Crime

One Arrest in Probation Department DUI Operation

Published

6 years ago

May 10, 2019

Countywide Enforcement Took Place Prior to Cinco de Mayo

The Marin County Probation Department conducted a multiagency operation on May 3 targeting 26 offenders on supervised probation for alcohol-related offenses. One arrest was made in Novato for a violation of probation and three other residents were found with alcohol in their residence.

The operation, led by the department’s Special Programs Unit, was conducted in the afternoon and evening with the assistance of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation K-9 Officers.

Two teams split up across the county to conduct extensive searches of residences and vehicles belonging to DUI offenders. The operation was conducted to ensure community safety with the approaching weekend and Cinco de Mayo holiday.

A Novato woman on supervised probation for DUI charges was arrested. Upon contact with the resident, officers suspected that she had just been driving as she was contacted while unloading groceries from her vehicle. She claimed she had just been dropped off by a friend, but attempts to locate the friend were unsuccessful.

During a search of the woman’s vehicle, she was found in possession of two large bottles of tequila and a pre-mixed margarita bottle. She was booked into Marin County Jail.

Three other residents on active supervised probation were found with alcohol within their home, and petitions will be filed for the court to determine the proper sanction for those violations of probation.

“This was a preplanned event and these unannounced probation searches on DUI offenders will occur on a regular basis,” said Deputy Probation Officer Tony Raitano. “In light of the tragedy that occurred in Sleepy Hollow recently in which a pedestrian was killed by a suspected DUI driver, all people should be diligent in speaking out against driving while intoxicated.”

The Probation Department is committed to focusing resources on both community safety and the rehabilitation of those who enter the criminal justice system. Addiction issues are prevalent in Marin and are often at the root of people running afoul of the law. The county has one of the highest rates of excessive drinking and binge drinking among all California counties, according to the most recent county health rankings. Early intervention by family and friends is encouraged when needed. The County offers resources on the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services website.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 13 – 19, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 13 – 19, 2024

Published

6 days ago

November 16, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

2 weeks ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Bay Area

Alameda County Judge Blasts Defendants Over Delay in West Oakland Fire Trial

Judge Kimberly Lowell excoriated the RadiusRecycling/SchnitzerSteel defendants in court for causing delays in prosecuting this case. Since the defendants first appeared in court on July 23, they have obtained three extensions of the arraignment date.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Criminal charges announced this week are related to the August 2023 scrap metal fire at Radius Recycling Inc., formerly Schnitzer Steel. Photo courtesy of Oaklandside.

Special to The Post

District Attorney Pamela Price announced that a hearing was held on October 30 in the criminal prosecution of the Radius Recycling/Schnitzer Steel involving a fire at the West Oakland facility on Aug. 9-10, 2023.

The Alameda County criminal Grand Jury indicted radius Recycling and two of its corporate managers in June 2024.

The court clarified that the defendants will not receive more extensions on their arraignment and plea.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price agreed with the court that defendants should not get preferential treatment. Price and her team appreciated the court for clarifying that future delays by Radius will not be tolerated.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) public data shows that during and after the fire, the smoke plume traveled across Alameda County with high levels of PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) detected around Laney College in Oakland, Livermore, Pleasanton, and West Oakland.

PM2.5 is particularly harmful to infants and children, the elderly, and people with asthma or heart disease.

“This fire posed a great health hazard to the people of Alameda County,” said Price. “High, short-term exposures to a toxic smoke plume have been shown to cause significant danger to human health.

“Additionally, in this case, Oakland firefighters battled the blaze under extremely dangerous conditions for 15 hours with assistance from a San Francisco Fire Department fireboat and a fireboat from the City of Alameda Fire Department,” Price observed.

The team prosecuting the case from the DA’s Consumer Justice Bureau looks forward to resolving any future motions and having the defendants arraigned in court on Dec. 9.

The media relations office of the Alameda County District Attorney’s office is the source of this report.