Latest news with #CaliforniaDepartmentofJustice
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Remains found in 1985 ID'd as man last seen leaving for work, CA officials say
Three decades after human remains were found in a rural California area, they've been identified as those of a missing man, coroner officials say. With the help of DNA testing, the remains were identified as Brian Edward Jones, who was 20 when he was reported missing out of San Jose, the San Mateo County Coroner's Office said in a May 22 news release. His partial human remains 'were found in an undeveloped area of Menlo Park' on April 15, 1985, officials said. The man's case went cold, and his identity remained a mystery. Then, decades later, the coroner's office said they reopened the case in hopes of using DNA testing to identify the remains. 'Records back (in 1985) weren't well documented so it takes a lot of work for my staff to do a lot of research and backtracking,' Coroner Robert Foucrault told the San Mateo Daily Journal. In this case, the team worked to locate where the remains were buried to collect a DNA sample. Officials said they worked with a Colma cemetery and the sheriff's office to have the man's remains exhumed. The coroner's office said they then sent a DNA sample to the California Department of Justice, which created a DNA profile for the unknown man that was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System, officials said. CODIS is 'a computer software program that operates local, state, and national databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene evidence, and missing persons,' according to federal prosecutors. A potential match was found in CODIS from a DNA sample submitted in 2016 for a missing persons case, officials said. While the initial testing showed 'moderate support' that the unknown man was related to the person, additional testing 'provided strong evidence' that the two were related, officials said. With 'this DNA comparison,' officials said they identified the remains as Jones. Family last saw Jones alive as he left for work in December 1984, officials said. The coroner's office said they notified Jones' family of his identification May 20. 'I think for the families, it's relief,' Foucrault told the San Mateo Daily Journal. 'For my staff that worked on it, it's a job well done because they've put closure on a case for someone's loved one that's been missing for a long time.' Menlo Park is about a 30-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kern County is in compliance with Free Speech Policy as part of agreement with Attorney General Bonta: report
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The first annual report assessing Kern County's progress in implementing and complying with the Free Speech Policy — a countywide policy approved by the California Department of Justice — says the county has been 'substantially' following the policy so far. On April 11, a notice of filing of the first annual report was posted on the Kern County Superior Court website. The annual report, filed by designated Free Speech Retained Expert Barry McDonald, found the county 'was in substantial compliance with its obligations' under the stipulated judgment for the initial oversight period from Dec. 8, 2023 to Dec. 7, 2024. RELATED: DOJ enters stipulated judgment with Kern County One complaint was filed under the Free Speech Policy during this period but, ultimately, no violation of the county's Free Speech Policy was established, according to the report. Erin Briscoe-Clark, the chief communications officer for the Kern County Administrative Office, told 17 News the complaints cannot be shared with the public as they are confidential personnel documents. In September 2021, the California Department of Justice began investigating Kern County to determine whether the Supervisors violated the free speech rights of a coalition of community-driven organizations as well as a small business. According to the claim filed in the Kern County Superior Court, several supervisors who were on the board at the time refused to approve the contracts due to the contractors reportedly expressing support for the defunding of law enforcement agencies. The contracts aimed to assist the county with its public health response to COVID-19 in 2020. 'I think that that is a radical political agenda that gives me great pause in awarding a contract with an organization that took on that cause,' one supervisor said. 'This is Kern County. We're not Seattle. This is where we support law enforcement, and we want more resources to go to law enforcement.' Mother of Ricardo Aguilar seeks over $3 million in claim filed against county Investigators determined the county violated the rights of local organizations, the DOJ entered into an agreement with Kern County. The agreement required the county to: Adopt and disseminate a countywide Free Speech Policy Designate a county complaint coordinator Develop and provide annual training to members of the Board of Supervisors and other county personnel The policy was designed to prevent the county of Kern from discriminating against county employees, potential employees and contractors for exercising their free speech rights. The policy states the county employees are also prohibited from unlawfully discriminating against, harassing or retaliating against other employees, potential employees and contractors for free speech or filing a complaint under this policy. The agreement also enlisted a free speech retained expert who is in charge of assessing the county's compliance with the Free Speech Policy and submitting three annual reports during the oversight period to Attorney General Rob Bonta and the county. Never miss a story: Make your homepage The agenda for the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled for Tuesday said the board would discuss the case with the Office of County Counsel in a closed session. County Counsel Margo Raison told 17 News the exact contents of the closed session cannot be disclosed, only saying the counsel will be updating the board regarding the status of the agreement. Raison said the county is currently in the second year into the agreement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
Police fatally shoot man with replica gun in South San Francisco
An investigation is underway after police officers fatally shot a man during a confrontation in South San Francisco Wednesday evening. Around 7 p.m., officers were called to the 300 block of Oyster Point Boulevard. Callers told police that a man in his 40s was yelling obscenities and attempting to force entry into a public restroom with a metal object. When police arrived, the man was seen attempting to break into the restroom. As officers tried to make contact, police said he refused to identify himself and fled on foot with "what appeared to be a firearm in his hand." Officers followed the suspect along a trail, which had a high amount of pedestrian traffic at the time. Additional officers from multiple agencies were also called to the scene. Police said officers attempted to subdue the man with less-lethal force, which proved to be ineffective. The suspect then pointed the object in his hand at officers. Describing the man's action as an "imminent threat", two South San Francisco police officers and an officer from the San Bruno Police Department opened fire and shot the man. Following the shooting, medical personnel who were nearby responded. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a subesequent investigation by police, the object in his possession was a replica firearm. The man's identity has not been released. No other injuries were reported among officers or members of the public. Authorities remained on the scene early Thursday as the investigation continues. In a statement, police said all three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave per protocols. The California Department of Justice is investigating, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506. Wednesday's shooting is the second fatal shooting involving South San Francisco officers in less than a month. On April 28, officers shot and killed 60-year-old Brian Joseph Montana following a shootout on Arroyo Drive.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
CA DOJ responds to Asm. Dr. Bains' questions on lack of sex abuse charges against Scrivner
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The California Department of Justice responded to Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains' request for clarification on the lack of child sex abuse charges against former Kern Supervisor Zack Scrivner. In a statement to 17 News Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson writing: 'As in each case we undertake at the California Department of Justice, we seek justice guided by the facts and the law. Guided by these principles, we file charges that we have determined can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The court has ordered investigatory reports associated with the case to be sealed. As a result, our complaint contains the information we are able to share at this time.' Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know Allegations of child sexual assault first surfaced April 2024 against Scrivner. He faces five felony charges — three counts of willful cruelty to a child and two counts of possessing a weapon. Bains is one of few lawmakers at the state, county and city levels to speak out against Scrivner. Sheriff Donny Youngblood has been one of the most vocal critics of the former supervisor, stating that Scrivner likely received special treatment in the prosecution of his criminal case as a powerful political figure. The California Department of Justice is handling prosecution due to a conflict of interest. District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer is Scrivner's aunt. Scrivner's next court date is scheduled for July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Police release fatal traffic stop footage involving brother of 'RHOC' alum Lydia McLaughlin
'The Real Housewives of Orange County' alum Lydia McLaughlin shared a tribute to her brother amid his funeral and the release of bodycam footage from the traffic stop in April where he was fatally shot by police. McLaughlin's brother Geoffrey Shyam Stirling was shot and killed by police in California on April 17 around 9:15 p.m. after they pulled over the motorcycle he was riding, the Newport Beach Police Department later wrote on Instagram. He was 45. McLaughlin shared photos of her brother and video footage from his funeral in an emotional Instagram post on May 5. 'Yesterday, we laid my brother to rest,' she wrote. 'Just six months ago, we stood in this same place, grieving the loss of my mom. My heart is broken, and the shock still hasn't settled. 💔 But even in the sorrow, I cling to what I know is true: God is good. He is in control. I am not. My brother is now with my mom, and I hold onto the promise that one day, we'll all be reunited. Until then, I will miss them every single day.' McLaughlin's tribute came days before the Newport Beach Police Department released bodycam footage of the incident. The department said in the Instagram post in April that after Stirling was stopped for a traffic violation, he 'became uncooperative and assaulted the officer. During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officer's duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred.' In the footage released on May 7, a motorcycle rider is shown being pulled over after police say he ran a red light on West Coast Highway. The video shows an officer repeatedly asking Stirling to sit down on the curb, and Stirling refuses. The officer also notes that Stirling has urinated in his pants. Stirling is then seen making a move toward the officer, which results in an altercation between the two. A freeze-frame of the video is highlighted with a moment where police say Stirling has the officer's Taser and is holding it to the officer's head. The officer pulls free and yells 'Drop it!' at Stirling before firing his weapon six times. Stirling is shown dropping to the ground. Additional officers and the Newport Beach Fire Department then arrived at the scene, according to authorities. Stirling was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The California Department of Justice is now conducting an investigation into the shooting, according to Newport Beach Police Department Chief Dave Miner. McLaughlin shared her grief over her brother's loss in an Instagram post on April 19, two days after his death. 'My family has experienced an unimaginable loss,' she wrote. 'My brother, Geoff, was tragically taken and our hearts are shattered.' 'I can't believe we're facing this pain just 6 months after losing my best friend and mother,' she added. 'I know they're both with Jesus now, and He's walking with me through this darkness. One step at a time.'
