Contra Costa Herald

City of Pleasant Hill, District 4 Supervisor Ken Carlson to partner on event

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County

(Pleasant Hill, CA) – Contra Costa County is bringing its services directly to the community with the annual Contra Costa County Block Party on Tuesday, September 29, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill.

Contra Costa residents can stop by to take care of County business, connect with local government, get help with important tasks—and enjoy an evening of food, fun and community.

District 4 Supervisor Ken Carlson and the City of Pleasant Hill are partnering with the County to host this free, family-friendly event and make it easier for residents to access services outside regular business hours.

“The County Block Party is about meeting people where they are and bringing County services directly into the community,” Vice Chair Ken Carlson said. “By bringing resources together in one welcoming place, we’re making it easier for residents to access the support they need and feel connected to their community.”

Residents can register to vote, obtain copies of vital records and apply for programs such as Veterans Benefits, CalFresh and Medi-Cal. County staff will also answer questions, connect residents with resources and help them navigate County services.

“We’re proud to partner with Supervisor Carlson and Contra Costa County to bring this important event to Pleasant Hill,” said Pleasant Hill Mayor Zac Shess. “The Block Party reflects our shared commitment to accessible services, stronger connections between residents and local government, and a vibrant community.”

County departments — including the Public Defender’s Office, Clerk-Recorder-Elections, Employment & Human Services Department, Public Works and Contra Costa Health — will join the City of Pleasant Hill to provide services, resources and information. Residents can also enjoy food, entertainment and activities for all ages.

Since launching in 2017, the County Block Party has brought County services and staff into communities across the County, rotating locations each year to make government more accessible and strengthen connections with residents. This year marks the event’s seventh year.

Come for the services. Stay for the food, fun and community.

For more information, visit here: Contra Costa County Block Party.

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Help county food recovery organization earn up to $200,000 grant

By Trish Heaney, Communication & Marketing Manager for White Pony Express

Concord, Calif. – White Pony Express (WPE), the food recovery organization serving Contra Costa County, has been named a Western Region finalist for the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards®, with the opportunity to earn up to $200,000 in grant funding to help end hunger in our community. White Pony Express was nominated by the Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Walnut Creek at North Main and Chick-fil-A The Willows.

White Pony Express is already a Shared Table® partner with both restaurants, regularly receiving donated surplus food to help prepare meals for neighbors facing hunger — a partnership that made this nomination a natural fit.

The award is decided by public vote. Chick-fil-A One® App users can cast their vote for White Pony Express in the Western Region now through September 30. To vote:

• Sign in to your Chick-fil-A One® account (or create one) in the Chick-fil-A App
• Select “For You” at the bottom of the screen and look for the True Inspiration Awards card
• Tap “Vote Now”
• Select Western Region
• Cast your vote for White Pony Express
• Bring proof of your vote to the Chick-fil-A Walnut Creek at North Main or The Willows for a free medium fries.

“Every vote is a chance to put more good food into motion and deliver it with love to neighbors who need it,” said Eve Birge, CEO of White Pony Express. “This award would help us say yes to more than 70 organizations that are in line for our services. It would mean more children, families, and seniors sharing in our community’s abundance.”

White Pony Express currently provides the equivalent of 13,000 fresh, healthy meals each day—free of charge—to more than 140 schools, shelters, senior centers, and community organizations across Contra Costa County. With more than 70 organizations waiting for service, the award would help WPE recover more good food, reach more neighbors, and respond to a level of need that continues to outpace available resources.

The need is growing. Food insecurity among low-income adults has risen sharply across the Bay Area, including in Contra Costa County, according to the California Health Interview Survey. A win would help White Pony Express increase deliveries and reach some of the more than 70 nonprofit organizations on the waitlist. Community members are encouraged to vote and share the opportunity before voting closes on September 30.

How can I vote for the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards?

Vote in the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards until Sept. 30

From September 1 through September 30, 2026, Chick-fil-A One^® Members can place their vote for the True Inspiration Awards^® within the Chick-fil-A^® App. To help select the award winners, follow the instructions below:

1. Sign in to your Chick-fil-A One® account (or create one) in the Chick-fil-A App.
2. Select “For You” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click the “Vote Now” button.
4. Select your geographical region.
5. Read about this year’s regional finalists and cast your vote.

Please note, customers must use the Chick-fil-A App and a Chick-fil-A One Account to place a vote.

The 2027 True Inspiration Awards grant winners will be announced in early 2027. For more information, visit here.

About White Pony Express

Founded in 2013 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, White Pony Express is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit built on a simple truth: hunger is not a scarcity problem; it is a distribution problem. Every day, WPE recovers fresh food and essential goods from local businesses and delivers them—free of charge—to more than 140 nonprofit partners. Its work is powered by a small staff and more than 2,000 volunteers, united by the idea that we are one human family, and love only gives its best. Fore more information visit https://whiteponyexpress.org.

About the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards

The Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards were established in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy. The program supports organizations dedicated to caring for people, caring through food, caring for communities, and caring for our planet. Grants range from $30,000 to $200,000.

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Smoke may waft into West County but don’t call 911

By Pinole Police Department & Ryan Forbes, Bay Area District, CA State Parks

After pausing of the September 8th prescribed burn at Angel Island State Park, California State Parks, in partnership with CAL FIRE and the Marin County Fire Department, plan to continue the prescribed burn as early as Wednesday, Sept. 23 to Thursday, Sept. 24. Burn dates will depend on wildfire activity, resource availability, weather conditions, predicted smoke movement and fuel moisture.

Community members should refrain from calling 911 to report smoke from Angel Island to avoid overwhelming emergency dispatchers.

After the Sept. 8th burn, following further evaluation of conditions and discussions with the Bay Area Air District, all project partners agreed to cancel further burn operations for the week.

Prescribed burns conducted in State Parks promote habitat improvement and reduce fuel loads that have accumulated in the absence of historically frequent, low-intensity fires. All burning is dependent upon wildfire activity, resource availability, weather conditions, predicted smoke movement and fuel moisture. If conditions are not conducive, the burn will be rescheduled.

Trail Closures at Angel Island State Park: Ida Trail, Sunset Trail, the fire road and Perimeter Road may be closed on and immediately following burn days.

State Parks started the prescribed burn on Angel Island on Sept. 8 but did not finish the planned 260-acre burn following discussions with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These prescribed burns at Angel Island are specifically aimed at reducing fuel loads in grasslands and coastal scrub on the island and are supported by Proposition 4 (2024 Climate Bond). State Parks uses prescribed fire on a rotational basis as a healthy component of the ecosystem. Prescribed burns help reduce dangerous fuel loads throughout wildland areas.

The previous Angel Island burn accomplished several key objectives outlined in the plan.

“We were able to burn 62 acres on the island with the fuels reduction that we’ve accomplished, reducing the chance of a catastrophic fire on the island,” said Division Chief Sean Jerry, CAL FIRE Sonoma Lake Napa Unit.

Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay at one square mile and is visible from many surrounding Bay Area communities. Many Bay Area residents are likely to see smoke from the burns from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on burn days, and some smoke may also be visible up to three days following ignitions.

Prescribed burns are planned and coordinated with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If conditions are not conducive, the burn will be rescheduled.

“We work closely with the Air Quality Management District, and we really look for those small windows that have the greatest ability to disperse the smoke in the least impactful manner,” said Division Chief Graham Groneman, Marin County Fire Department.

“As always, we will be doing this with our neighbors and communities in mind,” said Senior Environmental Scientist Naftali Moed, California State Parks.

Angel Island State Park will remain open during burn days. However, some trails and roads near the burn area, including portions of the Ida Trail, Sunset Trail, and the park’s fire and perimeter roads, will be closed for one to three days during and immediately after the burn. Access to the summit of Mt. Livermore will not be permitted on some burn days as well.

State Parks asks that visitors adhere to posted closure signage and any directions from park staff or fire personnel. Please use extreme caution when recreating near prescribed fire operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area. In the unlikely event you smell smoke, officials urge you to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting time spent in smoky areas.

California State Parks Bay Area District Prescribed Fire Program

The lands encompassed within the Bay Area District of California State Parks include a diverse variety of unique ecosystems, many of which have evolved with and been shaped by fire over millennia. California State Parks has employed prescribed burning as a tool to help steward a number of parks across the State Park System since the 1970s. State Parks first began conducting prescribed burns in Bay Area District park units in the early 1980s, with prescribed pile and broadcast burning having taken place in a number of parks intermittently since then. State Parks staff from across the Bay Area District work closely with CAL FIRE, the Marin County Fire Department and a variety of partners to make sure all prescribed fire work is conducted safely in a manner that furthers State Park’s mission to preserve California’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources.

To stay up to date on the status of this burn, please check the Angel Island State Park webpage, Facebook / Instagram, and the Watch Duty App.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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Muti-agency effort assists Alameda County Sheriff’s Office

By Hercules Police Department

Hercules Police Department officers recently assisted the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest of two wanted suspects.

Upon locating the suspects in a vehicle at the Dylan Apartment Complex on John Muir Parkway, officers observed that both suspects were asleep and that one had a pistol resting on his lap.

Recognizing the potential for a dangerous and rapidly evolving situation, officers developed and implemented a tactical plan centered on time, distance, communication, and de-escalation. Through patience, coordination and sound police tactics, the situation was resolved safely, and both suspects were taken into custody without further incident.

This operation was a strong example of the importance of interagency cooperation and teamwork. We extend our sincere appreciation to our allied agency partners who assisted:

• Vallejo Police Department — K-9
• Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office
• San Pablo Police Department — SWAT
• Pinole Police Department
• Pittsburg Police Department

The hard work, professionalism, and dedication of frontline law enforcement officers can never be overstated. Kudos to every officer and deputy who worked together to bring this incident to a safe resolution.

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Family-owned grocer expands from Antioch

Will bring fresh food and new activity to a neighborhood shopping center that has lacked a supermarket for nearly seven years.

By Toni Baldazo, Community Engagement Officer, City of Pittsburg

PITTSBURG, CA – Cielo Supermarket opened its new Pittsburg location in the Highlands Square Shopping Center on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, with a public ribbon cutting event hosted by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, returning a full-service grocery store to a site that has been vacant since 2019.

The family-owned supermarket occupies approximately 25,000 square feet of the former 58,000-square-foot anchor space, which was previously home to Raley’s and later Food Source. The new store will offer fresh produce, a full-service meat department, deli, bakery, juice bar, tortillería, and a taqueria with indoor seating.

“For several years, residents have consistently shared that they wanted a grocery store back in this neighborhood,” said Pittsburg Mayor Dionne Adams. “The City and property owner continued working to find the right fit, and we are pleased to welcome a family-owned business willing to invest in Pittsburg. Cielo’s opening will bring fresh food options, new activity and greater convenience to the community. This is a meaningful win for the neighborhood and our entire city.”

Food Source closed in 2019, leaving the large anchor space without a tenant. In the years that followed, the City and property owner Sierra Pacific Properties continued working to recruit another grocery operator. Community members added their voices through sustained advocacy, including a rally organized to show grocery chains the demand and support waiting for them in Pittsburg.

Those efforts gained momentum when discussions with Cielo began in 2024. In October 2025, the Pittsburg City Council unanimously approved a targeted $120,000 economic development incentive to help move the project forward. The package included a $77,500 building permit fee credit and a performance-based rebate equal to 50% of the City’s quarterly sales-tax receipts from the store, capped at $42,500.

Cielo Supermarket is owned and operated by the Gomez-Ayala family, which has more than 30 years of experience serving Contra Costa County’s grocery customers. Hector and Fabiola Gomez founded Cielo in 2021, opening the company’s first location in Antioch that year. The Pittsburg store will be Cielo’s second location, and its flagship.

“We have heard from Pittsburg residents how much they have missed having a grocery store in this location, and our family is honored to be part of bringing it back,” said Fabiola Gomez, co-founder of Cielo Supermarket. “We are grateful for the welcome we have received from the community, the City and Sierra Pacific Properties. Our team can’t wait to open the doors, meet our new neighbors, and serve Pittsburg with fresh food, authentic flavors and the family atmosphere that defines Cielo.”

The opening of Cielo Supermarket will be the second full-service grocery store to open in Pittsburg in the past 14 months, following on the heels of Sprouts Farmer’s Market, which opened in June 2025.

See video of grand opening and ribbon cutting.

Cielo Supermarket’s Pittsburg location is open at 1375 Buchanan Road. Additional information about Cielo is available at www.cielosupermarket.com or visit www.facebook.com/cielosupermarket.

 

 

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By Dan Radovich, ADA & Communications Officer, Contra Costa County Superior Court

MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Contra Costa County Superior Court today announced its judicial leadership for 2027-2028. The Honorable Joni T. Hiramoto, the Court’s current Assistant Presiding Judge, will become Presiding Judge, and the Honorable Benjamin T. Reyes II has been elected to serve as Assistant Presiding Judge. Their terms run from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2028. Judge Hiramoto will succeed the Honorable Christopher R. Bowen, whose term as Presiding Judge ends December 31, 2026.

Judge Hiramoto was appointed to the Contra Costa County Superior Court bench in 1998. She was the first Asian American judge to serve the Superior Court, and the first judge to preside over the Court’s Behavioral Health Court. Before serving as the Court’s Assistant Presiding Judge, she previously served as Supervising Judge of the Richmond Branch. Judge Hiramoto also currently serves as Dean of the Bernard E. Witkin Judicial College, which trains new judges statewide, and she received the California Judges Association’s Bernard S. Jefferson Award in 2024 for distinguished service in judicial education.

Judge Hiramoto earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard-Radcliffe College and her Juris Doctor from the UC Berkeley School of Law. Before her appointment, she practiced litigation at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen in San Francisco and was a branch chief in the Enforcement Division of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The Court thanks Presiding Judge Bowen for his courageous, diligent and visionary leadership these past two years,” said Judge Hiramoto. “He leaves the Court in a far stronger state than he inherited. I owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for his inspirational guidance and practical support as I navigated serving as Assistant Presiding Judge. I am delighted by the election of Judge Reyes as Assistant Presiding Judge. He has been an inspiration to me ever since he joined the bench and I look forward to working together to serve the Court and our Contra Costa County community.”

Judge Reyes was appointed to the Contra Costa County Superior Court bench in 2017. He currently serves as Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, and he has previously served as Supervising Judge of the Family Law Division and Presiding Judge of the Civil Grand Jury. Judge Reyes was honored as Trial Judge of the Year by the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers’ Association in 2022. He also teaches at the UC Berkeley School of Law and in the University of San Francisco School of Law’s Intensive Advocacy Program.

Judge Reyes earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Before his appointment, he spent 24 years in public agency law, including 14 years as an equity principal at Meyers Nave, where he chaired the firm’s statewide public contracts practice group. While at the firm, he served as City Attorney for Pinole and Union City.

“I am deeply honored by my colleagues’ confidence in electing me as Assistant Presiding Judge of our Superior Court for 2027-2028,” said Judge Reyes. “Serving on the Court remains the greatest privilege of my professional life. I have the advantage of working with jurists who are dedicated to justice, collegiality, and who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. Our Court’s strength lies in our collective commitment to excellence. I am committed to fostering an environment where, as independent judicial officers, every voice is heard, where collaboration thrives, and where we continue to uphold the highest standards of justice. I look forward to working with Presiding Judge Joni T. Hiramoto, CEO Sarah Lind and her team, and with our justice partners to ensure that we are consistently delivering an exceptional level of service to the people of Contra Costa County.”

Current Presiding Judge Christopher R. Bowen congratulated Judge Hiramoto and Judge Reyes on their new roles. “Judges Hiramoto and Reyes bring years of experience on the bench to the Court’s leadership,” said Presiding Judge Bowen. “Both of them have served in multiple divisions of our Court and have a keen sense of the Court’s strengths and areas for continued improvement. I am pleased that the Court will have such dynamic leaders in the coming years.” The Court thanks Presiding Judge Bowen for his leadership, his commitment to excellence, and his dedicated service to the Court and the people of Contra Costa County during his 2025-2026 term.

The Presiding Judge is responsible for leading the Court, establishing policies and allocating resources. The Presiding Judge’s duties include making judicial assignments, overseeing the Court’s budget, and serving as the Court’s spokesperson. The Assistant Presiding Judge supports the Presiding Judge in these responsibilities and helps ensure an orderly transition of leadership.

For more information about Contra Costa County Superior Court visit Home | Superior Court of California | County of Contra Costa.

 

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By Pittsburg Police Department

Last week, Pittsburg PD’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) served a search warrant at a residence here in town.

The warrant was the result of a collaborative investigation with an outside law enforcement agency, combined with some solid investigative work by our SIU detectives.

During the search, detectives located nearly a quarter-pound of suspected heroin, additional suspected methamphetamine, a firearm and cash.

The suspect was arrested and, as it turns out, was already prohibited from possessing firearms. Apparently, the “prohibited” part wasn’t clear enough. We helped clear that up.

More importantly, another suspected drug dealer is off the street, a firearm is out of the hands of someone who legally shouldn’t have had it, and hopefully the neighbors can enjoy a little less traffic at all hours of the day and night.

No more customers. No more doorbell. No more neighborhood pharmacy.

Nice work, SIU.

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With 37, Dougherty Valley High and with 68, San Ramon Valley Unified School District lead county; see list of students; winners be announced April-July 2027

By Contra Costa County Office of Education

PLEASANT HILL, Calif.— Some 103 high school seniors in Contra Costa County have been named Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program, joining more than 16,000 students nationwide recognized for their academic achievement.

The students represent 18 high schools, and one homeschool across Contra Costa County, reflecting the strength of the county’s educational programs and the dedication of students, educators, and families. Among the schools represented, Dougherty Valley High School in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District led the county with 37 Semifinalists. As previously reported, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District boasts 68 Semifinalist among its students.

“Earning the status of a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist places these students among the highest-achieving scholars in the nation,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “These students have distinguished themselves through their dedication to learning and commitment to excellence. I am equally proud of the educators and school communities that have helped foster the conditions for this level of success. The recognition reflects the academic foundation and support systems found across schools throughout our county.”

Schools with National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists include:

• Dougherty Valley High School (37)
• California High School (16)
• Monte Vista High School (14)
• Middle College High School (1)
• Campolindo High School (7)
• Miramonte High School (5)
• Acalanes High School (4)
• Northgate High School (4)
• Bentley School (2)
• College Park High School (2)
• De La Salle High School (2)
• Los Lomas High School (2)
• Athenian School (1)
• Berean Christian High School (1)
• Clayton Valley Charter High School (1)
• El Cerrito High School (1)
• Hercules High School (1)
• Middle College High School (1)
• San Ramon Valley High School (1)
• Homeschool/Online (1)

Semifinalists now advance in the competition for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships, collectively valued at nearly $24 million, which will be awarded in spring 2027. To advance to Finalist standing, students must fulfill additional academic and program requirements. According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, Finalists are selected based on their academic record, extracurricular accomplishments, leadership, and potential for success in college.

Historically, about 95 percent of Semifinalists advance to Finalist status, and approximately half of those students earn the distinction of National Merit Scholar.

More than 1.2 million high school juniors from approximately 20,000 schools across the nation entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists represent the highest-scoring participants in each state, making the honor one of the nation’s most recognized academic distinctions for high school students.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced between April and July 2027 and will join a community of more than 395,000 scholars who have received National Merit honors since the program began.

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMIFINALISTS

ACALANES HIGH SCHOOL – 4

Krick, Trevor

Penn, Carissa

Perry, Felix

Werner, Henry

ATHENIAN SCHOOL – 1

Shiu, Jaden

BENTLEY SCHOOL – 2

Marietta, Jude

Markovich, Felix

BEREAN CHRISTIAN – 1

Cortez, Caleb

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL – 16

Baugh, Matthew E.

Bhate, Aditya

Bidhurakanthu, Varun

Chauhan, Shaurya

Eraniyan, Keerthi

Hovarth, Tyler

Khoo, Naomi G.

Kralin, Platon

Liu, Avery J.

Nagandia, Sahana R.

Pacheco, Rizal Arturo M.

Ramesh, Harshit

Rana, Abhiveer S.

Singh, Aashvi

Wang, Maxwell L.

Zhao, Vivian G.

CAMPOLINDO HIGH SCHOOL – 7

Bronson, Zayden

Harrison, Brian

Jaffari, Jade

Kirchner, Andrew

Klisura, Anton

Marchetti, Matteo

Rosenblat, Talia

CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL – 1

Channaveer, Anvi

COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL – 2

Green, Benjamin

Greninger, Oren

DE LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL – 2

Huang, Luke

Nguyen, Jacob

DOUGHERTY VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL – 37

Ajith, Taran

Asopa, Abhay

Borah, Akanksh

Buenaventura, Tyler Y.

Buragohain, Aiden

Chawda, Toshit

Chen, Cory S.

Chen, Iris S.

Cheng, Zachary S.

Dammanagari, Avaneesh R.

Das, Etash R.

Davuluri, Akhilesh

Goel, Aadi

Goyal, Advita

Gundluru, Nihal

Han, Terrance W.

Jiang, Aiden S.

Joshi, Jayden C.

Kabade, Yash P.

Kattady, Benjamin J.

Krishnan, Nupur

Malani, Girik

Nimmagadda, Sruthi

Patel, Ayaan K.

Patil, Kaashvi V.

Philar, Reva A.

Sabbineni, Shree

Semwal, Aryav

Senji, Aaditya D.

Shao, Yingkai

Suresh, Iniya S.

Tenneti, Anika

Thella, Neil

Wang, Meiyun

Wu, Daniel

Wu, Enzo

Yashvant, Aditi M.

EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL –1

Takano, James M.

HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL – 2

Aaron, James

Jin, Caroline

HERCULES HIGH SCHOOL – 1

Yue, Jordan T.

HOMESCHOOL – 1

Nguyen, Anastasia

LAS LOMAS HIGH SCHOOL – 2

Schaible, Coltrane

Steinberg, Nyana

MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL – 1

Stemmle, Maxwell

MIRAMONTE HIGH SCHOOL – 5

Chan, Cailyn

Colburn, Andrew

Gaarder-Wang, Rory

Maiti, Yuvaan

Zheng, Richy

MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL – 14

Goyal, Rohan

Hughes, Oliver J.

Jiang, James Z.

Kapoor, Anusha

Kotamraju, Rohan

Li, Gianna J.

Mall, Subhang

Medeiros, Tiago K.

Mishra, Tanya

Pant, Esh

Rajnikanth, Sahana

Sarkar, Karisma G.

Venkatesh, Arvind

Yanamandra, Keshav V.

NORTHGATE HIGH SCHOOL – 4

Dixit, Sahara

Hermansyah, Rayyan

Mitchell, Russell

Zhang, Derek

SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL – 1

Chang, Briar T.

About Contra Costa County Office of Education

One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of the county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.

CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 286 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.

 

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Becton says 72-year-old Yolanda Bustos Ramirez “died from a stroke and other health related issues” Oct. 3, 2025, while in the hospital and, “No further action will be taken in this case.”

Shares details about inquest jury’s split vote on findings

By Allen D. Payton

According to Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo, “The Contra Costa DA’s Office has released its full report on the investigation into the death of Yolanda Bustos Ramirez, following a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding her death. This release reflects our office’s commitment to transparency in matters that affect the community we serve.”

As previously reported, 72-year-old Yolanda Bustos Ramirez, died on Oct. 3, 2025, following her arrest during a family dispute. She was in the hospital and not in police custody at the time of her death. But her family is blaming police for causing her death and have filed a wrongful death lawsuit. A letter to the City from the family’s attorney claims she was “violently arrested by multiple Brentwood Police Officers.”

According to the Department, “On Friday, September 26, 2025, at around 11:00 a.m., Brentwood Police officers responded to a call involving a family dispute, during which Yolanda Ramirez, approximately 70 years old, was placed under a citizen’s arrest at the request of a family member. When officers arrived, Ms. Ramirez attempted to flee the scene. Officers detained Ms. Ramirez, and after being secured in a patrol vehicle, officers noticed she appeared to be having a medical issue, and they immediately contacted medical personnel. Ms. Ramirez was promptly released from police custody and transported by medical personnel to a local hospital.

“Several days later, the Police Department was notified that Ms. Ramirez was still hospitalized, her condition had worsened, and that she was not expected to survive. In accordance with Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, the Brentwood Police Department immediately notified the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and their agency initiated an independent investigation into the incident.”

In February, Brentwood Police released “a community briefing video consisting of in-car and body-worn camera footage, as well as 911 audio” of Ramirez’s arrest. They reported, “the family of Ms. Ramirez was provided with an opportunity to privately view the video prior to its release to the public.” (See related article)

Then, in July, a Contra Costa Sheriff-Coroner’s inquest jury found her death to be an accident. “The inquest presented the facts of the incident, including witness testimony, medical information, and body-worn camera footage, to a jury tasked with determining the manner of death: natural causes, accident, at the hands of another, or suicide,” Asregadoo shared. (See related article)

Investigation Report & Timeline

The investigation report includes audio and video footage of both police body cam, dash cam and a home surveillance camera, interviews with the involved police officers, Bustos Ramirez’s family members and a Con Fire paramedic, as well as medical records, autopsy report and the results of the Sheriff-Coroner’s Inquest Jury findings.

Asregadoo’s press release provided the following additional details:

Brentwood Dispatch Receives a Call

On September 26, 2025, at 10:37 a.m., a family member called Brentwood police to report a disturbance involving Ramirez, who was outside a residence banging on the front door and had broken a coffee mug on the porch. The family member, who is Ramirez’s sister, told dispatch that Ramirez had been confrontational in the past and that she feared Ramirez would become combative again.

Officers Aaron Peachman and Danielle Tjhia arrived at approximately 10:49 a.m. and found Ramirez standing in the driveway. The family member told Officer Peachman that a dispute arose over who was responsible for driving their brother to a medical appointment. When the family member took their brother back inside, Ramirez banged on the door and broke a coffee mug on the porch. The family member told officers she wanted to press charges for property damage.

Ramirez’s Arrest

As Officer Peachman explained the process of a citizen’s arrest, Ramirez attempted to leave the scene. Despite repeated commands to sit down and statements that she was not free to leave, Ramirez refused the officer’s directives. When officers took hold of her wrists and attempted to guide her away from her car, she said “stop” and continued to resist. Officer Peachman advised her she was under arrest and ordered her to place her hands behind her back. When she refused, officers moved her hands behind her back, handcuffed her, and escorted her to the patrol vehicle.

At the patrol car, Ramirez pulled away as officers attempted to search her pockets and repeated instructions to enter the patrol vehicle. Officers Peachman and Tjhia held Ramirez by the upper arms and walked her toward the open rear door. Approximately two to three feet from the door,

Ramirez dropped to her knees and struck the left side of her face against the vehicle’s interior, crying out in pain. She appeared alert afterward, with no visible injury. When she did not respond to further requests to stand and enter the car, officers lifted her to her feet and placed her across the back seat. As Officer Peachman guided her feet inside and closed the door, Ramirez pushed her leg against it. When he closed it firmly, Ramirez’s body shifted forward and the top of her head struck the closed door on the opposite side of the vehicle. She did not react audibly, nor were there visible signs of being hurt.

Medical Distress in the Patrol Vehicle

At approximately 11:04 a.m., Ramirez shifted to an upright position in the back seat and appeared alert. She repeatedly asked to be uncuffed, given water, and allowed to call family. After Officer Peachman stepped away at 11:14 a.m., her condition declined. As captured on the interior video camera in the patrol vehicle, her breathing grew slower and shallower, and her speech became incomplete and incoherent. When Officer David Smith checked on her at 11:18 a.m., she had difficulty understanding his questions, though she was able to state her name. After several more minutes of attempted interaction, officers called for medical assistance at 11:21 a.m. While medical responders were en route, Ramirez vomited in the vehicle.

Transport to Hospital and Death Days Later

Paramedics arrived at 11:29 a.m. and transported Ramirez first to Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center and then to John Muir Health Walnut Creek Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with an intraparenchymal hemorrhage – which is bleeding in the right basal ganglia, deep inside the brain. She received medical treatment for several days before she died on October 3rd.

Autopsy Findings

On October 4th, 2025, Forensic Pathologist Dr. James Caruso conducted an autopsy of Ramirez and concluded that her death was caused by a cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and obesity as other significant preexisting conditions.

On October 26th, 2025, a second forensic pathologist, Dr. Matthias Okoye, conducted a private autopsy of Ramirez and concluded that her death was due to “multiple blunt force trauma and asphyxiation with complications all due to, and as a consequence of, police restraint.”

Additional Witness Account

On February 2nd, 2026, a resident who lived near the scene of the incident provided a statement to a Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office inspector describing his observations of the arrest. The witness stated that he saw a male officer strike Ramirez three times in the back of the head with his elbow or forearm, driving her face into the closed rear passenger window as she stood next to the patrol vehicle. This account was incorporated into the investigation’s overall analysis, but a review of all witness statements and body-worn camera video capturing the entirety of the police contact with Ramirez found that the use of force described by the additional witness did not occur.

The officers “had the Legal Authority to detain/arrest Yolanda Ramirez” and “used objectively reasonable force” – Contra Costa DA Diana Becton

District Attorney’s Findings

The investigation report includes audio and video footage, interviews with the involved police officers, Bustos Ramirez’s family members and a Con Fire paramedic, as well as medical records, autopsy report and the results of the Sheriff-Coroner’s Inquest Jury findings.

DA Diana Becton’s Executive Summary provides more details about the results of the inquest jury writing, “The jury returned a split verdict on the case. Seven members of the jury determined that the cause of death was by ‘natural causes’, and eight members of the jury determined the cause of death was by ‘accident.’ None of the jurors concluded that the death was ‘at the hands of another’ or by ‘Suicide’.’”

Becton’s Executive Summary and Conclusion states, “In applying the law and the California District Attorney’s Uniform Crime Charging Standards to the present case, the CCCDAO finds the following:

1. As a matter of law, Officers Peachman and Tjhia had the Legal Authority to detain/arrest Yolanda RAMIREZ.
2. Officers Peachman and Tjhia used objectively reasonable force during the arrest of Yolanda RAMIREZ and there is no evidence that excess force was applied.
3. While incredibly tragic, Yolanda RAMIREZ died from a stroke and other health related issues, as opposed to police use of force.

“Based on the aforementioned findings, no further action will be taken in this case.”

Read the complete findings here: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/92820/LEIFI-Final-Report-Yolanda-Bustos-Ramirez.

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By Pleasant Hill Police Department

On Friday, September 18, 2026, during the early morning hours, Officers Margiotta and Munoz engaged in proactive enforcement.

They located a white Mercedes-Benz without license plates in the vicinity of Contra Costa Boulevard and Dexter Drive. Subsequently, they initiated a traffic enforcement stop. The vehicle was occupied by two individuals, a man and a woman.

The investigation revealed that the driver was operating a vehicle with a suspended license. Officers also discovered mail that did not belong to either the driver or occupant. The vehicle was impounded, and both occupants were subsequently arrested for violation of California Penal Code § 530.5(e), which prohibits the possession of another person’s identifying information or mail under circumstances involving identity theft.

Great proactive police work by our officers to identify and address suspicious activity!

Unfortunately, the department’s CitizenRIMS does not show the incident on the map nor names of the suspects in the list of arrests, and the latest updates are from Sunday, Sept. 13. An effort to reach a spokesperson in the department for more details was unsuccessful prior to publication time.

Please check back later for any updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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