Sheriff | Contra Costa Herald

DA Peterson, West County Police Chiefs meet to address freeway shootings

June 18, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

On Thursday, Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark A. Peterson and the West Contra Costa County Police Chiefs Association met to discuss strategies to prevent, investigate, and prosecute freeway shootings in the West County area, and also to review the current efforts to address the shootings.

The West Contra Costa County Police Chiefs and their respective City Managers and City Council members believe that approaching this issue in a collaborative manner is essential. Prior to yesterday’s meeting, West County Chiefs met regarding the freeway shootings; all six chiefs agreed that with collaboration comes a better understanding of diverse perspectives and that the coordinated efforts of many can accomplish more than the efforts of one or a few separately.

Attending the meeting were chiefs from the El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, and Kensington police departments, as well as members of the county’s Probation Department, and the Offices of the Sheriff and District Attorney.

Since November 2^nd, 2015, there have been 13 shootings on Interstate 80, and one on Interstate 580, for a total of 14 shootings in the western portion of Contra Costa County. Of the 14 shootings, two resulted in the deaths of the occupants of the vehicles. On several other occasions, no one was injured as the shots struck only the vehicles, or missed the intended vehicle occupants and their cars entirely.

To date, the great majority of these freeway shootings are gang related. Many of the victimsand witnesses in these cases have been uncooperative with investigators. The lack of cooperation coupled with the random nature of the shootings makes solving such crimes extremely problematic. Additionally, since the crimes occur at very high speeds, there are very few, if any, percipient witnesses.

Chief Paul Fontana, commander of the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Golden Gate Division, has convened several recent meetings of law enforcement executives from throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties regarding the shootings. In the county, an ad-hoc task force of teams of investigators from the CHP and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Contra Costa Safe Streets Task Force respond to all freeway shootings in the county.

The Task Force includes members of the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Richmond Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Antioch Police Department, Concord Police Department, El Cerrito Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms,and Explosives.

In addition, Deputy District Attorney Barry Grove who has over a decade of experience prosecuting murder cases has been assigned to assist on all freeway shooting investigations; he routinely responds to the shooting sites to provide legal advice and investigative guidance.

In addition to the investigative efforts, law enforcement is working with representatives of the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Transportation, and local mayors and other elected officials to explore the use of other technologies to assist in the effort to stop the shootings. These include the installation of high resolution cameras, gunshot detection technology, and other technologies, on the freeways and the entry/exit ramps.

Preventing freeway shootings, and prosecuting those responsible for them, is one of the top priorities for government at all levels in the county.Nearly a quarter million people travel daily on Interstate 80 in Contra Costa County, and we will do everything possible to ensure their safety.

We are seeking the public’s help on this critical public safety matter. Anyone with information concerning the shootings is encouraged to contactthe California Highway Patrol Investigative Services Unit at (510) 622-4609 or 1-800-TELL-CHP, or your local law enforcement agency.

West County Police Chiefs Association

Hercules Chief of Police Bill Goswick (Chairperson, West County Police Chiefs)

El Cerrito Interim Chief of Police Paul Keith

Kensington Chief of Police Kevin Hart

Pinole Chief of Police Neil Gang

San Pablo Chief of Police Lisa Rosales

Richmond Chief of Police Allwyn Brown

Office of the Sheriff Captain Dan Hoffman, Patrol Division Commander

Contra Costa Sheriff’s CASE team seizes .30 caliber machine gun from Crockett home

June 11, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

A machine gun was among the many guns seized from a home in Crockett by the Contra Costa Sheriffs CASE team in a May raid.

Seized .30 caliber machine gun.

Following an investigation, the CASE (Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort) team last month served a search warrant on a home in Crockett.

Inside the residence, CASE team members located numerous weapons, including an assault rifle and a .30 caliber machine gun. The investigation is ongoing.

The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Pittsburg Police Department and Walnut Creek Police Department. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.

Sheriff identifies victim as Richmond teenager in last Friday’s North Richmond shooting death

May 26, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim of the shooting death in North Richmond, last Friday, as 19-year-old Adan Gomez of Richmond. The cause of death is multiple gunshot wounds.

On Friday, May 20, 2016 at about 7:46 PM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to area of 5th Street and Grove Avenue in North Richmond for a report of shots-fired.

Upon arrival Deputies located a shooting victim on the sidewalk. Deputies administered first aid until paramedics arrived. Gomez was taken to Kaiser Medical Center in Richmond and then airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Dispatch later received a call of a second shooting victim at Kaiser in Richmond. Deputies contacted the 23-year-old man, who was treated and released from the hospital.

The investigation into this homicide is ongoing.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to call the Office of the Sheriff 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.

North Richmond man identified as victim of homicide on Sunday, May 15

May 26, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The victim in the homicide in North Richmond on Sunday, May 15th has been identified by the Contra Costa County Sheriff as 26-year-old Antoine Robinson of North Richmond. The cause of death is gunshot wound.

On Sunday, May 15, 2016 at about 1:45 AM, Sheriff’s Office dispatch received reports of shots fired in the area of Market Avenue and Fred Jackson Way in North Richmond.

The Sheriff’s Office was later advised that there was a shooting victim at Kaiser Medical Center in Richmond. Robinson was apparently shot at the location where the shooting was reported in North Richmond. He died at the hospital.

Deputies later found a shooting scene at the location. The investigation is ongoing.

Richmond man identified as victim in May 12th murder in Rodeo

May 26, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The Contra Costa County Sheriff identified the victim in a shooting death in Rodeo as 29-year-old Willie Mulder, Jr. of Richmond. The cause of death is a gunshot wound.

At about 12:09 PM on Thursday, May 12, 2016, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to numerous calls of “shots fired” in the area of Mariposa and Napa Avenues in the unincorporated area of Rodeo.

Upon arrival Deputies found the area clear of people, but numerous shell casings in the roadway. Local hospitals were notified to be on the lookout for possible gunshot victims.

The Sheriff’s Office was later notified by Kaiser Medical Center in Richmond that it had just received a gunshot victim, who was later pronounced deceased. The 29-year-old male victim is not being identified at this time.

Homicide Detectives and Crime Lab personnel responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies arrest suspect with $1.3 million warrant in Crocket

May 11, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

A suspect with a $1.3 million warrant for charges that included trying to run down several Deputy Sheriffs was apprehended on Wednesday.

43-year-old Bryan Hill was located in a residence in Crockett on May 4, 2016 at about 4:18 PM. As Deputies surrounded the home, Hill ran into a vehicle and nearly hit several Deputies as he fled. Hill’s car became disabled after hitting a patrol car. He then took off on foot.

A police K-9 was deployed and later caught Hill, who was taken into custody by Deputies. Two Deputies were treated at the hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest.

Hill is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $1.3 million bail. His charges include stolen vehicle, felony evasion, assault with a deadly weapon and obstructing/resisting an executive officer.

On April 8, 2016, Hill was involved in a stolen vehicle incident, where he later got into another car and tried to rundown several officers in the Tara Hills area. The vehicle was later found in Oakland, but Hill remained outstanding until his arrest on May 4.

Sheriff’s Office Marine Services Unit helps rescue boater near Pittsburg

May 10, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The rescued boater, second from left, with his rescuers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Sheriff’s Office Marine Services Unit. photo courtesy of CCCSheriff’s Office

The Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit on Saturday morning, April 30, located a missing jet-skier on Browns Island near Pittsburg. He had been overdue for some time. Because of 5-6 foot swells, 40 mile per hour wind gusts and shallow waters, it was difficult for any vessel to get to the boater.

Fortunately, a work boat from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was nearby and was able to get to the boater. The boater and his vessel were taken back to shore. Other than being cold, he did not need any medical attention.

Suspect arrested for April homicide in East Richmond Heights

May 10, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Andre Villedrouin

Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Detectives with the assistance of Antioch Police arrested a suspect wanted in connection with the homicide of Kimberly Hoglund, in East Richmond Heights in April.

43-year-old Andre Villedrouin of Richmond, who had a warrant for his arrest, was taken into custody Wednesday morning, May 4, 2016 on Hawthorne Avenue in Antioch.

He is currently being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Villedrouin was arraigned on Friday.

See original story, here.

Suspect arrested in Bay Point homicide

May 10, 2016 By Publisher Leave a Comment

A U.S. Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Warrant Service Unit last Monday, May 2, 2016 arrested 20-year-old Marshon Ardoin of Dixon in connection to a Bay Point homicide.

On April 14, 2016, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of an injured person on the ground in the area of Driftwood Drive and Port Chicago Highway in Bay Point. Deputies found 28-year-old David Mallard of Richmond unresponsive and began CPR. Mallard was pronounced deceased by the Fire Department. It was later discovered that Mallard had been shot.

Detectives from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office identified Ardoin as the suspect in this case. There was a warrant for his arrest. Detectives believe Mallard was murdered in Richmond and his body was placed at that location in Bay Point.

Ardoin is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $1 million bail.

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

East Richmond Heights missing person case now a homicide, one suspect arrested, another being sought

April 29, 2016 By Publisher 2 Comments

Andre Villedrouin

Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division are continuing to investigate the killing of 47-year-old Kimberly Hoglund of East Richmond Heights.

On Wednesday, April 13, 2016, it was brought to the attention of the Office of the Sheriff that Hoglund was missing and that foul play may be involved. Detectives served a search warrant on a home in East Richmond Heights and discovered a possible crime scene, but did not locate Hoglund. The next morning, Detectives detained a suspect, who was later arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. 37-year-old Dylan Reese of El Sobrante is being held on homicide and assault with a deadly weapon charges; his bail is set at $1.3 million.

Detectives and Crime Lab personnel searched a home on Appian Way in El Sobrante in an effort to locate Hoglund. On Tuesday, the body of Hoglund was found in a shallow grave on the property. Detectives say Hoglund was last seen on March 28, 2016 and likely died shortly thereafter. Her family filed a missing persons report on her on April 12, 2016.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office yesterday filed formal homicide charges against Reese and a second suspect, 43-year-old Andre Villedrouin of Richmond, who remains outstanding.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Villedrouin is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. The Investigations Division can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.