to expand the Principal Leadership Institute. The newly established Kenneth E. Behring Center for Educational Improvement focused on training programs for public-school principals, providing scholarships for fifty aspiring principals every year.

He established the Behring Global Education Foundation, which encompasses and coordinates all of his philanthropic efforts, including the Wheelchair Foundation, Operation Global Vision and the Safe Drinking Water Project and museum donations.

Behring is survived by his wife, Pat, whom he married at age 21, five sons, and as of 2018, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Supervisors withdraw Blackhawk police tax measure set for August 27

By Leave a Comment

Possible November ballot measure instead

By Daniel Borsuk

At a specially called Tuesday meeting, on May 28, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors took the unusual action of withdrawing a special tax, measure approved a week earlier, that would have permitted residents of the Blackhawk Homeowners Association to vote on whether to increase a parcel tax to keep police services intact.

The special election scrubbed by supervisors on a 3-0 vote, was originally to be held August 27 and would have generated sufficient parcel tax revenue from Blackhawk homeowners to maintain police services that are provided by the Contra Costa County Sheriff at current levels, three deputies and one lieutenant.

At the request of District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood, whose district includes the residential area consisting of 2,027 exclusive homes near Danville, the supervisor said after the May 21 action she had met with representatives of the Blackhawk Country Club, which opposes being included in any type of parcel tax proposal for police services. Burgis said she will present at an upcoming meeting a Blackhawk police services parcel tax proposal that would be “fair and agreeable.”

“We’ve had challenges concerning the funding for the police district,” Burgis admitted.

In the May 21 action, the special taxes levied in the zone for police protection would have been increased in fiscal year 2020-2021 to $380 per parcel for residential properties, including single, small multiple and large multiple, $3,040 per parcel for commercial/industrial/institutional properties and $13,300 per parcel for commercial/theater properties. The ordinance also would have taxed parcels owned by the Blackhawk County Club, which are currently exempt from the Zone A police protection special tax.

While admitting the association has been losing revenues to support the police services at current levels, Blackhawk Homeowners Association President Ron Banducci, who is also chairman of the Blackhawk Police Advisory Committee, had informed supervisors at the May 21 meeting that without the infusion of increased revenues from homeowners residents would lose one deputy from its police department.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Banducci warned supervisors to leave intact their May 21 decision to allow a vote on the August 27 parcel tax measure that would also, for the first time, include the Blackhawk Country Club to be assessed parcel taxes.

He cautioned supervisors Federal Glover of Pittsburg and Board Chair John Gioia of Richmond about any “backroom deal by Supervisor Burgis and the Blackhawk Country Club for $40,000 for 10 years” to allegedly be excluded from a police district tax district.

Blackhawk Homeowners Association member, Rick Marse, said the fact that Burgis and the country club have been meeting makes any kind of deal “completely irregular.”

Another Blackhawk resident Henry Schutzel thought that the meeting was invalid because it violates the public open meeting law. “I believe this meeting is a violation of the Brown Act,” he claimed.

Even then, without much comment from Supervisors Glover or Gioia on the issue at hand, Burgis’s request was unanimously approved.

Camino Tassajara Bike Lane Gap Closure Project to begin construction Monday

By 1 Comment

Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction on the Camino Tassajara Bike Lane Gap Closure Project. The project will widen the pavement to provide bike lanes in four separate segments along Camino Tassajara between Windermere Parkway and just north of Penny Lane. Segments are as follows:

Segment 1: From 240 feet north of Penny Lane to 150 feet south of Johnston Road

Segment 2: From 1,300 feet north of Highland Road to Highland Road

Segment 3: From 700 feet south of the bridge over Tassajara Creek to 2,050 feet south of the bridge

Segment 4: From 1,600 feet north of Windemere Parkway to 350 feet north of Windemere Parkway

The project also includes drainage improvements, signing and striping improvements, and placing a slurry seal from Windemere Parkway to Lusitano Street.

Construction will begin on Monday, June 3, 2019, with completion in late November 2019, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work hours will generally be 8:30 am and 4:00 pm to minimize impacts to commute traffic. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes during construction.

Funding for this project is provided by Measure J, Tri-Valley Transportation Council, South County Area of Benefit and Southern Contra Costa (SCC) Subregional Fee Program. More information on this project can be found at: http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.

Construction begins on new $90 million, 144-unit apartment community in downtown Danville

By 5 Comments

Rendering of the Alexan Downtown Danville project in downtown Danville. Courtesy of Trammell Crow Residential.

Trammell Crow Residential (TCR), the multifamily real estate developer, along with Town of Danville Mayor Robert Storer, City Councilmembers and other local leaders, recently celebrated a construction milestone on the first new residential rental community in Danville, the Alexan Downtown Danville, which will offer 144 luxury apartment homes located within walking distance of Danville’s Historic Downtown District. The new $90 million apartment community located at 375 Diablo Road in Contra Costa County commenced framing and is scheduled for completion in summer 2020.

“This is the first apartment development of scale that has been approved by the Town of Danville in decades,” said TCR’s Senior Managing Director Bruce Dorfman. “Danville is one of the East Bay’s most prestigious and supply-constrained communities. The existing apartment stock is very limited and does not contain any Class A product and, with an average vacancy of 1 percent, renters have very few options. Pair that with the lack of affordability of for-sale housing, and Alexan Downtown Danville will provide a favorable option for first-class living in a highly sought-after, walkable downtown location.”

Danville Town Councilmembers Newell Americh, Renee Morgan and Lisa Blackwell, Bruce Dorfman, Senior Managing Director, Trammell Crow Residential, Davnville Mayor Robert Storer, Vice Mayor Karen Stepper, Vice Mayor, and Town Manager Joe Calabrigo at the ceremony for the Alexan Riverwalk project, May 15, 2019. Photo courtesy of Trammel Crow Residential

Situated at the intersection of Diablo Road and I-680 on 3.75 acres, Alexan Downtown Danville will offer convenient access to I-680 freeway and the East Bay’s major job centers as well as the Walnut Creek BART Station, just eight miles north from the site. Danville’s community of nearly 48,000 people provides a small-town atmosphere, with highly regarded schools and an outstanding quality of life. Furthermore, Danville was once again named the safest city in the state of California, according to SafeWise, an online safety resource, which analyzed the state’s communities to find the 50 safest cities.

“This is truly a remarkable day in Danville history,” said Mayor Robert Storer, Town of Danville. “This project will allow Danville to achieve its workforce housing numbers, but more importantly, it will allow 144 families to appreciate the comfort and safety this town offers its residents. It’s a wonderful community to live, work and raise your family.”

According to Dorfman, TCR is working with the Town to build a pedestrian bridge over San Ramon Creek to provide a direct link from the new apartment community to Danville’s Historic Downtown District, the public library, Danville Community Center, quality schools, and other public amenities. Residents will also have convenient access to shopping, restaurants, services, entertainment, museums and parks, making this site an ideal location for individuals as well as families.

In addition to the amenities of the Town of Danville, residents of Alexan Downtown Danville can enjoy residential units that are well-appointed and offer finishes more frequently found in custom single-family homes. The apartment community’s amenities include a clubhouse with a lounge, conference room and business center, state-of-the-art fitness center, and a package concierge. Outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, grill stations and dining area, a children’s play area, pet park, and vista overlooking the adjacent San Ramon Creek. Alexan Downtown Danville will also have gated, private subterranean parking with electric vehicle charging stations.

The unit mix consists of a wide variety of floor plans including studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes, ranging in size from approximately 500-square feet to 1,600-square feet. According to Dorfman, over half of the units will offer two- and three-bedroom configurations, which is not typical of apartment communities. “We think the townhomes and larger units will be very appealing to young families and single-parent households with children,” noted Dorfman.

“I appreciate the long-term relationship between Trammell Crow [Residential] and the Town of Danville and acknowledge your good work towards making apartment living in Danville a reality,” said Mayor Storer. “Together we will enjoy a place that will bring new families to Danville who will enjoy all of its splendor and allow the next generation of families to call Danville home.”

TCR’s equity partner for the Alexan Downtown Danville is Barings Real Estate Advisers and the construction lender is Wells Fargo. LCA Architects is the project architect; Gates + Associates is the landscape designer; and Carlson, Barbee & Gibson is the civil engineer.

About Trammell Crow Residential

Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) is a national multifamily real estate developer with a local presence in 13 key U.S. markets.  Over 40 years, TCR has built over 250,000 premier multifamily residences, delivering amenity-rich communities in economically thriving locations nationwide. TCR and Crow Holdings Industrial (CHI) are part of the development platform of Crow Holdings, a privately-owned real estate investment and development firm with a 70-year history and a proven track record of performance, partnership, and innovation. For more information, please visit TCR.com.

Sheriff’s Office investigates early Monday morning burglary at Alamo jewelry store

By Leave a Comment

Screenshots of burglary suspects outside Alamo jewelry store from security camera. Courtesy of CCCSheriff

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

On Monday, April 15, 2019, at about 1:38 AM, Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report of an alarm at a jewelry store on the 3200 block of Danville Boulevard in Alamo.

Deputy Sheriffs arrived minutes after being dispatched to find the store’s front window broken. The suspects entered the business stealing miscellaneous goods and items.

The suspects are believed to have fled north on Danville Boulevard then east on Stone Valley Road toward Interstate 680.

The Crime Lab responded to the location to process the scene.

Detectives say there were four male suspects. Their vehicle is described as a newer four-door Honda Civic with after-market rims and tinted windows. Please see attached images.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

San Ramon Police arrest Manteca man for outstanding warrant, more charges Friday night

By Leave a Comment

Found with billy club, dagger, lock picks

By San Ramon Police Department

While you were sleeping….your San Ramon Police Officers were keeping you and your property safe.

Last night, Friday, April 12, 2019, an Officer stopped a car that had paper license plates covering the actual California DMV license plates. The driver (28-year-old Manteca resident, Troy Payton – no relation to the Herald publisher) was arrested for an outstanding warrant held by San Joaquin County.

The officer also found a billy club, a dagger, lock picks, and a modified screwdriver under the driver’s seat of the car, which led to add to additional charges. Just another excellent example of the work your San Ramon Police Department Officers do every night to keep the San Ramon Community safe.