Recent Fires In Lafayette, Pleasant Hill Caused By Cigarettes, Investigators Say
Despite the nearly constant presence of smoke from raging wildfires to our North and constant messages of caution from local fire professionals it appears the cause of two recent fires has been attributed to “improperly discarded smoking material.” News that a Sunday night blaze at the Lafayette Reservoir and a $1.1 million blaze at the…
Sheriff’s Investigators Say Danville Woman Killed By Gunshot In Byron Homicide
From the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff: Detectives continue to investigate a homicide in Byron but have made a key discovery in the murder of a local woman found dead at a home in Byron Friday. An autopsy performed Monday morning on the victim, 37-year-old Emily Courchesne of Danville, determined her death to…
Stabbing Suspect Sought In Area Of Lafayette BART; Station Closed
UPDATE: Lafayette BART resumed normal service and timetables at 1:50 p.m. Local police converged on the Lafayette BART station at around 10 a.m. Sunday after a stabbing incident was reported there. Numerous agencies were involved in a joint search for man described as a white male, 20s, with blonde hair and wearing a green jacket.…
Danville Woman Murdered In Byron, Investigation Underway
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the murder of a Danville woman found dead inside a home on Marsh Creek Road in Byron Friday. A sheriff’s spokesman identified the victim as 37-year-old Emily Courchesne and said officers found her at approximately 10:05 a.m. when dispatched to a medical assist call in the 24000 block of Marsh Creek…
Walnut Creek Residents Fall Prey To Sweepstakes Scam; Suspect Arrested
A Louisville, KY man is facing theft charges for allegedly running a sweepstakes scam that reached into multiple states and bilked victims – from as far away as Miami, Fla. and as close to home as Walnut Creek – out of thousands of dollars. Investigators in Kentucky said 42-year-old Ekpendu Kingsley mailed letters to the…
One Dead, Five Injured In Highway 4 Crash In Pittsburg Wednesday
One person was killed and five others injured in a sprawling chain-reaction crash on Highway 4 in Pittsburg Wednesday morning. CHP Officer Brandon Correia said the crash was reported at 8:01 a.m. on Highway 4 just west of Railroad Avenue. First responders arriving on the scene found evidence of two separate crashes with seven cars…
Tom Petty Dead At 66
Tom Petty, a singer songwriter who defied industry pressures to create a different but effective blend of Southern California rock with a Southern Man twang, died Monday after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 66. Petty’s manager confirmed the death after some confusion about his life status, and a growing rumor and concern from fans that…
Bogus “Nurse” Wanted For Thefts From Assisted Living Homes In Moraga And Orinda Arrested Tuesday
A woman wanted for posing as a nurse to enter assisted living facilities in Moraga and Orinda was arrested by a US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force unit Tuesday in Antioch, Moraga Police Chief Jon King said Thursday. Antoinique Bryant, 29, was taken into custody and booked into the county jail in Martinez on an…
Renegade Landscaper Pleads Guilty In Santa Clara County – Faces Charges In Contra Costa
A renegade landscaper who allegedly cut a wide swath through Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties – targeting the elderly for upfront payments on jobs he then abandoned – has pled guilty to all charges pending against him in Santa Clara County and faces additional charges for alleged crimes in Contra Costa. Adan Contreras Rivas,…
Holdups On Bay Area Bridges – No, ACTUAL Holdups
At approximately 4 a.m. AM the Carquinez Bridge Toll Plaza was robbed by two black male adults wearing blue or purple latex gloves while traveling in a black Mercedes S550 sedan with paper plates and distinctive chrome accents added to the vehicle. At approximately 2:00 PM, suspects matching the same description and traveling in a…