Message from the Chief: Update on police activity, homelessness

By MANJIT SAPPAL
Martinez Police Chief

We sent out information on auto thefts in the last newsletter. I wanted to remind everyone to take the suggested steps to help prevent vehicle theft.

I thought I would also provide an update on our approach to homelessness. We have been working on a collaborative effort with the Contra Costa County Division of Health, Housing, and Homelessness (CH3) and the Pleasant Hill Police Department. CH3 is transforming their approach to homelessness by coordinating the entry into services for homeless individuals. In an effort to continue working on the homeless problem, we will be contracting with the County for services in providing outreach to our homeless population. The outreach will be conducted by a CORE (Coordinated Outreach, Referral, and Engagement) Team of two trained individuals to provide outreach in Martinez for 20 hours per week. The City of Pleasant Hill will also be contracting for services for 20 hours per week and as a group, we will be working together in order to have a meaningful impact on this complex problem.

The CORE Team will have the responsibility for helping people connect with a case worker to get assistance and the CORE Team will also be able to get people to a CARE Center, where they can find refuge, shelter, safety, and substance addiction assistance. There is a CARE center in Concord that is operational and it serves as a mechanism for providing services. Much of how homelessness is being addressed in the County is changing and we are on the front lines of that effort by working in partnership with CH3, as well as with the City of Pleasant Hill, in addressing this problem in Martinez.

We recently assigned an officer to work on the homelessness problem and he will be the liaison with the CORE Team. We anticipate that the initiative will begin by early April 2017.

As for a snapshot of monthly activity this month, here are a few highlights:

• Officer Lincoln was dispatched to 901 Arnold Drive (Public Storage) to assist the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department (CCCSO) with a burglary investigation. During the investigation, Officer Lincoln contacted the male subject who had a misdemeanor out of county warrant for his arrest. The subject was cited and released at the scene for warrant, and was later subsequently arrested by CCCSO for burglary.

• Officer Miller was dispatched to 1600 Court St. (Martinez Jr. High) for a report of a student who made suicidal threats. Officer Miller contacted a student who was identified as transgender. The student was placed on a mental health evaluation and transported to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center by Consolidated Fire.

• East Bay Regional Park Police contacted MPD requesting aid to search for a suspect who fled from them on a stolen motorcycle. The suspect fled in the area of Briones Road and Reliez Valley Road. A perimeter was set and Officer Lincoln began a track with his K9 partner, Jago. A short time later, Officer Estanol and Officer Montano located and detained the subject in the 2600 block of Reliez Valley Road. He was released to the custody of the EBPD.

• Officer Vasquez was dispatched to Mountain Mike’s Pizza for a possible drunk driver. The reporting party stated that a driver of a silver Hyundai was swerving all over the roadway and was last seen pulling into the parking lot. Dispatch identified the registered owner of the vehicle who was found to be the driver. Officer Vasquez contacted the driver at Mountain Mike’s and arrested her for driving under the influence. She was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF).

• Officer Winslett was dispatched to 3334 Alhambra Ave. (Safeway) for a report of a female subject creating a disturbance in the store. Officer Winslett arrived and contacted the subject and learned she had two felony warrants for her arrest out of Sacramento County. The subject was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention facility without incident.

• Officer Montano contacted a male subject walking on the train tracks near Center Avenue. The railroad dispatch was contacted and all train traffic was temporarily halted. The subject was cited and released for obstructing a train.

• Officer Miller was dispatched to the 700 block of Alhambra Avenue for a report of a male subject yelling obscenities and throwing items. Officer Miller contacted the subject, whom he knew from prior police contact, and the subject was displaying signs of alcohol intoxication. Officer Miller contacted the reporting party who stated the subject threw food at her, yelled obscenities, and approached the reporting party aggressively. The reporting party locked herself in her car while the subject banged on the window and yelled at her. The subject was subsequently arrested for Public Intoxication and Assault. He was booked into MDF.

• Officers Winslett and Voyvodich were dispatched to the area of the 1400 block of Stonecreek Court for a report of a subject parked on the street all day. Officer Winslett arrived and contacted a subject in the vehicle who appeared to have been sleeping there. During the contact the subject became uncooperative and drove away. Officer Winslett conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle for displaying improper DMV registration documentation. During the contact, the driver again became angry at the officers and attempted to leave the vehicle after being told to stay in the driver seat. The driver refused the orders of the officers, got out of the car, and reached into the back seat. Officers Voyvodich and Winslett then arrested him for obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties; he was booked into MDF.

• Sgt. Salamid, while on foot patrol in the 600 block of Ward Street, contacted a subject who was yelling obscenities at nearby citizens. The subject displayed obvious signs of alcohol intoxication and had two bottles of bourbon in his possession. Officer Miller arrived and the subject was subsequently arrested for Public Intoxication. He was booked into MDF.

• Officer Montano was dispatched to the 300 block of Ilene Street for a report of a female patient threatening staff. Officer Montano contacted a female subject and after evaluating her, transported her to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation.

• At 1120 hours, Officers Winslett and Buda were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Morello Heights Drive for a report of possible drug activity outside the residence. The reporting party also indicated there was an increase in foot traffic in and around the residence throughout the day. Officers arrived and contacted a male and female outside. When speaking with them, the subjects went into the garage of the residence and did not return. Both subjects are known to the officers and are on active probation in Contra Costa County with a search clause.

At about the same time, a 911 call was placed to dispatch stating a woman had just been shot at Rite Aid on Arnold Drive. Sgt. Salamid, Officer Carney, and Officer Montano quickly arrived at Rite Aid, but discovered the call was false. MPD was able to track the telephone number of the false 911 call to a female associated with the Morello Heights residence. That female is known to officers and has been contacted, as well as arrested at the Morello Heights residence. Officers Winslett, Carney, Estanol, Miller, Montano, Sergeants Salamid and Ferrer, as well as Detective Williamson arrived and attempted to conduct a probation search at the residence, but the occupants refused entry. Entry was ultimately made and 14 subjects were detained in the house. A records check of two of the subjects revealed they had felony warrants for their arrest. Another subject was displaying pronounced symptoms of drug intoxication. All three subjects were subsequently arrested and booked in MDF without incident.

• Martinez Code Enforcement was contacted and responded to a home based on observations of officers. After a preliminary survey, the residence was red tagged as uninhabitable.

• Officer Ramos contacted a subject at Quik Stop at 3700 Alhambra Ave. The subject had a cite-release misdemeanor warrant for his arrest resulting in being cited at the scene.

• Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Arnold Drive for a subject under the influence, yelling and throwing items. Officer Carney contacted the subject, a transient, who was intoxicated. He was booked into MDF.

• Officer Tozier arrested a subject on an outstanding warrant in front of Ferry Street Station.

• Cpl. Baillie conducted a traffic stop in the 800 block of Alhambra Avenue and arrested the passenger, who is seven months pregnant, for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

• Officer Tozier conducted a traffic stop near Alhambra Avenue and Main Street and arrested a subject for driving under the influence of a controlled substance and delaying an officer.

• Officers were dispatched to Launderland, 3206 Alhambra Ave., for the report of a subject asking for socks and talking to herself. Officer Russell contacted the subject and found she was in possession of .5 grams of meth. She was cite released from the scene.

• Sergeant Gaul was on foot patrol at Mt. View Park. He contacted a subject sleeping in the bathroom and found that the subject was on probation for theft with a search clause. A search revealed he was in possession of .5 grams of heroin and syringes. He was cite released from the scene.

• Officer Tozier was dispatched to Morello Heights Circle for a subject entering a house that was previously red tagged by Code Enforcement. He contacted a subject in the driveway of the residence and found the subject had a felony warrant for his arrest. He was booked into MDF.

• Officer Tozier conducted a traffic stop at Jones and Pine Street. He contacted the driver and determined that he was driving under the influence. He was arrested and booked into MDF.

• Officers responded to the 600 block of Main Street for a theft of a hand truck. The suspect fled the scene and Sergeant Gaul located her several blocks away. He contacted her and she was arrested for theft and cite released from the scene.

• Officers were dispatched to the marina for a reckless driver. Officer Miller contacted a subject who was driving a 1997 Honda Accord – the car was determined to be an unreported stolen out of Pleasant Hill. The subject was also in possession of stolen property from numerous victims. He was booked into MDF for auto theft, possession of stolen property, and violating probation.

• Officers Lincoln and Voyvodich responded to the 600 block of Alhambra Way for a vehicle theft. A 2016 cargo trailer was stolen from the MUSD lot sometime over the weekend. It was later located in the parking lot of the Sportsmen’s Club on Embarcadero. A 1986 Toyota 4Runner was also stolen from the lot. There are no suspects.

• Officer Breinig contacted two subjects in the 100 block of Morello Heights Circle. Officer Breinig arrested one of them for an outstanding warrant and the other for occupying a red tagged residence. They were both booked into MDF.

• Officer Breinig was dispatched to the 400 block of Jones Street for a subject on the roof. Officer Breinig responded to find the subject still on the roof. The subject was arrested for prowling and was booked into MDF.

• Officer Miller was dispatched to the 4200 block of South Castro Street for an abandoned stolen vehicle. Officer Miller arrived and located a 1992 GMC truck which had been reported stolen by the City of Richmond Police Department. The vehicle was recovered and towed.

• Officer Montano was dispatched to the area of Alhambra Avenue at F Street for a report of a subject laying near the bus stop bleeding. Officer Montano contacted the subject and determined he was too intoxicated to care for his own safety. Due to his injuries and level of intoxication, he was not fit for booking into MDF. He was subsequently transported by ambulance to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation. A case report was authored and a request for prosecution was forwarded to the District Attorney’s office.

• Officer Miller was dispatched to the 700 block of Escobar Street for a report of a theft in progress. Officer Miller arrived after the suspect had fled the scene and he learned that the unknown subject tried to steal beer and was confronted by the store clerk who had armed himself with a Taser. A struggle ensued and the unknown suspect fled only to return a short time later armed with a screw driver challenging the store clerk to a fight. The suspect fled the area prior to Officer Miller arriving, but store video surveillance of the subject allowed Officer Winslett to locate him in the parking area of the Amtrak Station. He was subsequently arrested for 422.6 PC (Civil Rights Violation) and 417 PC (Exhibit a Deadly Weapon). He was booked into MDF.

• Officer Lincoln was conducting a Vehicle Suppression Enforcement (VSET) patrol while attempting a vehicle stop of a motorcycle on Pacheco Boulevard near Shell Avenue. The motorcycle failed to yield and led Officer Lincoln and Sgt. Gaul on a slow speed pursuit onto south bound I-680 and eastbound SR4. Speeds of the pursuit ranged from 45-60 MPH and there was light to moderate traffic. Pleasant Hill Police Department patrol units and CHP units joined the pursuit as it approached Loveridge Road. The rider stopped the motorcycle after it experienced mechanical issues and attempted to run away. PHPD officers tackled him and placed him in custody. Officer Lincoln subsequently arrested the subject for evading, driving under the influence, resisting an officer, and a probation violation; he was booked into MDF.

• Officer Breinig responded to 700 Main St. for a subject causing a problem inside Starbucks. He contacted the subject and arrested him for public intoxication. He was booked into MDF.

• Commander Roth conducted a traffic stop at Soto and Castro St. Officer Brinser responded and arrested the driver for driving under the influence. He was released from the PD.

• Sergeant Salamid was on foot patrol in the 600 block of Main St. when he viewed a heated verbal argument between two adult subjects. Sergeant Salamid contacted the two subjects and determined the male subject had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest. A search of the suspect revealed he had .3 grams of Heroin in his possession and a glass smoking pipe. He was subsequently arrested for the warrant and the possession of drugs along with drug paraphernalia.

• Officer Montano was dispatched to the area of Ferry St. and Main St. for a report of a vehicle collision with a pedestrian. Officer Montano arrived and determined the vehicle collided with a subject in a wheel chair. The victim was transported to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

• Officer Vasquez contacted a woman in the 1600 block of Estudillo Street who was known to Officer Vasquez as having a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested for the warrant, determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and in possession of drug paraphernalia; she was booked into county jail.

• Officers responded to Skyline Dr. to investigate a suspicious person driving in the area then going to resident’s doors asking for help because his battery was dead. Officer Vasquez contacted the individual and determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance as well as in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and booked into county jail.

• Corporal Mayberry was on foot patrol at Amtrak when he contacted an individual from Walnut Creek sleeping by the doorway. It was revealed the individual was wanted for a $30,000.00 no cite misdemeanor warrant for being under the influence of a controlled substance; he was arrested and booked into MDF.

• Officers were dispatched to 124 Morello Heights Circle for possible MMC violations to this red tagged residence (it was previously red tagged pursuant to an investigation by PD and Code Enforcement). Corporal Mayberry located an associated vehicle leaving the area. He stopped the vehicle and contacted two people in the car. One of them was arrested for a felony no bail warrant for a probation violation out of Sonoma County. The other person was arrested for four misdemeanor warrants for numerous drug and restraining order violations. Both were booked into MDF. One of the suspects was also in possession of stolen property from numerous public storage facilities in Contra Costa County. CCCSO detectives were notified and will take possession of all property and interview the suspect at MDF.

• Officers responded to the report of an arson in the 100 block of Midhill Drive – a vehicle was set on fire in the driveway of a home. Arson investigators believed an accelerant was used. No one was injured and the investigation is continuing.

• Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Marina Vista and Mococo Rd for an injury traffic collision. One of the drivers fled the scene on foot, but responding officers apprehended him approximately one-half mile away. An infield show up was conducted and all witnesses confirmed he was the driver. The vehicle driven by the suspect was reported stolen to Napa County S.O. on January 26, 2017. The suspect was at fault in the collision and collided with two other vehicles. Two occupants of one vehicle were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect was booked into MDF for injury hit and run as well as the possession of a stolen vehicle.

• Officer Tozier investigated a report of two juvenile students who had a BB gun rifle on campus during a school dance at Alhambra High School. It was reported after the dance by a concerned citizen who heard one of the students talking about it to a friend. The students were contacted and admitted to hiding in some bushes with the rifle and pointing it at students. They stated it was not loaded and they never intended to discharge the weapon. An investigation was initiated; the parents of the children were contacted and the school will be notified of the incident first thing Monday morning for follow up.

• Corporal Mayberry contacted an individual standing in the Franklin Canyon Park and Ride parking lot. The individual had a $2,500.00 misdemeanor warrant out of Alameda county for drug violations – he was arrested and booked into MDF.

• Sergeant Gaul was conducting foot patrol in the downtown area. He located a subject passed out on the sidewalk behind the Gordon Center, 600 Court St. He contacted the individual, from Lafayette, who was extremely intoxicated. He was arrested for public intoxication and violating probation. He is currently on probation for DUI and is not to consume any alcohol; he was booked into MDF.

• Officer Lincoln initiated an enforcement stop of a vehicle at the intersection of Pacheco Blvd and Arthur Rd. The driver was found to be in possession of 1.0 gram of meth. He was cite released from the scene. • Officer Lincoln, while on the above arrest, witnessed a person known to him drive by. Officer Lincoln knew the driver had a suspended license for DUI; he was stopped and cited for this.

• Officer Leong was dispatched to the 1600 block of Estudillo St. for a suspicious black BMW. He contacted the occupants of the car. He arrested one occupant for possession of a controlled substance for sale and the second occupant for a misdemeanor warrant. Both subjects were booked into MDF.

• Officer Tozier was dispatched to Walmart for a victim of a possible battery. Dispatched learned that the reporting party had a felony warrant out of Kern County; the suspect was arrested per the warrant and booked into MDF.

• Officer Breinig was dispatched to the 400 block of Lassen for a female who was drunk and reportedly out of control. He contacted the suspect and arrested her for public intoxication. She was booked into MDF.