> Directory of Prior Press Releases

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

Report Number 09-03750

On February 27, 2009 at about 9:55 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of shoplifting at Long's Drugs, at 10650 San Pablo Ave. After an investigation Kim Elyse Hartschen, a 43 year old female resident of El Cerrito, was arrested for theft. Hartschen was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03686

On February 26, 2009 at about 7:45 am El Cerrito Police Detectives located homemade explosive devices in a residence in the 700 block of Liberty Street. Residents in the neighborhood were evacuated and the area secured. Officers of the Walnut Creek Bomb Squad responded to assist, and took possession of the devices, rendering them safe. Residents returned to their homes after the area was deemed safe. Thomas John Miles III, a 37 year old male resident of El Cerrito, was arrested for the manufacture and possession of the illegal explosive devices. Miles was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03600

On February 25, 2009 at about 2:44 am Officer Matsui arrested Gordon Dean Hall, a 44 year old male resident of San Pablo, after Hall was found driving a stolen vehicle during a traffic stop. Hall attempted to flee the vehicle on foot, but was quickly apprehended. Hall was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03533

On February 23, 2009 at about 9:20 pm Officer Cheng arrested Rowena Natan, a 31 year old female resident of Vallejo, and Paul Taeleifi, a 47 year old male resident of Fairfield, after they were found in possession of a stolen vehicle, numerous forged and stolen checks and items of identification, and forgery manufacturing equipment during a traffic stop. Natan was also in possession of methamphetamine. Natan and Taeleifi were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03507

On February 23, 2009 at about 2:25 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of Albemarle Street. After an investigation Matthew Travis Finch, a 23 year old male resident of El Cerrito, was arrested for elder abuse. Finch was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03479

On February 23, 2009 at about 2:05 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of an automobile burglary that just occurred in the 11700 block of San Pablo Ave. Officers quickly located and arrested Gary Faulkner Jr, a 33 year old male resident of El Sobrante, after an investigation determined that Faulkner had committed the burglary. Faulkner was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03387

On February 21, 2009 at about 2:10 am Officer Wahrlich arrested Roland Alexander, a 41 year old male resident of San Pablo, after Alexander was found driving under the influence and in possession of a controlled substance during a traffic stop. Alexander was released pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03325

On February 20, 2009 at about 4:48 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of recyclable theft in the 700 block of Liberty Street. After an investigation Jerry Lynn Smith, an 18 year old male resident of Richmond, was arrested for theft. Smith was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03292

On February 19, 2009 at about 5:25 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of shoplifting at Trader Joe's, at 225 El Cerrito Plaza. After an investigation Vivian Mason, a 19 year old female resident of Richmond, and Tamika Armstrong, a 30 year old female resident of Richmond, were arrested for theft. Armstrong was released and Mason was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-03077

On February 16, 2009 at about 8:04 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of shoplifting at Safeway, at 10636 San Pablo Ave. After an investigation Walter Clyde Hearnton, a 53 year old male resident of Oakland, was arrested for theft. Hearnton was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02979

On February 13, 2009 at about 8:04 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of someone trying to negotiate a stolen check at Atlas Liquors, at 11382 San Pablo Ave. After an investigation Elizabeth Rebecca Rice, a 44 year old female resident of Richmond, Neykkia Terria Owens, a 33 year old female resident of San Pablo, and Kevin Terrance Island, a 43 year old male resident of Oakland, were arrested after it was determined they had conspired to fraudulently obtain funds using financial and personal information stolen from several victims. Rice, Owens and Island were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02876 / 09-03148

On February 11, 2009 at about 11:20 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a burglary that just occurred in the 5800 block of Central Ave. Residents reported a subject had tried to steal coins from a washing machine in an apartment laundry room. Subsequent investigation determined a possible suspect. On February 17, 2009 at about 9:11 pm Officer Cheng located and arrested Anthony Lamaur May, a 46 year old male resident of Richmond, after finding May was in possession of burglary tools during a pedestrian stop. Officer Cheng subsequently determined May was the person responsible for the burglary the week prior. May was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02472

On February 4, 2009 at about 3:04 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of an attempted strong arm robbery at El Cerrito Plaza. The suspects had fled the area. Officer Jacala initiated an investigation to identify the four suspects.

On February 11, 2009 at about 10:25 am Officer Jacala arrested a 15 year old male resident of Richmond after he was identified as one of the persons responsible for the crime.

On February 12, 2009 at about 11:45 am Officer Jacala arrested Duane Hooper, an 18 year old male resident of Albany after he was identified as one of the persons responsible for the crime.

On February 17, 2009 at about 9:00 am Officer Jacala arrested a 17 year old male resident of Richmond after he was identified as one of the persons responsible for the crime.

The two juveniles were transported to Juvenile Hall and Hooper was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility, pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02857

On February 11, 2009 at about 4:00 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of an automobile burglary that had just been interrupted by BART Police Officers in the 6900 block of Fairmount Ave. After an investigation a 14 year old male resident of Richmond was arrested for the crime. The juvenile was transported to Juvenile Hall pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02854

On February 11, 2009 at about 2:30 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to assist with a report of a residential burglary that just occurred in the 2100 block of Carlson Blvd, in the City of Richmond. Richmond Police Officers located and arrested the suspect, Robert Fleischer, a 43 year old male resident of Richmond. During the investigation Fleischer was determined to have also burglarized a home in El Cerrito, in the 900 block of Lexington Ave. Fleischer was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02756

On February 9, 2009 at about 6:17 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a subject firing a BB gun at pedestrians in the 500 block of Kearney Street. After an investigation a 15 year old male resident of El Cerrito was arrested for the crime. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02724

On February 9, 2009 at about 1:40 am Officer Chalk arrested Gary Andre Sterling, a 46 year old male resident of Richmond, after Sterling was found feloniously in possession of ammunition during a traffic stop. Sterling was released pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02724

On February 9, 2009 at about 1:40 am Officer Chalk arrested Gary Andre Sterling, a 46 year old male resident of Richmond, after Sterling was found feloniously in possession of ammunition during a traffic stop. Sterling was released pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02708

On February 8, 2009 at about 4:11 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a theft that just occurred at Orchard Supply Hardware, at 1751 Eastshore Blvd. The suspect had fled the business with the stolen property. On Wednesday February 11, 2009, following an investigation, Chauncey Smith, a 27 year old male resident of Richmond, was arrested for the crime. Smith was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02695

On February 8, 2009 at about 3:53 am Officer Thepkaysone observed suspicious activity near the intersection of San Pablo Ave and Cutting Blvd and responded to investigate. Two involved subjects fled, but were quickly detained. Officer Thepkaysone determined an attempted robbery had just occurred, and arrested Al-Nur Allah, a 19 year old male resident of Richmond, and David Darel Carter, a 27 year old male resident of Richmond for the crime. Allah and Carter were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02658

On February 7, 2009 at about 4:34 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of shoplifting at Safeway, at 10636 San Pablo Ave. After an investigation David Omar Campbell, a 31 year old male resident of Hercules, was arrested for theft. Campbell was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02571

On February 6, 2009 at about 9:47 am Officer Brosas, deployed for directed crime suppression, observed a subject stealing copper from a fence in the 1500 block of Norvell Street. After an investigation Richard Curtis Applegate, a 40 year old male resident of El Cerrito, was arrested for the crime. Applegate was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02437

On February 4, 2009 at about 1:30 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to the report of a sexual assault that had just occurred. Upon their arrival, Officers determined that the suspect had left the scene. Subsequent investigation led to the identification and arrest of Joseph Gavazza, a resident of El Cerrito, for sexual assault. Gavazza was transported to the County Jail in Martinez pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02463

On February 4, 2009 at about 1:41 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11300 block of San Pablo Ave. After an investigation a 15 year old male resident of Richmond and a 15 year old female resident of Richmond were arrested for assault. Both juveniles were released to their parents pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02388

On February 3, 2009 at about 2:56 pm Corporal Wong arrested Danny Lawrence Mccoy, a 52 year old male resident of Richmond, after McCoy was found in possession of crack cocaine and methamphetamine during a traffic stop. McCoy was released pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 09-02228

On February 1, 2009 at about 9:50 am Officer Crowder arrested Jonathan Glenn Waters, a 31 year old male resident of Fairfield, after Waters was found in possession of methamphetamine during a pedestrian stop. Waters was released pending the filing of charges with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.