Near Olive Garden.

Learn about this and their first Salvadoran restaurant in Pittsburg at elbuengustosalvadorenopca.com.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Thursday, January 2, 2025, detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff served a search warrant at a residence in Pittsburg. It was part of a continuing investigation into a shooting that occurred at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch on September 16, 2024, where two suspects shot a person during an argument. Detectives found one of them used an illegally manufactured gun in the shooting.

Detectives identified the suspect who was apparently illegally making guns, including assault weapons, as well as illegally selling them. During the search of the suspect’s home, detectives found assault weapons as well as a short barrel rifle. Some of the weapons seized did not have serial numbers. The weapons will be tested to see if they are linked to any shooting or crimes.

The suspect is identified as 27-year-old Diego A. Vasquez-Gomez of Pittsburg. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on charges that include manufacturing of a short barrel gun, manufacturing and selling of an assault weapon, illegal possession of an assault weapon, unlicensed transfer of a firearm and child endangerment.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

From Oakley to Hercules; with help from Contra Costa Sheriff’s helicopter, CHP

Kalil Houston still in custody on $70,000 bail, Isaiah J. Mitchell bonded out

By Oakley Police Department

On January 10, 2025, at 9:44PM, Oakley Police Officer F. Williams was on patrol on Main Street near Bridgehead Road. Officer Williams saw a gray Honda Accord with a license plate reported as lost or stolen and belonging on a Lexus. It was also made known to Officer Williams the same Honda with the same license plate had been used during a robbery in Dublin. Officer Williams was joined by Officer R. Hernandez and they attempted to stop the Honda, but it fled at a high rate of speed onto westbound Highway 4. Officers Williams and Hernandez initiated a pursuit and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff helicopter (STARR) was in the area within a few minutes.

The suspect continued to flee travelling westbound on Highway 4 reaching very high speeds at times. The pursuit continued for several minutes. Due to the nexus of this vehicle to violent crimes, our officers remained engaged in the pursuit all the way to the City of Hercules. The pursuit ultimately ended in the 1900 block of Railroad Avenue when the driver, identified as Kalil Houston (male, 20, Antioch, born 7/6/04) foot bailed from the vehicle. The passenger, identified as Isaiah J. Mitchell (male, 21, Antioch), remained in the vehicle and was taken into custody immediately. Our officers later caught Houston as he was trying to flee the area and took him into custody as well.

Pursuits by their very nature are dangerous and police agencies diligently assess the need to continue them when they occur. Every decision made in a pursuit weighs the seriousness of the incident versus the public’s safety. When a vehicle is associated with a crime(s) of violence, it becomes more critical to apprehend the violator(s).

Our officers found several stolen license plates and a blank key fob in the possession of Houston and Mitchell and fired shell casings could also be seen inside the vehicle. The Honda was towed to be examined for evidence.

During this pursuit, a Black Ford Mustang started pacing our officers, even at the high speeds that were reached, turned its lights off, and tried to block our officers. The driver of the black Mustang intentionally interfered with our officers and placed our officers in a great degree of danger. Our officers will be doing additional follow-up in an attempt to identify the driver of the Mustang.

Houston and Mitchell were both booked into jail for crimes associated with possession of stolen property, conspiracy and felony evading. The Oakley Police Department will be working with the Dublin Police Department in regards to the robbery that occurred in Dublin.

Chief Beard said of this incident, “It does appear as if Houston and Mitchell were going to continue the destructive and violent behavior their vehicle had already previously been involved in. The action of fleeing at high speeds, the propensity to work in concert with others against police officers, having stolen license plates and spent shell casings is not a good look in any scenario. It is my concern a crime of violence was going to be perpetrated against an innocent person(s) in Oakley. I appreciate and respect Officer Williams and Officer Hernandez for keeping the residents of Oakley safe. Officers from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and the Hercules Police Department all assisted Officers Williams and Hernandez during this incident, and I extend a personal thank you to each of them.

“The experiences of Officer Williams and Officer Hernandez in this investigation underscores the risks American peace officers face everyday. I am grateful for the service of all peace officers who stand between those who wish to do harm and the rest of society and I am honored to be associated with them.

Stay safe Oakley!”

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch, 175-pound Houston is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $70,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 27 at 8:30 a.m. in Delta Superior Court in Pittsburg.

Also, according to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Mitchell is Black and as of Jan. 11th, he bonded out of custody. According to localcrimenews.com, Mitchell was arrested on Dec. 22, 2021, by Antioch Police for vandalism – property damage.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

4th arrests this year for both suspects each with history of additional arrests

By Oakley Police Department

On December 17, 2024, Chief Paul Beard stated, “Criminals beware — the officers of the Oakley Police Department are diligent in detecting crime and locating offenders. It is our desire to see no crime occurring at all, but if it does, and if you are the one committing it, we will commit our resources towards finding you and arresting you.”

The next day the officers of the Oakley Police Department fully executed the meaning of that statement.

On December 18, 2024, at 1:46PM a victim who resides in the 800 block of Walnut Drive was not at home but reported seeing a person steal a package from the front porch via a Ring camera. The suspect fled in a green Kia vehicle. Officers began working on this case and started conducting follow-up investigations on it.

At 2:34PM Officer Palmer responded to the 4300 block of Redwood Drive to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 3:23PM Officer Palmer responded to the 400 block of Devon Court to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 4:34PM Officer Palmer responded to the 900 block of Almond Drive to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 4:39PM Special Services Team Officer Navarrette was conducting follow-up on the string of package thefts and saw what we believed was the suspect vehicle driving in the 200 block of Delta Road. Officer Navarrette stopped the vehicle, and he was assisted by Officers Horn and M. Jackson. Randal Joan Alodee Locke (38, Antioch, born Jan. 15, 1986) and Ashlee Victoria Fletcher (35, Oakley, born June 27, 1989) were both found to be in possession of a plethora of stolen items, most likely from several days/nights of package thievery. Locke and Fletcher were both arrested and booked into jail for these thefts.

Even after these arrests were made, we continued to take reports of package thefts involving Locke and Fletcher:

At 5:02PM Officer Palmer again responded to the 900 block of Almond Drive to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 6:27PM Officer M. Jackson responded to the 3800 block of Creekside Way to take a report of multiple packages stolen from the location. The victim’s property was located in possession of Locke and Fletcher and returned.

So far, we have been able to identify a total of eight victims and we have returned their items back to them. One of the victims said every Christmas package she had ordered for her children was stolen from her porch and returned to her by Oakley Officers.

We have not yet identified all victims, and we still have several items of stolen property in our custody. If you believe you were the recent victim of having your packages stolen, please call us at 925-625-8060 and we will try to identify any stolen property belonging to you.

Fourth Arrests This Year for Both Suspects with Additional History of Arrests

According to localcrimenews.com, it’s Locke’s fourth arrest this year, including three by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies on July 2 for vehicle theft and warrants or holds only, Sept. 9 for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and taking vehicle without the owner’s consent, and Nov. 18 for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle. She was also previously arrested by the Solano County Sheriff’s Deputies in January 2020 for shoplifting, conspiracy to commit a crime, receiving or concealing stolen property, unauthorized use of personal identifying information, again by Antioch PD in Sept. 2020 for warrants or holds only, in Dec. 2021 for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and in June 2022 for a bench warrant failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 200-pound Locke is Hispanic and is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $20,000 bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, this is also Fletcher’s fourth arrest this year including on March 27th for grand theft and falsely impersonating another in his or her private or official capacity, on June 2nd for shoplifting not to exceed $950 and on Nov. 4th for warrants or holds only. She also has a history of arrests by both the Contra Costa and Alameda Sheriff’s Departments, plus, Antioch, Concord, Martinez, Dublin and Pleasanton Police Departments dating back to 2020 for crimes including grand theft, possession of burglar’s tools, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance in a prison, and unlawful use of willfully obtained personal identifying information.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, two-inch tall, 140-pound Fletcher is also Hispanic and being held in the West County Detention Facility on $20,000 bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Join us at Golden Hills Community Church on Christmas Eve for one of our annual Candlelight Services! We will sing Christmas songs of worship and hear from God’s Word as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Our first service will be inside the Sanctuary at 7:00 pm. Our second service will be outside on the Plaza at 11:30pm. Please bring your own chair and wear something warm!

These services are for the whole family! Each service will be 30–45 minutes.

Golden Hills Community Church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane in Brentwood. For more information visit www.goldenhills.org.

You are invited to join us for a Grand Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at 4:30pm!

Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with Chabad of the Delta and our surrounding communities as we light the grand Menorah in Brentwood City Park. A reception will follow inside the adjacent Brentwood Community Center.

Our local community leaders will participate in kindling the giant “Menorah of Freedom”. There will be fun activities for everyone including:

• Epic LED Light show
• Giant Menorah Lighting with Dignitaries
• Chanukah Donuts
• Latkes
• Chocolate Gelt
• Chanukah Crafts
• Festival Indoors, Lighting Outdoors
• Win Chanukah Gifts
• Security Presence
• Free Fidget Dreidel for the first 50 Children

For many of us, Chanukah prompts warm, loving memories from our childhood. We light the Menorah every night of the 8-night holiday. These lights offer warmth, joy, strength, inspiration and renews our sense of identity.

This year, Chanukah begins at sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 25th and ends at nightfall on Thursday, Jan. 2nd.

Rabbi Peretz Goldshmid, director of the Chabad of the Delta Jewish Center, describes Chanukah as “a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition. In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place.”

As we celebrate in East Contra Costa, we join millions the world over, promoting the universal message that good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness!

Make sure not to miss this opportunity to celebrate with your family and friends! Brentwood City Park is located at 790 2nd Street and the Brentwood Community Center is located at 35 Oak Street.

For more information, contact Chabad of the Delta at (925) 420-4999 or online at JewishDelta.com/Chanukah.

With help from K9, Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Pittsburg PD

By Antioch Police Department

Are you guys keeping score!? Tally two more for the good guys! ARMED CARJACKERS IN CUSTODY!

Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2024, at 6:15pm two victims were sitting in their vehicle in downtown Antioch when two brazen bandits forced them from their vehicle at gunpoint! The uncouth characters fled in the now stolen vehicle. What the two brainy bandits didn’t know is the vehicle had LoJack tracking capabilities.

During the chase, speeds reached 112 miles per hour on Highway 4.

K9 Kona and her leash holder located the vehicle on 18th street and gave chase. Luckily our buddies at Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office have a sweet little helicopter and they happened to be out for an evening cruise! The suspects fled to Bay Point where a platoon sized force of Antioch PD, Pittsburg PD and Contra Costa Sheriff’s deputies were waiting. The two suspects were both arrested fleeing from the vehicle!

On a “don’t commit crimes” side note, one of the suspects broke their ankle hopping a fence. They were cleared at the hospital and booked!

See incident video.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

For more information visit www.shelterinc.org.