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Thursday, 2 November 2023

Downtown SF Target evacuated after pepper spray released

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Pepper spray was released inside a Target in downtown San Francisco on Thursday evening, the San Francisco Fire Department said. Around 7:10 p.m., first responders went to the store at 789 Mission Street regarding people "experiencing physical symptoms," the San Francisco Police Department said.

Paramedics arrived at the scene to evaluate those individuals' symptoms. However, authorities said no one was injured or needed to be taken to the hospital.

The store was evacuated once crews arrived. SFPD officers found residue consistent with pepper spray in the store's business, the police department said. Fire crews determined that the smell was originating from the restroom area.

The suspect(s) in connection to this incident was not identified by SFPD.

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Statue at Vallejo City Hall stolen, front sign taken down

VALLEJO, Calif. (KRON) -- Multiple instances of metal theft were reported at Vallejo City Hall, including public art, the city announced Thursday in a press release. One of the three statue heads on the fountain between City Hall and the JFK Library was stolen.

The missing statue is the head of Francisca Benicia Carrillo, the wife of Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. The city was named after Gen. Vallejo who died in 1890, according to the City of Sonoma's website. The City of Benicia was named after Carrillo.

The other two statue heads were stored away for security reasons as authorities continue to investigate the theft, the press release said.

The statue of Francisca Benicia Carrillo (City of Vallejo)

The "City Hall" sign at the front entrance of the building was taken down after staff noticed two letters were missing, officials said. Thieves also stole some of the handrails in front of the building, which have since been replaced.

"Metal theft continues to be an issue that plagues the City and Staff will continue evaluating options to enhance security and find alternative locations for art display," Vallejo city officials said in the press release.

Last month, KRON4 reported that a statue worth $500K was stolen from a home in Saratoga. That theft happened sometime between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12, authorities said.

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Self-confessed Oakland drug dealer facing 20 years to life in prison

(BCN) -- A self-confessed drug dealer from Oakland is facing 20 years to life in prison for selling various illegal drugs in San Francisco, federal prosecutors said.

Melvin Alexis Diaz Arteaga, 28, admitted he possessed and intended to sell 6.6 kilograms, or about 15 pounds, of fentanyl along with amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and other illegal substances, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said in a statement Wednesday.

Diaz was arrested outside an apartment in Berkeley on Nov. 16, 2022. According to his plea agreement, which was accepted on Oct. 26, Diaz admitted using the same Berkeley apartment to make and store large amounts of drugs for sale in the Tenderloin district, among other areas.

Prosecutors said more than $50,000 in cash was seized by officers on the night of his arrest, including nearly $42,000 found in his bedroom. Diaz admitted he got the money from drug sales and that some of the cash would have been used for drug trafficking.

Based on his plea agreement, Diaz admitted to a count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl (1); possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl (2); possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (3); possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine (4); possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (7); and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine (8).

Prosecutors said that besides prison time, the court may order Diaz to pay a fine of up to $10 million per count on Counts 1 and 2; $5 million per count on Counts 3, 4, and 7; and $1 million on Count 8. He also faces a mandatory additional term of supervised release of five years on Counts 1 and 2; four years on Counts 3, 4, and 7; and three years on Count 8, the U.S. Attorney's Office added.

Diaz has been in custody since he was arrested. His scheduled sentencing is on Feb. 21, 2024, prosecutors said.

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Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy saved by partner after fentanyl exposure

(BCN) -- An on-duty deputy with the Sonoma County Sheriff was exposed to fentanyl early Wednesday morning and had to be administered an anti-opioid, the office said.

The deputy was dispatched around 3:12 a.m. to a business on East Todd Road after a caller reported finding what appeared to be a small amount of fentanyl. The deputy arrived and talked to the reporting party, but in the process of collecting the suspected fentanyl, the deputy immediately began to feel lightheaded and dizzy, and experienced rapid tunnel vision, all symptoms of acute fentanyl exposure, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Luckily, a second deputy recognized what was happening and quickly administered naloxone, which reversed the effects of the exposure.

"We are relieved that our deputy is safe and uninjured and are proud of the quick, lifesaving response from their partner," said the Sheriff's Office on Facebook.

As little as 2mg of fentanyl can be fatal, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff.

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Missing Pinole woman considered at-risk

(KRON) -- The Pinole Police Department is searching for a missing, at-risk woman.

Ruthie Lindsey was last seen on Saturday at a Motel 6 in Pinole. Police say she may suffer from dementia and is considered at-risk.

She is 5-foot-2, 135 pounds with gray-and-brown hair and brown eyes. PPD does know what clothes she was last seen in.

Lindsey frequents the City of Richmond, particularly its women's shelter, police said.

Anyone who has information about her whereabouts is asked to call (510) 724-1111.

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Will my PG&E bill go up? Public Utilities Commission to vote on price hike

(KRON) -- Now that we are in November, we know that in the weeks ahead temperatures will be cooling off and we will be running the heat more. That is bound to increase our utility bills, but they could end up even higher than expected. A PG&E rate hike request could see bills jumping between $20 and 31 per month.

PG&E customers are already seeing their monthly bills increase with cooler weather, but get ready for more. Later this month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote on a rate hike that could see the average PG&E gas and electric bill going up $20 to $31 per month beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

Can PG&E do this? No, they cannot, says Dr. Harold Pierre.

Pierre is a member of The Utility Rate Network (TURN) and pastor of San Francisco’s Pilgrim Community Church. He says his parishioners both young adults and especially seniors simply can’t afford these types of increases.

"They just don't have the income, social security check is not allowing them to do to make their ends meet," Pierre said.

PG&E's rate hike request is driven by inflation and to pay for the undergrounding of electric lines to decrease wildfire risk. In a statement, PG&E says “undergrounding powerlines in the highest fire-risk areas will make our hometowns and California safer, improve electric reliability, and save customers billions of dollars in avoided annual tree trimming and overhead line maintenance costs.”

"There are ways that we can make the system safe, that are faster and cheaper than burying the lines which is what they want to do," TURN Executive Director Mark Toney said. "Insulating overhead power lines is much faster -- much cheaper."

Toney with turn says he hopes the CPUC stands up PG&E and put the increase at something more reasonable

What TURN is fighting for is a cap to rate increases of no more than the annual social security cost of living adjustment -- because that's what people on fixed incomes live on.

The California Public Utilities Commission will vote on the rate hike at their Nov. 16 meeting.

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Tuesday, 31 October 2023

One shot in SF's Mission District on Halloween night

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- One person was hospitalized after being shot in San Francisco's Mission District Tuesday night, the San Francisco Police Department confirmed to KRON4.

The shooting happened at 15th Street and Shotwell Street at about 9:05 p.m. The victim has non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect fled the scene before officers could arrive. No arrests have been made and SFPD is investigating the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact SFPD at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."

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