Press Release: San Ramon Sex Ring Operators Indicted By Grand Jury
Released by the District Attorney’s Office Monday: (Martinez, California) – On April 18, 2016, A Contra Costa County Criminal Grand Jury indicted James Joseph Jr. and Avisa Lavassani for multiple counts of human trafficking, kidnap for rape and rape. Their human trafficking operation involved a 14 year sex trafficking ring, spanning numerous states, and centering…
Sheriff’s Deputies Investigating Morning Robbery At California Grand Casino In Pacheco
At about 4:45 a.m. Monday, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office received a report that an armed robbery was taking place at the California Grand Casino at the 5900 block of Pacheco Boulevard in Pacheco. Deputies responded along with officers from nearby law enforcement agencies. A perimeter was set up and employees and customers were evacuated.…
Pleasant Hill-Martinez Minister Arrested For Sex With Minor
Press Release issued by Martinez PD: Martinez, Ca – Monday, April 18, 2016, Martinez Police Department took a report of a female juvenile that had been sexually assaulted by a 29 year old male over a three year period. Detectives from Martinez Police and Pleasant Hill Police investigated the allegations which ultimately led to the arrest…
Coroner’s Jury Finds December, 2015 Shooting Death In Moraga Was Suicide
A coroner’s inquest into the shooting death of a Moraga man outside his Donald Drive home has determined that Scott Rickman took his own life as police officers attempted to negotiate with him. The December 2, 2015 incident shut down most of Donald Drive and stunned a community unused to gun violence. Moraga police had…
Lafayette Police Treating Rosedale Avenue Death As “Suspicious”
Police in Lafayette are looking into aspects of the death of a 66-year-old woman they found during a welfare check on Rosedale Avenue Wednesday night. Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Rosedale around 7:32 p.m. to check on a person a relative had told them had not responded to attempts by a relative…
Suspect In Orinda Beating Case Arrested By U.S. Marshals; Attempted Murder Charges Filed
The suspect in a recent attempted homicide in Orinda has been arrested, according to information released by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff. Falealea Tytus Maka, 21, was detained last Wednesday by a US Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Warrant Service Unit. On February 13,…
Heroin Overdose In Orinda Starbucks Sunday Spotlights Recent Influx Of Young Users
NEWS24/680 readers who were present at the time expressed their shock and concern Sunday after a 17-year-old teen was discovered in the bathroom at the Theater Square Starbucks – unconscious and with a heroin needle still in his arm. Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel confirmed an account of the incident posted on our Facebook page…
Suspected Burglar Runs From Walnut Creek PD Thursday; Impacts Fence – BART Commute
A suspected burglar attempting to elude Walnut Creek police sped away from officers, crashed into fencing bordering BART property at Jones and Walden roads and had to be physically subdued before he was taken into custody, according to police. Joel Steffensen, whose age and hometown was not immediately provided, is currently in custody and receiving…
Former Diablo Valley Youth Football League Treasurer Arrested For Embezzlement Wednesday
San Ramon police arrested the former treasurer of the Diablo Valley Youth Football League on embezzlement charges Wednesday after an investigation by police and league officials determined he’d stolen an estimated $200,000 during his tenure. Investigators said Lynwood B. Peyton, 64, was taken into custody at 3300 Promontory Way in San Ramon at 9 a.m.…
San Ramon Woman Arrested In Connection With Armed Carjacking Saturday
A San Ramon woman has been arrested and charged with armed robbery and carjacking for her role in an attempted carjacking incident early Saturday morning. Investigators said Nava Simon, 21, was arrested without incident at her home on Tuesday. Both Simon and her alleged accomplice, transient Paul Lodestein, 20, were booked on the charges at…