PIEDMONT — A 52-year-old man who allegedly emailed threats to Piedmont Chief of Police Jeremy Bowers and other members of the police department, including “I will show up with a machine gun and kill everyone of you,” has been arrested and charged with three misdemeanor criminal counts, according to authorities and court records. The man, … Read more
OAKLAND — Top brass of the Oakland Police Department on Friday announced arrests in four homicides, including three suspects apprehended this week, and also provided details of recent enforcement actions while vowing to continue their efforts to keep crime down. “We are working hard as a police department to reduce the crime and we are … Read more
SAN JOSE — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a package of bills on Friday intended to crack down on retail, property and auto theft. The 10 bills, which were largely written in collaboration with representatives from big retailers, strengthen existing anti-theft laws and introduce some new legal approaches to prosecuting theft. They largely … Read more
A Fremont mother pleaded guilty this week to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her youngest toddler, who fatally overdosed on the powerful narcotic fentanyl just two weeks shy of his second birthday. Sophia Gastelum-Vera, 27, formally agreed to the plea deal Wednesday after prosecutors voiced plans to drop a slew of lesser charges in … Read more
HERCULES — The Rodeo-Hercules Fire District could be dissolved in under a year — a change enthusiastically backed by district firefighters but protested by some residents — after the special district’s directors and the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors agreed to move forward with annexation into Contra Costa Fire District. A final vote on … Read more
OAKLAND — A second suspect has been arrested and charged in the fatal shooting last month of a rising rapper shortly after she performed at a grand opening for a North Oakland beauty supply business, according to authorities and court documents. Richard Romano, 32, is charged with murder, assault with a firearm and being a … Read more
OAKLAND — A judge ruled Wednesday that only three of the four alleged burglars suspected in the killing of Oakland police veteran Tuan Le should stand trial for murder — suggesting a lookout for the other men shouldn’t be held responsible for the officer’s death. Alameda County Judge Delia Trevino found enough evidence existed for … Read more
ANTIOCH – A 23-year-old Antioch man is facing attempted murder and animal cruelty charges in connection with a weeks-long crime spree, according to authorities. Francisco Hernandez first shot and killed a friend’s dog during a dispute on July 15 in the 2300 block of Cypress Street, Antioch police Lt. Desmond Bittner said in a news … Read more
Starkly different pictures emerged this week of a reputed Berkeley gang member accused in a series of killings roughly 15 years ago, painting the man as either a ruthless triple murderer or a falsely-accused victim of lies and deceptions. Those contrasting views took center stage Tuesday afternoon as a jury began deliberating in the triple-murder … Read more
AC Transit is now using AI-powered cameras to spot vehicles, including taxis, ride-hailing cars and delivery trucks that are illegally parked at transit bus stops. The program, which kicked off Wednesday, covers all bus stops on bus lines throughout the agency’s service area. For the first two months, drivers identified by law enforcement as violating … Read more