Hercules Police Blotter: Fraud, Residential Burglary, Grand Theft

The Hercules Police Department selected and wrote the following blotter items. 

Thursday, Dec. 19

Possession of Drugs/ Drugs Paraphernalia/Probation Violation:  On December 19, 2013 at 9:05am, an officer saw an adult male walking S/B along the west sidewalk of San Pablo Ave. The officer conducted a consensual encounter and immediately recognized the subject. The subject had several prior contacts and an arrest for a drug related offense. A records check revealed the male was on searchable probation, for theft out, of Contra Costa County. A search was conducted and a makeshift pipe, often used to smoke illegal substances, was located in the male’s rear waistband. The pipe was constructed of a light bulb, and rolled aluminum from a canned beverage, with a charred bulb and burnt residue suspected to be a controlled substance. A clear plastic baggie containing a crystalline substance, suspected to be a controlled substance, was located taped to the male’s stomach just above his waist. 34 year old James Russell Allen, of Richmond, was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also charged with violation of his court ordered probation. Allen was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Domestic Violence Report: On December 19, 2013, at 10:43 hours, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Rosewood for a domestic disturbance. Officers arrived on scene and heard yelling coming from inside the residence. An adult female answered the door and her husband was sitting on the stairway inside the residence. They both said they argued about their one year old son.  The husband slapped a salad bowl out of his wife’s hand and she slapped him. The husband said he pushed his wife to the ground to defend himself. Both parties said that they were not injured and neither party wants to press charges. The husband left the residence. The incident was documented.

Friday, Dec. 20

Fraud: On December 20, 2013 at 11:59am an officer took a phone report, from the person who lives in Charlotte, NC. The reporting party discovered his credit card was used at the Hercules Home Depot. The victim had already reported the crime to his local police department. A case was taken for an outside assist.

Miscellaneous Information: On December 20, 2013 at 1:54pm officers were dispatched to the Hercules Middle High School for a report of a possible large fight. Officers determined the students were only arguing. A School Resource Officer will follow-up with the students when school convenes next year.

Fraud: On December 20, 2013 at 4:32pm an officer was dispatched to a lobby detail. The reporting party his juvenile son was involved in an illegal check cashing scheme. The reporting party’s son was approached, at the Hercules Middle High School, by another student who asked him if he wanted to make some money. The son said yes and was given a phone number to call. The son called the number and spoke with a female who arranged to pick him up from school. The female gave the son at least three checks made out to him. The instructions were for the son to use his bank to cash the checks and keep $100 for himself. Only one of the checks was cashed in Hercules. This is the second student to come forward about this type of incident.  The investigation is continuing.

Missing Adult: On December 20, 2013 at 4:50pm an officer was dispatched to the 100 block of Agate Way for a report of a missing adult female. The reporting party said his wife may be depressed over marital issues. The female was entered into Missing and Unidentified Persons System (MUPS). At about 7:00pm the female was contacted via telephone. She told the officer she was at work and okay. The officer spoke with security confirmed she was there. The female’s name was removed from MUPS.

Residential Burglary: On December 20, 2013 at 5:49pm officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Sparrow for a report of a burglary.  Sometime between 7:00am this morning, and time of call, an unknown suspect forced opened the exterior side garage door and entered the residence through the interior door to the garage. The residence was rummaged through and the initial loss appears to be jewelry and video games.

Missing Juvenile: On December 20, 2013, at 7:00 pm, officer was dispatched to the 2100 block of Lupine for a missing male juvenile report. The officer contacted the juvenile’s Uncle who stated the 17 year old juvenile left the residence at 6:00 pm after an argument with regarding marijuana. The juvenile is currently on probation and he cannot possess marijuana. The male was entered into MUPS as a runaway.

Saturday, Dec. 21

Located Missing Person/Probation Violation: On December 21, 2013 at 11:23am officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Refugio Valley Rd for a report of a subject in a shed behind the building. Officers contacted a 17 year old male inside the tool shed for the teen center.  The juvenile was the missing person form the above missing juvenile incident.  He said he burned the plastic locking mechanism of the shed to gain entry. He also had an electric cord running from the teen center to charge his cell phone. The juvenile’s probation officer was contacted and she requested he be transported to juvenile hall for violation of his probation. 

Commercial Burglary: On December 21, 2013 5:34pm an officer was dispatched to Home Depot for a report of a theft that occurred yesterday. The officer contacted Loss Prevention. The LPO had video surveillance of a known subject entering the store (empty handed) on 12/20/13 at 8:52pm and later walking out with merchandise without paying for it. Store employees are aware of this subject and were told to call whenever he enters the store.

Possession of Stolen Property/ Possession of a Loaded Firearm: On December 22, 2013, at 4:24 am, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Athena for report of two subjects breaking into a mailbox with a pry tool. The subjects were described as wearing gray hoodie sweatshirts. The suspects left the scene while the reporting party was talking to dispatch. An officer arrived on scene and saw a 01 Nissan turn from Titan onto Hercules Ave. The rear passenger was wearing gray hoodie sweatshirt. The officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver, whom did not have a valid driver license. The front passenger and rear passenger were also detained for mail theft investigation. The reporting party positively identified the two passengers as the two subjects she saw breaking into the mailbox. The vehicle was towed, because the driver did not have a license. An inventory search was conducted prior to the tow. There was mail, from Vallejo, found underneath the driver seat and in a backpack in the backseat. The mail did not belong to any of the vehicle’s occupants. A tire iron was found in between the front seats. A loaded .22 revolver was found underneath the driver seat.  29 year old Richard Vaca, and 29 year old Delinda Morales were arrested for Mail Theft, and Possession of Stolen Property.  Vaca was also charged for possession of a Loaded Firearm.  The driver was cited, for not having a valid Driver’s License, and released at the scene. The vehicle was towed.

Possession of Concealed Dirk or Dagger/Manufacture or Sell a registered Trademark Item: On December 22, 2013, at approximately 1:11 p.m., an officer stopped a blue Chevrolet Chevelle, in front of Big Lots, for tinted front driver’s side and passenger side windows.  The adult male driver stated he had a driver’s license, but could not find it.  The officer had the subject step from the vehicle, so the officer could search for valid ID.  When the subject got out of the driver’s seat the officer found three knives, with double sided blades, where the driver’s right leg had concealed them.  The officer found over 200 movies, on DVD’s, in a case on the front seat.  Most of the movies had multiple copies, and hand written labels. The movies were current films and were still in theaters.  There were over 150 music CD’s, with hand written labels, in the car.  43 year old Enrico Marrow, of Richmond, was arrested for Possession of a Concealed Dirk or Dagger; and the Manufacture or Sale of a Registered Trademark Item.  The case was presented to the DA’s Office on December 26, 2013.  The DA filed felony 653w(a) PC (Failing to Disclose Origin of Recoding/Audio Visual Work); felony 21310 PC (Carrying Dirk or Dagger); and an enhancement multiple previous felony convictions.

Sunday, Dec. 22

Stolen License Plate: On December 22, 2013, at approximately 1:24 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of Forest Run for the report of a stolen rear license plate from a vehicle.  The registered owner reported his 1993 Ford Taurus was parked in front of his residence, and the rear license plate was stolen sometime between 8:30 a.m. on December 21, and 7:00 a.m. on December 22, 2013. 

Stolen Cellular Phone: On December 22, 2013, at approximately 3:14 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 2100 block of Railroad for a report of a stolen cellular phone.  The Reporting Party stated that she left her I Phone 5 cellular phone on the counter inside Starbucks.  An unidentified person called Starbucks and asked if there was a phone left on the counter and described the phone.  An unidentified male came into Starbucks and retrieved the phone.  The reporting party called to see if her phone was there, and a Starbucks employee informed her the phone had been released to someone else.  The theft occurred sometime around 3:10 p.m. 

Suspended Driver License/Open Alcohol Container/ Smoking in a Car with Children: On December 22, 2013, at approximately 4:32 p.m., an officer stopped a 1993 Isuzu Rodeo, at Viewpointe and Coral in Rodeo, for having a license plate on the vehicle that was not on file with DMV.  The driver was found to be driving with a suspended driver’s license.  The passenger in possession of an open container of alcohol, and was smoking with a minor child in the vehicle.  The driver was issued a citation for Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License and passenger was issued a citation for an Open Container of Alcohol in a Vehicle and Smoking with a Minor Child in the Vehicle. 

Monday, Dec. 23

False Tab – Vehicle Tow:  On December 23, 2013 at 2:08 p.m. an officer towed a Black ’84 Volkswagen Rabbit which was parked in the 1000 block of Avocet St. The vehicle’s registration was expired as of June 2001.  The rear license plate was displaying a 2014 year tab. 

Identity Theft:  On December 23, 2013 at 3:22 p.m. a Hercules resident came to HPD for a counter report regarding identity theft.  The reporting party stated an unknown suspect used his personal identifying information to open fraudulent accounts back in 2008.  He just discovered the identity theft after reviewing his credit report.  

Petty Theft: On December 23, 2013 at 8:08 PM Hercules units were dispatched to Home Depot for a theft of Dewalt drills. The suspect fled prior to Police arrival but was described as a white male driving a gold Chevrolet truck.

Mental Health Evaluation: On December 23, 2013 at 9:23 PM Hercules Police units were dispatched, to the Glenwood Condo complex, for an out of control male juvenile. The juvenile was mad at his mother and said he wanted to hurt himself.  The juvenile was determined to meet the criteria for a Mental Health Evaluation.  He was transported, by ambulance to the County Regional Health Center.

Harassing Phone Calls:  On December 24, 2013 at 10:51 a.m. a Hercules resident submitted online report regarding harassing phone calls.  The reporting party said an unknown suspect, identifying himself as “Daniel Smith” from the IRS, has made repeated harassing phone calls; telling her he needed to speak to her regarding a lawsuit. 

Tuesday, Dec. 24

Identity Theft:  On December 24, 2013 at 11:12 a.m. a Hercules resident submitted an online report regarding an identity theft.  The reporting party said she received a collections notice regarding an unpaid AT&T cell phone account in her name.  She stated she didn’t open the account. The reporting party suspects her ex-boyfriend opened the fraudulent account (between 03/04/13 and 12/18/13) in her name using her SSN. 

Warrant Arrest:  On December 24, 2013 at 3:33 p.m. Hercules Officers went to Lompico Ct. and arrested 28 year old Tina Ditta, of Hercules, for an outstanding Misdemeanor Warrant out of South San Francisco P.D.  Ditta was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Wednesday, Dec. 25

Driving under the influence of alcohol: On December 25-13 at approximately 2:13AM an Officer conducted a traffic stop, on a 1996 Honda Civic, on Lupine Rd and Heather Ave. The vehicle had run a stop sign. The driver, 32 year old Jennifer Braga Masangcay of Hercules, displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.  She was cited and released to a responsible party.

Mental Health Evaluation: On December 25 at approximately 617AM Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Maple Ct. An adult female told her son that she did not want to live anymore. The female was determined to meet the criteria for a Mental Health Evaluation.  She was transported, by ambulance, to the County Regional Health Center.

Grand Theft: On December 25, 2013, at 6:14pm an officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Sparrow for a report of grand theft. The reporting party said the incident occurred between December 18, 2013 and the time of call. He and his wife were away on vacation. When they arrived home he discovered someone had stolen a $2000 guitar, cash and two checks from their home. 

December 26th:  No significant activity