> Directory of Prior Press Releases

Please direct questions and inquiries to Detective Corporal Susan Garman (510-215-4418).

Report Number 08-26162

On December 31, 2008 at about 2:00 pm Officer Tam arrested Aiello Delane, an 18 year old male resident of Berkeley, and a 17 year old male resident of Emeryville, after the pair was found in possession of a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop. Delane was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility and the juvenile was released to his parent pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-26155

On December 31, 2008 at about 12:14 pm Officer Brosas arrested Jorge Garcia, a 49 year old male resident of Richmond, after Garcia gave a false name and was found in possession of methamphetamine during a bicycle stop. Garcia was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-26154

On December 31, 2008 at about 11:43 am Officer Jacala arrested Steven McCowan, a 28 year old male resident of Oakland, after McCowan falsely identified himself as another person and was found in possession of marijuana for sales during a traffic stop. McCowan was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-25964

On December 29, 2008 at about 12:25 am Officer Chalk arrested Ixchel Susan Rollins, a 41 year old resident of Napa, after Rollins was found feloniously driving under the influence of alcohol during a traffic stop. Rollins was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number(s) 08-25949 and 25950

On Sunday December 28, 2008, at approximately 6:07 P.M. El Cerrito Officers were dispatched to the report of a Robbery that occurred on the BART path between Portola Avenue and Schmidt Lane. The caller reported that they and one other person had been shot by the suspect. When officers arrived they determined that no one had been shot, but one of the victims had been struck in the head by a firearm causing a laceration to the scalp.

The victims reported that they were approached by two African American males approximately 15-17 years old, both wearing black hooded sweatshirts and black jeans. One of the suspects pointed a handgun at one of the victims and demanded property from them. When the victim refused to surrender any of their property the suspect hit the victim on the head with the handgun. Sometime during the attack the suspect's gun fired but nobody was struck by the bullet. It is unknown if the handgun was fired intentionally or by accident. After the attack both suspects fled the area without any property belonging to the victims.

A few minutes prior to this incident, two subjects of similar description attempted to rob another subject near the intersection of Kearney Street and Stockton Avenue. In this instance the victim was able to get away from the suspects unharmed and no loss was suffered.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Aaron Leone (510-215-4419).

Report Number 08-25868

On December 27, 2008 at about 7:30 am Officer Cooper arrested Colleen Dow, a 36 year old female resident of San Francisco, after Dow was found in possession of stolen property. Dow was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-25390

On December 21, 2008 at about 11:56 am Officer Chalk arrested a 16 year old female resident of Sacramento and Carl Vaughn, a 28 year old male resident of Sacramento, after the pair was found in possession of a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop. The juvenile was transported to Juvenile Hall and Vaughn was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-25200

On December 19, 2008 at about 12:41 pm Officer Del Prado arrested Clifford Cook Jr, a 46 year old male resident of Richmond, after Cook was found in possession of methamphetamine and a loaded and concealed handgun during a bicycle stop. Cook was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Numbers 08-25110 and 08-25113

On December 17, 2008 at about 7:15 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a robbery that just occurred on the BART path near Hill Street. A group of five teenage males confronted the victim, brandished a firearm and stole cash. Minutes later a second robbery occurred, near the same location. The group of five teenage males had confronted the second victim, brandished a firearm, assaulted the victim and stole a wallet.

El Cerrito Police Officers quickly located the suspects, who fled on foot but were apprehended. After an investigation two fourteen year old male residents of Richmond, a sixteen year old male resident of Richmond, a seventeen year old male resident of Richmond and a 14 year old male resident of Kensington were arrested for the robberies. The gun used in the robberies was also recovered. The juveniles were transported to Juvenile Hall pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24986

On December 15, 2008 at about 7:20 pm Officer Wahrlich arrested Jorge Espinoza, a 21 year old male resident of Rohnert Park, Victor Cestoni Jr, a 22 year old male resident of San Francisco, and Luis Blanco-Torres, a 20 year old male resident of San Francisco, after the group was found in possession of marijuana for sales during a traffic stop. Espinoza and Cestoni were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility and Blanco-Torres was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24958

On December 15, 2008 at about 10:24 am Sergeant Horgan arrested Edward Erbach, a 41 year old male resident of San Francisco, and David Gross, a 36 year old male resident of Albany, after the men were found in possession of controlled substances during a traffic stop. Erbach and Gross were released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24877

On December 14, 2008 at about 11:30 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 800 block of Pomona Ave. After an investigation Mourad Mahfouz, a 28 year old male resident of El Cerrito, was arrested for assault. Mahfouz was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24503

On December 9, 2008, at 3:20 pm, residents in the 1000 block of Liberty Ct. reported hearing glass break and two suspicious subjects running from a house. El Cerrito Officers responded and discovered that the house had been burglarized. An El Cerrito police unit located one of the subjects, a 17 year old juvenile, fleeing from the area and detained him.

The remaining suspect was described as a 5'7" tall and 140 pound black male, approximately 16 years of age. The suspect had short curly hair and a dark complexion. He wore a white hooded sweatshirt with dark colored pants. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Detective Wentworth. The detained juvenile was transported to Juvenile Hall pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24304

On December 6, 2008 at about 12:34 pm Officer Chalk arrested Jose Campos, a 37 year old male resident of Richmond, after Campos was found in possession of an illegal weapon during a pedestrian stop. Campos was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24300

On December 6, 2008 at about 9:55 am Officer Chalk arrested Jesse Markham, a 32 year old male resident of San Pablo, after Markham was found in possession of a controlled substance during a pedestrian stop. Markham was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24221

On December 5, 2008 at about 3:05 am Officer Schillinger arrested Courtney Bell, a 29 year old male resident of Richmond, after Bell was found in possession of a suspected controlled substance during a traffic stop. Bell was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24168

On December 4, 2008 at about 12:05 pm Officer Caputo arrested a 14 year old male resident of El Cerrito after determining the juvenile had illegally entered the El Cerrito High School gymnasium and stole property from a locker. The juvenile was released to his parent pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-24144

On December 3, 2008 at about 11:11 pm Officer Schillinger arrested Anthony DiGrazia, a 45 year old male resident of Richmond, after DiGrazia was found in possession of a controlled substance during a pedestrian stop. DiGrazia was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-23947

On December 1, 2008 at about 2:55 am Officer Crowder arrested Gabriel Lee McCray, a 29 year old male resident of Richmond, after McCray was found in possession of an illegal weapon during a traffic stop. McCray was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.