Contra Costa Herald

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

Arrests for drugs, carjacking in Pinole

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Marijuana seized on Friday, Jan. 5 and carjacking suspect arrested on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Photos: Pinole PD

23.5 lbs. of marijuana seized; Contra Costa Sheriff’s, San Pablo Police Dep’ts assist

By Pinole Police Department

Last night, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, Pinole Police Officer Dominguez stopped a vehicle for running a red light. While speaking with the driver, officers saw two large bags of illegally packaged marijuana inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed an additional 22 large bags of marijuana, and a number of Oxycodone pills. The total weight of marijuana inside the vehicle was just over 23.5 pounds.

The driver was arrested for Possession of Marijuana for Sale, Transportation of Marijuana, and Possession of Oxycodone Without a Prescription.

Good job Officer Dominguez!

On Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, Officers responded to a report of an injured subject laying on the ground in the 1500 block of Fitzgerald Drive. Officers learned the subject was the victim of a carjacking that had just taken place. Pinole PD sent an alert to surrounding agencies to be on the lookout for the victim’s vehicle.

A short time later Deputies with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department located the vehicle on Appian Way in El Sobrante. Deputies pursued the vehicle along with officers from the San Pablo Police Department into Berkeley, where the suspect eventually stopped and was safely taken into custody. The suspect was booked into jail for carjacking and numerous other felonies.

 

Frank Gyurnek, Jr. posted 2/28/19 on one of his three Facebook pages and (bottom) Franklin Gyurnek posted on posted 8/19/19 on another of his Facebook pages.

1/8/24 UPDATE: The suspect was later identified as 34-year-old Franklin Michael Gyurnek, Jr. from Tennessee and Pinole police provided additional details about the incident and arrest. (See related article)

A big thank you to Contra Costa Sheriff and the San Pablo Police Departments for assisting with the safe apprehension of the suspect.

El Cerrito man, former rock musician, arrested in homicide of girlfriend

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Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Hermann and Theobald “Theo” Lengyel. Photos: El Cerrito PD. Lengyel’s arrest on Jan. 2, 2024. Photo: Capitola PD

Went missing from Santa Cruz Dec. 3, her car located in front of his house, human remains located in Tilden Regional Park

By Allen D. Payton

The Capitola Police Department reported on Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, 2024, Theobald “Theo” Brooks Lengyel (54 years old) was arrested in connection with the homicide of his girlfriend Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann (61 years old) of Capitola, CA. Lengyel was located in the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s jurisdiction after an arrest warrant was issued. He was taken into custody by Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Deputies and Capitola PD Detective Currier without incident with the collaboration of the Department of Justice. Lengyel was subsequently booked into Santa Cruz County jail.

The arrest of Lengyel was executed following an intensive and collaborative investigation by Capitola PD which took over as the lead agency in the case. The joint efforts with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office and El Cerrito Police Department were instrumental in bringing this case to resolution.

Alice Kamakaokalani, a 5’04” tall, 135-pound Pacific Islander woman, was last seen in Santa Cruz, CA on December 3, 2023, prompting a missing person investigation from law enforcement agencies. Capitola Police, in conjunction with El Cerrito PD, initiated an investigation into her disappearance reported by relatives on December 12, 2023, after not hearing from her for over a week.

Capitola PD Detectives gathered evidence, conducted interviews and collaborated with partner agencies to piece together the circumstance surrounding Kamakaokalani’s disappearance.

Kamakaokalani’s car and Lengyel’s truck. Photos: El Cerrito PD

El Cerrito Police investigators located her vehicle, a red 2007 Toyota Highlander SUV, license plate “5VAC944”, in front of the home of her boyfriend, Lengyel, in El Cerrito, CA. Based on his actions, Lengyel was then considered a person of interest in Kamakaokalani’s disappearance and was not cooperative with the police investigation. The 5’10”, 170-pound Lengyel also goes by the name, “Mylo Stone.” In the days following her disappearance, Theo Lengyel is known to have travelled by vehicle from El Cerrito to Portland, OR. He drives a blue 1989 Ford pickup truck, license plate “UNCLDRT.”

Both vehicles were taken into police custody.

Investigators sought information about the actions of both Theo Lengyel and Alice Herrmann from December 3, 2023. As the investigation progressed, it became clear that foul play was involved, leading to the identification of Lengyel as a suspect.

According to sfgate.com Lengyel was a founding member of the funk-metal band Mr. Bungle and, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, he played saxophone, clarinet and keyboards for the group from 1985 to the mid-1990s,.

According to an NBC News report, “Investigators eventually recovered human remains in a wooded area within Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, about 4 miles from El Cerrito.”

Those remains are pending DNA confirmation from the Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office which is handling the case. An effort to contact their PIO for more information was unsuccessful prior to publication time.

Capitola Police wrote in a press release, “The diligent work of our investigators, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, has led to the apprehension of Theobald Lengyel in connection with the tragic homicide of Alice Kamakaokalani. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time.

The Capitola Police Department expresses gratitude to the involved agencies who have and are continuing to assist in this investigation: Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, East Bay Regional Parks District Police Department, Contra Costa County Crime Lab, El Cerrito Police, California Office of Emergency Services and Department of Justice.

Lengyel is currently in custody in the Santa Cruz Main Jail. the Capitola Police Department will work closely with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office to ensure a thorough prosecution of the case.

This remains an ongoing investigation, the Capitola Police Department will not provide further details at this time. Updates will be provided as they become available.”

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

 

Orinda Police, Contra Costa Sheriff 2023 “Stuff A Cruiser” Toy Drive through Dec. 18

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The Orinda Police Department, in partnership with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring a toy drive for new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Toys can be dropped off at the Orinda Police Department at 22 Orinda Way. Please drop off your donations by Monday, December 18, 2023. Happy holidays!

Contra Costa Sheriff warns of scam by fake department employee

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Please be aware of a scam targeting our community. The scam involves an individual posing as an employee of the Sheriff’s Office who calls unsuspecting residents.

The scammer informs the resident that they have an active warrant and must immediately make a payment to avoid legal consequences.

It is important to note that the scammer is utilizing technology to manipulate caller ID systems, making it appear that the calls originate from legitimate Sheriff’s Office phone numbers.

We urge all residents to exercise caution and remain vigilant. Law enforcement agencies will never demand immediate payments over the phone (typically through gift cards) or threaten arrest for unpaid fees or fines.

Stay informed and protect yourself from falling victim to these scams. Hang up and never provide private, personal information.

 

Contra Costa County surveys residents about Community Warning System

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Contra Costa Health (CCH) seeks input from county residents about whether they use the Community Warning System (CWS), how well it works, and if more notification options would improve it.

The CWS is an all-hazards community notification system that alerts residents about emergencies affecting public health or safety, including those from refineries and large chemical manufacturing facilities in Contra Costa County.

CCH’s online survey, available on the CWS page at cchealth.org, seeks information about community familiarity with the tool, whether polled residents subscribe, and opinions about the service.

The CWS sends free phone calls, texts and emails to anyone who signs up at cwsalerts.com. Users have subscription options, including whether to receive alerts only from certain areas of Contra Costa County, or only about certain facilities.

The survey, conducted at the direction of the Industrial Safety Ordinance / Community Warning System Ad Hoc Committee of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, also asks if residents would like notifications about nearby industrial incidents that are not deemed emergencies.

The CWS was designed for emergency use, and so when a facility reports an unexpected release – such as flaring, odors, smoke, noises, or fires – CWS only sends an alert to its subscribers if the incident is likely to affect health in the surrounding community, in the estimation of the facility, or the emergency responders from CCH or the fire department who are investigating.

For details about the CWS and its response levels, visit the CWS page at cchealth.org.

The county’s Hazardous Materials Incident Notification Policy requires specified facilities, including all the county’s refineries, to immediately report to the CWS whenever there is a release or threatened release of hazardous material, as well as flaring events.

Most of these are “Level 1” incidents – received and investigated by CCH’s Hazardous Materials Response Team, but not subject to a community alert. CWS has received 227 reported Level 1 alerts so far in 2023 from industrial facilities.

Since 2022, an automated feed has displayed all active Level 1 alerts that have lasted longer than 20 minutes and are seen, heard or associated with offsite odors, at cchealth.org/hazmat.

The survey asks whether CWS subscribers should have the option to directly receive additional alerts via phone, text or email as they happen, even for incidents that may not threaten the community.

The survey is planned to continue through January 12, 2024, and CCH share the results publicly and with the Ad Hoc Committee.

 

Contra Costa DA issues statement on apprehension of mental health diversion program fugitive

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Kenneth David Mcisaac fled from court ordered program for Lafayette armed home invasion

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Mental Health Diversion fugitive Kenneth David Mcisaac was apprehended on November 14, 2023, in Oakland. Mcisaac fled from a court ordered mental health diversion program on October 24, 2023, and a warrant for his arrest was issued shortly after his disappearance. He is being held in custody without bail.

In September 2022, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed an in custody 12-count felony complaint against Mcisaac that was related to an armed home invasion incident in Lafayette wherein Mcisaac held a family hostage for hours. Mcisaac had remained in custody for a year. Then, on September 5, 2023, against a vigorous opposition from the DA’s Office, the court determined that a mental health diversion program would provide more effective treatment for Mcisaac’s condition and released him from custody. (See related article)

Following Tuesday night’s apprehension, Mcisaac was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in front of Judge Julia Campins, Mcisaac’s mental health diversion status was terminated at the District Attorney’s request. He remains in custody with no bail. Criminal proceedings will resume on November 29th in Martinez.

Mcisaac was located and apprehended by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Safe Streets Task Force, a joint law enforcement effort comprised of the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, federal partners, and local law enforcement agencies.

01-22-01678 | The People of the State of California vs. McIsaac, Kenneth Dav

 

National Prescription Drug TAKE BACK Day Saturday, Oct. 28

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Source: CCC Sheriff’s Office

By Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff’

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 10 AM to 2 PM, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff 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, or unused prescription drugs.

Needles and sharps cannot be accepted; only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original containers will be accepted. Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers are accepted only after the batteries are removed from the devices.

The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked. Bring your pills for disposal at the following sites:

DROP OFF LOCATIONS

Muir Station – 1980 Muir Road, Martinez

Bay Station – 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond

Valley Station – 150 Alamo Plaza, #C, Alamo

Delta Station – 14830 Highway 4, Discovery Bay

Danville Police Department – 510 La Gonda Way, Danville

Lafayette Police Department – 3471 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette

Orinda Police Department – 22 Orinda Way, Orinda

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, locations, or the Take Back event, visit: www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Coroner’s Inquest jury finds 2022 police shooting death of Oakley man was “at the hands of another person”

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During domestic violence incident

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

Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston announces that a coroner’s jury today reached a finding in the August 26, 2022 death of 58-year-old Frank Anthony Correa of Oakley. The finding of the jury is that the manner of death is at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

During a domestic violence incident, Correa opened fire on Oakley Police resulting in officers returning fire and killing him. (See related article)

The coroner’s jury reached the verdict in the inquest after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by hearing officer Matt Guichard.

A coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving law enforcement personnel, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: Accident, Suicide, Natural Causes and At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Rodeo couple arrested for murder, torture in bathtub drowning of 2-year-old

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Held on $1,070,000 bail

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

On Monday, October 2, 2023, at about 8:48 PM, Bay Station deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of California Street in Rodeo for a call of a two-year-old who had reportedly drowned in a bathtub.

The fire department arrived at the same time as deputies and started life-saving measures on the child. He was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Detectives investigating this incident have made two arrests in connection to the child’s death: Destiny Rose Deboe, 22 (born April 5, 2021) of Rodeo and Tyshawn Haywood, 21 (born May 16, 2002) of Rodeo. Deboe is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall and 140 pounds and Haywood is described 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Both have been booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder, felony infliction of injury to a child, and torture. Each is being held in lieu of $1,070,000 bail.

This case remains under investigation.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

West County: One dead in Saturday night Rodeo shooting

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office

On Saturday, August 26, 2023, at about 10:34 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance call on the 100 block of Rodeo Avenue in Rodeo. At about the same time, dispatch received several calls of shots being fired in the area.

Deputies arrived and located a person who was suffering from a gunshot wound. The fire department responded and began life-saving measures. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene and is not being identified at this time.

According to a KTVU FOX2 report, the victim was a mother with an eight-year-old son.

This is an active investigation. 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.