Contra Costa DA convicts Hayward man for robbery, hate crime during January Israel-Gaza protest in El Cerrito
Christopher Husary at the protest in El Cerrito (center and bottom) on Jan. 6, 2024. Source Facebook posts on Feb. 7, 2024. During a different event (right). Source: Instagram post on 2-1-24
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office secured a conviction against a 36-year-old Hayward man for hate crime and robbery offenses that took place on January 6, 2024, during an Israel-Gaza protest in El Cerrito.
Christopher Khamis Victor Husary pleaded guilty to one count of robbery [PC 211] and a hate crime enhancement [PC 422.75] for his actions during a demonstration related to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza’s Palestinian territory. During the protest and counter-protest, Husary used force and intimidation to unlawfully take a national flag of Israel from a woman (Jane Doe) and proceeded to burn it. (See related articles here and here)
Senior Deputy District Attorney Aron DeFerrari prosecuted the case and On October 9th, The Honorable Judge Charles Burch sentenced Husary to 364 days in County jail and two years of probation. His sentence is set to begin on January 2, 2025.
After Husary left the courthouse in Martinez, New York City police officers were waiting to arrest him for allegedly harassing a Jewish subway passenger on June 10th while out on bail for the El Cerrito case.
District Attorney Diana Becton emphasized: “Everyone has the right to express their beliefs under the First Amendment and we deeply appreciate those who bravely stood up for their rights despite attempts by the defendant to silence them. As I said when this case was filed earlier this year, the First Amendment does not protect people who threaten others, cause injury, engage in intimidation, or damage property. And when harmful actions are motivated by bias against a person’s race, gender, religion, or national origin, it constitutes a hate crime.
Case No. 02-24-00279 | The People of the State of California v. Husary, Christopher
Richmond man with history of arrests charged with rape, kidnapping, sexual battery of elderly female
Arrested multiple times since 2017 for indecent exposure, soliciting lewd acts, more; will be arraigned Monday
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County DA’s Office
Martinez, California – The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed a three-count felony complaint against a Richmond man on offenses related to rape, kidnapping and sexual battery. 30-year-old Eduardo Moreno (born 5/22/94) was placed into custody at the Martinez Detention Facility after Richmond Police Officers arrested him on October 9th.
Moreno attacked an elderly female victim at a bus stop on San Pablo Avenue and Barrett Avenue around 5:50 am on October 5th. At the time, Moreno was reportedly engaged in a lewd act upon himself at the bus stop area when the victim saw him and asked him to stop. Moreno, angered, grabbed the victim and forcibly dragged her into a nearby alley where he raped her and fled. During their investigation, police officers were able to obtain evidence of the incident, which aided in Moreno’s eventual arrest.
“We are grateful the investigative work of Richmond Police led to the arrest of the suspect in a relatively swift manner, said District Attorney Diana Becton. “We will work diligently in seeking justice and accountability through the courts in the ongoing public safety work we do for our county’s residents.”
Moreno will be arraigned on Monday at 1:30 pm in Martinez on the following charges:
PC 261(a)(2) – Forcible rape with an enhancement [PC 667.61(a) and (d)]
PC 209(b)(1) – Kidnapping to commit another crime
PC 243.4(a) – Sexual battery by restraint
According to localcrimenews.com, Moreno has a history of arrests dating back to March 12, 2017, by multiple agencies including Richmond, Union City and Fremont PD’s and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies for crimes including weapons violations, DUI, and five times for indecent exposure and four times for soliciting a lewd act, including once in 2023 and child endangerment. His most recent arrest was last month on an outstanding warrant.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Moreno is 5-feet, 10-inches tall, weighs 175 lbs. and as of Saturday, October 12th, is being held in the West County Detention Facility on no bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 8:30 AM. in Superior Court Dept. 05.
Case No. | 02-24-01381 The People of the State of California v. Moreno, Eduardo
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Contra Costa, Richmond, Antioch awarded state grants to house people living in homeless encampments
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Governor Newsom awards $130.7 million in Round 3 of program to help 18 California communities
Also creating a collaborative program between the state and targeted communities to streamline the cleanup of encampments
SACRAMENTO – Oct. 4, 2024 — Expanding the state’s unprecedented support for local communities to create new housing and address homelessness, Governor Newsom announced Friday, the state is awarding $130.7 million to 18 local governments to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support. The grants are from Round 3 of the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development. The Governor also announced new accountability measures, requiring award recipients to adhere to all state housing and homeless laws — as well as remain in compliance with their Housing Elements — or risk losing funding and face other enforcement actions.
The Round 3 funds awarded Friday will go to 12 cities, four counties and two Continuums of Care (CoCs) and are intended to resolve critical encampment concerns and address the housing and health and safety needs of 3,364 people living in encampments, and permanently house 1,565 people.
Of the total amount the City of Richmond was awarded $9,336,746, the City of Antioch will receive $6,812,686 and the County of Contra Costa was granted $5,708,516. Of the 18 agencies, Contra Costa County scored the highest followed by Richmond.
“We’re supporting local communities’ efforts to get people out of encampments and connected with care and housing across the state. It’s important and urgent work that requires everyone to do their part. The state has committed more than $27 billion to help local governments tackle the homelessness crisis — and we want to see $27 billion worth of results,” said Governor Newsom.
Source: CA Dept of HCD
$1 billion in funding to clear encampments
Governor Newsom has made unprecedented investments to address the housing and homelessness crises, with $40 billion invested to help communities create more housing and $27 billion provided to communities for homelessness. Today’s new grants are part of the state’s $1 billion Encampment Resolution Funds (ERF), which help communities address dangerous encampments and support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
So far, the program has invested $737 million for 109 projects or encampments across 21 counties, 41 cities and 5 CoCs to help 20,888 people throughout the state, helping 20,888 people transition out of homelessness.
“These grants will ensure local communities take a person-centered, trauma-informed approach as they help their most vulnerable residents transition to safe and stable housing,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “The Encampment Resolution Fund grants are infusing critical resources in communities up and down California so that unhoused Californians can access the essential housing and supportive services they need to achieve long-term stability.”
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Greater accountability
As a condition of receiving the funding, the awardees must agree to increased accountability and compliance measures. These new accountability measures build on the current requirements that all grantees adhere to state and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to construction, health and safety, labor, fair employment practices, environmental protection, equal opportunity, fair housing, and all other matters applicable and/or related to the ERF program.
The Governor’s new measures expressly require local governments to maintain a compliant housing element, as well as adhere to all planning, permitting, entitlement, fair housing, and homelessness laws.
Non-compliance with these measures may result in the state revoking and clawing back awarded funds in addition to potential enforcement actions by the state’s Housing Accountability Unit. This ensures that grant recipients remain accountable and protects state funding.
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Care, compassion, collaboration
Today’s announcement follows the Governor’s executive order urging local governments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (CalTrans) existing encampment policy.
Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
Since July 2021, California has cleared more than 12,000 encampments and has removed 267,611 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects.
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Delegated Maintenance Agreements
The Governor also announced today a new collaborative program that will help streamline the cleanup of encampments by establishing agreements between the state and targeted local communities. The agreements will remove jurisdictional boundaries and allow locals to address encampments on state property and receive reimbursement for their efforts.
To help provide additional guidance and direction for local governments, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness has posted webinars and resources to help communities address encampments.
Below are the other 10 cities, three counties and two Continuums of Care awarded Round 3 ERF grants:
- City of Berkeley – $5,395,637
- City of Carlsbad – $2,994,225
- City of Los Angeles – $11,351,281
- City of Palm Springs – $5,106,731
- City of Petaluma – $8,098,978
- City of Redlands — $5,341,800
- City of Sacramento — 18,199,661
- City of San Jose —- $4,821,083
- City of Victorville — $6,365,070
- City of Visalia —- $3,000,000
- County of Riverside — $12,612,779
- County of San Bernardino — $11,000,000
- City and County of San Francisco – $7,975,486
- Humboldt County — Continuum of Care – $3,784,294
- Pasadena – Continuum of Care – $2,772,801
“Our team is energized by this opportunity to help bring people-centered, Housing First solutions to Californians who are unsheltered throughout the state,” said Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which has administered ERF since the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year. “Combined with the investments in permanent supportive housing made possible by voter approval of Proposition 1, the state has unprecedented momentum to make monumental progress on a crisis of homelessness that has been growing for decades.”
The awards announced Friday utilize all remaining FY 2023-24 ERF funds. An additional appropriation of $150 million in the FY 2024-25 State Budget allowed HCD to award all eligible ERF Round 3, Window 2 applicants. The budget also included $100 million in ERF funds for FY 2025-26, bringing to $1 billion this investment to address encampments through proven housing solutions.
Each agency was required to apply for the ERF program.
The grants will provide stable, safe housing for individuals living in encampments in their respective communities. The awarded proposals will assist individuals living in encampments with compassion and dignity by providing a range of housing solutions: permanent housing; interim housing for individuals seeking coordinated entry system resources or housing vouchers; housing navigation services and rapid rehousing subsidies; support for accessing permanent housing by providing security deposits and other moving expenses; and allowing awardees to acquire property for housing.
Each agency was required to apply for the grant program
Pablo Espinoza, Deputy Director of Communications, CA Department of HCD Media and Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
EarthGrid announces $18B funding to deploy U.S. underground utility projects
EarthGrid’s 2-Torch Plasma-Boring System Operating on Limestone. Source: EarthGrid
Groundbreaking joint venture with Kuwait-based EnerTech will use Point Richmond company’s plasma boring technology
Enables critical infrastructure improvements, increased grid capacity and resiliency to meet rising clean power demands
POINT RICHMOND, Calif./PRNewswire/ — EarthGrid, a Bay-area plasma tunnel-boring technology and infrastructure development company, announced Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, that it has signed a joint venture agreement with EnerTech, a Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) entity, to deploy infrastructure projects in four phases across the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
https://earthgrid.io/
The first two phases consist of, in estimate, $18 billion in U.S. infrastructure improvement projects. Utilizing EarthGrid’s patented plasma-powered machines, this joint venture will develop a network of underground tunnels designed to upgrade the current power grid and fiber networks with reliability, efficiency, and resiliency while accelerating the clean power transition.
To meet the U.S. goal of reaching net-zero economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, more than a million miles of new transmission will be required over the span of three decades. Compounding this challenge is that more than 70% of current transmission lines are over 25 years old, aged over half their 50-year expected lifetime. Through this joint venture, EarthGrid will enable more than 100 gigawatts of new renewable energy to be added to the U.S. grid while also solving grid congestion in strategic locations.
“On average, it takes 10 to 20 years to develop, permit, and build new overhead transmission lines, making it evident that an alternative approach is critical to meet the needs of U.S. environmental goals,” said Troy Helming, EarthGrid founder and CEO. “Through our joint venture with EnerTech, a cleantech and infrastructure developer, we are proud to support the much-needed evolution of the U.S. power grid, enabling clean energy and improving core infrastructure development.”
While overhead transmission lines are time-consuming to complete, traditional undergrounding is also slow, more costly than overhead lines, and performs poorly against hard rock, which can, in turn, result in abandoned or very delayed projects. EarthGrid’s plasma-boring technology and proprietary approach significantly reduces the time and costs of undergrounding methods without harmful chemicals, primarily powered by clean energy.
EarthGrid’s cleantech undergrounding approach aligns with EnerTech’s goals to deploy breakthrough technology globally, with projects initiated first in the U.S., and subsequently, in Europe and the Middle East, to accelerate the deployment of clean energy options worldwide. “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with EarthGrid to deploy what we believe is the fastest and most cost-efficient tunnel boring technology by far to improve core infrastructure,” said Abdullah Al Mutairi, EnerTech CEO.
As a registered telecommunications utility in 46 states (CPCN), EarthGrid offers its customers and partners preferred access to rights of way alongside public roadways to expedite underground fiber projects. EarthGrid intends to secure permits, as needed, to add additional infrastructure to its tunnels and trenches, including power, water, and robotic freight tubes.
Ultimately, this joint venture’s project pipeline will be deployed in collaboration with an ecosystem of key capital, strategic and government stakeholders globally, including utilities, data centers, and clean energy companies.
EarthGrid was represented by a U.S law firm, Glaser Weil, with Jeff Joyner, senior partner of the firm, playing a key role in executing the deal through his extensive experience in sustainable solutions.
About EarthGrid
EarthGrid, founded in 2016, is a plasma boring technology and infrastructure company specializing in proprietary, groundbreaking plasma tunnel-boring technology that can revolutionize the grid infrastructure in the U.S. Its goal is to create a network of underground tunnels to transmit clean energy and high-speed broadband across the U.S. In addition to expanding electricity capacity, EarthGrid aims to enhance the safety, security, and reliability of grid infrastructure, housing critical infrastructure underground to avoid the crippling effects of natural disasters. Follow EarthGrid on LinkedIn and YouTube.
About EnerTech
Established in 2012, EnerTech’s mission is to initiate its own development projects and participate in projects within the energy, clean technology, recycling, water, waste management, and renewable energy sectors. EnerTech is a Kuwait-based state-owned entity with full ultimate ownership by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), currently one of the world’s oldest and largest sovereign wealth funds.
Media Contact: jocelyn@warnerpr.com
Kaiser Permanente’s Contra Costa hospitals recognized for providing high-quality care for heart, stroke patients
Photo: Kaiser Permanente
Antioch, Richmond and Walnut Creek locations among 20 to receive American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure and Stroke Gold Plus awards
KP clinicians and staff work together to deliver excellent cardiac and stroke care using evidence-based treatment protocols rooted in high-quality scientific research
By Kerri Leedy, Media and Public Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente
OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are being recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for following nationally recognized, research-based guidelines when diagnosing and treating heart failure and stroke patients, leading to more lives saved.
The following Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals have received both the AHA Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure and the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Gold Plus awards: Antioch, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Fresno, Modesto, Oakland, Redwood City, Roseville, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, South San Francisco, Vacaville and Vallejo. Kaiser Permanente Manteca received the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Silver Plus award.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in the country, respectively. This national recognition from the AHA reflects Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s commitment to providing high-quality heart and stroke care, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer hospital readmissions.
“This recognition is a tribute to our physicians, cardiac specialists, and care teams, who are dedicated to delivering high-quality, comprehensive cardiac care and treatment to their patients,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “As a result, we are widely recognized for consistently delivering nation-leading clinical outcomes that enable our members and patients to live healthier and longer lives.”
Kaiser Permanente Northern California cardiac care specialists treat a broad range of heart conditions, frequently performing life-saving procedures. Using a team-based approach to care, Kaiser Permanente’s connected system enables our cardiologists to share knowledge across locations and specialties. In our communities, Kaiser Permanente members are 33% less likely to experience premature death due to heart disease, according to a 2022 research study.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California is also a leader in stroke care, and our integrated model of care supports close affiliation between our stroke care clinicians and cardiac researchers and specialists.
“The comprehensive cardiac and stroke care and support we provide is leading to better health outcomes for our members and patients,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “This recognition shows how we use our integrated care model to make sure patients get the care they need so they can recover faster, be healthier, and live longer.”
The Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure award is earned by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
The Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke award is earned by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve nearly 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
CCHealth, Contra Costa College offer SPIRIT course for recovery training
Behavioral Health Service Provider Individualized Recovery Intensive Training for young adults with mental health conditions, substance abuse disorder, or both, and parents
Application deadline: October 4, 2024
SPIRIT is a 9-unit college course taught in collaboration with Contra Costa College from January – May on Monday’s and Wednesday’s and June – July on Mondays (in person) with 10 hours a week internship equaling 60 hours. The course teaches students how to develop core skills to empower themselves by attaining and maintaining recovery and resiliency through self-awareness and peer/family support, while learning to assist others in doing the same. The completion of this class leads to a Certificate.
This program is intended for individuals who fit at least one of the following criteria:
- A person who has self-identified as having lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or
- A transition-age youth or young adult 18 – 26 who has self-identified as having lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or
- A person with lived experience as a self-identified family member of an adult experiencing a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or
- A person who is parenting or has parented a child or adult experiencing a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or both. This person may be a birth parent, adoptive parent, or family member standing in for an absent
Goals
- To become more empowered, explore potential and help others learn resiliency and empowerment skills.
- To gain an understanding of the importance of peer and family support as an integral part of the recovery and resiliency journey, as well as to the overall behavioral health system of
- To gain a working understanding of Contra Costa Behavioral Health’s system of care which includes, Mental Health Services, Housing and Homeless Services, Alcohol and Other Drug Services, and Health Services broadly, and recovery/resiliency-oriented techniques and
- To identify, develop and sustain your personal support system, develop and use a personal Wellness Recovery Action Plan and to help others to incorporate these skills into their personal wellness process.
- To become more aware of community resources which aid peers and their families, including young adults and children in living successfully within the larger
- To explore career options that will help you develop the skills enabling you to find meaningful activity and to learn skills and participate in internship training in the behavioral health
The Behavioral Health Service Provider Individualized Recovery Intensive Training (SPIRIT) includes two components; the comprehensive classroom training and support program, followed by the individualized Work-Study placement. This program is a collaboration between Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services (CCBHS), Office for Peer and Family Empowerment, and Contra Costa College (CCC).
Application Deadline and Mailing Information
Application Process: This APPLICATION is due by October 4, 2024
Please submit your completed application to:
Attention SPIRIT
Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services
Office for Peer and Family Empowerment
1340 Arnold Drive Suite 200, Martinez, CA 94553
Fax (925) 957-5156
For further information about the SPIRIT Training or application, please contact: Bianca Connor at: Bianca.Connor@cchealth.org (925) 957-5141 or (925) 839-0669 Victoria Fairchild at: Victoria.Fairchild@cchealth.org (925) 957-5143 or (925) 723‑2729.
Training Components
- Intensive Training (SPIRIT I and II): The classroom training takes place during the Spring 2025 college semester (starting in January 2025) in partnership with Contra Costa College. It consists of two separate 3 unit college classes (6 units / 93 hours total), SPIRIT I and SPIRIT Students take SPIRIT I for the first half of the semester, and then SPIRIT II during the second half of the semester. Students may not participate in SPIRIT II without successful completion of SPIRIT I.
- Work-Study/Summer Internship (SPIRIT III): The work study portion of SPIRIT takes place during the summer 2025 college semester (3 units / 18 hours total), and includes a six-week, 60-hour internship at a human service agency with once-a-week classroom instruction. Students must successfully complete both SPIRIT I and II to participate in SPIRIT III. Students receive 3 units of college credits for successfully completing SPIRIT III (a total of 9 units / 111 hours of class time and 60 hours of internship.
- Allowance: All students will be eligible for an allowance to assist with transportation and other expenses needed to complete the training.
Download the application form, here – SPIRIT Application 2025.
San Pablo Old Town neighborhood cleanup Saturday, Aug. 3
Join our Neighborhood Champion, Maria Alvarado, for community cleanup event in the “Old Town” neighborhood on Saturday, August 3. Meet at 1701 Bush Avenue (corner of 17th Street) and cleanup along Sutter Avenue and Post Avenue. #sanpablo #wearesanpablo #sanpabloshines
5 arrested for July 4th shooting death of man in Pittsburg
Victim Markel Benson-Braggs was 23 years old and leaves behind a one-year-old son. Photo source: GoFundMe.
2 in Rodeo, 3 in Pittsburg, four have arrest records; GoFundMe account setup for victim identified as Markel Benson-Braggs, leaves one-year-old young son
By Pittsburg Police Department
PITTSBURG, CA – In the late hours of July 4th, officers from the Pittsburg Police Department responded to a shooting reported near the intersection of W. 10th Street and West Street. Upon arrival, officers found and rendered medical aid to the victim, 23-year-old Markel Benson-Braggs, who was unfortunately pronounced deceased at the scene despite life-saving efforts.
Through swift and thorough investigative efforts, Pittsburg Detectives were able to identify multiple suspects involved in the shooting. On Friday, July 12th, detectives apprehended two suspects, 27-year-old Rohney Lee Stewart (born 2/8/97) and 21-year-old Jaylaun Kael Stewart (born 7/16/03), at a residence in Rodeo.
Continuing their efforts, the Pittsburg Police Department, in collaboration with the Central County SWAT Team and the FBI, executed search warrants at three different residences in Pittsburg early Wednesday morning, July 31st at 5:00 AM. This operation led to the arrest of three additional suspects: 26-year-old Israel Alejandro Dezama (born 6/15/98), 21-year-old Maxamillion Spaceman Holiday (born 7/19/03), 21-year-old Abraham Gomez (born 7/25/03) as well as the recovery of pertinent evidence to the investigation.
The Pittsburg Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community. The safe arrest of these individuals was made possible by the hard work of the men and women of the Pittsburg Police Department and welcomed assistance of our neighboring law enforcement agencies.
The investigation into this tragic event is ongoing, and the case will be presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney for review and prosecution. We ask anyone who has information related to this case to please contact Pittsburg Police Department Dispatch at 925-646-2441 or Detective Elmore at 925-252-4875.
According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 209-pound Dezama has the most extensive criminal history of the five. He was also arrested on July 14 by Los Angeles PD for evading police with wanton disregard for safety; on June 24, 2024, by Pittsburg Police for possession of marijuana / hashish for sale; on Dec. 30, 2022, by Sacramento Sheriff’s Office for shoplifting less than $950 and organized retail theft; and on Feb. 12, 2022, by Pittsburg Police for being an addict in possession of a firearm possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm on a person or in a vehicle while in a public place, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jaylaun Stewart is from Pittsburg and was also arrested by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies on July 18, 2023, for DUI and again on Feb. 5, 2024, on possession of ammunition and revocation of probation.
Holiday was also arrested by Pittsburg PD on June 11, 2022, for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and the manufacture, import and/or sale of a large-capacity magazine. According to DocketAlarm.com, that case has been ongoing since July 20, 2022, he was released on his own recognizance and has a Felony Jury Trial / Minute Order scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5.
Gomez was also arrested by Pittsburg Police on May 16, 2021, for possession of narcotic or a controlled substance.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, DeZama is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on $1.15 million bail and his next court appearance is scheduled for today, Friday, Aug. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court, as are the five-foot, four-inch tall, 115-pound Holiday, and the five-foot, three-inch tall, 100-pound Gomez.
Rohney Stewart is six-feet tall, 200 pounds, is being held on no bail in the Martinez Detention Facility and his next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5 in Superior Court.
Jaylaun Stewart is five-feet, eight-inches tall, 140 pounds, is being held on $1.4 million bail at the West County Detention Facility and his next court appearance is set for Friday, Aug. 16 in Superior Court.
GoFundMe Account for Victim’s Funeral
A GoFundMe account has been set up by Benson-Braggs’ mother, Sharnita Benson. She wrote, “I’m asking for donations to help with funeral expenses for my 23 yr.old son. Markel Benson-Braggs was a sweet loving father of a one yr old son who was his entire world. Markel was tragically murdered on the 4th of July. He had a career at Tesla Car Factory as a Labor Production Associate. This was a unexpected tragedy making it a very difficult time for our family. Due to the circumstances of our unexpected loss we are asking for donations. Any donation amount will help and is greatly appreciated. Thank You” As of Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, a total of $682 had been raised toward the goal of $10,000.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Bay Area Rescue Mission to hold Back to School Block Party in Richmond Saturday, Aug. 3
The Bay Area Rescue Mission – recently ranked as one of the top 0.1% nonprofits in the nation, addressing those in crisis – is hosting its annual block party in downtown Richmond on Saturday, August 3rd. The event is just one very visual way in which the Rescue Mission is expanding its good works from San Francisco out to the rest of the Bay Area.
The Back to School Block Party will include a Saturday full of fun individual and family activities – from the Backpack Giveaway to a Blessing Boutique, and Food, Groceries and Housewares Giveaways to The Kid’s Fun Zone. The event will give those in need the ability to “shop” for free resources that will help attendees get ready for the school year, prepare for the cold winter months ahead, get complimentary haircuts and much more. All in all, the event promises to have a real impact on the community.
“The 1,200 backpacks we’re giving away on Saturday were all packed by Chevron employees. They’ve been spoken for as people registered for them,” shared CEO Bram Begonia. “This is a huge thing. We close down the streets. We have gently used and new clothes in our Clothing Boutique. We’ll have a grocery give-away.”
We have Contra Costa Community College giving out food. We’ll have 50 community partners, here,” he added.
Asked if people have to register Bram stated, “The only thing people had to sign up for ahead of time was the backpacks.
Located on MacDonald Avenue between 1st and 3rd Streets, the event will run from 10 AM to 2 PM.
For more information about the Rescue Mission visit www.bayarearescue.org.
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