Contra Costa Herald

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

Standoff with armed Pinole man ends peacefully Sunday night

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Suffering from delusions, shot dog, shot up house

By Lt. Matt Avery, Pinole Police Department

On Sunday, May 2, 2021 at approximately 10:30 PM, the Pinole Police Department responded to a residence in the 700 block of Marlesta Road regarding a mother reporting her 32-year-old son was suffering from delusions and making paranoid statements, and in possession of her handgun. The mother left the house for her safety to meet with officers at a secondary location.

Minutes later, a second caller reported hearing gunshots coming from the house. Officers responded to and searched the house but did not locate anyone. Officers did find a Pit bulldog in the house suffering from at least one gunshot wound and unfortunately the dog succumbed to its injuries. Officers discovered bullet holes and bullet casings in the house as well as a large capacity magazine to a second type of handgun leading officers to believe the subject was in possession of two handguns. Witnesses advised officers the subject left in a white Infiniti I30.

The subject’s vehicle alerted on ALPR cameras in the San Pablo area and around 12:45 AM cell phone information revealed the vehicle was back in the Pinole area. Approximately 2:00 AM, officers located the vehicle traveling without its lights on eastbound San Pablo Avenue near Sunnyview Drive. The vehicle continued travelling as officers positioned themselves to make an enforcement stop. The vehicle turned onto Kilkenny Way from Tara Hills Drive and then pulled to the curb before officers activated their emergency equipment. The driver, the only occupant, fled on foot west on Kilkenny Way.

With the assistance of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department (CCCSO), the Hercules and San Pablo Police Departments, a perimeter was established, and officers followed the subject as he moved on foot on Kilkenny Way and then north on Kildare Way. Officers made contact with the subject verbally and via cell phone, but he refused to surrender, and repeatedly ducked between and hid behind vehicles parked in the area. A shelter in place was issued requesting residents to remain in their house, lock their doors and shut their windows.

Officers continued to negotiate with the subject, but he still refused to surrender. CCCSO negotiators responded and continued to negotiate with the subject. Just before 9:30 AM, the negotiators were able to convince the subject to discard two handguns he was in possession of and then surrendered peacefully to CCCSO SWAT members. The shelter in place was lifted shortly thereafter.

The subject was transported to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation. We are still investigating the incident and we will be pursuing the following criminal charges: unlawful possession of a firearm (PC 25850(c)(6)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 30305(a)(1)), negligent discharge of a firearm (PC 246.3), carrying a concealed firearm (PC25400(a)(2)), possession of an extended magazine (PC 32310(a)), and animal cruelty (PC 597).

During the entire incident, the subject did not threaten officers, or threaten to harm himself or anyone else. Neither the subject or any officers were injured, and we want to thank the allied agencies for helping us resolve the incident peacefully.

The investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to call the Pinole Police Department’s non-emergency line at 510-724-8950.

Richmond man one of two alleged Bay Area gang members charged by Feds with 2018 San Francisco murder

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Alleged Sureños also charged with attempting to murder 5 additional victims

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Jonathan Escobar (aka Wicked, aka Rico) and Jose Aguilar (aka Slim), charging both defendants with firearms violations in connection with crimes including murder and attempted murder committed to enhance the defendants’ position in the Sureño criminal street gang, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. (See indictment document)

“Street gangs resort to violence to assert control over peaceful neighborhoods, expecting to create safe havens for drug trafficking, robberies, and other violent crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Hinds. “In this case, the indictment describes how firearms are deliberately used to achieve these goals through murder and attempted murder.  This office will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement agencies to wrest control of our streets from the gangs who threaten our residents.”

“Our communities have the right to be safe and not succumb to senseless violence. I am proud of the dedicated agents who have duly executed their duties in our collective pursuit of law, order and justice,” said Special Agent in Charge King, who oversees HSI operations in Northern California. “Gang violence will not be tolerated, and law enforcement’s collaborative efforts are key to disrupting the lawless activities that threaten public safety.”

The indictment, filed April 15, 2021 and unsealed this morning, alleges that Escobar, 24, of Richmond, Calif., and Aguilar, 32, of San Francisco, were members of a racketeering enterprise referred to in the indictment as “the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños.”  The street gang was the amalgamation of two gangs, one that claimed “territory” bounded by 19th Street to the South, 16th Street to the North, Folsom Street to the East, and Dolores Street to the West and the other that generally operated around 16th Street and Mission Street, in the Mission District of San Francisco.  The enterprise also operated in Dolores Park and Franklin Square Park (also known as Bryant Park).  The indictment describes how the gang sought to maintain control of drug distribution in the areas that it sought to claim and how gang members engaged in numerous illegal acts to meet its aims including narcotics sales, robberies, and other violent crimes, including murder.

According to Count One of the two-count indictment, on August 11, 2018, in San Francisco, Escobar and Aguilar used a firearm during the commission of a murder in aid of racketeering and committed the murder for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their position in the criminal enterprise.  The indictment also alleges that the murder was premeditated, deliberate, and willful, and therefore “murder in the first degree” under California law.

In addition to the murder allegations, the indictment alleges in Count Two that Escobar and Aguilar used a firearm during the commission of attempted murder in aid of racketeering.  In this count of the indictment, the document alleges that the defendants willfully and with deliberation and premeditation attempted to murder five additional victims, again for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños.

Both defendants are charged with use or carrying of a firearm resulting in death during and in relation to a crime of violence (murder in aid of racketeering), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j)(1) and 2 and use or carrying of a firearm during and in relation to of a crime of violence (attempted murder in aid of racketeering), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2.  If convicted of the murder count, both defendants are eligible for the death penalty. If convicted of the attempted murder count, both defendants can be sentenced to a maximum prison term of life and a minimum term of not less than ten years.  In addition to a prison term, the court may also order a term of supervised release, restitution, and fines; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The defendants were arrested on April 20, 2021 and made their initial federal court appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline S. Corley. Magistrate Judge Corley ordered the defendants to remain in custody pending trial.  The next federal court appearance for the defendants is scheduled for May 12, 2021, before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixon for appointment of counsel.

The case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime Strike Force of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department’s Gang Task Force and Homicide Unit.

Coroner’s Jury rules on 2019 deaths of Brentwood man during police chase in Antioch, Walnut Creek man in West County jail

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

Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston announced that a Coroner’s Jury on Friday, April 16, 2021 reached a finding in the July 18, 2019 death of 21-year-old Omar Jalal Harb of Brentwood. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.  (See related article)

The Coroner’s Jury, which heard two inquests today, also reached a finding the October 16, 2019 death of 72-year-old Enrique Camberos Pina of Walnut Creek. The finding of the jury is that the death is a suicide.  (See related article)

The Coroner’s Jury reached the verdicts in both inquests after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston convenes in 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.

Construction completed, ribbon cut to open new Fire Station 70 in San Pablo

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Officials and firefighters joined Fire Chief Lewis T. Broschard (with scissors) for the ribbon cutting. Video screenshot.

Station set to replace temporary facilities in use since 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

Front view of the new Station 70 in San Pablo. Photo: Con Fire

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced Tuesday, April 13, 2021, the completion of construction of the new Fire Station 70 in the City of San Pablo. Located at the corner of 23rd Street and Market Avenue, the new station will replace temporary Fire Station 70, which has been in service nearby since the permanent one was severely damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Officials, firefighters and family members of those for whom the station is named, joined Fire Chief Lewis T. Broschard for the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the station.

When actually opened in the coming weeks, Fire Station 70 will support the city and surrounding communities along with district firefighters, allowing for better quality of life, health, training, and community interaction. The three-bay station is built to modern earthquake standards to ensure its availability for facilitating disaster preparedness and response, including a potential location for a West County disaster-response command post.

Fire Station 70 is named the Captain Matthew Burton and Engineer Scott Desmond Memorial Station in recognition of the ultimate sacrifice made by these Con Fire firefighters in the early morning hours of July 21, 2007. Responding on Engine 70 to reports of a structure fire on nearby Michelle Drive, Captain Burton and Engineer Desmond tragically lost their lives attempting to rescue a couple trapped in their burning home. As a result of their sacrifice, the Con Fire Advisory Fire Commission recommended, and the Fire Board (County Board of Supervisors) authorized, the new fire station dedication in their names.

Corner view of the new Station 70 in San Pablo. Photo: Con Fire

“Today culminates a multi-year collaborative effort between Con Fire and the City of San Pablo to get our firefighters into a modern and long overdue permanent fire station in San Pablo,” said Lewis T. Broschard III, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “The new Fire Station 70 is a fitting memorial to fallen firefighters Matt Burton and Scott Desmond, offering enhanced facilities to support emergency services to both neighboring communities and the firefighters who will staff it.”

Total cost for the new station is $14 million with the City of San Pablo contributing $4.5 million to the project.

Designed with cancer prevention in mind, the station will include state-of-the-art gross decontamination showers, turnout extractors, a decontamination sauna, and modern systems for extraction of diesel exhaust particulates. The new station’s training props will allow for considerable training opportunities for crews including ladder work, rappelling and indoor all-weather training.

East Contra Costa man charged with murder of Pittsburg man in El Sobrante shooting last week

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

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed murder and attempted murder charges against 23-year-old Pierre Patrick Jackson of Antioch/Brentwood in connection with a shooting of two men and resulted in a homicide that occurred on March 31, 2021 in El Sobrante. (See related article)

On March 31, 2021, at about 8:41 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 4500 block of Appian Way. Deputies arrived on the scene, located two victims with gunshot wounds, and provided lifesaving measures until the fire department and ambulance arrived. One of the victims, identified as 25-year-old Dejante “Dj” Kennedy of Pittsburg, was pronounced deceased. The second victim was transported to a local hospital.

During the investigation, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit identified Jackson as the suspect in the shooting. A warrant was obtained for his arrest. Homicide detectives arrested Jackson on April 5, 2021. He is currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $3.5 million bail.

According to mylife.com, Jackson’s current residence is in Brentwood and previously lived in Antioch.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident should 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.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Richmond man sentenced to 36 years in state prison for 2019 rape

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By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

Delon Baptiste Ward. Photo: RPD

Last Friday, defendant Delon Baptiste Ward of Richmond was sentenced by Judge Leslie G. Landau to 36 years in state prison for the July 2019 rape of Jane Doe. Earlier, Ward pleaded guilty to kidnapping and forcible rape and he admitted to two enhancements since he used a gun during the attack. Ward is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life as a result of his guilty plea.

Jane Doe did not know the defendant. While she was on her walk during the early morning of July 19, Ward followed her and waited until she was alone to confront her with a gun. He forcibly moved Jane Doe off the public sidewalk and proceeded to sexually assault her.

The defendant fled the scene after the sexual assault. Fortunately, the Richmond Police Department conducted an intensive investigation to secure evidence and surveillance video to tie the defendant to the crime.

Deputy District Attorney Scott Prosser prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Prosser is assigned to our office’s Sexual Assault Unit.

“In this case, the Richmond Police Department immediately conducted a large-scale investigation using officers and investigators who left no stone unturned. In particular, Officer Orlando Guzman, Detective Andrew Barbara, and Detective AJ Fonseca went over and above to ensure that we brought a strong case to court,” stated DDA Prosser. “Jane Doe bravely came forward to report the crime, and through the efforts of the Richmond Police Department, the defendant was identified and taken into custody quickly.”

Case information: People v. Delon Baptiste Ward, Docket Number 05-201379-5

Previously, according to localcrimenews.com, Ward was arrested in January 2018 by San Pablo Police for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and vehicle theft.

 

Two shot, Pittsburg man dies in El Sobrante Wednesday night

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Basketball standout and 2014 graduate of Pittsburg High

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

On Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at about 8:41 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 4500 block of Appian Way in El Sobrante. Deputies arrived on the scene, located two victims with gunshot wounds, and provided lifesaving measures until the fire department and ambulance arrived.  One of the victims, identified as 25-year-old Dejante Kennedy of Pittsburg, was pronounced deceased. The second victim was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit and personnel from the Crime Lab responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Kennedy was a 2014 graduate of Pittsburg High School where he played forward and guard for the Pirates varsity boys basketball team, according to MaxPreps. Known by the nickname Dj, he was 6’3” and named to the 2013-14 Bay Valley Athletic All-League Boys Basketball Team.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or Sheriff’s Office dispatch (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch, West Contra Costa schools to receive $20,000 state mini grants for COVID-19 challenges

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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces $240,000 in grants to address inequities that deepened during pandemic

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced Thursday that the California Department of Education (CDE) has selected 12 recipients of mini grants, totaling more than $240,000, that will fund local efforts across the state to address equity and opportunity gaps through supporting educator and student needs in distance learning, in-person instruction, and hybrid models. The Antioch Unified School District will receive $20,000 of the grant funds.

Since the applications were announced in December 2020 as part of CDE’s ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s continued impact on students, more than 400 schools and districts across California applied for the grants, which are funded by contributions from philanthropic partners. The funds must be used to advance equity and close opportunity and access gaps. The grantees are given discretion to decide how they will address the topic of equity. The list of grantees is at the end of this press release.

“It’s been an unprecedented, unpredictable year for our schools, and California’s educators have been looking for resources and support to ensure that students can still attend class, access a great education, and learn and achieve during the pandemic,” Thurmond said. “Congratulations to these school districts for showing their communities that they’re committed to recognizing and addressing opportunity gaps during the pandemic and providing targeted supports to students and families who have been struggling.”

Issues addressed by the grant funds include transportation, internet connectivity, modifying spaces to serve as family resource centers, one-on-one academic intervention, mentorship for students struggling with distance learning and asynchronous instruction, small group tutoring, home visits, professional development for educators needing assistance with technology, and a variety of other family engagement activities.

Since last spring, the State Superintendent and the CDE have maintained an ongoing and urgent focus on addressing the numerous access and opportunity gaps that impact student learning—gaps that, in many cases, have deepened and become newly exposed during the pandemic. During the past year, the CDE has secured hundreds of thousands of computing devices for students, pressured internet service providers to expand access, bolstered mental health and counseling resources, made it easier for schools to provide meals, and provided guidance and dozens of training opportunities for educators to strengthen distance learning for California’s highest-need students.

As the state continues to battle COVID-19, CDE will continue to support efforts to protect the health and safety of school communities while providing the custom supports needed to ensure learning continues and improves.

The Equity Mini Grant recipients and intended uses of funds are:

  • Antioch Unified School District: $20,000 to implement home-visit teams to gain engagement from students and provide support to students and families that are currently not showing high engagement/attendance.
  • West Contra Costa Unified School District: $20,000 to expand capacity to provide outreach and mentorship to students by hiring a full-time mentor through the Peacemaker program.
  • Castaic High School: $20,000 to pay for district buses to pick up students from a central location in an underserved neighborhood.
  • Colusa Unified School District: $20,000 for transitioning the current Colusa High School Library to serve as a student and parent resource center.
  • Imperial Unified School District: $20,000 to support internet connectivity for our students who live in an underserved area.
  • Kern High School District: $20,000 to provide one-to-one academic intervention and support for students with unique needs who have failed multiple classes.
  • Lakeside Union School District: $20,000 to provide mentor support to students who continue to struggle with engagement in asynchronous instruction.
  • Riverside County Special Education: $20,000 to purchase book bags, books (English/Spanish sets), educational materials/manipulatives for arts and crafts, and staff mileage reimbursement for the home delivery of weekly literacy bags.
  • San Ysidro School District: $20,000 to provide support services to students and families to address the academic and technological needs of students and families.
  • Sundale Union Elementary School District: $20,000 to strengthen family connection with parents by having students on campus in small cohorts during non-school days/intercessions.
  • Tehachapi Unified School District: $21,352.32 to provide additional opportunities for credit recovery for seniors who are at risk of not graduating.
  • Twin Rivers Unified School District: $20,000 to train and provide support to teachers displaying the highest needs for support during distance learning.

Richmond man in medical distress handcuffed by police with knee in his back, later dies at hospital

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Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol invoked

By Richmond Police Department

At around 10:35 a.m., Wednesday morning, March 10, 2021, the Richmond PD Communications Center received a 911 call from a business owner in the 12600 block of San Pablo Avenue, advising of an individual who was creating a disturbance inside the business and damaging property. When officers arrived, they found the 47-year-old man stumbling around. He had fallen to the ground. The man appeared to be in medical distress or under the influence of drugs. Officers tried to calm the man and provided medical assistance to him until the paramedics arrived.

Officers placed him in a prone position while one officer placed his knee on the individual’s lower back to handcuff him. The man was placed on a gurney and taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, despite all lifesaving measures the man passed away.

Due to the circumstances, the county-wide Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was invoked. That means that members of the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office are currently conducting an independent investigation of this incident.

The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified the man as 47-year-old Ivan Gutzalenko. According to two internet searches, he was a resident of Bay Point. According to a BART news report, on Jan. 13, 2006, authorities arrested Gutzalenko, then 32 years old, “in Walnut Creek for possession of four destructive devices and several illegal firearms including three fully automatic assault rifles” with the help of “one of BART’s bomb sniffing dog teams.”

Any person who may have any information related to this incident is asked to please contact Homicide Detective Savannah Stewart at (510) 620-6541, email her at sstewart@richmondpd.net or they can contact Richmond’s anonymous tip line at (510) 307-T1PS (8177).

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Sheriff’s Office investigates early Friday morning murder of Richmond man in El Sobrante

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Victim identified, shot multiple times in his car

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

Friday morning at about 1:10 AM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 300 block of Joan Vista Street in El Sobrante for a report of a person who had been shot in a vehicle.

Deputies arrived at the location and found a man in a car suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputies performed life-saving measures until responding medical personnel arrived. The victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

The man is identified as 30-year-old Jovanne Hollman of Richmond.

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