Contra Costa Herald

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

Sheriff identifies man, woman in murder-suicide case

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

Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division continue to investigate a murder-suicide that occurred on June 13, 2019.  (See related article)

At about 9:33 AM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the area of Nortonville Road and Kirker Pass Road in unincorporated Pittsburg for a citizen reporting having seen two people who appeared to have been shot in a parked vehicle.

It was later confirmed that both of the occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman, suffered from apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The two are identified as 58-year-old Dong Liu of Antioch and 56-year-old Meizhen Zhu of Santa Rosa. Detectives say the two had a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Liu apparently shot Zhu before taking his own life. The cause of death for each was gunshot wound. The exact motive is unclear at this time.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or 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.

Man, woman found in car shot to death in possible murder-suicide near Pittsburg Thursday morning

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

Thursday morning at about 9:33 A.M., Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the area of Nortonville Road and Kirker Pass Road in unincorporated Pittsburg for a citizen reporting having seen two people who appeared to have been shot in a parked vehicle.

It was later confirmed that both of the occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman, suffered from apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigation Division Detectives and Crime Lab Personnel also responded to the location.

The identities of the two subjects are not being released at this time. Detectives say initially that this appears to be a murder-suicide.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or 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.

Pilot of downed plane in Delta identified as Berkeley man

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Deputies of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Marine Unit search for the plane and pilot on Monday, June 10, 2019. Photo by CCCSheriff.

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

During a search yesterday of Broad Slough where the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit located the plane wreckage, the Dive Team recovered a body from the wreckage, which was in approximately 20 feet of water, at about 5:30 PM.

The Coroner’s Division later identified the person, who was the pilot and only occupant of the plane, as 22-year-old Colin Um of Berkeley.

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, at about 5:32 PM, a boater notified Sheriff’s Office Dispatch of a small plane crashing into the Delta at the north end of Broad Slough, north of Antioch.

Several public safety agencies immediately responded. Debris and a backpack were found at the location. The plane took off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at about 5 PM.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at: witness@NTSB.GOV.

Although a date has not been set, a salvage company is expected to remove the plane wreckage in the near future.

The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Colin Um. An autopsy into the cause of death is scheduled for tomorrow.

Wreckage of downed plane found in river near Antioch and Pittsburg

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Deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Services Unit search for the downed plane on Mon., June 10, 2019. Photos by CCCSheriff.

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

Monday morning, June 10, 2019, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit went to Broad Slough in the Del-ta where a plane was reported to have gone down yesterday. Marine Patrol Deputies, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, used a side scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle to find the exact location of the plane. The plane wreckage was located at about 10:30 AM. A Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was later deployed.

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, at about 5:32 PM, a boater notified Sheriff’s Office Dispatch of a small plane crashing into the Delta at the north end of Broad Slough, north of Antioch.

Several agencies that included the Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Pittsburg PD, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, and the California Highway Patrol responded. Debris and a backpack were found at the location.

The plane took off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at about 5 PM. The pilot is believed to be the only occupant in the plane. The name of the pilot is not being released at this time as his identity has not been confirmed.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at: witness@NTSB.GOV.

The Marine Services Unit is continuing with recovery operations. A salvage company is expected to remove the plane wreckage within the next few days.

Small plane crashes in river north of Pittsburg, pilot missing Sunday evening

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By Contra Costa County Sheriff

Sunday at about 5:32 PM, a boater notified Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Dispatch of a small plane crashing into the California Delta at the north end of Broad Slough, west of Kimball Island, north of Pittsburg.

According to a KPIX5 CBS SF Bay Area news report, “A piece of what is believed to be a Piper Cherokee single-engine airplane was located about 6:45 p.m. Sunday in Broad Slough north of Antioch, about an hour after a witness told authorities a small plane went down in the San Joaquin River, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman said.

The piece of the airplane tail is thought to be from an aircraft that departed Buchanan Field in Concord, with one person aboard, a short time before the crash, said fire district spokesman Steve Hill. The plane, Hill said, had been rented from Sterling Aviation, based at the Concord airport. Calls to Sterling Aviation early Sunday night went unanswered.”

Several agencies that included the Office of the Sheriff Marine Patrol Unit, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Pittsburg PD, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, and the California Highway Patrol responded. Debris and a backpack were found at the location. The plane is believed to have taken off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at about 5 PM. The pilot was the only occupant in the plane. The name of the pilot is not being released at this time as his identity has not been confirmed.

A search was conducted by the responding agencies with negative results. The FAA and NTSB have been contacted. Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Units have been conducting sonar searches for evidence of the plane wreckage.

Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at witness@NTSB.GOV.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Multi-county police pursuit starting in Pittsburg ends with driver’s arrest in Sonoma County Tuesday

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Screenshot from Contra Costa Sheriff’s helicopter video of suspect surrendering at end of pursuit on Tues., June 4, 2019.

By CHP-Golden Gate Division

Tuesday afternoon shortly before 1:30 pm, the Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg, CA attempted to stop a Toyota truck within their jurisdiction. The driver fled from officers at a high rate of speed. Pittsburg officers deployed a Starchase, LLC tracking device and discontinued the pursuit.
A Contra Costa Sheriff’s helicopter and CHP Airplane Air-37 arrived over the suspect vehicle and followed it from above. The suspect continued to flee through Contra Costa, Solano, Napa and Sonoma Counties. After the Contra Costa Sheriff Helicopter discontinued their involvement, CHP H-32 arrived overhead.

Due to law enforcement monitoring from overhead, it allowed ground units to get into position and deploy spike strips. Once the vehicle became disabled by the spike strips, the suspect pulled to the shoulder and surrendered.

The CHP – Napa Office and the Sonoma Sheriff is jointly investigating this incident.

To see video of the pursuit, click here.

Supervisors withdraw Blackhawk police tax measure set for August 27

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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.

Delta Blitz operation on Sunday, May 26

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Photo by CCCSheriff.

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

With the start of boating season this weekend, the Marine Services Unit of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is hosting a Delta Blitz on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

Numerous local, state, and federal agencies will be taking part in this operation and will focus on boating safety, education and enforcement in the Delta.

The ‘ABC’s of Boating’, a handbook of boating rules, is available from most boating shops. Boaters can go to the California Division of Boating and Waterways website at www.dbw.ca.gov for information on boating safety and the California Boater Card. If anyone has any questions about boating safety, please contact the Marine Services Unit at (925) 427-8507.

National Prescription Drug TAKE BACK throughout county Saturday, April 27

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On Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 10 AM to 2 PM, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, local police departments and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

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. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

-Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez, CA.

(Field Operations Building)

-Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond, CA.

(West County Detention Facility)

-Office of the Sheriff Blackhawk, 1092 Eagle Nest Lane, Danville, CA

-Antioch Police Department, Front Lobby, 300 L Street, Antioch, CA

-Brentwood Police Department, 9100 Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, CA

-Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA.

-Lafayette Police Department, 3471 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA

-Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA

-Pittsburg Police Department, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg, CA

-San Ramon Police Department, 2401 Crow Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA

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.

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

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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.