ReportWire

Tag: East County

  • Vehicle break-ins and identity theft in Thousand Oaks lead to arrest

    [ad_1]

    A 36-year-old Oxnard man is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a string of vehicle thefts and identity thefts in Thousand Oaks, following a months-long investigation by Ventura County authorities.

    According to a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, detectives with the East County Investigations Bureau’s Property Crimes Unit began investigating in July after a series of thefts from unlocked vehicles were reported in Thousand Oaks.

    The suspects allegedly stole cash, credit cards, personal information, and other property, later using the stolen credit cards at businesses in Ventura County.

    Investigators identified a vehicle believed to be involved and eventually linked Fernando Salinas of Oxnard to the crimes. Salinas was arrested on Sept. 18 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on unrelated residential burglary charges.

    High school student caught with loaded handgun in Santa Barbara County

    The following day, Ventura County detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Salinas related to the Thousand Oaks thefts. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has since filed charges of identity theft, grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, and petty theft with prior convictions, according to the sheriff’s office.

    Salinas remains in custody in Los Angeles County and will be extradited to Ventura County once he is released, officials said. Detectives are continuing to investigate and are working to identify additional suspects in the case.

    The sheriff’s office urged residents to remain vigilant by locking their vehicles and removing valuables, noting that while Thousand Oaks is considered a safe community, criminals can take advantage of a false sense of security.

    Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Antioch Police racist, homophobic text scandal draws protest and rally

    Antioch Police racist, homophobic text scandal draws protest and rally

    [ad_1]

    Protestors are gathering at Antioch Police Department on Sunday to address concerns over the reinstatement of some officers involved in last year’s racist, homophobic and sexist text scandal.

    “A bunch of them are starting to get their jobs back and we don’t want them (to),” said Reimagine Antioch’s Frank Sterling Jr., one of the organizers of the rally.

    The rally was set to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Walgreens on Deer Valley Road in Antioch. The plan — as detailed on First Voice Media’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/firstvoicemedia — was then to move to the police department about 3.5 miles away.

    The disturbing texts emerged during an FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office investigation nearly two years ago into allegations of police misconduct in Antioch and Pittsburg. In late April of 2023, the DA’s office released text messages from 17 Antioch officers between 2019 and 2022, though more were involved according to Ellen McDonnell, the county’s chief public defender.

    The timing of the rally, Sterling said, is pegged to the one-year anniversary of the text scandal erupting, which led to a number of officers being put on leave.

    He says the timing also has to do with it being 10 years since the first time that Malad Baldwin was beaten by Antioch Police in 2014. Baldwin, who sued the city in 2015 after those beatings left him injured, died in 2021.

    Sterling also said that Antioch Police have not been forthcoming with information as to which police offciers involved with the racist/homophobic/sexist texts have been reinstated. He also said that demoting an officer, with a history of racism, will not fix the problem.

    “I don’t think that is going to cure their racism – getting demoted,” he said.

     

    [ad_2]

    Jim Harrington

    Source link

  • Sideshows reported in Oakland, West Contra Costa and Antioch, where officials hope a new fence will curb car stunts

    Sideshows reported in Oakland, West Contra Costa and Antioch, where officials hope a new fence will curb car stunts

    [ad_1]

    Antioch leaders are speaking out after sideshows hit their city and other East Bay areas over this past weekend.

    Officials said sideshows took place in Antioch, Oakland and unincorporated West Contra Costa County. No injuries were reported.

    An estimated 200 people blocked the intersection of Lone Tree Way and Golf Course Road in Antioch early Sunday morning as cars spun donuts, and spectators shot off rounds of fireworks, authorities said. But Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said that unlike in other cities, police quickly shut the sideshow down and dispersed the crowd – within 40 minutes or so.

    A sideshow was also reported in Oakland’s Temescal area at 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue. Another sideshow with fireworks and cars spinning donuts took place near Hercules, on Franklin Canyon Road near the golf course.

    Hernandez-Thorpe warned those involved in the illegal street activities in Antioch will be held accountable.

    “We’re not messing around with anybody,” the mayor said. “If you come here and disturb the peace, you’re going to be held accountable.”

    Hernandez-Thorpe said the city used drones to capture license plate numbers and will use footage to cite and fine violators and tow and impound vehicles. The process can take up to a few weeks but it will happen, he said, adding that more officers have been added to the patrol unit.

    On Tuesday, the city took another step to discourage sideshows downtown by installing an electric fence at the large parking lot at the marina. Hernandez-Thorpe said the lot will be locked at night and not opened until the morning. New traffic barriers near Dozier-Libbey High School in southeast Antioch have also helped to prevent illegal street activities where Sand Creek Road dead ends, he said.

    In February, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved a first reading of an ordinance that would allow fines of up to $1,000 and up to six months of jail time for those who organize or advertise any illegal street races, sideshows and reckless driving events. But on the second reading, which is usually a formality on the consent calendar, Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock reversed course, saying it was not enough and the new rules were struck down.

    Barbanica said at the time that he wanted to include a way to cite spectators.

    The mayor, meanwhile, promised to put the sideshow ordinance back on the agenda when there’s a full council present. Both he and Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker were absent when it was last heard on March 12.

    Check back for updates.

    [ad_2]

    Judith Prieve

    Source link