We are receiving a lot of feedback about a story on social media and the local news that has raised concerns with some in the community. And, that response is understandable given the partial information that has been reported.
The story involved a suspect, holding a machete, who was on the front porch of a Brentwood home, who vandalized the property, and ultimately was arrested and cited by our officers for a misdemeanor and not taken to county jail.
But, there is a key element missing from this story.
As far as our officers were concerned when they responded that morning, there was no machete. Nor was there any reason to think a machete was part of this incident. The homeowner did not report that the man had a machete. The photos from the video surveillance the homeowner provided did not show the suspect holding a machete. When officers found the suspect, he wasn’t holding a machete.
The photos attached to this post are the images the officers saw that morning.
It was only on the NEXT DAY that we were provided a new portion of the video by the homeowner showing the suspect holding a machete.
It was clearly a traumatic night for the homeowner and his family. Often times, in situations like this, important information does not come out immediately and, given the dramatic nature of these events, that’s not unreasonable.
At the time, what our officers were confronted with was a suspect that had knocked on the homeowner’s door shortly after 2 AM, was seen on-camera wearing a mask and looking into cars, he slashed a car tire, and had damaged and removed two security cameras.
Officers responded within five minutes but the suspect was not there. He did return to the home at around 4 AM, and this time our officers, responded in one minute and found the suspect near the home.
All of the stolen items, which were returned to the homeowner, were valued at $300. Under state law this is petty theft, a misdemeanor. He was arrested but released with a notice to appear in court. This is how petty theft and vandalism investigations are currently handled.
If the officers had information at the time about a machete, it could have altered the outcome of the investigation and arrest. This new evidence will be delivered to the District Attorney’s Office for further consideration of additional charges.
In addition, we are working under this new directive provided by Sheriff Livingston to all Contra Costa Police Agencies:
“The highest risk of exposure and spread of the virus will come from arrestees brought into the facility. Therefore, the Office of the Sheriff will only be accepting arrestees charged with felony on-view crimes and warrants, domestic violence related misdemeanors, and restraining order violations. We ask all arresting agencies make reasonable efforts to limit the number of transports to the Martinez Detention Facility by exercising authority to cite release in the field in lieu of transporting and booking. If exceptions to this policy become necessary, please have your on-duty supervisor or watch commander contact the jail supervisor or sheriff’s office watch commander to discuss.”
We have received several questions as to how we would allow an armed person with a machete get away.
We hope this provides an understanding of what we did, and why, given the information we had at the time.
Sometimes the law can be very frustrating and confusing, but know that we will always do our utmost to provide our community with the best service possible.
27 comments
So, what did this “suspect” use to slash the tires on the resident’s car? His teeth? This incident was also shown on the news! The perp held a machete. The cops are crazy. He should have had his ass booted. The resident has the right to protect himself and his family with the most effective force available! Shame on the cops! How long does one have to work to earn $300 to replace damaged equipment and a new tire?
Check out http://www.ktvu.com/video/674376 … and you will see him walking to the door with a machete. I’m tired of this idiotic proposition making it a misdemeanor if one steals anything valued at $900! A theft is a theft! If this happened to our family, the second time the guy got anywhere near the house, he would have been removed by the coroner.
typical KTVU reporting for views and clicks. Not the whole story.
If this happened to me, the guy would not have returned a second time.
We simply cannot rely on the police to protect us. We need to provide our own protection and it has to be effective. This is one of the best examples just how inadequate our law enforcement agencies are. Anywhere else, the guy would have been removed and put away immediately.
The cops would be cleaning up a dead body if they arrested a dude with a machete on my porch and he reappeared later that same night. Im tired of all this PC garbage that we cant have criminals arrested.
Exactly, what did he use to slash a car tire around 2 am?
This is a prime example which shows that the police are pretty much useless as far as protecting people and property. They are nothing more than a reporting agency. Seems that the crime will have to be committed before they step in but then it’s too late for the victim. It is up to each individual to protect themselves.
What the heck is wrong with you people? If the suspect is not in possession of a weapon at time of contact, and the owner does not mention it, or realize the suspect had it until he reviewed the video the next day, then the officers can not charge something that isn’t there. What am I missing? Remember, Cops don’t have the luxury of future knowledge that all of us armchair quarter backs have a day or more later.
So, what did this guy use to slash the car tires with at 2 am? A karate chop? Could he just possibly have A WEAPON with him which would do that? THINK, man, THINK!
What Penal Code would you suggest arresting this person on Tammy? Unfortunately, there is no Penal Code for an imaginary weapon that you think the tire was slashed with. Always people commenting that have zero criminal justice experience. These officers did the right thing and only thing they could do given the information provided to them.
So? How come they arrested him this morning (4/17) and found he had a billy club, a hatchet, a machete and other weapons on him. He’s now been booked and is in jail. There is also a booking photo of him available on social media.
BPD is clearly passing the buck onto the Sheriffs Office. Good for them! LOL!
All kidding aside, BPD did what they could with the information they had at the time.
Partial information? Stop trying to cover the police screw ups. They fail to protect, period. Just like Oakley PD, we call day and night with meth heads breaking into people’s property, belligerent, screaming obscene things and women and children, stealing from porches and even sitting on neighbors porches and trespassing. Not A DAMN thing done by pd. They dont even come out to the calls anymore.
If I find someone banging on my door at 2 am and ripping off my ring and security cameras, that would be it for him.
Prop 47, you voted for it,
Hey there k — Many of us did not vote for it I think people whose relatives are in prison a lot voted for it and now they are getting their car windows broken and their houses invaded. Serves them right.
The law needs to change. Theft at a residence should be a lower value for a felony. I would make it any theft of a resident a felony. Even $900 at a retail store is too high. But I understand crowding at our prisons is terrible and a person has to live on the streets some how. Right? Sigh…
There are thousands and thousands of miles of desert out here. More prisons should be built in those areas away from the cities. Let the rotten creeps stay there. Our state has the money to build more prisons. They would not be in anybody’s back yard.
Thanks, Brentwood PD, for the clarification. Now, just what did the perp use to slash that tire? Jagged fingernails? Also, it seems to me that multiple crimes were committed by this fine gentleman, thus there should be several charges totaling more than $900….including pain and suffering on the part of the homeowner for the mental stress of seeing a man with a weapon at his door at 2am, as well as the cost of the tire, the video doorbell , and whatever else was taken. Thus….voila! Several felonies. Nice to know that I can do this in Brentwood and get off with a citation
This is what we call a “COP OUT”… give me a break. Stop with the excuses already… the Police and rules seem to throw common sense and moral accountability right out the COP OUT window!
It kills me the posts regarding what the law allows for arrest from people that have no idea. Get some education on the issue and then come back with a sensible response. In this case they can charge him with the vandalism of the tires if they can show he did it, but once again, no weapon, no weapons charge. And by the way, walking around with a machete is not a crime in and by itself. If they conceal the machete then it is a felony. Go after the lawmakers, not the police.
It kills me to read the posts regarding what the law allows for arrest from people that have no idea. Get some education on the issue and then come back with a sensible response. In this case they can charge him with the vandalism of the tires if they can show he did it, but once again, no weapon, no weapons charge. And by the way, walking around with a machete is not a crime in and by itself. If they conceal the machete then it is a felony. Go after the lawmakers, not the police.
Most educated response thus far. Sh!t stop voting based on your lame ass emotions. No good business decision can be made based on emotions, PERIOD. You all voted for this stuff NOT THE COPS!
Knock it off, Sad State! The voters in Alameda County were the ones who voted for this Prop 47. The population of Oakland mostly because their brethren were the ones always picked up and arrested for felonies. Very few people from this area voted for that. Well, maybe the good people of Pittsburg did. This prop needs to be retired immediately. I’m surprised more perps aren’t shot by those they victimize.
Just so you know, Sad Sad! Neither I nor my family members nor relatives voted for Proposition 47. I remember being accosted by a signature-gatherer and I read the whole proposal and told him that there is no way on this God’s Green Earth I would ever agree to such a totally idiotic law and he should be ashamed of himself to even do what he was doing He said his brother was always being arrested. So, now it’s obvious who wanted this law.
This moron terrorized that family! The husband didn’t call the police just for the fun of it. If anybody started banging loudly and continuously on my door at 2 am and then started tearing out and destroying my security equipment, that would be his very last act. It seems that the police cannot protect you. Maybe after he got in and killed that whole family, then the police would step in. We have to protect ourselves. No one else will.
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