Contra Costa Herald

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

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office released suspect in Walnut Creek retail theft due to “computer input error”

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Male suspect back in custody as of Tuesday; female suspect out on bail; the other male suspect still in custody

By Allen Payton

The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department revealed on Tuesday, Nov. 30 that, last week, they inadvertently released one of the suspects arrested for the organized retail theft at Nordstrom in Walnut Creek on Nov. 20. (See related article)

Sheriff David Livingston issued the following statement about it:

“On November 21, 2021, 32-year-old Joshua Underwood of San Francisco was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) on charges that included robbery, conspiracy, and burglary. Due to a computer input error, Underwood was released on November 24, 2021. This afternoon, Underwood appeared in court for his arraignment. He was remanded into custody and is currently being held at MDF on the following charges: robbery, burglary, conspiracy, and organized retail theft. He is being held in lieu of $140,000 bail.”

Regarding one of the others who was arrested, on Monday, the Sheriff issued the following statement about the case:

“On November 21, Dana Dawson was booked on the following charges: robbery, conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm, concealed weapon in her vehicle, burglary, possession of stolen property, and possession of burglary tools. The DA’s Office filed robbery, conspiracy and burglary charges. Dawson was eligible for bail which was set at $190,000. She posted bail and was released on November 25.”

An ABC7 News report provides more details about the mistake.

 

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office searches for missing 87-year-old Bay Point woman

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Adela “Dela” Peña

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff has been searching for a missing woman in Bay Point since Wednesday morning, Nov. 17:

Adela “Dela” Peña

87-years-old, 5’1″, 90-100 pounds, with brown colored eyes and brown/gray hair. She was last seen wearing a light blue robe with snowmen on it, black or velvet colored sweat pants, and white sandals.

She is considered at-risk and family members said she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

She was last seen yesterday at her home on the 600 block of Victoria Court in Bay Point at about 8:40 PM.

Family members searched for Pena but could not find her. They later notified the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Sheriffs and the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team are continuing the search for her.

Anyone who has seen Pena or has any information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441.

Contra Costa Supervisors’ push to use Measure X sales tax funds to hire more Sheriff’s deputies fails on 3-2 vote

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Requires super majority to approve; Gioia, Glover vote no

Do approve body worn cameras for sheriff deputies.

By Daniel Borsuk

Going against the spirit of the 2020 voter-approved the early education-medical services-social needs message of the Measure X sales tax measure, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday narrowly rejected a proposal to spend a chunk of the initial $212. 5 million in one-time Measure X funds for Sheriff David Livingston’s department to hire additional deputies to beef up patrols especially in under-patrolled areas of the county.

Supervisors also learned the county would draw approximately $128.4 million in ongoing Measure X tax revenue a year for at least 2027.

On a 3 to 2 vote, with District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen, and board chair District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis casting votes calling for the expenditure of $6.4 million of Measure X funds for the hiring of patrol deputies designated for the under patrolled Bay Point, Saranap, and Rodeo areas, supervisors rejected a proposal to strengthen up patrols in those under-served areas of the county.

If approved, the proposal could have decreased response time by nearly 14 minutes and 21 seconds per call.

“Police and mental health services are my top priorities,” said District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville. “Body cameras and patrols are needed.”

However, due to supervisors’ rules, locally generated tax funds require a super majority vote of four or more supervisors.  As a result, Andersen’s motion to increase patrols with Measure X funds failed.

Funds for the Sheriff’s Department are allowed in the measure that passed by over 58% of the vote last November. The ballot language read, “To keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers; provide timely fire and emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services, shall the Contra Costa County measure levying a ½ cent sales tax, exempting food sales, providing an estimated $81,000,000 annually for 20 years that the State cannot take, requiring fiscal accountability, with funds benefiting County residents, be adopted?” CCC_2021MeasureX_FullText

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover voted against the proposal to increase patrols. The 3-2 was insufficient for supervisors to designate Measure X for the hiring of additional deputies based on board of supervisors’ rules.

“I want funding for the sheriff to be part of the general fund budget discussion, not part of Measure X,” explained Supervisor Glover of Pittsburg. Gioia gave no clear reason why he voted against increasing deputy patrols, but earlier he had talked about bringing the item before the finance committee that he and District 4 Supervisor

“I support giving more money to the sheriff,” said board chair Diane Burgis of Brentwood. “We are under-funding protective services in the Eastern area of the county.”

Supervisors did approve on a 4 to 1 vote the expenditure of $2.5 million of Measure X revenues for body worn cameras for sheriff deputies. District 1 Supervisor Gioia cast the sole opposition vote, siding with more than 60 speakers opposed to the proposed allocation of any Measure X funds to the sheriff.

“Let’s keep the spirit of Measure X,” said Pittsburg resident Francisco Flores.  “Please don’t treat this money as pork for the use of the sheriff.”

Supervisors also voted 5-0 to transfer $6 million in Measure X funds designated for Contra Costa County Health Center capital improvement projects like a parking garage to county services that are financially neglected like the county library system and childcare.

All of the 60 speakers opposed spending any Measure X tax revenue for the sheriff.

Speakers said spending Measure X money for law enforcement purposes violated the spirit of the November 2020 voter approved tax revenue measure designed to ramp up revenue for underfunded public health and social service programs and services.

“Let’s keep the spirit of Measure X alive,” said Pittsburg resident Francisco Flores, a member of the community action group ACCE.

“You must follow the funding requests of the advisory board,” pleaded Measure X Advisory Board Chair Mariana Moore.

Proposed Expenditures

Some of the county programs or capital projects proposed for Measure X funds include:

$40 million parking garage for the Contra Costa Regional Medical and Health Center in Martinez.

$17.2 million for East Contra Costa County Fire District fire station construction projects.

$5 million to modernize the psychiatric ward at the Contra Costa Regional Medical and Health Center in Martinez.

$1.2 million for the Racial Equity and Social Justice office.

$250,000 for arts and culture programs.

$740,000 for the San Ramon Fire Emergency Medical Service.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Danville police officer convicted for shooting death of man during 2018 car chase

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Danville Police Officer Andrew Hall shoots Laudemer Arboleda on November 3, 2018. Screenshot of dashcam video.

Faced up to 22 years in state prison; DA Becton touts conviction on her re-election campaign social media, Sheriff Livingston asks her to remove it

By Allen Payton

A Danville police officer was convicted Tuesday of assault with a firearm in the shooting death of a 32-year-old man during a car chase on Nov. 3, 2018. But the jury did not convict him of the more serious charge of felony voluntary manslaughter. Officer Andrew Hall was accused of shooting and killing Laudemer Arboleda, of Newark, as he drove his car between two police cars. (See critical incident video)

According to the initial report from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, at the intersection of Front Street and Diablo Road in Danville, Arboleda attempted to run over Hall, who fired his weapon at the vehicle. Officer Hall shot at Arboleda, a Black man, and struck him nine times during the slow-moving vehicle pursuit. (See related articles here, here, here and here)

However, it wasn’t until April 21, 2021 that Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton filed charges against Hall, the same day the video was released of him shooting another suspect, Tyrell Wilson, also Black, who was first accused of throwing rocks onto I-680, then held a knife in his hands and advanced toward Hall, on March 11, 2021. Wilson died a week later at an area hospital. (See related articles here, here and here).

Becton issued the following statement regarding the guilty verdict:

“Today’s guilty verdict holds accountable defendant Andrew Hall for his excessive use of force in the fatal shooting of Laudemer Arboleda. Deputy Hall’s actions were not only a crime, but they tarnished the badge and they harmed the reputation of all the good, hard working police officers that work for our community. My Office extends our condolences to the family of Mr. Arboleda. With regards to the voluntary manslaughter count, we will take the matter under review to determine the appropriate next steps.”

The Danville Police Department is a contract agency with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff David Livingston also issued a statement following the trial.

“Although I wish the jury had returned a not-guilty verdict on all counts, I respect their service. We ask our officers to make split-second decisions and many of the jurors understood that,” said Livingston. “I urge DA Becton not to retry this case. I also urge her to take down the posts on her reelection campaign social media where she touts this prosecution.”

Hall could have faced 22 years in state prison if convicted on both charges.

Case information: People v. Andrew Albert Hall, Docket 01-195930-3

National Prescription Drug TAKE BACK Saturday, Oct. 23

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On Saturday, October 23, 2021, 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, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

“This is a great way to get rid of unused prescription drugs in our homes,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “These drugs could fall into the wrong hands and harm family members and friends. This is an opportunity for everyone to help prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.”

Needles and sharps cannot be accepted; only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original container 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. COVID-19 protocols will be followed.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

-Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez (Field Operations Building)

-Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond (West County Detention Facility)

-Office of the Sheriff Valley Station, 150 Alamo Plaza, #C, Alamo

-Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville

-Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda (Lafayette residents can drop off prescription drugs in Orinda or Sheriff’s Office Valley Station).

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in the past year. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

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 Saturday murder of teen in Bay Point

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

On Saturday, October 16, 2021, at about 5:36 PM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 3300 block of Willow Pass Road in Bay Point for a report of a shooting.

Deputies arrived on scene and found a man who suffered from a gunshot wound lying on the ground in front of a store.

Fire and ambulance responded and rendered medical aid to the victim who was later declared deceased at the scene. He is identified as 18-year-old Manuel Pineda.

Another person who was injured in the shooting was transported to a local hospital. His injuries were said to be non-life threatening.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit responded along with the Crime Lab.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office 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.

 

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office seeks Bay Point assault suspects

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Assault suspects in car 10-12-21. Photo by CCCSheriff

12-year-old girl shot by BB gun

By Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is looking for four suspects involved in assault with a deadly weapon incidents in Bay Point.

On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at about 3:20 PM, a 12-year-old girl walking home from school on the 3300 block of Willow Pass Road at Marin Avenue was shot at with a BB gun as a vehicle drove passed her. There were two other similar incidents later that day in the same area. The victims all suffered injuries.

The same suspects appear to be involved in each case. They were in a silver-colored 4-door, newer Kia Optima.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the vehicle or suspects is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2667 or 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Assault suspects’ car 10-12-21 Photo by CCCSheriff

Bay Point man arrested for murder of woman following domestic disturbance early Saturday

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

At about 12:03 Saturday morning, Oct. 2, 2021, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a domestic disturbance on Island View Drive in Bay Point.

Deputies arrived, finding a man and woman in the street. The man fled on foot but was apprehended by deputies.

The woman sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Early this afternoon, she was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The man is identified as 47-year-old Richard Ortiz of Bay Point.

He is currently booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder, domestic violence, and resisting an executive officer.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office 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.

Contra Costa Coroner’s inquest jury determines 2019 in-custody death of Clayton man was an accident

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

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the August 18, 2019 death of 35-year-old Benito Stefano Carrasco of Clayton. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident. (See related article)

Carrasco was arrested by the Clayton Police Department and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) on August 15, 2019. He was being held on charges that include burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen goods, possession of burglary tools, shoplifting, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held in lieu of $40,000 bail.

On Sunday, August 18, 2019, at about 11:20 PM, a Deputy Sheriff escorted a nurse to Carrasco’s cell. They discovered him unresponsive on his bed.

Medical aid was immediately rendered. Additional medical staff at the jail responded and continued life saving measures until the fire department arrived. Carrasco was later pronounced deceased at the scene and the in-custody death protocol was invoked.

The Coroner’s Jury reached the 10-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal incidents involving peace officers, 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.

Pittsburg man arrested for Bay Point homicide Saturday

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

On Saturday, August 28, 2021, at about 10:42 PM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a call of shots fired at the intersection of Willow Pass Road and Bella Vista Avenue in Bay Point. Upon arrival, deputies located a victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

Deputies immediately began providing life-saving measures. The fire department and an ambulance also responded. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is identified as 24-year-old Pablo Bretado of Pittsburg.

A suspect was quickly identified by deputies and a description was provided to area law enforcement agencies. The Concord Police Department located the suspect who led police in a pursuit back into Bay Point. The suspect crashed and fled on foot. Concord PD officers, assisted by the California Highway Patrol, found the suspect and took him into custody.

He is identified 28-year-old Antonino Solis of Pittsburg. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for murder and possession of an assault weapon.

The Homicide Unit of the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division continues to investigate this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office 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.