Contra Costa Herald

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

CHP Officers arrest wrong-way Pittsburg driver following sideshow near Hercules

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22-year-old stopped by head-on crash with patrol vehicle injuring two passengers

By CHP Contra Costa

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers stopped a wrong-way driver following an illegal sideshow late Thursday night, preventing what could have been a deadly crash.

On June 26, at approximately 11:35 p.m., CHP Contra Costa Area officers received reports of sideshow activity near Franklin Canyon Road and State Route 4 (Hwy 4) in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Hercules.

As officers responded, a silver Infiniti sedan involved in the sideshow fled the area and entered westbound SR-4 by driving the wrong way. A CHP patrol unit already on Hwy 4 immediately began a traffic break to slow traffic and protect motorists from the approaching vehicle.

Moments later, officers spotted the Infiniti, with its lights turned off, driving the wrong way on the westbound shoulder of Hwy 4 east of McEwen Road.

Without hesitation, the officers positioned their patrol vehicle in the path of the wrong-way driver to shield the public from the oncoming vehicle. The Infiniti continued toward the patrol vehicle and crashed head-on into it. After the crash, the driver ran from the vehicle, but officers quickly detained him. Two adult female passengers were also detained.

The two passengers suffered suspected minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital, where they are expected to recover. One CHP officer was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and later released. After receiving medical clearance, the driver was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

The driver, Seth Antonio Edwards, 22, of Pittsburg, faces charges including driving the wrong way on a freeway while fleeing, resisting arrest, participating in a speed contest and driving without a valid driver’license.

The officers’ quick and courageous actions prevented what could have been a far more serious tragedy.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Edwards is Black and bonded out of custody on Saturday, June 27th at 3:06 PM.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

13 firearms removed from Richmond streets since May 1st

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Source: Richmond PD

By Richmond Police Department

Since May 1st, Richmond Police Officers have proactively confiscated 13 firearms from our streets through proactive policing efforts. These firearms were recovered because our officers are out every day and every night working to keep Richmond safer.

Each firearm taken off the street has the potential to prevent violent crime, save a life, and make our neighborhoods safer. Behind every recovery are officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our community and ensure Richmond remains a safer place for everyone.

The Richmond Police Department remains committed to reducing gun violence through proactive policing, strong community partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. We are proud of the work our officers do every day and thank our community for continuing to partner with us to help keep Richmond safe.

Coroner ID’s woman killed by Amtrak train in Port Costa

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The 18-year-old woman had a broken heart tattoo on her inner left wrist which helped in her identification. Photo: CCC Sheriff-Coroner’s Division

Just 18 years old; possibly same girl as went missing in Bakersfield last year

By Jimmy Lee, PIO, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Coroner’s Division

On May 4, 2026, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Coroner’s Division requested the public’s assistance in trying to identify a person, who despite multiple efforts, could not be identified.

After notifying local media and posting the information and photograph of a tattoo on social media, a person spoke to a Coroner Investigator stating she believed she knew the unidentified person and was able to provide a name. The person who spoke to the investigator was a social worker.

The Coroner’s Division continued their investigation and was later able to positively identify her. Next of kin were notified. She is identified as Layla White who was 18 years old at the time. Her last known address could not be determined.

Background: on February 16, 2026, a woman was struck by a train in Port Costa. The incident was investigated by Amtrak Police and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. The person was pronounced deceased at the scene. The manner of death was later determined to be a suicide. The Coroner’s Division took custody of the body but could not identify the person who did not have any identification.

The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the community for their interest in this case. Social media posts on our Facebook and X on the Jane Doe case generated nearly 250,000 views and 465 shares. In the end, a single person who saw the Facebook post provided a name. Investigators were able to positively identify her and provide some answers and closure to the family.

According to a report by KGET News, a 17-year-old girl named Layla White, matching the description of the 18-year-old in the Contra Costa case, went missing in Bakersfield on August 20, 2024, according to police.

Construction begins on first mental health rehabilitation center in Contra Costa County

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Contra Costa Health Director of Behavioral Health Dr. Suzanne Tavano, CEO Dr. Grant Colfax and District 1 County Supervisor John Gioia (second, third & fourth from left) are joined by former Contra Costa Mental Health Commissioner Teresa Pasquini (green jacket) and others as they prepare to ceremonially break ground on the new Contra Costa Recovery Center in a renovated and repurposed existing building in Richmond on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Photo & rendering: CC Health

Located in Richmond, three more planned in Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg and Antioch

By Contra Costa Health

Contra Costa County broke ground Wednesday, June 17, 2026, on a new 45-bed facility in Richmond that will expand local long-term behavioral health treatment capacity for residents with serious mental illness.

The project will renovate and repurpose an existing one-story county-owned building on the Brookside Shelter campus into a mental health rehabilitation center — the first facility of its kind in Contra Costa County. The new Contra Costa Recovery Center will provide longer-term treatment and stabilization services in a secure residential setting for adults recovering from severe psychiatric conditions.

Mental health rehabilitation centers provide sub-acute treatment services for people who require longer-term stabilization following stays in acute care hospitals, state hospitals or detention settings. They are secure, locked facilities designed for clients who are conserved and need intensive support as part of their recovery process.

The Recovery Center is expected to open in June 2027 and will offer county residents a nearby option in Contra Costa for such care. Currently, residents are placed in similar facilities in other counties.

“This project represents a significant step forward in strengthening our local behavioral health system and ensuring residents can receive specialized care closer to home,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, CEO of Contra Costa Health.

The approximately 20,000-square-foot facility will undergo a full interior remodel to provide 24/7 care and rehabilitation services for eligible adults living with serious mental illness. The renovated building will include client care suites and sleeping rooms, medical and wellness spaces and an outdoor recreation area.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the new 45-bed facility in Richmond that will expand local long-term behavioral treatment capacity for residents with serious mental illness

The project is being funded with an $18.6 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Services through its Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). As part of the state funding agreement, the County met the required 10% match through equity in the property and committed to operating the facility for behavioral health purposes for at least 30 years.

“This investment reflects Contra Costa County’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to compassionate, high-quality behavioral health care,” said District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, who represents the West County district where the facility is located. “By creating local treatment capacity, we can better support some of our most vulnerable residents and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and the broader community.”

In a post-event interview by Gioia with Director of Behavioral Health Dr. Suzanne Tavano asking why the facility is needed she said, “This has been a 25-year dream and goal to make this happen. Until this opens members of our community who need this level of care are really going outside the county sometimes…hundreds of miles.” It keeps people in the community, “So they’re in familiar surrounds, in proximity to friends and relatives and also, we as the treatment people could stay in really regular contact and help them on their journey, help move them as they progress through the delivery system and into the community.”

In a post on LinkedIn following the event, former Contra Costa Mental Health Commissioner, mental health advocate and author, Teresa Pasquini, wrote, “Thank you, Dr. Tavano, Dr. Colfax, and Supervisor Gioia, for inviting me to join this celebration of a dream I have carried for over twenty years.” She was first appointed by Gioia in 2006 and also shared about her efforts following the experience with her son who suffers from serious mental illness.

After the event, Gioia wrote on his Facebook page that Pasquini’s “Love-driven and tireless advocacy has pushed our county to become a better place for those dealing with mental health struggles.”

This Recovery Center is one of four BHCIP-funded projects in Contra Costa under development offering various levels of support for people dealing with mental illness or substance use disorders. The others, which have yet to start construction, will be located in Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg and Antioch. These projects were identified during a comprehensive 2022 needs assessment done with the goals of building local behavioral health capacity and providing equitable service.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Drone technology helps capture dangerous suspect following wrong-way pursuit, collision in Richmond

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Screenshots of Richmond Police drone video shows pursuit of suspect driving wrong way on city streets and I-80 freeway. Source: Richmond PD

Police K-9 Bane assists

By Richmond Police Department

On Monday, May 15, 2026, Richmond Police officers responded to reports of a reckless driver who was intentionally driving on the wrong side of the roadway in an apparent attempt to cause a collision.

When officers arrived, the suspect intentionally accelerated his vehicle toward a responding officer, forcing the officer to take immediate evasive action. A vehicle pursuit was authorized; however, after the suspect turned off his headlights and entered the freeway traveling the wrong direction, the pursuit was safely terminated.

Shortly afterward, the suspect collided with another vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area where the suspect laid down and hid in the bushes.

Screenshots of Richmond Police drone video show suspect colliding with another vehicle while driving the wrong direction on I-80, then exiting his car and a police K-9 finding him hiding in the bushes. Source: Richmond PD

During the search, a K-9 officer yelled out, “Richmond PD K-9 unit. You are under arrest. Surrender, now. If the dog finds you, he may bite you.”

Fortunately, Richmond Police Department’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program was overhead throughout the entire incident, providing officers with real-time aerial intelligence and maintaining continuous visual contact with the suspect. This critical technology, combined with the efforts of our officers and K-9 Bane, led to the successful apprehension of this dangerous individual.

This incident highlights how innovative public safety technology can help officers make informed decisions, reduce risk to the community, and safely bring dangerous situations to a resolution.

Outstanding teamwork by our patrol officers, K-9 Bane, and DFR operators!

See video on Facebook or Instagram.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Richmond man arrested for killing older brother within hours of fatal assault

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By Lt. Joseph England, PIO, Richmond Police Department

Richmond, CA – As previously reported, the Richmond Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in the 4500 block of Potrero Avenue.

At approximately 9:09 p.m., Richmond Police officers responded to a residence in the 4500 block of Potrero Avenue to assist fire and medical personnel with a medical call for service. Medical personnel requested police assistance after determining the victim’s injuries appeared to be the result of an assault. Officers arrived and found medical personnel performing life-saving measures on 68-year-old Jerome Timmons. Despite their efforts, Timmons succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Officers quickly identified 61-year-old Victor Doyle Blacknell, born 6/24/1964, as the suspect and determined that the victim and suspect were siblings. Detectives from the Richmond Police Department Homicide Unit responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation.

The preliminary investigation indicates Timmons and Blacknell were involved in a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation. Following the assault, Blacknell fled the scene. Officers quickly developed information regarding Blacknell’s whereabouts and responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Maine Avenue, where he was safely taken into custody without incident.

The investigation remains in its early stages, and detectives are continuing to determine what led to the altercation. Blacknell remains in custody and has been booked on one count of murder, in violation of California Penal Code 187(a). He is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, seven-inch tall, 175-pound Blacknell is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Richmond Police Department Investigations Bureau at (510) 621-1288.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

During San Pablo traffic stop motorcyclist arrested for over 100 grams of meth

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108 ounces of meth confiscated on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Photo: San Pablo PD

By San Pablo Police Department

Tonight’s Attempt at a Getaway: 0/10 Stars

On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at approximately 8:40 p.m., officers attempted a traffic stop on a motorcycle that was missing one important accessory: license plates.

As soon as the rider spotted the officer, he decided to test his luck and accelerated away. Unfortunately, while attempting to pass another vehicle, he failed to notice the center median and introduced himself to it rather abruptly.

Spoiler alert: he did not get away.

During a search, officers located approximately 108 grams of methamphetamine. The rider was treated for minor injuries and received a complimentary ride in an ambulance.

As for the motorcycle… let’s just say it took the collision a little harder than its rider did.

Back-to-back gun arrests by San Pablo Police graveyard officers

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Guns confiscated during arrests on June 14 and 15, 2026. Photos: San Pablo PD

Richmond police assist

Included two juveniles, one sent to Juvie Hall, the other released to guardian

By San Pablo Police Department

Zero Dark Thirty Activities

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, at around midnight, San Pablo Police graveyard officers pulled over a car at the intersection of Church Lane and Dover Avenue for a vehicle code violation.

The officers were instantly greeted by the unmistakable smell of marijuana drifting out the car. Officers saw the driver acting nervously and appeared to be hiding something in his waistband. Based off these peculiar behaviors, officers asked the driver to step out of the car. Low and behold, Officers found a loaded gun in his waistband.

The suspect’s midnight joyride was cut short, and he was promptly fitted with silver bracelets and booked into the local Juvenile Hall.

The gun was found to be stolen and no person in the car was over the age of 21 with a medical permit.

On Monday, June 15, 2026, around 11 p.m. graveyard officers pulled over a car at the area of San Pablo Avenue and Van Ness Street for a vehicle code violation. The male driver must have thought the officer’s lights and siren were a polite suggestion, so he decided to not stop for a few blocks. When the car eventually stopped, officers got out of their cars, but simultaneously so did two female passengers at a much hastier pace.

The wild sequence of events unfolded as follows:

One female took off running, but while being chased, she decided to shed some weight by casually tossing a loaded 9mm Glock on someone’s lawn. Spoiler alert, she was shortly captured after.

Another female decided her best camouflage was to hide directly underneath a parked car. Shout out to the helpful neighbors who ratted her out to our officers!

Less of an aerodynamic (but just as effective) arrest. This female was found to be a juvenile out past her bedtime.

Meanwhile, the male driver left the two females and casually drove to his home in Richmond where Richmond Police Department officers were patiently waiting for his arrival for his complimentary ride to jail.

The car was slapped with a 30-day vacation at the tow yard, the adults were sent off to the county jail, and the juvenile was released to her guardian.

Richmond Police investigate Tuesday night homicide

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By Richmond Police Department

The Richmond Police Department is currently investigating a homicide that occurred in the 4500 block of Potrero Avenue.

Officers responded to the area and are actively conducting an investigation. Detectives remain on scene gathering evidence and following up on leads.

At this time, there is no additional information available for release. More details will be provided as they become available and when it is appropriate to do so without compromising the investigation.

We ask community members to avoid the immediate area and expect an increased police presence while investigators complete their work.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Richmond Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through the department’s tip line at (510) 223-1214.

The Richmond Police Department appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.

More information will be released when available.

Suspect in fatal Richmond shooting arrested in Concord

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By Richmond Police Department

The Richmond Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting that occurred on May 29, 2026, in the 200 block of West Nevin Avenue.

At approximately 6:27 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired and located an adult victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by responding officers, the victim tragically succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

Through rapid investigative work, officers quickly identified a possible suspect and associated vehicle. Investigators utilized Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology to track the suspect vehicle as it traveled from Richmond into Concord.

With the assistance of the Concord Police Department, the suspect was located and taken into custody without incident later that evening. The suspect has been booked on charges of murder (PC 187).

The Richmond Police Department is grateful for the assistance provided by the Concord Police Department and is pleased that Flock ALPR technology served as a critical investigative tool, helping investigators identify and arrest a homicide suspect within approximately eight hours of the shooting.

This case highlights the value of technology, strong investigative work, and regional law enforcement partnerships in helping bring violent offenders into custody quickly.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances and motive surrounding this incident.

We extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Richmond Police Department Investigations Bureau at (510) 621-1288.

The suspect’s name, age and other details have been requested. Please check back later for any updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.