I can't remember how many bends there were, Whitney said. VALLEJO, Calif. (KGO) -- Thursday marks two years since a Vallejo police officer shot and killed Sean Monterrosa outside a Walgreens. Drew Ramsay, who noticed that the badge had two bent tips. In January 2021, officials for the city of Vallejo intentionally and with approval from a senior attorney for the city destroyed key evidence in multiple police killings and one non-fatal shooting, documents obtained in a public records lawsuit filed by Open Vallejo show. He testified that they watched the video of the Jenkins stop and Iacono opined that the officers had not used excessive force. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? The city of Vallejo will pay $2.8 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of an unarmed man killed by police. Illegal sideshows erupted throughout the Bay Area over the weekend in cities from Vallejo to Hayward. Police in Vallejo said they interrupted a sideshow with approximately 300 cars on Saturday night. At the time of the incident, police say there was a college fair going on, three classes in session and approximately 200 student-athletes on campus. CHP tried to make a traffic stop, but the stolen vehicle pulled away. City records show that Whitney was fired for allegedly destroying data on his city-issued cell phone during an investigation. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Vallejo police release body cam video of controversial shooting at Taco Bell, former Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams fired McMahon, Vallejo police chief abruptly resigns months after police union's vote of no confidence, Solano County District Attorney did not file criminal charges against McMahon, wrongful termination lawsuit filed in 2020 by former Vallejo PD Captain John Whitney, Bay Area DA explains why she refused to probe fatal police shootings, Former Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams. Been working at the Times-Herald full time since early 2011, was a stringer from 2001-2004 while in college at San Francisco State where I studied Journalism. Whitneys testimony indicates that Bidou was made aware of badge bending four years before previously known, but took no action during his term as chief. Photos courtesy Solano County District Attorney's Office. Prior to handing it over, Whitney told Iacono he needed to call his wife to tell her not to call or text him, but then erased the phones contents by resetting it to factory settings. Taylor, the driver of the stolen Hyundai Sonata, exited the freeway at Suisun Valley Road where he lost control of the car and crashed, officials said. After the area was deemed safe by officers, those remaining students and staff were released from campus. As for Tony Ridgeway, records indicate Ofc. Over the next several days, Encarnacion would empty box after box of evidence of police shootings into a large city dumpster. Officials said the suspect car reached speeds of up to 120 mph. The attack happened in the 600 block of Third Street. ", Broadmoor police also thanked the I-Team for, "providing us the opportunity to explain our extraordinarily thorough hiring practices.". Once there, police said officers found a 31-year-old from Vallejo and a 27-year-old from Albany with at least one gunshot wound each. Krishna Abrams' office offered additional background details saying this case was of significant public interest. Encarnacion found herself holding the case file for the notorious killing of Mario Romero, a young father whose death at the hands of Vallejo police in 2012 sparked citywide protests. Records the city previously retained for at least 25 years, in line with a state recommendation, would now be kept for five years following closure of the case, according to city documents. I have me, she said. In the meantime, Sullivan and McCoy worry about McMahon being back on the streets. Whitney testified that McMahon turned in his badge to then-Sgt. Whitney testified that Sgt. The city also agreed to produce some audio and video records it previously claimed did not exist for a price. OAKLAND, Calif. Phil Norawong went out to dinner with two friends in Oaklands Chinatown. By then McCarthy had been involved in three shootings as a Vallejo police officer. However, an investigation by Open Vallejo shows that the evidence purge in the five cases occurred over the course of nearly two weeks, that Knight seemingly approved it, and that the supervising detective who triggered the cases destruction was involved in all of them. Open Vallejo filed its public records lawsuit on Sept. 13, 2021, and learned of the evidence destruction last May, after which reporters filed a records request for more information. She said a lot of these civil rights cases shouldn't be happening, and implored me to help fix the police department.. In the interview Friday, City Attorney Nebb said that Knights email was not an official approval because the policy requiring written signatures had not been obtained. The incident stemmed from a carjacking in Vallejo on Feb. 22. The shooting happened at around 6 p.m. local time, the Oakland Police Department's Kim Armstead said at a news conference. The Solano County District Attorney did not file criminal charges against McMahon, finding that it was reasonable for him to defend himself and noting that Foster assaulted McMahon with his flashlight while resisting arrest. D.A. The alleged killer of Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell is handyman Carlos Medina Vallejo, 61. In a settlement, the City of Vallejo paid Foster's family $5.7 million. Detective Mustard, who between 2010 and 2019 was also Vallejos police union president, was a lead investigator in all of the five cases he prompted to have destroyed and was at the scene during one of them, according to a review of the case files by Open Vallejo. Knight and a spokesperson for the City of Vallejo did not respond to requests for comment. The following night, at around 7:30 p.m., officials said another person was victimized, this time, a 17-year-old resident of Richmond. Mustard and former software developer Det. Kenney and Joseph did not respond to requests for comment. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. In January 2021, officials for the city of Vallejo intentionally and with approval from a senior attorney for the city destroyed key evidence in multiple police Really? The adult son of one of KTVU's master control operators has been missing since early January and his family is hoping for his safe return. Click here to become a sustaining member of our newsroom. Im learning of that right now, Dailey said at her deposition. Crime and Public Safety | The destruction encompassed hundreds of pieces of physical and audiovisual evidence from six police shootings that occurred in 2012 and 2013, two of the departments bloodiest years in decades. (https://openvallejo.org/2023/02/05/vallejo-destroyed-evidence-of-police-killings/). A female minor, who was also a passenger, died while being transported to the hospital, the D.A. Before we return, dispose, or destroy any of this Evidence we wanted to clear this with the City Attorneys Office, Mustard wrote, copying two other members of the Vallejo police command staff. Whitney testified that as McCarthy was being promoted, he reported the bends to Bidou and Horton. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Officers (Although most of the records in the destroyed cases would have been created before 2015, documents indicate that some of the purged cases were accessed between 2015 and 2021.). Former Capt. Officers said they found a victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound. I try my best to be that reminder that there should be nothing that gets erased.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Although no firearm was found, Kenney claimed that he retrieved a pellet gun near the floor behind Romeros seat following the shooting. But Knight did not mention that she authorized Vallejo police staff to proceed with the destruction. Laurence Du Sault is Open Vallejos senior writer and editor focused on technical publications and investigations. (L). ", McCoy added, "We understand the blue wall is going to protect their own, they're going to rehire their own.". Less than two months later, on May 29, McCarthy received a medal of merit, a life-saving medal and was nominated for officer of the year. Tips regarding the incident can be directed to Detective Murphy at 707-648-5430 or Detective Phillips at 707-648-4514. School officials tell us their students' safety remains their top priority. Copyright 2023 Informed California Foundation. Officers' bodycam footage was released Wednesday from the fatal shooting of a San Francisco man who police in Vallejo, California, say was partially kneeling when he was killed last month. But the videos do not show the moments leading up to the shooting. In response to a public records request filed by Open Vallejo, the California Department of Justice said that it possessed no records relating to the shootings. Prior to the McCoy shooting, McMahon shot and killed Ronell Foster in 2018. The victim said he had met up with the minor female, who would later be killed in the crash, in the city of Fairfield. "They're celebrating these kids deaths by bending their badges," said Sullivan. An investigation is underway after a Vallejo High School staff member was shot, injured while trying to break up a fight right outside of the school. It should be something that officers should make sure they recover from.. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until WED 9:00 AM PST, Mendocino County Coast, until WED 4:00 AM PST, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, from WED 2:00 AM PST until WED 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from THU 2:00 AM PST until THU 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from WED 1:00 AM PST until WED 8:00 AM PST, North Bay interior valleys, East Bay Interior Valleys, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, Solano County D.A. They found bullets that had apparently been missed by the citys forensic technicians lying on the back seat, according to Melissa Nold, who represents the family in a civil rights lawsuit against the city. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. "They just send them from one town to the other to go do more mayhem and killing. Ridgeway survived. Bidou said he would open an investigation, but Whitney testified that he didnt know whether an investigation was ever opened or what the outcome was. California Highway Patrol spotted the stolen vehicle headed eastbound on Interstate 80. CBS News Two Nuestra Familia members sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to murder Norteos This senseless and brazen daytime shooting near the school is unacceptable. In 2018, McMahon shot and killed Ronell Foster after stopping Foster for not having a light on his bicycle. VALLEJO (CBS SF) -- Homicide detectives were investigating the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old near Glen Cove Waterfront Park late Thursday night. VALLEJO, Calif. (KRON) Vallejos first homicide happened Tuesday evening when officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds on the 100 block of Prior to founding Open Vallejo, Geoffrey worked as an attorney and journalist focused on free expression, open government, press freedom and privacy. ), California DOJ officials would not confirm whether they sought the specific records that the city discarded; the agency denied a public records request by Open Vallejo for the other two subpoenas and other documents, citing a legal exemption for records relating to an investigation into potential violations of law.. A separate administrative investigation recommended one officer for discipline, but a subsequent hearing found he should receive corrective action instead, public records show. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Gabriel Greschler is the Bay Area News Group's Santa Clara County and Milpitas reporter for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. She declined to comment. A Vallejo restaurant worker says one of her regular customers is a hero for coming to her aid when she was confronted by an apparent robber, who shot him dead. at a house in Vallejo the night of Feb. 21. In late 2016, Tribble was promoted to lieutenant. Once again, gun violence hit a Vallejo school. The most important news and best events in Solano County. The D.A. The identity of the victim has not been released. The suspects stole his necklace. RELATED: Oakland student charged for accidentally shooting 13-year-old at school, police say. I think we have a city council today that might look at things differently than the City Council of years past, he said. The agreement grants state investigators access to any and all VPD records, files, and other materials aside from attorney-client privileged information.