Contra Costa County supervisors approved a major increase to the contract providing food at the county’s detention facilities, raising the total payment limit to $21 million. The Board approved an amendment with Summit Food Service, LLC, adding $12 million to the contract and extending it through June 30, 2028. The contract covers food service at the West County Detention Facility, Martinez Detention Facility and Marsh Creek Detention Facility. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Summit provides food procurement, menu planning and nutritional reviews of inmate meals. County officials said the existing inmate menu has not been adequately updated by a registered dietitian to meet current needs, particularly for inmates requiring medical diets. The county also cited rising food costs and demand, saying the original contract estimate from 2023 was no longer enough to cover expenses through the full contract period. Summit was selected following a competitive bidding process in 2022 that included three companies. The additional $12 million will be paid entirely from the County General Fund. County officials said that without the amended contract, inmate menus could face scrutiny over compliance with state detention standards, particularly regarding medical diets. Officials also said the county’s current food procurement and preparation system does not adequately address emergencies such as natural disasters or staffing shortages.

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QUESTION: Who do you think is the greatest singer of all time? Include both male and female.

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Contra Costa County supervisors unanimously adopted a policy Tuesday limiting the use of county resources to assist federal immigration enforcement operations. The policy generally prohibits county employees and resources from being used to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement unless required by law or presented with appropriate legal authority, such as a judicial warrant. Requests from immigration authorities are also to be referred to designated county staff or legal counsel. The action follows more than a year of discussion over how Contra Costa County should respond to federal immigration enforcement. The issue returned to supervisors Tuesday as part of a report on Senate Bill 580, a state law enacted in 2025 requiring local agencies to adopt policies consistent with model immigration policies developed by the California Attorney General. Local agencies must have compliant policies in place by Jan. 1, 2027. The Attorney General’s guidance says local resources generally should not be used to assist immigration enforcement unless required by law. It also calls for limiting the collection and disclosure of information that could assist immigration authorities and establishing procedures for requests to enter nonpublic county facilities or obtain county records. Supervisors debated whether the additional protections should be adopted as a county ordinance or a policy. An attempt to move forward with an ordinance failed, with Supervisors John Gioia and Shanelle Scales-Preston supporting that approach. Supervisors ultimately voted unanimously to adopt the protections as a policy instead. Supporters of an ordinance argued it would provide a stronger and more lasting statement, while those favoring a policy said it could take effect more quickly and be amended more easily if necessary. Contra Costa County already has immigration-related policies covering several departments. The Sheriff’s Office has a policy addressing immigration status, while Contra Costa Health and the county library system have policies governing interactions with immigration enforcement officials.

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Contra Costa County residents can connect with dozens of free health, legal and public safety services during a Community Resource Fair Thursday, Sept. 10, in downtown Martinez. The free event will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1026 Escobar Street. No registration is required. About 40 county agencies, nonprofit groups and community organizations are expected to participate, offering services and information on Medi-Cal enrollment, legal assistance, voter registration, victim services, adult literacy, senior services, public safety, mental health resources and clearing eligible criminal records. Participants include Contra Costa Health, the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Probation Department, Contra Costa Superior Court, Contra Costa County Library, California Highway Patrol, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region and several other community organizations. Organizers say the goal is to make it easier for residents to find assistance by bringing a wide range of services together in one location. The fair is free and open to the public.

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Contra Costa County prosecutors are asking for the public’s help identifying possible additional victims in a years-long human trafficking investigation involving an Antioch man. Raymond Jamar Brooks, 32, is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on $1 million bail and faces multiple human trafficking-related charges. According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, investigators allege Brooks engaged in commercial sex acts involving minors and adult women through force, fraud, coercion and other means associated with sex trafficking. Several victims have already been identified, and investigators say information gathered during the case has uncovered evidence of alleged trafficking activity spanning multiple states. The victims’ identities are being withheld. Authorities are asking anyone who believes they were victimized by Brooks, or who has information about his alleged activities in California or elsewhere, to contact Senior Inspector Ann Shiraishi of the Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force at (925) 917-6857 or ann.shiraishi@contracostada.org. Anonymous tips can be left with the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Tip Line at (925) 957-8658. Support and resources are also available through Community Violence Solutions at (800) 670-7273.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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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