Contra Costa Herald

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

Sex crimes suspect arrested at SFO by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies

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Rustom Bhagwager. Photo: CCC Sheriff’s Department

Florida airline pilot was flying in; held on $5 million bail

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 have been conducting an investigation since April 2025 after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child. A Ramey arrest warrant was later secured for the suspect.

Through the investigation, it was learned that the suspect was an airline pilot and that he was due to fly into San Francisco

International Airport on the evening of Saturday, July 26, 2025.

At about 9:35 PM, Sheriff’s Office detectives, with the

assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, boarded the plane to arrest the suspect who is identified as 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida, born 12/15/1990. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on five counts of oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age. He is being held in lieu of $5 million bail.

An inquiry of where the incidents occurred in the county was made. Please check back later for the response and any other updates to this report.

According to a San Francisco Chronicle report, Bhagwagar is a co-pilot for Delta Airlines. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the six-foot, three-inch tall, 220-pound is being held in the West County Detention Center

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

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Detectives investigate Bay Point homicide

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Early Saturday morning; public’s help sought

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

This morning at about 1:02, Muir Station deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a call of ‘shots-fired’ on Harbor Drive in Bay Point.

Deputies arrived on scene and located a person suffering from gunshot wounds in front of a residence on Harbor Drive.

Deputies performed life-saving measures until the fire department and an ambulance arrived. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene and is not being identified at this time.

Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives and crime lab personnel responded to the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. 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.

Two Oakley men arrested following boating incident at Discovery Bay marina

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Screenshots of videos posted on social media of the incident in Discovery Bay on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Erick & Danny Garcia were held on $95K bail each

Erick arrested in 2024, both arrested in May all on violence charges; Danny already out of custody

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

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office arrested two suspects after a reckless boating incident at Discovery Bay Marina on Sunday, June 22, 2025, that was widely shared on social media.

Deputy Sheriffs from the Marine Services Unit launched an investigation after multiple witnesses reported a Malibu ski boat chasing a personal watercraft (PWC) through the marina at high speeds. Deputies identified two operators during the incident, 33-year-old Erick Garcia and 34-year-old Danny Garcia, both from Oakley, who were seen operating the boat recklessly. The ski boat was later found abandoned in Stockton.

Erick Garcia was detained yesterday during a traffic stop in Oakley. With assistance from detectives in the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division, Marine Patrol Deputies served a search warrant at Danny’s home in Oakley, leading to his arrest.

Both Danny and Erick Garcia were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on identical charges:

  1. Assault with a Deadly Weapon (not a firearm) – 2 counts
  2. Criminal Threats – 1 count
  3. Vandalism – 2 counts

Each were being held in lieu of $95,000 bail. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Danny bonded out of custody today at 4:27 PM. However, as of Wednesday, June 25, at 4:42 PM, Erick was still in custody.

According to localcrimenews.com, Erick was arrested on May 3 this year by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department for assault with any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. He was also arrested on Sept. 5, 2024, by Contra Costa CHP for threats of violence. Danny was also arrested on May 3 this year, but by Walnut Creek Police, for being intoxicated in public and resisting a peace officer with injury.

See videos posted on social media here, here and here. (Warning: Explicit language)

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information or video footage is encouraged to contact the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Services Unit at (925) 383-4906.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report. In an earlier version of this report the photo of Danny Garcia was not the correct man from Oakley. Apologies for the mistake.

East County: Byron teacher’s aide from Discovery Bay arrested, charged with possession of child sex abuse material

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Dominic James Vannucci was arrested in Discovery Bay on June 4, 2025, for possession of child sexual abuse materials. Photo: CCCSheriff

25-year-old Dominic James Vannucci held on $1,200,000 bail

By Office of the Contra Costa County Sheriff

The Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force recently received information that a Contra Costa County resident was in possession of child sexual abuse material. ICAC investigators identified the person and secured a search warrant for his residence.

On Wednesday morning, June 4, 2025, the ICAC task force executed a search warrant at a home on the 2200 block of Breaker Court in Discovery Bay.

Electronic devices containing child pornography, along with other items, were seized.

Detectives arrested 25-year-old Dominic James Vannucci of Discovery Bay (born 2/9/2000). He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, where he is currently being held. On Wednesday afternoon, June 4, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed 20 counts against Vannucci, including possession of child pornography and annoying or molesting a child. He is being held in lieu of $1,200,000 bail.

Vannucci works as a Teacher’s Aide at Excelsior Middle School in Byron. Detectives have notified school officials and are coordinating with the administration regarding the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information regarding this case or who has had contact with Vannucci related to this investigation is asked to call the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, the six-feet, two-inch tall, 180-pound Vannucci is Hispanic and his next court appearance is scheduled for June 26, 2025, in Dep’t 5 of Superior Court in Martinez.

Contra Costa County ICAC consists of Brentwood PD, Concord PD, Moraga PD, Oakley PD, Pleasant Hill PD, Walnut Creek PD, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa Probation Department, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, and Homeland

Security Investigations.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

West County: 61-year-old female suspect arrested in North Richmond homicide

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Terri Lowtrice James of Richmond held on $1 million bail

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

At about 10:02 Wednesday morning, June 11, 2025, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a ‘medical-police’ call near Market Avenue and 6th Street in North Richmond. The caller reported that there was a person on the sidewalk who was bleeding.

Deputies located the person and provided first aid and CPR. The fire department arrived shortly after to continue life-saving measures. The person was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The person is not being identified at this time.

During the initial investigation, deputies identified a suspect who was later taken into custody by Sheriff’s Office detectives. The suspect was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for murder. She is identified as 61-year-old Terri Lowtrice James of Richmond (born 7/7/1963). She is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, she is Black and has a history of arrests dating back to 2019 by Richmond PD and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for crimes including inflicting corporal injury on spouse or cohabitant, vandalism using paint, possession of controlled substance, robbery, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the five-foot, four-inch tall, 165-pound James has her next court appearance on July 1, 2025, in Department 5 of Superior Court in Martinez.

The investigation is ongoing. 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.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

During pursuit wrong-way fatal crash on highway in Antioch claims life of Pittsburg suspect

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UPDATE: Following traffic stop; head-on crash sends driver to hospital, leads to more crashes

Two from additional collisions also taken to hospital

By Allen D. Payton

In an early morning post on X on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, by Contra Costa County Sheriff Director of Public Affairs Jimmy Lee, “Officer-involved protocol was invoked last night after a fatal vehicle collision. Deputy sheriffs terminated a pursuit on Highway 160 after the suspect crossed the divider and drove in the opposite direction. A short time after the pursuit was terminated and the deputies no longer had sight of the suspect’s vehicle, the collision occurred. DA’s Office and Sheriff’s Office are conducting the investigation.”

In a press release late Wednesday afternoon, Lee shared additional details:

A fatal traffic collision is being investigated by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office per the county Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at about 9:19 PM, deputy sheriffs conducted a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Willow Avenue and E. 18th Street in Antioch. The vehicle did not yield, leading the deputies on a pursuit. Once on southbound Highway 160, the suspect vehicle crossed over the center median and drove south in the northbound lanes. The deputies immediately terminated the pursuit and lost sight of the vehicle.

A short time after the pursuit was terminated, the California Highway Patrol received calls about a collision on the Highway 4 overpass onto Highway 160. It was later determined the suspect vehicle was involved in the collision. The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is identified as 50-year-old Victor A. Vigil of Pittsburg. Three others were taken to local hospitals.

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.

CHP Says Crash was Head-On, Led to More Crashes, Driver of Car Two from Subsequent Collisions Taken to Hospital

UPDATE: Later, CHP – Contra Costa offered more details about the incident.

On Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025, at approximately 9:23 p.m., officers assigned to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Contra Costa Area office responded to a four-vehicle, head-on crash that occurred on the transition ramp from eastbound SR-4 to northbound SR-160.

As officers responded to the crash, they were advised that the wrong-way vehicle had previously been involved in a pursuit with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office; however, the pursuit had been discontinued prior to the crash.

Our preliminary investigation indicates a Lexus sedan was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of SR-160 before continuing wrong-way onto the transition ramp from eastbound SR-4 to northbound SR-160. While traveling the wrong way on the transition ramp, the Lexus crashed head-on with a Mercedes SUV, resulting in major damage to both vehicles. This crash led to a series of crashes involving two additional vehicle: a solo occupied Honda Civic and a Dodge Caliber occupied by driver and passenger. Both occupants of the Dodge were transported to a local hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The driver of the Mercedes sustained major injuries and was airlifted from the scene to a local hospital for medical treatment. The wrong-way driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The transition ramp from eastbound SR-4 to northbound SR-160 was closed following the crash and reopened at approximately 6:24 a.m. the next morning.

This crash remains under investigation. If anyone witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it, please contact the Contra Costa Area office in Martinez at (925) 646-4980 or email your contact information to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov to be contacted by the investigating officer.

According to localcrimenews.com, Vigil had five previous arrests by Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and Vacaville Police and the Contra Costa Sheriff dating back to 2013 for drug crimes.

4 Pleasant Hill convenience store robbery suspects arrested in Antioch following police chase, crash

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The suspects crashed their stolen getaway car into a fence. Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies and other emergency personnel with one of the suspects in the back of a Sheriff’s vehicle on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Photos by and courtesy of Mike Burkholder, ContraCosta.news

3 males, 1 female fled in stolen vehicle; police helicopter, Antioch & Pittsburg PD, CCC Sheriff’s Office assist

See 4/1/25 Update: Suspects identified; all four are from Antioch, one was arrested for similar charges in December and January

By Allen D. Payton

According to Pleasant Hill Police Lt. Jason Kleven, on Thursday, March 27, 2025, “The Pleasant Hill Police Department responded to a report of a possible robbery in progress at the 7-Eleven store parking lot located at 601 Patterson Blvd. Two delivery truck drivers were making a scheduled delivery when several suspects stole multiple cartons of cigarettes from the truck’s cargo area. No weapons or injuries were reported during the theft.

The suspects fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. Pleasant Hill Police Detectives later located the vehicle traveling on Highway 4 near Concord. With the help of a police helicopter, the vehicle led authorities to the city of Antioch, where the vehicle stopped near Fremont Elementary School. Four suspects then fled on foot from the vehicle.

With the support of Antioch Police, Pittsburg Police, the Sheriff’s Office, and the helicopter, officers set up a perimeter. All four adult suspects were apprehended and arrested.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are asking anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact the Pleasant Hill Police Investigations Bureau at (925) 288-4630.

According to a press release by Lt. Joe Njoroge of the Antioch Police Field Services Bureau, “At approximately 2:57 p.m., APD Dispatch received a report about a suspect vehicle involved in a previous incident in Pleasant Hill. APD was requested to assist in locating the vehicle, which was quickly found in the area.

While driving near the intersection of F Street and W. 13th, the suspect vehicle collided with a fence. The suspects then fled the scene on foot. Pleasant Hill PD arrived shortly after, and with the assistance of the Contra Costa Office of the Sheriff and APD, all suspects were apprehended.”

Njoroge later said the four suspects included three males and one female.

Antioch Police issued a Community Alert on Facebook Thursday afternoon that they were “working in the area of Antioch Middle School and the surrounding area of F Street from W. 13th to W. 18th. Expect heavy police presence in the area. If you see anything suspicious, please call 911 or (925) 778-2441 immediately.”

Later APD provided an update, writing, “We have now cleared the area. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. There is no danger to the community, and the subjects we were looking for have been arrested. Stay safe, and as always, report any suspicious activity to 911 or (925) 778-2441.

4/1/25 UPDATE: According to Pleasant Hill Police, the four suspects were 20-year-old Robert Lee Crawford (born 12/9/04), a six-foot tall, 165-pound Black male from Antioch, 19-year-old Robert Samule Garcia-Scrape of Antioch (born 7/22/05), a five-foot, 11-inch tall, 200-pound White male with blond hair, 21-year-old Jailen Emani Scales of Antioch (born 2/3/04), a six-foot tall, 200-pound Black male and 24-year-old Marieilacqua Bartholomew, a five-foot, one-inch tall, 130-pound Black female, also from Antioch. 

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Crawford is being held in the West County Detention Center on no bail; Garcia-Scrape is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on no bail and his next court appearance is on April 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 03, Superior Court, Mt. Diablo; and Scales is also being held in the West County Detention Center on no bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, Scales was arrested last year, on Dec. 6th by San Francisco Police for burglary, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, carrying a loaded firearm on a person or in a vehicle while in a public place, receiving or concealing stolen property, and resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer. He was arrested again on Jan. 15, this year by Fremont PD for robbery, carrying a loaded firearm and with intent to commit a felony, carrying a concealed weapon with a large capacity magazine, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, and elder or dependent adult abuse.

No additional information could be found through online searches for Bartholomew. However, according to Pleasant Hill Police Lt. Jason Kleven, she is also still in custody. 

One person dies, second rescued from capsized boat near Hercules

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Video screenshots of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Helicopter STARR3 water rescue in Hercules on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Source: CCCSheriff

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Helicopter STARR3 water rescue

By Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, at about 3 PM, Sheriff’s Office Marine Services Unit deputy sheriffs were dispatched to the Hercules shoreline for an overturned boat with a victim in the water. Sheriff’s Office helicopter STARR3 also responded to assist.

STARR3 arrived on scene and located a capsized boat about 200 feet off the shoreline with one person who was in distress. The helicopter landed nearby and set up for a water rescue. A STARR3 crew member was short-hauled to the victim where he performed a water rescue and brought the victim to paramedics waiting nearby.

STARR3 located another victim about 2 feet underwater. The STARR3 crew member performed a short-haul rescue of the second victim who was taken to paramedics.

Both victims were transported to nearby hospitals, where one was later pronounced deceased.

The Sheriff’s Office Marine Services Unit is investigating this incident. Anyone with any information is asked to call (925) 754-0718.

See video.

Contra Costa Sheriff, DA assist in solving 1990 East Bay Parks murder

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Weidhofer Cold Case

By East Bay Regional Park District Police Department

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department announced Wednesday, February 19, 2025, that DNA evidence has conclusively identified the murderer in a 35-year-old case that took place in Charles Lee Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, CA.

Evidence collected from Jon Lipari, who died by suicide in Oregon in November 2024, was linked to the victim Maria Weidhofer, a Berkeley resident. She was an avid jogger and park user of Tilden Regional Park.

On Nov. 16, 1990, Weidhofer was found deceased on a trail near Inspiration Point in Tilden Regional Park. Weidhofer was found with rope around her neck and with physical signs of a struggle after she had been reported missing the night before.

An autopsy, performed at the time of the crime, found that Weidhofer’s cause of death was asphyxia by ligature strangulation and found a multitude of minor abrasions and contusions upon her person. A lengthy investigation was conducted in 1990-1991 by the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. A suspect was not identified from this initial investigation.

In 1997, biological evidence found on Weidhofer from the suspect was sent to the Contra Costa Crime Lab for analysis. That evidence was later submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Among the evidence collected, during the initial investigation, was semen from which a DNA profile was generated.

In 2020, the East Bay Regional Park District Police Investigations Unit began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on this case. This collaboration included the use of advanced DNA techniques. Through this investigation, Lipari was determined to be a potential suspect and became the primary suspect in 2024.

Once Lipari was identified as a potential suspect, hundreds of hours of further investigation were conducted in collaboration with the FBI, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation also determined that Lipari was living in Gold Beach, OR.

In early November 2024, Lipari was found deceased in his residence by local law enforcement from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DNA from the scene was retrieved by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and a direct comparison was done by the Contra Costa County Crime Lab. The comparison determined the DNA profiles generated from the evidence collected at the original scene and the DNA from Lipari were a match.

There is no indication from the investigation, Weidhofer’s family, or Lipari’s family, that there was any previous contact between the victim and suspect.

“We hope that today’s development brings some measure of closure to the family, who have shown tremendous strength throughout this difficult time” said Roberto Filice, Chief of the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. “This breakthrough comes after years of relentless investigation, and I want to personally thank our dedicated staff for their perseverance and firm commitment to seeking justice. Their determination to never give up ultimately led to solving this case, and we are proud to serve a community that stands together in the face of tragedy.”

Special thanks to the FBI, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Forensic Services Division, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration, expertise, and dogged determination in solving this 35-year-old case.

In posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston wrote, “Contra Costa Sheriff’s Crime Lab played key role in the case. In 1997, lab analyzed biological evidence, generated a DNA profile, and uploaded it to CODIS database. Recently, crime lab received a reference sample from Lipari and was able to confirm that he was the suspect.

“The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Division Crime Lab is proud to assist our law enforcement partners in their investigations and help bring answers and closure to victim’s families,” he added.

During Wednesday’s press conference Contra Costa Deputy DA Satish Jallepalli said, “Thank you, (EBRPD Police) Chief Filice for having us here, today to remember Maria Weidhofer and to be able to speak on her behalf. Pursuit of justice is a marathon not a sprint. We’re all standing here today because of our shared commitment to justice. It’s been 35 years since Maria was murdered on November 15, 1990. Since that day, her death and circumstances touched everyone, her family, the community and members of law enforcement. Everyone who worked on this case for 30-plus years was dedicated to solving this crime. They did so with shared determination that Maria’s death would not remain unsolved.”

“The partnership of this case between East Bay Regional Parks Police, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit and the Contra Costa County Crime Lab was a reflection of that determination, using the latest technology and investigative techniques to obtain answers that could not have been obtained decades or even years ago,” he continued. “The pursuit of justice requires endurance, resilience and the willingness to go the distance even when the path ahead is long and uncertain,” Jallepalli stated. “While solving this case will never heal the wounds of Maria’s family caused by her murder we, from the District Attorney’s Office, are grateful to have been a part of that effort to bring these long-awaited answers to the community and more importantly, to her family.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Sept. shooting at Fairgrounds leads to arrest of Pittsburg man for multiple weapons violations

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Weapons confiscated from the suspect by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies on Friday, Jan. 2, 2025. Photos CCCSheriff

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

On Thursday, January 2, 2025, detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff served a search warrant at a residence in Pittsburg. It was part of a continuing investigation into a shooting that occurred at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch on September 16, 2024, where two suspects shot a person during an argument. Detectives found one of them used an illegally manufactured gun in the shooting.

Detectives identified the suspect who was apparently illegally making guns, including assault weapons, as well as illegally selling them. During the search of the suspect’s home, detectives found assault weapons as well as a short barrel rifle. Some of the weapons seized did not have serial numbers. The weapons will be tested to see if they are linked to any shooting or crimes.

The suspect is identified as 27-year-old Diego A. Vasquez-Gomez of Pittsburg. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on charges that include manufacturing of a short barrel gun, manufacturing and selling of an assault weapon, illegal possession of an assault weapon, unlicensed transfer of a firearm and child endangerment.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case 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.