Contra Costa Herald

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

National Prescription Drug TAKE BACK Day Saturday, October 24

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would like to invite you to take part in a national effort to keep our communities safe. The DEA and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff hold Take Back Days aimed to provide a safe, convenient, and ecologically responsible method of prescription medication disposal while also focusing on prevention and education.

Take Back Day is this Saturday, October 24, 2020, from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Bring your pills for disposal at the following sites. The DEA cannot accept needles or sharps, only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original container. Vaping cartridges and devices with batteries removed can be accepted at Take Back collection sites. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Take Back Collection Sites:

-Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez (Field Operations Building)

-Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond (West County Detention Facility)

-Office of the Sheriff Delta Station, 9100 Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood

-Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville

-Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website at: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.

 

Stockton man arrested in Blackhawk Sunday for attempted murder of Danville cops, Sheriff’s Deputy

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Tried to run them over with his car; held on $1.5 million bail

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

On Sunday afternoon at about 2 PM, an unknown person entered the Blackhawk Police Substation in the Blackhawk community and contacted a deputy sheriff there. The subject displayed erratic behavior and was asked to leave the community.  Due to the subject contact, Danville police responded to the substation to assist the deputy.

As the man was leaving in his car, he accelerated his vehicle rapidly and deliberately attempted to run down the officers and deputy. The suspect’s vehicle struck the deputy and a Danville officer. Both fell to the ground. A Danville Police Sergeant discharged his firearm, striking the vehicle, but not the suspect. The suspect fled in his vehicle.

The suspect and his vehicle were located about a mile away by responding deputies. He was apprehended after a struggle with deputies.

The deputy who was hit by the vehicle was treated and released from a local hospital. The officer was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Eduardo Carrillo of Stockton. After being interviewed by detectives, he was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and a probation violation. He is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail.

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

Antioch man dies from apparent suicide while in custody at West County Detention Facility

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Arrested for elder abuse, in jail since Oct. 2; Sheriff’s Office investigating

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

On Saturday, October 17, 2020, at about 6:15 PM, a deputy sheriff escorted a Mental Health Clinician to speak with an inmate at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond.

As the deputy opened the door to the inmate’s cell, she found him unresponsive with a bed sheet wrapped around his neck. Deputies and jail medical staff provided life saving measures until an ambulance and the fire department arrived. The inmate was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

The inmate is identified as 42-year-old Gregory Lynds of Antioch. He was originally arrested by the Antioch Police Department and was booked into jail on October 2, 2020. He was being held on two felony counts of elder abuse (likely to produce great bodily harm or death), two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, parole violation, and battery on a peace officer.

The investigation into the apparent suicide is being investigated by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.

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

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab receives state grant

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The Forensic Services Division of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff was awarded $408,853.00 in grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The funding will be used to purchase a Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS/MS).

The new equipment can detect illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter drugs commonly found in driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases. The addition of this equipment will enable the Sheriff’s Crime Laboratory to provide a higher level of service to the agencies in Contra Costa County and the criminal justice system.

“We are pleased to receive this grant from the Office of Traffic Safety,” said Contra Costa County Sheriff David O. Livingston. “This will increase our efficiency and enable us to provide rapid results to law enforcement and prosecutors on DUID cases in Contra Costa County.”

The purchase of the new instrument, training, and method validation are anticipated to take up to one year. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Concord man jumps to his death off Hwy 242 overpass while fleeing from Sheriff’s Deputies

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Officer involved fatal incident under investigation, suspect identified

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

On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at about 8:31 PM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report of a hit and run collision in Bay Point. Deputies were assisting CHP attempting to locate the hit and run vehicle when a deputy saw a Toyota Prius driving erratically away from them. The deputy believed the Prius might be involved in the hit and run and attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Willow Pass Road and Weldon Street in Bay Point.

The vehicle did not yield and fled at a high rate of speed, leading deputies on a pursuit that went westbound on Highway 4, Highway 242, and surface streets in the city of Concord.

The suspect later collided into a guardrail at the interchange between Highway 242 and westbound Highway 4. The suspect then fled on foot on the freeway. While running on the overpass to westbound Highway 4, the suspect jumped off the overpass.

Deputies found the suspect on the ground and immediately performed CPR on him with the assistance of Concord PD. An ambulance and the fire department responded to the scene to continue life-saving measures.

The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is identified as 31-year-old Kentreal Irving of Concord.

Per the countywide law enforcement involved fatal incident protocol, this incident is being investigated by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol.

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

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office investigates death of inmate at local hospital following fight

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

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the death of inmate Levele Williams which occurred at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at about 9:04 PM.

Earlier, on Wednesday, September 23, at about 7:20 PM, Williams was involved in a fight with other inmates at the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF). He was seen by Contra Costa Health Department medical staff at the facility.

At about 10 PM, Williams was transported to Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez after complaining of pain to his jaw. On Thursday, September 24, at about 2:15 AM, he was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where he later underwent surgery for a broken jaw.

Williams apparently suffered from complications during surgery and was later pronounced deceased while at the hospital.

32-year-old Williams of Oakland was arrested by the Pittsburg Police Depart-ment on September 9, 2020. He was booked into MDF on the following charges: as-sault with a deadly weapon (firearm), felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a load-ed firearm, and having a concealed weapon in his vehicle. In addition, there was a Ramey warrant for his arrest for murder and another warrant with charges that include domestic violence and making criminal threats.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Pacheco man charged in Saturday vehicular homicide of woman near Concord airport, victim identified

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

The suspect involved in the vehicular homicide that occurred early Saturday morning near Buchanan Field Airport was formally charged today by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury. 26-year-old Anthony Johnathan Buscemi of Pacheco remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.

On Saturday, September 5, 2020, at about 1:14 AM, Deputy Sheriffs, along with the California Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a report of a body found at the 5000 block of Marsh Road in an unincorporated area north of Buchanan Field Airport.

Upon arrival, Deputies and CHP Officers located a deceased woman on the road. The CHP started the initial investigation due to evidence that she was struck by a vehicle. The victim was later identified as 35-year-old Shelly Stevens of Lafayette.

During an area check, a Deputy Sheriff found the suspect vehicle nearby. Based on initial findings and evidence, this incident was later classified as a vehicular homicide and the Office of the Sheriff took over the primary investigation.

Throughout the weekend, homicide detectives from the Sheriff’s Office authored and served multiple search warrants in Concord and Pacheco and questioned numerous people related to the case. Buscemi surrendered to detectives on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

The investigation is ongoing.

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

Body of Lafayette woman struck by vehicle found near Concord airport early Saturday morning

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

Saturday morning at about 1:14 am, Deputy Sheriffs, along with the California Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a report of a body found at the 5000 block of Marsh Drive in an unincorporated area north of Buchanan Field Airport in Concord.

Upon arrival, Deputies and CHP Officers located a deceased female on the road.

The CHP started the initial investigation due to evidence that the female was struck by a vehicle.

During an area check, a Deputy Sheriff found the suspect vehicle nearby. Based on initial findings and evidence, this incident was later classified as a vehicular homicide and the Office of the Sheriff took over the primary investigation.

The victim is identified as 35-year-old Shelly Stevens of Lafayette.

The investigation is ongoing.

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

Orinda armed robbery suspect with criminal history arrested in Texas

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

All three suspects involved in an armed robbery that occurred on July 25, 2020 in Orinda have been arrested.

The robbery occurred on Fallen Leaf Terrace in Orinda at about 2 PM when armed suspects approached a resident as he was unloading his vehicle in his driveway. The suspects fled with personal property.

Orinda police detectives, working with other law enforcement agencies, were able to identify the three suspects involved in the robbery. They were apparently suspects in other crimes committed in the East Bay.

Two of them were arrested late last month by Piedmont and Berkeley Police. The two agencies were serving search and arrest warrants at an Oakland home for crimes that occurred in their jurisdictions. The two are identified as 23-year-old Shane Downs and 25-year-old John Downs, both of Oakland.

The third suspect wanted by Orinda police was taken into custody on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, in Plano, Texas. He is identified as 25-year-old Demaria Leanthony Adger of Oakland. He remains in custody in Collin County and is pending extradition back to Contra Costa County.

Orinda detectives continue to investigate the incident.

Adger has a criminal history with multiple arrests dating back to 2014 in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda County, San Joaquin County, and Sonoma County. (See graphic below)

From localcrimenews.com.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact Sergeant S. Valkanoff of the Orinda Police Department at (925) 253-4217. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Bay Point man shot, killed in Bay Point early Tuesday morning

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

Tuesday morning, August 11, 2020 at about 1:46, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of a body on the 400 block of Pullman Avenue in Bay Point.

Deputies arrived on scene and found a man on the ground. He appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound.

The fire department and an ambulance responded. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives and crime lab personnel responded to investigate this incident.

The victim was later identified as 28-year-old Joshua Johnson of Bay Point. The cause of death is listed as gunshot wound.

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