The man who allegedly shot a Pittsburg police officer inside the department’s booking facility Thursday was able to smuggle a gun into the building despite being searched twice. The man, 31-year-old Michael Sanchez Gardner Martin, was searched twice by the same officer before he later allegedly beat and shot Officer Jimmy Sanchez as he was being prepared for a transfer to Contra Costa County Jail, Pittsburg Police Chief Phil Galer said in a news release Tuesday. Galer said Martin was brought into the department’s facility after being arrested for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle and having outstanding felony warrants. He was searched once during his arrest and once again after being taken to the department’s booking facility, but the young officer who conducted both searches failed to discover a gun hidden inside Martin’s clothes, according to Galer. “That was a serious failure. We acknowledge it, and it will be thoroughly examined through an administrative investigation,” Galer said. “We will determine how it happened and take immediate corrective action to prevent it from happening again.” After being placed in a holding cell, Martin allegedly hid the gun inside a toilet, retrieved it a few hours later and then hid it under a jail-issued blanket he had draped over his shoulders, Galer said. Sanchez, who was not the arresting officer or the one who conducted the searches, gave Martin some water after he said he wasn’t feeling well. “Officer Sanchez brought him water and approached the cell to check on his welfare,” Galer said. “Without warning, he punched Officer Sanchez in the face, threw the blanket over his head and repeatedly struck him in the head with the firearm.” During the struggle, Martin allegedly fired one round that first went through his own thigh before hitting Sanchez in the abdomen below his body armor, Galer said. Additional officers soon responded to the attack and were able to disarm Martin before he could fire off any more rounds. “Officer Sanchez had been ambushed, beaten and shot. He still did not stop fighting,” Galer said. Martin was treated at a hospital and was booked into jail on suspicion of multiple felonies, including attempted murder of a police officer and several gun-related offenses. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez on Sept. 16. Sanchez had surgery “and is recovering with family and the department by his side,” Galer said.

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A Spare the Air Alert has been issued for Wednesday, Sept. 9, as air quality is expected to reach unhealthy levels in parts of the Bay Area. Residents are encouraged to reduce activities that contribute to air pollution, including driving when possible, and to consider carpooling or using public transportation. People who are especially sensitive to poor air quality, including children, older adults and those with respiratory conditions, should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity if conditions worsen. Air quality can vary throughout the day and by location.

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QUESTION: Do you shop around for the cheapest gas, or just stop at the most convenient station?

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A 46-year-old San Leandro man was arrested after allegedly stealing merchandise from a local retail store over the holiday weekend. Police said officers responded to the Kohl’s parking lot near Monument Boulevard and Buskirk Avenue, where they located and arrested the suspect, identified as Forrest Greely. All of the allegedly stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to the store. Greely was booked into the Contra Costa County jail.

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A heat advisory was issued Monday by the National Weather Service, warning of excessive temperatures in the middle of the week that could reach triple digits in interior areas. The advisory warns of potentially unhealthy conditions, especially for those in vulnerable groups. The warning is effective from Wednesday morning through Thursday night for counties from Monterey to Mendocino. The Weather Service recommended avoiding strenuous outdoor activity and shifting necessary activity to earlier or later in the day. Never leave pets in vehicles, even with windows down. Coastal highs are forecast to reach into the low 90s. Overnight lows will range from the mid 60s to mid 70s. Interior areas could see higher temperatures, including highs that reach into the 100s in higher elevations. The high temperatures could cause heat-related illness in vulnerable populations if precautions are not taken, according to the Weather Service, which urged increased attention to hydration during the advisory.

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QUESTION: Did you travel this weekend? If so – where did you go?

The post The Water Cooler – Did You Travel This Weekend? If So – Where Did You Go? appeared first on CLAYCORD.com.

Four men were arrested in Benicia after police allegedly found them with stolen fiber optic cables, the department said. Benicia officers on patrol in the early morning on Friday saw a pickup truck parked along Bayshore Road with a door open and “freshly cut” fiber optic cable laying nearby, the department said. Police detained one man and found two others hiding in the brush; a fourth man fled the scene. California Highway Patrol air support and the Solano County Sheriff’s Office were called for assistance and the fourth suspect was located on the Valero refinery property. Arrested were Jose Luis Ortizavalos, 38, Luis Angel Lara, 26, Cesar Adrian Olvera-Arvizu, 36, and Franklin Rafael Morales-Gomez, 39, all on crimes ranging from allegations of grand theft, larceny, vandalism, conspiracy and being in possession of burglary tools and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle. At the site of the theft, officers allegedly located a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and multiple burglary tools, including a Sawzall that was used to cut the fiberoptic lines. AT&T estimates the damage and loss to exceed $100,000.

The post Four Arrested In Benicia Fiber Optic Cable Theft; Damage Estimated At More Than $100K appeared first on CLAYCORD.com.

A beach hazards statement from the National Weather Service remains in effect Sunday through Monday night. The alert is effective for coastal beaches from south of Monterey County to Mendocino County. The Weather Service warned of potential sneaker waves and breaking waves of up to 10 feet. Sneaker waves can arrive suddenly when conditions appear calm and can wash up beaches and onto jetties faster than many beachgoers expect. They often accompany rip currents, which are also forecast during the advisory. The advisory urged beach visitors to stay off rocks and jetties and avoid taking their eyes off the water. Swimmers and surfers were advised to wait until the hazards statement expires at 11 p.m. Monday before entering the water.

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Clayton police reported four arrests, one theft and one traffic collision during the department’s latest weekly activity report, covering Aug. 28 through Sept. 3. On Aug. 29, a 22-year-old Concord man was arrested near Ygnacio Valley Road and Park Highlands Boulevard on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and having an open container of alcohol while driving. He was taken to the Concord Police Department for booking. The following day, officers responding to a call in the 6700 block of Marsh Creek Road arrested a 38-year-old Concord man on an outstanding warrant. On Aug. 31, a 32-year-old Clayton man was arrested on Peacock Creek Drive on suspicion of violating a court order, possessing a controlled substance and disorderly conduct involving alcohol. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. On Sept. 2, police arrested a 32-year-old Clayton man near Oakhurst Drive and Indianhead Way on suspicion of driving with a license suspended or revoked for DUI. He was released after signing a promise to appear in court. Police also reported a petty theft in the 6400 block of Center Street on Aug. 28. A non-injury traffic collision was reported on El Camino Drive on Sept. 2. No vandalism incidents were reported during the week.

The post Clayton Crime Roundup: Four Arrests, Petty Theft Reported In Clayton Police Activity Log appeared first on CLAYCORD.com.

California lawmakers have again failed to pass new regulations governing automated license plate readers, marking the fifth straight year that proposed reforms have fallen short. Senate Bill 1013 would have strengthened privacy protections and restricted how law enforcement agencies use and share data collected by license plate cameras. The measure passed the Senate but did not receive a final Assembly vote before the legislative deadline. The cameras automatically record license plates and can help police locate suspects, stolen vehicles and missing people. However, privacy advocates have raised concerns about misuse of the technology, including improper data sharing, surveillance and inaccurate alerts. The bill would have limited certain uses of license plate data, required privacy and cybersecurity training and called for random audits by the California Attorney General’s Office. Law enforcement groups opposed the measure, arguing the restrictions could make it more difficult to use historical license plate data to investigate crimes and missing-person cases. More than 230 California police and sheriff’s departments use automated license plate readers, according to the bill’s author, state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes. Similar attempts to strengthen state regulations have failed in recent years, including legislation vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year.

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Concord police reported a number of felony arrests and several burglaries and shoplifting cases during the week of Aug. 26 through Sept. 1. Among the more serious arrests, a 22-year-old man was arrested Aug. 26 at a residence on Walters Way on suspicion of rape by force or fear, assault with a deadly weapon and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, cohabitant or dating partner. A 31-year-old man was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime. On Aug. 27, police made a robbery arrest at Sunvalley Shopping Center, while another person was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary on Clayton Road. Police also made a felony assault-with-a-deadly-weapon arrest following an incident on Mohr Lane. Two men were arrested early Aug. 28 near Cowell Road and Lime Ridge Drive on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle. Later that night, a 29-year-old man was arrested on East Street on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. Police also reported six burglary or shoplifting cases during the week. They included two felony shoplifting cases at Sunvalley Shopping Center, burglaries on Galindo Street and Monument Boulevard, and a misdemeanor shoplifting case on Willow Pass Road. No burglaries were reported Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Other arrests during the week included suspected DUI, domestic battery, drug possession, vandalism, probation violations and outstanding warrants. REPORTS: CPD – 1 CPD – 2

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Happy Friday to all the wonderful citizens in the City of Claycord. This is a post with no subject, you can talk about whatever you want. If breaking news happens (such as a shooting, earthquake, etc.), or you hear about something newsworthy, feel free to post it here.

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This post is “Talk About Politics”. Please use this post to talk about politics, and keep politics out of the “whatever” thread. Thank you, and be kind to each other.

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The Walnut Creek City Council this week voted to raise the pay of council members for the first time in more than two decades. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to more than double the monthly pay for council members from $650 to $1,600, the first change in compensation since 2002. The pay hike will take effect in December, so will not impact the current council term.

City staff in a presentation at Tuesday’s meeting showed how Walnut Creek compares to other neighboring cities, with some like Concord, Pittsburg and Antioch paying their council members $1,900 per month, while some cities like Lafayette and Orinda do not pay any compensation to council members. Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk, who was selected by his fellow council members to serve in that role for this year, said “people are shocked at how little we make on council” and estimated that members of the council can work 80 hours or more in some months, particularly if they are serving as mayor and are asked to attend additional community events. “Nobody’s getting rich being on City Council, but council members shouldn’t have to lose money or be in the red every month,” Wilk said at the meeting.

Councilmember Cindy Darling said young parents often aren’t able to participate on the council as a result. “Not having enough money to cover daycare is a big barrier for parents with school-age kids,” Darling said. No one spoke against the proposal on the council or among members of the public at Tuesday’s meeting. After the council’s vote to raise the compensation to $1,600, Wilk said he hoped the change will prompt a more diverse pool of candidates running for City Council. “We’ve done something for the future of Walnut Creek and to help people to run where they might not have been able to before,” Wilk said.

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QUESTION: Which one do you prefer? Sam’s Club or Costco?

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