Mayor of Concord California » crime

5th Graders Get Stoned at Pittsburg School

DustyHawes64 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:29:55 +0000

Whats really going on these days? It’s bad enough that the drug problems in High School are as bad as they are but now 5th graders are getting high by eating food laced with marijuana? Is it irony that the school is called Stoneman? The CoCo times wrote..

Police were contacted Monday after several fifth-graders at Stoneman Elementary school shared nibbles of a sugary treat made of Fruity Pebbles that contained marijuana.

The fifth-grader who brought the treat to school got it from her adult sister, Lt. Brian Addington said. The older sister told police she received it from a medical marijuana dispensary. The fifth-grader was aware the treat contained marijuana, he said.

They knew it was drugs. The kids claim it came from a medical marijuana clinic. Does that realy make it any better? The older sister who gave this to kids should be charged with child endangerment at the least. Even if the older sister was legally able to have this, it should not be handed out to kids or left for them to get. Am I wrong? I know we are talking about weed but shouldn’t the same consequences be given as a parent who lets their kids get drunk or a dead beat who leaves their meth out for kids to get to?

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BART Police Excessive Force? You decide.

DustyHawes64 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:05:17 +0000

New video from over the weekend shows a BART Police officer dealing with an obnoxious BART passenger. What happens next is clear on the video captured by a train passenger. Lots of debate on the news about if the BART police officer was out of line. What do you think?

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Esteban Nuñez Trial Postponed Again

DustyHawes64 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:16:26 +0000

Esteban Nuñez the 19-year-old son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is out on $1M bail while the courts run around in circles trying to get this case to go to trial. It didn’t take long after the arrest for Esteban’s MySpace profile to get deleted but we got some great screen shots before that happened.

SAN DIEGO COURTS — The trial date for three young men accused in the fatal stabbing of a college student on the San Diego State University campus last year has been postponed again despite the objections of one of the defendants.

After a full day of hearing motions in the case yesterday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert O’Neill pushed the trial for Ryan Jett, Esteban Nuñez and Leshanor Thomas to April 12. It had been set for March 29.

Once again, O’Neill said the change was necessary because of scheduling conflicts among the attorneys.

Jett, the only defendant in the case who remains in County Jail, objected to the delay through his lawyer, Terry Zimmerman.

Zimmerman argued there was no justification to postpone the trial and faulted prosecutors for not producing new evidence, such as a knife owned by a fourth man charged in the case, in a timely fashion.

Prosecutors said they hope to recover the knife next week.

Jett, 23, Nuñez and Thomas, both 20, are charged in the Oct. 4, 2008, fatal stabbing of Luis Santos during a fight on the SDSU campus. Three other people were hurt in the brawl. Nuñez is the son of former state Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez.

Prosecutors contend that the men were angry after getting kicked out of a fraternity party and went looking for a fight. They ran into Santos, 22, who attended Mesa College, and his friends.

Defense lawyers have said their clients acted in self-defense.

- Self defense?!? It was 3 on 1 and they used a knife. It makes me sick!

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Police Searching for Man With Gun in Dana Estates

DustyHawes64 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:32:25 +0000

10:30 PM: Multiple Concord Police units are searching the neighborhood for a man in Dana Estates.White Male, short hair, black shirt or hoodie. He is suspected of shooting another man in the neck and running. Victim was taken to John Muir.

10:40 PM: Ok. Sounds like a gun was involved. They located the bullet shell. Strange, I live in the area and didn’t hear anything.

10:50 PM: Suspect lives in the area of Granada and Wren Ave. CHP Helicopter helping the search.

*witnesses to the shooting knew the suspect and told police approx. where suspect lives.

11:17 PM: Police are canvasing the entire neighborhood looking for this guy. He could be running or hiding in a yard somewhere. If you live in the area of Granada over towards Landana, make sure your doors are locked.

11:25 PM: CHP Chopper heading home. CPD units still on the ground looking for suspect.

11:30 PM Concord Police breaking the perimeter. I guess after an hour, it’s time to move on.

What I don’t understand is that a man was shot in the neck, witnesses saw the direction of travel for the suspect and after an hr, the police just call it a night and move on. Isn’t this a guy we want off the streets? It’s going to be rough sleeping tonight knowing someone was shot down the rad and no one is looking for him.

If there is any comfort to the madness it’s that he’s not some looney shooting random people. Sounds like the victim knew this guy and it is only a matter of time before he’s arrested.

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Mt. Diablo Gun Scare

DustyHawes64 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:53:28 +0000

Rumors went flying around today about a student carrying a gun at Mt. Diablo High School.

I got an email from a reader and then saw the story in the CoCo Times.

The voluntary lockdown began at 2 p.m. at the school, at 2455 Grant Street, Concord police Cpl. Darryl Holcombe said. Two students had been fighting, and as other students found out about the fight, someone started a rumor that one of the participants had brought a gun to school.

I, for one, was not surprised to hear this story. I am glad it turned out to be fake but I as many of my readers were not shocked when the news first came out. I went to Mt. Diablo many years ago and even then it was a tough school with daily fights and many that looked like full riots between gangs or different groups.

The entire school isn’t bad. I know this. I would like to say that a majority of students want to be there, graduate and do something with themselves. The other side of that coin is that there are students that are only there to pass the time, hang out with friends or even ‘conduct business’ on campus.

It wasn’t surprising to see a knife or other weapon in a locker next to yours or see someone in the hall with something in their wasteband that was not a ruler. Mt diablo was and still is in many cases one of the roughest schools in the area and I am talking from experiances from 10+ years ago.

Am I wrong? Is Mt Diablo a better place than it was when I went there? There are still videos on YouTube of some of the fights on Mt Diablo’s campus.

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Where is Justin Clark?

DustyHawes64 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:20:11 +0000

Justin Joseph Clark, a graduate of Concord High School is MISSING and was last seen on July 9, 2009 in San Francisco at Royal Ground Coffee (1605 Polk Street). We do not know why or how he disappeared. After a thorough investigation of his personal, professional and financial life, we have NO CLUES. What we do know, is that he vanished leaving all of his worldly possessions, his relationships and his career behind. Our family and friends were in close communication prior to his disappearance (speaking and visiting with him at least 3 times a week). We felt that we had warm and rewarding relationships with Justin. Although he expressed to us that he felt anxiety in his personal and professional life and he may have benefited from a vacation, he had never previously travelled without communicating with us.

http://www.findjustin.org/

He’s the youngest of three boys. Until his disappearance, he worked as a community nurse in San Francisco.

He’s a very outgoing, communicative, and creative person. He is very adventurous and has traveled extensively around the US and abroad. One trip involved a bike ride from Santa Barbara,CA to Seattle, WA. He loves the creating art (drawing, painting, sculpting) and music (guitar and singing). He also enjoys the outdoors (camping, hiking, rockclimbing, flyfishing) and has a passion for both listening and dancing to music.

If you have any information about Justin Clark, please contact his family at:

(415) 637-4739

Missing.Justin@yahoo.com

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First Photo of Jaycee Dugard

DustyHawes64 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Jaycee Dugard the girl who was kidnapped by Phillip Garrido and held captive for 18 years, has given People Magazine the first look into the new life she is building.

Now living in seclusion with her mom, Terry Probyn, 50, and the two daughters – Angel, 15, and Starlit, 11 – fathered by her alleged kidnapper, Phillip Garrido, Dugard, 29, has begun the slow process of recovery. She rides horses, cooks meals and is thinking of collaborating on a book.

For the full interview, pick up this months issue of People Magazine.

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High Speed Chase in Concord

DustyHawes64 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:41:50 +0000

It all started from a burglary. 3 suspects were seen in Walnut Creek trying to break into a car and gave the Saturns plate that came back stolen. The CHP and Concord Police were chasing a Silver Saturn all around Concord up to speeds of 110 MPH. The suspects were getting on and off Highway 4 going the wrong direction. The Concord Police pulled back the chase when they felt there was too much danger. There was a helicopter in the air following the suspect car so there wasn’t much of a chance that they could get away.

I do worry about all of this chasing in residential areas though. I know the police train for this stuff but criminals don’t. Driving 80-100 MPH through a residential area could have killed people.

The police scanner was going crazy. The CPD was trying to set spike strips along the path but every time they tried, the car went around them.

In the end the car went off the freeway, one suspect ran, two others in the car were arrested immediately. The third suspect was arrested soon after.

Good work Concord Police and the CHP!

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Pleasant Hill Shooting Standoff Over. Suspect Dead.

DustyHawes64 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:17:23 +0000

Long day for Pleasant Hill Police. They responded quickly to reports of a man with an AK47. When the police arrived, the suspect started shooting at them. After a long standoff. As tragic as this is, we don’t know why this guy went nuts. In the end, police deployed tear gas through the front door, and the man retreated to the backyard with an assault rifle when the sharpshooter killed him, said Pleasant Hill police Lt. Dan Connelly. No others got hurt in the process.

Not only was the CoCo Sheriff quick to notify people on Twitter and their calling alert system but people in the social media space were sharing information also. From video to conversations in Facebook, anyone with family and friends in the area were talking about the police standoff in Pleasant Hill.

Video from earlier in the day. Videos by Ryan Olson

This is some of a conversation from a friend on Facebook that has family and friends in that area.

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Active Shooter in Pleasant Hill

DustyHawes64 — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:03:50 +0000

A shelter in place has bee activated for residence in the Audry and Baylor Lane neighborhood of Pleasant Hill. I was playing with the boy when I got an alert on my phone from the Contra Costa Sheriff, Community Warning System.

I got to a computer and saw that the news was beginning to spread. Claycord had this information on his site.

Officers have cordoned off Audrey Lane. Area residents have been evacuated or advised to shelter in place.

Efforts are underway to apprehend the suspect and the suspect is believed to be confined to a specific area of Audrey Lane.

Traffic closures are in effect on Contra Costa Blvd from Taylor Blvd to Golf Club Road. Baylor Lane and Audrey Lane are also closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Last word I got was that the police were begining to evacuate parts of the Sunvalley Mall. The Sheriff’s Dept’s last statement was thet the shooter was confined to the Audry Lane area so they are either evacuating the Sunvalley Mall as a safety precausion or the suspect has moved.

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A Menace and Threat to Society

DustyHawes64 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:07:25 +0000

The story of the low flying plane in Concord just took a pleasant turn. Tom Huey was flying around Concord again yesterday. This is the first time he was in my neighborhood and I could see the plane buzzing over the house. The story about this man using his plane to harass his ex has been going on for over a year. He is also suspected of dropping leaflets from the plane containing his ex’s name and racial hatred comments.

Photo credit Claycord

I am glad the CPD arrested this guy when he landed. It’s idiotic to fly your plane so low over residential areas. His antics sparked a backlash by the community that reached from the Concord Police all the way to the FAA. Now that he’s been arrested getting out of the plane seen just moments before flying around the neighborhoods, maybe this guy will be put away for a while to cool his jets.

Police have arrested Tom Huey a California pilot who they say stalked his ex-girlfriend by repeatedly flying his plane low over her house. Concord police Sgt. Tiffiny Leftwich says Tom Huey made several low passes over a residential neighborhood Wednesday evening. A dozen residents called police to complain. Huey was arrested shortly after landing the Beech single-engine aircraft.

Leftwich says police have been investigating reports of a low-flying plane in the area for more than a year. Huey’s girlfriend filed for a restraining order last year, but he was not served until Wednesday afternoon. Huey is being held on $155,000 bail on suspicion of felony stalking and violating a restraining order.

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Esteban Nuñez’s Friend Agrees To Testify To Conspiracy

DustyHawes64 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:37:52 +0000

I received an email regarding the death of Luis Santos. Esteban Nunez the son of State Assemblyman Fabian Nunez is about to have is day in court for murdering a San Diego college student.

This is in regards to the murder of Concord native Luis Santos and his upcoming murder trial be 4 defendants including the son of Fabian Nunez. I wonder how all of the politicos of Nunez’s father feel now after writing all of their letters about what a “good” boy Esteban is…… that’ll come back to bite them in the butt.

-Anon

Of course, the other politicians were probably trying to do Fabian a favor by writing these letters but lets be honest. As the reader points out, these letters could come back to haunt them. How can you support your story about how ‘good’ a kid is when you never actually got to know him. Especially if he’s now going to be testified against by one of the other kids arrested as an accessory to the murder.

_____________

One of four young men charged in the fatal stabbing of a San Diego college student pleaded guilty Thursday and agreed to testify against the others, including the son of former state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.

Rafael Garcia, a college student in Northern California, pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to destroy evidence, including a bloody shirt. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a murder charge against him in the Oct. 4 death of Luis Santos.

As part of a plea bargain, Garcia agreed to testify against three co-defendants: Ryan Jett, Esteban Nuñez and Leshanor Thomas.

Garcia’s attorney, Paul Pfingst, said there was no evidence that his client took part in a street brawl that led to the stabbing.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jill DiCarlo said Garcia was considered the least culpable of the four. No other plea bargains are anticipated, she said.

The district attorney’s recommendation on whether Garcia should go to prison and, if so, for how long, will await his testimony, DiCarlo said.

The four were charged with killing Santos, a student at Mesa College, after a night of drinking and parties near San Diego State.

Prosecutors allege that the three remaining defendants attacked Santos after being rebuffed in their attempt to crash a fraternity party. Defense attorneys say their clients acted in self-defense.

Of the four, only Jett remains in jail, unable to meet a $1-million bond.

- Source

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Deer Valley High School Shooting

DustyHawes64 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:38:09 +0000

Antioch PD confirms a teenage boy was shot multiple times near Deer Valley High School this morning. No word on his condition.

Stories from witnesses claim that a car pulled up next to a group of students walking to school. One student walked up to the vehicle. The student dropped or threw down his backpack before a male in the car shot 4-5 times hitting the student at close range.

A student described the shooter’s vehicle as a black sedan with tinted windows playing loud music, occupied by a driver and passenger. It was last seen eastbound on Indian Hill Road. The school was put on lockdown shortly after the shooting.

The boy was wounded in the arm and chest, and that he was conscious and responsive when police arrived. He also said the boy was able to call his parents, and was conscious as he was flown to the hospital.

It is unknown if this was gang related but witnesses to the shooting are claiming that it was.

About an hour after the shooting the lockdown was lifted and children were able to get released to their parents. Students who’s parents were unable to pick them up must remain on campus through the rest of the day.

I’ll up date this post once I get more information.

NBC Video

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video.

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Breaking News: Did Phillip Garrido Kidnap Michaela Garecht Also?

DustyHawes64 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:02:16 +0000

The Hayward Police Department and Dublin Police Services are conducting a new search at Phillip Garrido’s property. A search is also being conducted at Garrido’s neighboring house, a spokesman says. Garrido is currently being held for the kidnapping and rape of Jaycee Lee Dugard.

The Hayward police believe there may be a link to their missing persons case since Jaycee and Michaela share many similarities and monsters like Garrido tend to prey on people that fit a similar description.

Michaela Garecht was abducted by an unknown individual while trying to retrieve her scooter from him in front of the Rainbow Market on Mission Boulevard in Hayward, California. The suspect was between 18 – 24 years with a slender build. He had a pock marked or pimpled face and dirty blonde hair. He was driving an older model full-size car, possibly a gold or tan 4-door.

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My Neighbor Is Growing Marijuana

DustyHawes64 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:07:45 +0000

A reader sent in an email asking for my opinion and I figured I would share this with all of you. The reader, we’ll call him “Don” has a neighbor growing pot in his backyard. Since marijuana is one of those topics that there are people on both sides of the fence (no pun intended) on, read his email and let us know what you think.

Mr. Concord,

Since you have talked about the topic of legalized marijuana before, I wanted to know what you thought about a situation I find myself in.

I’ve lived in Concord for the past 20 years, moving here from out of state. I’m not a drug user but I have read and seen the movement for legalizing medicinal marijuana in this state. This predicament is not related to that debate but more about the growing of weed for personal use.

My neighbor has decided to start growing pot in his backyard. At first I wondered why he had little potted plants on his backyard easement but really thought nothing of it since they were gone after about a week. The other day I saw the two teenagers that live in the house and a few of their friends in the backyard planting 4 larger plants along the house. Again, I didn’t think anything of it other than that it was strange that these teens were doing gardening. When they left, I heard one of them say “I can’t wait to smoke that shit when it’s time”. Turns out these 4 plants were marijuana and are about 3-4 feet tall a piece.

I can’t imagine that 4 fully grown plants are going to be for ‘personal’ use and since these are minors, I can’t think this is legal. Over the past few days only the kids are tending to the drug plants. I don’t know what the parents are doing about this but they must be alright with it since you can’t miss them. I worry that these boys are going to be growing this to get high themselves and also sell to their friends.

Do you think I should notify the Concord Police about this? I don’t want to be “that neighbor” but then again I feel conflicted since I know the drugs are going to end up being distributed around the kids in the area.

Well, Don. I understand your conflict but it sounds like you already know the answer. If I were in your shoes, I’d probably call CPD. Could they be growing it legally? Maybe but it is very doubtful and the fact that you’ve only seen the kids around the plants then those chances of legality really diminish.

So readers, what do you think?

Photo

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