Contra Costa Herald

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

CHP distributes over $25 million in grants to fight impaired driving

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Photo: CHP

Marijuana tax proceeds given to law enforcement agencies, crime labs & nonprofits

Three Contra Costa agencies benefit

By Synthia Ramirez, CHP Media Relations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced today more than $25 million in grant funding to 102 California law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to help address the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The grants are the result of Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which tasked the CHP with administering grants for education, prevention, and enforcement programs to help communities combat impaired driving. Money is also available to crime laboratories conducting forensic toxicology testing. Funding for the grants comes from a tax on the sale of cannabis and cannabis products sold in California.

“The substantial increase in the amount of grant funds being dispersed this year to even more recipients will help make California’s roadways safer for all who use them,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The funds will be allocated to enhance traffic safety by educating the public about the dangers of impaired driving, conducting enforcement operations to remove impaired drivers from the roads, and advancing research on this critical issue.”

Eighty-two recipients of law enforcement grants will use funds to address impaired driving within their communities. In addition to traditional impaired driving enforcement, funds will also be used for drug recognition evaluator training to enhance their respective agency’s ability to detect drug-impaired drivers. Additionally, funding will allow for public outreach campaigns, including educational presentations and community events.

Listed below are the law enforcement grant recipients for state fiscal year 2024-2025, which begins July 1:

  1. Angels Camp Police
  2. Arroyo Grande Police Department
  3. Auburn Police Department
  4. Azusa Police Department
  5. Baldwin Park Police Department
  6. Barstow Police Department
  7. Bell Gardens Police Department
  8. Berkeley Police Department
  9. Brawley Police Department
  10. Brea Police Department
  11. Burbank Police Department
  12. Calexico Police Department
  13. Calistoga Police Department
  14. Chula Vista Police Department
  15. Citrus Heights Police Department
  16. City of Corona Police Department
  17. City of El Monte Police Department
  18. City of Fullerton Police Department
  19. City of Glendale Police Department
  20. City of Huron Police Department
  21. City of Lodi Police Department
  22. City of Montebello Police Department
  23. City of Palo Alto Police Department
  24. City of Visalia Police Department
  25. Claremont Police Department
  26. Covina Police Department
  27. Danville Police Department
  28. Dixon Police Department
  29. Dublin Police Services
  30. El Cajon Police Department
  31. El Centro Police Department
  32. El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office
  33. Emeryville Police Department
  34. Folsom Police Department
  35. Galt Police Department
  36. Garden Grove Police Department
  37. Gilroy Police Department
  38. Greenfield Police Department
  39. Grover Beach Police Department
  40. Hanford Police Department
  41. Hayward Police Department
  42. Huntington Beach Police Department
  43. Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
  44. Irvine Police Department
  45. La Habra Police Department
  46. La Mesa Police Department
  47. La Palma Police Department
  48. Lakeport Police Department
  49. Lincoln Police Department
  50. Los Angeles Police Department
  51. Manteca Police Department
  52. Marysville Police Department
  53. Menifee Police Department
  54. Modoc County Sheriff’s Office
  55. Montebello School Police
  56. Monterey Park Police Department
  57. Morgan Hill Police Department
  58. Napa Police Department
  59. Oceanside Police Department
  60. Oakland Police Department
  61. Ontario Police Department
  62. Orange Police Department
  63. Oxnard Police Department
  64. Pacifica Police Department
  65. Petaluma Police Department
  66. Pismo Beach Police Department
  67. Pittsburg Police Department
  68. Riverside Police Department
  69. Rocklin Police Department
  70. San Bruno Police Department
  71. San Diego Police Department
  72. San Fernando Police Department
  73. San Gabriel Police Department
  74. San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office
  75. Shasta County Sheriff’s Office
  76. Sierra Madre Police Department
  77. Simi Valley Police Department
  78. Soledad Police Department
  79. Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department
  80. Sutter County Sheriff’s Office
  81. Union City Police Department
  82. Wheatland Police Department

Nine recipients of education grants will use funds to teach local communities about impaired driving laws, while highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Below are the education grant recipients for state fiscal year 2024-2025:

  1. Amador County Sheriff’s Office
  2. Chino Police Department
  3. City of Lancaster
  4. City of Long Beach
  5. County of Solano-District Attorney’s Office
  6. Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
  7. Sacramento County District Attorney Laboratory of Forensic Services
  8. Solano County Office of Education
  9. Tulare County Office of Education

Eight recipients of two-year toxicology crime laboratory grants will use funds to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic science evidence and to purchase and/or upgrade laboratory equipment to improve testing capabilities.

Below are the toxicology crime laboratory grant recipients for state fiscal years 2024-2026:

  1. Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff, Forensic Services Division
  2. Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
  3. Oakland Police Department Crime Lab
  4. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City and County of San Francisco
  5. Orange County (CA) Crime Laboratory
  6. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
  7. Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
  8. Ventura County Forensic Services Bureau

Three recipients of two-year toxicology medical examiners/coroner’s office grants will use funds to help improve and advance the data collection in cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Below is the medical examiners/coroner’s office grant recipient for state fiscal year 2024-2026:

  1. Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
  2. Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Division
  3. San Diego Medical Examiner Department

The application process for future grant funding is expected to open again in early 2025. Additional information is available on the CHP website, at CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program.

The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide safety, service, and security.

Coroner’s Inquest Jury determines 2023 deaths of woman, one of her twin sons during Hercules Police chase was “at the hands of another”

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Ryniqueka Dowell, Jeffrey, Jamari & Jamani Humble. (Source: GoFundMe) and suspect Ralph White, III. Source: KTVU

Vallejo man faces charges for murder, five other felonies for fatal hit-and-run crash in stolen car

GoFundMe account for surviving son and his father still receiving donations

By Allen D. Payton

In a press release from Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Contra Costa Sheriff-Coroner on Friday, May 31, 2024, Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston announced that a coroner’s jury had reached a finding in the March 23, 2023 death of 31-year-old Ryniqueka Dowell and March 27, 2023 death of 6-year-old Jamari Humble. The finding of the jury is that the manner of death is at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

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

As previously reported, on March 23, 2023, at about 7:27 pm, the Hercules Police Department received information from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office regarding a stolen 2021 Mazda SUV, possibly heading toward the City of Hercules on eastbound I-80. A Hercules Police Officer saw the Mazda exit I-80 eastbound onto northbound Willow Avenue. As the Officer caught up to the Mazda, the driver immediately began to accelerate. The Officer initiated a short pursuit of the SUV, before it collided into a 2017 Nissan passenger vehicle in the area of Parker Avenue and 4th Street in the City of Rodeo. The driver of the Mazda immediately got out of the vehicle and ran northbound onto Parker Ave. A perimeter was established, and the suspect was found, at a nearby liquor store. He was placed under arrest, and later transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The driver of the Nissan passenger vehicle was a 31-year-old, mother of twin boys, age six, later identified as Dowell.

On March 28, 2023, the Contra Costa DA’s office filed murder charges as part of a six-count felony complaint against then-20-year-old Ralph Ellsworth White, III of Vallejo (born Feb. 11, 2003).

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, At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

According to a GoFundMe account set up to support the surviving twin son, Jamani Humble, and his father, Jeffrey, Jamani “suffered a broken leg along with other injuries” and Jamari was initially in the hospital “in critical condition…without any brain activity” but later succumbed to his injuries. As of Saturday, June 1, 2024, $38,395 had been raised toward the $50,000 goal.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office the six-foot, 190-pound White is being held on no bail in the Martinez Detention Facility and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024.

 

Fugitive task force arrests Antioch man for violating federal supervised release, failure to appear on gun, drug charges

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U.S. Marshals and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies on the scene of the arrest on Almondwood Drive in Antioch on Wed., March 27, 2024. Photo by Allen D. Payton

Wanted by Pittsburg Police, has history of arrests

By Allen D. Payton

On Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service with the help of Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a wanted fugitive, Timothy Demetrius Jeffrey of Antioch, on Almondwood Drive in Antioch for escaping federal custody. According to a resident who lives in the neighborhood officers could be heard yelling through a loudspeaker, “You are surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”

According to Abigail Meyer of the United States Marshals Service Office of Public Affairs, “The Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) arrested Timothy Jeffrey, 43, on both his federal Supervised Release Violation warrant and Pittsburg PD Failure to Appear (FTA) warrant, the original charges for both were distribution of dangerous drugs. In addition, his FTA included charges for felon in possession of a firearm, possession of large capacity magazine, and resisting arrest.

The PSWRFTF requested assistance from local law enforcement and a Contra Costa Sheriff’s K9 officer assisted with the rear perimeter.”

According to localcrimenews.com, Jeffrey was arrested by Pittsburg Police on April 25, 2023 for the aforementioned charges. He had previously been arrested on Feb. 29, 2016, by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department for federal (21 U.S. Code Section 846) attempt  and conspiracy charges. Jeffrey was also arrested in Jan. 2010 by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for vehicle theft.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch, 200-pound suspect who is Black, (born 4/24/80) is being held in Santa Rita County Jail in Dublin on no bail.

One man arrested at drug lab in Brentwood, couple also sought

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Max Hayworth and Danielle Kumerow in a Facebook post on May 24, 2022. Source: Kumerow’s Facebook page. (No photo could be located of the suspect arrested)

Maxwell Michael Hayworth, Danielle Kumerow are wanted for burglary, narcotics violations, possession of an explosive device, child endangerment.

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

On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at about 9:52AM, detectives from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a residence on the 800 block of Shasta Daisy Drive in Brentwood.

During the search, they found a DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) manufacturing laboratory. While processing the lab, a team from the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program found a possible explosive compound stored in three containers.

The Walnut Creek Police Department Bomb Squad responded to the location. Officers suspected the compound was TATP (Triacetone Triperoxide), which is a highly volatile explosive compound. It was determined that two of the containers could be moved to another location for detonation, while one needed to be detonated in place. Nearby residents were evacuated.

The three containers were later detonated without incident. One person was arrested: 29-year-old Jonathan Thomas McCarthy (born 2/18/95) of either Oakley or San Jose. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for an outstanding arrest warrant for parolee at large. The Sheriff’s Office is still looking for two suspects:

-44-year-old Maxwell Michael Hayworth of Brentwood

-42-year-old Danielle Kumerow of Brentwood

Both are wanted for burglary, narcotics violations, possession of an explosive device, and child endangerment.

The six-foot, two-inch, 230-pound McCarthy is currently at the West County Detention Facility and his next court appearance is scheduled for May 14, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. at an out of county court. According to recentlybooked.com, he was also arrested in Napa County on Sept. 19, 2023 for a probation violation.

According to localcrimenews.com, Hayworth was arrested by the CCC Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 10, 2024, for multiple weapons drug charges. He was arrested again on March 13, 2024, by Martinez Police for drug possession and burglary. But he bonded out of custody the next day.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident or the location of the suspects 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.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance: Walnut Creek Police Department Bomb Squad, Brentwood Police Department, FBI, JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force), Con Fire, AMR, and Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

 

 

 

Contra Costa Coroner’s Jury determines Richmond man shot by police last June died of suicide

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Richmond Police officer shoots suspect on June 28, 2023. Video screenshot

After he raised a pistol at officers

By Jimmy Lee, PIO, Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office

Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston announces that a coroner’s jury today reached a finding in the June 28, 2023, shooting death of 66-year-old Kevin James McDonald of Richmond by police. The finding of the jury is that the manner of death is suicide.

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

As previously reported, On June 28, 2023, officers from the Richmond Police Department were involved in an officer-involved shooting in the 1200 block of Sanderling Island of Richmond.

Officers approached a closed bedroom door, which they opened while they announced themselves as being “Richmond Police”. As officers opened the door, they located McDonald seated on a bed, armed with an AR-15-style pistol. McDonald raised his weapon toward officers, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred.

Officers provided medical aid to McDonald, who was pronounced deceased, by responding medical personnel. He had prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms.

A subsequent search of the residence resulted in detectives locating a total of 53 firearms, including 23 pistols, 8 revolvers, 20 rifles, and two shotguns. A live hand grenade along with a large quantity of ammunition was seized. Materials to manufacture illegal firearms were also seized.

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 or At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Former Contra Costa Deputy Sheriff negotiates plea agreement to gun charge, filing false police report, preparing false documents

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Matthew Buckley charged with 6 felonies for actions while serving search warrant in Antioch; former Officer of the Year will serve 3 years & 8 months in prison

By Ted Asregadoo, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, California – Today, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office reached a negotiated plea against 42-year-old Matthew Allen Buckley, of Pinole, for offenses that occurred when he was a deputy with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

Buckley was charged in February 2023 with six felonies and one misdemeanor related to offenses that occurred in 2020 and 2022. In a negotiated disposition, Buckley pled no contest to three felonies, including possession of an illegal assault weapon, filing a false police report, and preparing false documentary evidence [PC30605, PC118.1, and PC134]. Buckley will receive a three years and eight months prison sentence, which he can serve on mandatory supervised release if he successfully completes a six-month drug rehab program.

The case began in September 2020 when Buckley, assigned to the Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort (C.A.S.E), participated in a task force executing a search warrant in Antioch. During the operation, Deputy Buckley seized two illegal AR-15s, phones, laptops, heroin, and drug paraphernalia.

After seizing the AR 15s, Deputy Buckley authored a police report where he falsely claimed to have booked the firearms into evidence. Instead of booking the illegal weapons, Buckley separated the upper sections from the lower sections of the firearm. He returned possession of the upper sections of the firearms to the original owner, but never returned the lower sections of the firearms.

As part of this investigation the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department discovered that Deputy Buckley created false documents and signed for a judge without his consent on multiple search warrant returns for unrelated cases.

In August 2022 as the investigation was concluding, Deputies with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office searched Buckley’s residence and found the lower sections of the AR-15s as well as a small amount of methamphetamine.

According to his Linkedin profile, Buckley worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 15 years, including his final three years and 10 months as a detective. Previously, he had worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Field Training Officer and then a Station Supervisor for ProTransport-1 ambulance service in Pleasant Hill. He started his work life as a Network Security Engineer for Bank of American in Concord.

In 2019, he was named the department’s Officer of the Year.

Pursuant to California Government Code, Matthew Buckley will be legally ineligible to serve as a police officer. Moreover, convicted of felony offenses, Buckley is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Central Contra Costa serial burglary suspect in custody

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Merced County man being held on $250,000 bail

By Jimmy Lee, PIO, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Gilbert Ramirez. Photo: Merced County Sheriff’s Department

In the past few months, several homes in Central Contra Costa County were burglarized resulting in losses in excess of $300,000 of property that included jewelry, purses, and weapons.

Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff investigating the burglaries identified a suspect. They obtained an arrest warrant for him, and search warrants for his residence and vehicles associated with the burglaries. Other law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area are also determining if the same suspect is connected to burglaries in their jurisdictions.

On January 25, 2024, as part of the continuing investigation, detectives found the suspect driving north on I-5 near Corning, California. They requested the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office to attempt a traffic stop on the vehicle, which did not yield and led them on a pursuit. The California Highway Patrol assisted during the pursuit. The vehicle eventually crashed, and the suspect fled on foot. He was subsequently located and arrested.

The suspect is identified as 26-year-old Gilberto Ramirez of Merced, CA. He is currently being held in Merced County jail on charges that include burglary, felony evasion and weapons violations. A juvenile who was in the vehicle was also taken into custody. She is not being identified.

According to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, the 5-foot, 7-inch, 130 lb. Ramirez, who also uses the last name Cruz, is being held on $250,000 bail and was also charged with hit-and-run. The weapons violations include two counts of felon or addict in possession of a firearm and prohibited person owning or possessing ammunition.

Search warrants were served at various locations where property believed to be taken from the Contra Costa County burglaries was found. Detectives are identifying the property and working to return it to their rightful owners. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff would like to thank the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office and CHP for their assistance in apprehending the suspect.

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.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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!