Crime

Officer Involved Shooting in Marin Causes Tension

Published

11 years ago

July 11, 2013

Marin City experienced its first officer involved shooting in a nearly a decade, raising questions about whether this normally calm city is being affected by the crime surge in surrounding cities.

Last Sunday, a Marin County Sheriff’s deputy was on patrol when he saw 44-year-old Chaka Grayson. From previous contact, the officer knew Grayson was driving on a suspended license, according to the Sheriff’s office.

The deputy “noticed that Mr. Grayson ducked down,” the Sheriff’s office said When asked to show his hands, according to the official press release, “Grayson accelerated his vehicle towards the deputy,” causing him to fire several rounds.

The incident has caused tension in the community with residents requesting a thorough investigation of the incident. Bystanders who witnessed the shooting allegedly threw rocks, wounding the involved deputy.

A group of pastors who were on the scene made sure Grayson received the medical attention he needed while also working to decrease the rising tension from community members.

Rev. Rondell Leggett of First Missionary Baptist in Marin [City] said he was at the scene only to “try and keep the peace”.

“There were people there that were traumatized by the whole incident,” Leggett said. “There was a lot of attention and concern from residents, and I wanted to ensure it wouldn’t escalate.”

Leggett says Marin [City] is still a “safe place filled with compassionate people,” but issues surrounding healthcare, poverty, and the city’s deteriorating educational system fuel the community’s frustration. This officer involved shooting only heightens the anger.

“All of those things contribute to the tension,” Leggett said. “It’s going to take further discussion on both sides to sit down and talk about it.”

Lieutenant Bruce Baker of the Marin County Sheriff Department said comment could not be made on the incident but noted that the Novato Police Department is now handling the investigation.

Lt. Baker also said that in recent years the department has done numerous activities to build a stronger relationship in the community. Though not yet scheduled, there will be community meetings to discuss the matter, said Baker.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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California Black Media

Anti-Theft Bill with Jail-Time Requirement Gets Wide Ranging Support

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24. Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman speaks as Asm. James Ramos (D-San Bernardino), left, stands beside him at a news conference in Sacramento concerning retail theft across the state.

By California Black Media

Fed up with the alarming frequency of retail theft across California, including smash and grabs, a diverse group of business leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and public safety advocates joined their efforts in Sacramento on Jan. 24.

Their purpose: to increase public support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1772, a bill that would make jail time mandatory for repeat theft offenders.

Co-authored by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) and Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), AB 1772 would require jail time “of one to three years for theft crimes depending upon the circumstances.

“Offenses would include grand theft, theft from an elder or dependent adult, theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary, carjacking, robbery, receiving stolen property, shoplifting or mail theft,” the bill language reads.

Ramos said the need to act is urgent.

“It’s time for us to reverse the spikes in theft crimes since the pandemic. Our law enforcement members and district attorneys need additional tools such as AB 1772. We must reverse the trend before the problem grows worse. Last year I requested a state audit of the impact of Prop 47 on Riverside and San Bernardino counties,” said Ramos.

Prop 47 is the California initiative, approved by voters in 2014, that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the minimum amount for most misdemeanor thefts from $400 to $950.

According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, the rate of occurrence of petty crimes like shoplifting and commercial burglaries have increased by double digits over the last four years.

In Orange County alone, commercial burglaries have spiked by 54%.

“Our communities are experiencing an increase in retail crime and deserve appropriate action from their legislators,” Valencia said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus thanked Ramos.

“This bill, designed to impose stricter penalties on serial retail theft suspects, responds urgently to the escalating consequences of shoplifting and related crimes on our communities,” he said.

AB 1772 supporters who spoke at the gathering included Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and San Bernardino Chief of Police Darren Goodman. Listed as supporters are the California State Sheriff’s Association, City of Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez and Redlands Chamber of Commerce.