SF News

A problem with a Caltrain passenger train's brakes is causing delays for some trains, a Caltrain spokeswoman said.

The problem began around 6:30 a.m. on northbound train No. 309 at the Sunnyvale station.

That train was still running about 20 minutes late as of 7 a.m., while train No. 207 was delayed by about 13 minutes and train 211 by No. 8 minutes, Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said.

 

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San Mateo-Hayward Bridge Shuts Down Tonight, Again Next Week

The San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is shutting down for the next two weekends for earthquake safety improvements, pushing motorists onto alternate routes to get between the Peninsula and East Bay, Caltrans officials said.

This weekend's closure begins at 10 p.m. today and is expected to continue until 5 a.m. Monday.

The span will shut down again the weekend of Oct. 26-29. 

The closures will allow crews to install a new seismic joint and replace 60 feet of the bridge deck just east of the high rise, officials said.

Suggested alternate routes include the Dumbarton Bridge, the Bay Bridge or a southern route along state Highway 237.

As part of the closures, on-ramps from Edgewater Boulevard and Metro Center Boulevard on the Foster City eastbound side of the bridge will also shut down.

On the westbound side in Hayward, the on-ramp from Industrial Boulevard and Clawiter Road will be closed.

Missing Teen Sierra Lamar's 16th Birthday Comes Today

Missing Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar's 16th birthday is today, an event marred by her unknown whereabouts after more than seven months of searching.

"This is an incredibly difficult week for Sierra's family," said Marc Klaas, head of the KlaasKids Foundation.

Sierra disappeared on her way to her high school in Morgan Hill on the morning of March 16.

Since her disappearance, the LaMar family has teamed up with KlaasKids to organize searches for Sierra.

This week also marked seven months since Sierra's disappearance -- another so-called "milestone" that Klaas said "are reminders of what you can't forget."

Klaas commiserated with Sierra's parents, Marlene and Steve, that occasions such as birthdays can be difficult.

"They would so much rather be celebrating by singing 'Happy Birthday' to her," he said.

Klaas' 12-year-old daughter Polly was kidnapped from her mother's Petaluma home and was missing for two months before she was found murdered in December 1993.

On social media, Facebook posts and Twitter updates poured in today wishing Sierra LaMar a happy birthday and her safe return to her family.

A weekly search from the Find Sierra LaMar Search Center at Burnett Elementary School at 85 Tilton Ave. is scheduled starting at 8 a.m. Saturday.

"Searches are going to continue on Saturdays as long as the family wants them," Klaas said.

Last month, searches were pared down to only Saturdays instead of previous bi-weekly search efforts on Wednesdays and on the weekend.

Klaas said numbers "erode over time" but a core group of volunteers comes out each Saturday, combing through the Santa Clara County area looking for Sierra.

Amid the search for Sierra, Antolin Garcia-Torres, 21, has been charged with her kidnapping and murder after DNA evidence believed to be Sierra's was found in his car.

He was arrested on May 21 but has yet to enter a plea.

Homicide Victim Found Lying On Sidewalk in East Oakland, No Suspects Identified

A man was found lying on a sidewalk with fatal gunshot wounds in East Oakland Thursday night, police said.

A police investigation is underway following the homicide that occurred at 9:10 p.m. in the 10700 block of Voltaire Avenue, located about one block from the Foothill Square Shopping Center, according to police.

No suspects have been detained, police said.

Novato High School Evacuated After Bomb Threat

A bomb scare called into the Novato Police Department caused the evacuation of students and staff at Novato High School this morning, a school official said.

Police, high school administrators, staff and security employees searched the campus and determined it was safe by 9:05 a.m., Novato Unified School District spokeswoman Leslie Benjamin said.

Students and staff returned to class five minutes later, Benjamin said.

Novato High School, located at 625 Arthur St., is calling parents to inform them of the bomb scare, Benjamin said.

Port Of Oakland Places Executive Director On Leave During Investigation Into Improper Spending

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners placed the port's Executive Director Omar Benjamin on paid administrative leave Thursday while an investigation into allegations of improper expenditures is conducted.

Director of Aviation Deborah Ale Flint has been assigned to perform the duties of the executive director while Benjamin is on leave, according to the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners.

The Port of Oakland's Board of Port Commissioners crackdown on improper employee expenditures continues after the recent discovery that a port official spent $4,500 in public money at a strip club.

Recent public records requests revealed that the employee spent the money at a Houston, Texas, strip club in 2008, according to the port.

The expenditure was not immediately noticed because the name of the venue is not evident on the receipt, according to the port. The receipt listed the business as "D. Houston, Inc.," which the port officials later learned is the corporate name for Treasures Strip Club.

The Port of Oakland has engaged the firm of Arnold & Porter to investigate the case and determine whether Port of Oakland funds were misused.

An employee assistance program has been set up by the Port of Oakland to respond to employee concerns.

The Port of Oakland has urged employees to utilize the port's Whistleblower Hotline to report any potential related issues.

According to the Port of Oakland's website, a third-party independent provider, EthicsPoint, has been contracted to operate and maintain the Whistleblower Hotline.

Employees can file a report anonymously by calling the Whistleblower Hotline at (866) 840-7787 or online via the Port of Oakland website.

"We continue to take this situation very seriously," Board President Gilda Gonzales said in a statement. "Holding those responsible, accountable is our highest priority."

San Jose Police Officer Arrested For Alleged Timesheet Fraud

A San Jose police officer was arrested Thursday on suspicion of grand theft following an investigation into alleged timesheet fraud, police said.

Officer Jeffrey Enslen, 45, was arrested following a nine-month investigation by the Police Department's criminal investigation detail, according to police.

Enslen, a 15-year veteran of the department, was arrested without incident and booked into county jail. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case, police said.

Oakland City Attorney Files Fraud Complaint Against Businessman

The Oakland City Attorney's Office has filed a fraud complaint accusing a local businessman, a prominent local taxi company and others of engaging in a scheme to defraud taxpayers through redevelopment grants.

The suit, which was filed in Alameda County Superior Court on Thursday and was brought under the California False Claims Act, alleges that businessman Dhar Mann and other defendants submitted about two dozen bogus claims for redevelopment money.

The suit is based on evidence from investigations by City Auditor Courtney Ruby and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley.

The city attorney's office said evidence documented in their lawsuit shows that Mann and the other defendants, including Friendly Cab Co., received at least six grant contracts to pay for development plans, facade renovation and other work at five Oakland properties, including the headquarters of the taxi company, which is owned by Mann's family.

The suit alleges that the defendants participated in a scheme to overbill the city for work on the properties, and in some cases, submitted claims for thousands of dollars of work that apparently was never done.

City Attorney Barbara Parker said in a statement, "This money was granted to revitalize Oakland neighborhoods and encourage business investment. It is shocking that anyone would defraud taxpayers and cheat the community out of these resources."

According to the suit, Mann and the other defendants received at least $75,000 in city and redevelopment Agency money in the past several years.

The suit alleges that about $30,000 was used to pay for improvements at the intended properties and about $45,000 was paid based on false, forged or misleading claims and documentation.

It claims that in other instances, the defendants negotiated with contractors to reduce their bills, but submitted false claims for reimbursement at the original, higher price.

Other documents and checks submitted to the city contained false information, according to the city attorney's office.

The suit seeks $230,000 in civil penalties and $135,000 in damages plus attorney's fees and costs.

In May, the district attorney's office charged Mann with multiple felonies for the alleged fraud against the city.

Mann's attorney, Raj Chatterjee, couldn't immediately be reached for comment today.

Man Suffers Gunshot Wounds In Oakland's Eastmont Hills

A man suffered multiple gunshot wounds at an apartment complex in Oakland's Eastmont Hills neighborhood Thursday night, according to police.

The shooting occurred in the 700 block of Ney Avenue at about 8:20 p.m., police said.

Officers reported the crime scene was crowded with people when they arrived.

The victim was transported to a hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening, police said.

No suspects have been identified in connection to the shooting, police said.

Man With Machete Tries To Steal Vehicle In Oakland

A suspect attempting to steal a car brandished a machete at the vehicle's owner in Oakland Thursday evening, according to police.

The attempted carjacking was reported in the 1500 block of 28th Avenue at about 5:50 p.m., police said.

The two-foot-long machete was concealed in the suspect's pants and when the victim tried to stop the suspect from stealing his vehicle, the suspect took the machete out and threatened the victim with it, police said.

The suspect swung the machete, but missed hitting the victim, police said.

The suspect then fled the scene and has not been found this morning, according to police.

Unemployment Rates Drop Sharly Across California, Bay Area

Unemployment rates fell sharply across California in September, including in the Bay Area where one county's rate fell below 6 percent, according to a report released today by state employment officials.

California's unemployment rate dropped to 10.2 percent in September, compared to 10.6 percent in August, according to the state's Employment Development Department.

That rate is also down from 11.7 percent in September 2011. In the Bay Area, Marin County dropped its state-low rate from 6.3 percent to 5.8 percent over the past month, according to the report. 

San Francisco's rate also dropped sharply from 7.4 percent in August to 6.9 percent in September while Solano County, which typically has the highest unemployment numbers in the region, saw its rate fall to 9.3 percent compared to 10 percent in August.

The state's unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 households throughout California.

Two Men Arrested Following Burglaries At Two Maritime San Carlos Stores 

Two Seattle men have been arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and conspiracy after items were stolen from maritime supply stores in Sausalito and San Carlos on Wednesday, San Mateo County sheriff's deputies said.

James Francis and Stephen Dowdney, both of Seattle, were taken into custody by deputies following a traffic stop outside the West Marine Products store at 1119 Industrial Road in San Carlos, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the store to investigate a report of a possible burglary in process when they stopped a vehicle containing the suspects as the car was about to leave the scene, deputies said.

Deputies soon learned that the two men were also suspects in a burglary that occurred earlier on Wednesday at the West Marine Products business in Sausalito and that the suspects had some of the missing property with them, according to the sheriff's office.

Francis and Dowdney were booked into San Mateo County Jail and after further investigation, deputies located a number of things held by the suspects, including maritime gear, clothing, bottles of expensive wine and high-end culinary cookware.

The recovered property is still being examined, deputies said.

A man who was fatally shot in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood early Sunday morning has been identified by the medical examiner's office as 28-year-old Union City resident Stoney Whetstone.

Whetstone was killed and a second man was injured when someone fired at them at about 2:40 a.m. Sunday near Fourth and Mission streets, police said.

Whetstone was pronounced dead at the scene, and the second victim was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police.

No arrests had been made in the case as of this morning, police Officer Gordon Shyy said.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.

 

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Mirkarimi To Be Reinstated As Sheriff With Support Of Four Supervisors

Ross Mirkarimi will be reinstated as San Francisco's sheriff after the city's Board of Supervisors fell two votes short of upholding official misconduct charges against him Tuesday night.

The 11-member board needed nine votes to approve the permanent removal of Mirkarimi from office, but David Campos, John Avalos, Jane Kim and Christina Olague declined to uphold the charges.

The 7-4 vote comes after several months of legal wrangling that began when Mirkarimi was suspended without pay by Mayor Ed Lee in March following his guilty plea to misdemeanor false imprisonment in connection with a Dec. 31 incident in which he grabbed his wife's arm during an argument, causing a bruise.

"It's been a long and crazy road, not just for our family but the family of San Francisco," Mirkarimi said after the hearing.

The mayor issued a statement late Tuesday night expressing disappointment with the board's vote.

"I strongly disagree with the action taken by Supervisors Avalos, Campos, Kim and Olague," Lee said.

Olague had been appointed by the mayor to replace Mirkarimi after he was elected sheriff last November and took office in January.

"The board's decision returns a convicted domestic batterer to lead the sheriff's office, and I am concerned about our city's nationally-recognized domestic violence programs," Lee said. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that abusers continue to be held accountable."

Mirkarimi said that while he thought the mayor "went too far" in suspending him, he said "on behalf of the people, the right thing to do is to mend fences."

Mirkarimi said he will talk to top sheriff's officials in the morning about transitioning back as the head of the department. His attorneys also noted he will receive back pay for the entire period he was suspended.

Vicki Hennessy had been appointed by the mayor as interim sheriff after Mirkarimi's suspension.

The San Francisco Sheriff's Managers & Supervisors Association issued a statement Tuesday night saying they respect the supervisors' decision and that it is time for the department "to move beyond this difficult period and refocus on our longstanding record of innovative service to the community."

Hundreds of people came to City Hall for the hours-long hearing, forcing authorities to open multiple overflow rooms to accommodate the crowds.

A majority of the speakers who talked to the board during the public comment portion of the proceedings supported Mirkarimi, while others spoke against the sheriff, including domestic violence victim advocates who had also held a rally outside City Hall on Monday urging the supervisors to remove him from office.

Deputy City Attorney Sherri Kaiser, representing the mayor, told the supervisors that the fact that the sheriff oversees domestic violence programs and works with the city's probation department conflicts with his being sentenced to a year of domestic violence counseling and three years' probation as part of his plea deal.

Under questioning from some of the supervisors, Kaiser acknowledged that suspending the sheriff was "a discretionary decision" and "at bottom a judgment call," but that law enforcement officers "are expected to enforce the law, not to break it."

A majority of the supervisors agreed, including Sean Elsbernd who said Mirkarimi "violated that trust" given to top law enforcement officials.

But the dissenting supervisors ultimately took issue with the discretionary nature of the mayor's decision, including Avalos who said he thought the case was "convoluted from a legal point of view."

The case had been sent to the board by the city's Ethics Commission, which was tasked with holding fact-finding hearings and making a recommendation in the case.

In August, the panel voted 4-1 in favor of upholding the charges, and commission chair Benedict Hur gave a presentation to the board at the start of Tuesday's hearing outlining what led to their vote.

Hur said the commission made its ruling on the basis of the physical abuse, which it found to fall below the standards of decency expected of an elected official as laid out in the official misconduct clause in the city charter.

Hur was the lone commissioner to vote against the majority, saying today that "there must be a line between official misconduct and personal misconduct" and that he thought there was not a close enough nexus between the case and Mirkarimi's duties as sheriff.

Prosecutors Say Oakland Officer Who Killed Youth Won't Be Charged

The Oakland police officer who fatally shot 18-year-old Alan Blueford during a foot chase in May won't face criminal charges because the Alameda County District Attorney's Office has determined that the shooting was justified.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Kenneth Misfud said in an 18-page report completed last week and made public Tuesday that Officer Miguel Masso "had probable cause to believe that Mr. Blueford posed a threat of serious harm to him and to others present during the incident," including to dozens of people at a family party nearby.

Blueford, who was planning to graduate from Skyline High School in Oakland in June, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of May 6 during a chase near 92nd Avenue and Birch Street in East Oakland.

Blueford's death has led to disruptions at two recent Oakland City Council meetings because his family members and supporters have accused the Oakland Police Department of covering up for Masso and have said the officer wasn't justified in shooting him.

In addition, his family has filed a federal wrongful death suit against Masso and the city of Oakland.

Misfud said in his report that Blueford's failure to submit to Masso's command to stop, combined with the fact that he made no attempt to discard his handgun, "could reasonably be interpreted as a desire and intent to use the handgun against Officer Masso if necessary."

Misfud said Masso fired the first round after Blueford had pulled a handgun out of his waistband and pointed it at the officer.

The prosecutor said Masso then fired a second shot "because he actually and reasonably believed he would be shot and killed" by Blueford" and also fired third and fourth shots because Blueford "was still looking directly at him with the gun in his hand.

Masso was backpedaling while he fired his fourth shot and hit himself in his foot, according to the report. The officer is still recovering from his injury, his attorney, Harry Stern, said Tuesday.

According to the report, Masso, who was hired in Oakland in 2008 after previously working as an officer in Morgan Hill and New York as well as a military police officer for the U.S. Army, told investigators that it was the first time a gun had been pointed at him and it was the first time he thought someone was going to kill him.

"I was scared...It scared the living crap out of me," Masso said, according to the report.

John Burris, an Oakland civil rights attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Blueford's family, said he's "disappointed" in the report's findings and conclusions but it has "no significance" for the lawsuit, which will still go forward, pending further investigation on his part.

Burris said he still believes that Masso "over-reacted" to the situation and wasn't justified in shooting Blueford.

CPUC Requests Suspension Of Public Hearings On PG&E Fines For San Bruno Explosion

Public hearings to determine how much money PG&E will be fined for safety violations that led to San Bruno's 2010 deadly pipeline explosion have been temporarily suspended.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday afternoon filed a motion requesting that the hearings be suspended until Nov. 1, giving the state regulator and PG&E a chance to proceed with "good-faith negotiations" toward a monetary settlement in private.

"This is the big fine," said Assemblyman Jerry Hill, whose district includes San Bruno. "It could be anywhere between $200 million and $2 billion."

According to the motion, the suspension would give the CPUC and PG&E "time and space in the participants' schedules to allow negotiations to proceed unimpeded with the distraction of ongoing litigation."

Hill rebuffed the assertion that private negotiations would give the parties more time and said the late-filed motion was an attempt by the CPUC and PG&E to keep crucial information about the explosion that killed eight people behind closed doors.

"They said they don't have time," Hill said. "There are eight people in San Bruno that have no time anymore."

Hill said that allowing the private negotiations would be an affront to the public process and especially the people of San Bruno, where PG&E's lack of operational oversight of its own aging infrastructure led to the explosion that killed eight residents and destroyed 38 homes.

"How can you settle a case before you have all of the information out in the open?" Hill said.

PG&E did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An administrative law judge for the CPUC is scheduled to decide next week whether public hearings will be suspended until Nov. 1.

Some Calistoga Residents Asked To Evacuate Prior To Hazardous Substance Detonation

Authorities safely detonated a volatile and dangerous crate of decades-old ether in "one shot" at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga Tuesday afternoon, a Napa County sheriff's captain said.

At about 12:30 p.m., Calistoga residents heard a loud explosion when the 96 quarter-pound canisters of highly explosive ether were detonated using a counter-charge, Capt. Tracey Stuart said.

The ether was found in a wooden crate at the fairgrounds on Monday during a hazardous materials collection event, Calistoga police said.

The crate was marked that it was packaged in March 1957, and sheriff's officials said it was originally part of a stash of disaster supplies for a 200-bed hospital and had been stored at the fairgrounds for decades.

Stuart said authorities were lucky they could move the ether to an unpopulated field in the fairgrounds and take care of it in one explosion.

The explosion created "quite an impressive fire ball," which burned off the ether nearly instantaneously, Stuart said.

"You could smell the ether," Stuart said about the explosion. "As soon as it was up, it was gone."

Everything in the area is safe and residents can go about their regular routine, she said.

Stuart had said prior to the explosion that detonating the canisters was the only way to get rid of it.

Sheriff's officials contacted residents of nine nearby homes about 30 minutes prior to the detonation warning them to either evacuate the area or stay inside while the detonation took place, Stuart said. 

Stuart said the explosion left some debris and a one-foot hole in the ground, which fairgrounds staff are cleaning up, she said.

One Sea Lion Safe At Marine Mammal Center, Second One Still Missing

A rescue crew has captured one of two sea lions that were spotted entangled in debris at San Francisco's Pier 39, a Marine Mammal Center spokesman said.

The Marine Mammal Center responded to Pier 39's "K-Dock," the area where sea lions congregate on floating wooden platforms, at about 12:30 p.m., Marine Mammal Center spokesman Jim Oswald said. 

Oswald said it appeared the animals have what looks like fishing line around their necks.

The rescue team successfully deployed a dart with a mild sedative into one of the two sea lions at about 1:50 p.m., Oswald said.

Once the sedative kicked in, the rescue team slowly approached the sea lion, brought it to shore, put it in a rescue carrier and is driving it to the center where a veterinarian will take off the debris wrapped around its neck.

"It's tricky to do," Oswald said of the rescue. "We don't take them lightly."

If the entanglement were more severe, the rescue crew could have opted to take the wire off on site, he said.

As of 4:30 p.m., the sea lion was resting at the center, Oswald said. The entanglement is not considered life-threatening and a veterinarian will remove it tomorrow morning, he said.

The rescue of the second sea lion appears to have become more complicated; the sea lion was scared by a tour boat and has disappeared into the water, Oswald said.

He said crews will wait at the pier to see if it returns. If it does, they will repeat the process used to rescue the first sea lion.

Anyone who spots a marine mammal injured or entangled can call the center at (415) 289-7325.

Suspect Killed In Hayward Officer-Involved Shooting Identified

A suspected car thief who was fatally shot by a Hayward police officer in a confrontation on Friday was identified Tuesday as 21-year-old Mohammed Shah of Hayward.

Hayward police Lt. Roger Keener said Shah had a criminal arrest record that includes an arrest for allegedly stealing a vehicle in a prior incident in early September.

Keener said that at 11:12 a.m. on Friday, a patrol officer who was checking license plates in response to a citizen's report of a speeding vehicle spotted a parked car in a residential area near the intersection of Briergate Way and Vanderbilt Street that he confirmed had been stolen.

According to Sgt. Mark Ormsby, the officer ordered Shah, who was the sole occupant of the green Honda Accord, to show his hands several times but Shah refused to comply.

He said Shah then reached for a weapon inside the stolen car so the officer fired at him, thinking that his life was in danger.

The officer, who was on his own initially, then called for assistance and a second officer arrived and helped him detain and treat Shah, Ormsby said.

Shah was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley where he was later pronounced dead, Ormsby said.

A weapon was found inside the Honda but Shah did not fire it, according to Ormsby.

Hayward police obtained a warrant to search the Honda but Keener declined to disclose the results of the search because the car's owner hasn't yet been contacted so police can clarify which items belonged to the owner and which items might have belonged to Shah.

The vehicle had been stolen from elsewhere in Hayward, Ormsby said.

The shooting occurred near Treewood Elementary School, which was placed on lockdown for about 15 to 20 minutes, he said.

Oakland Leaders Announce Plan To Prevent Home Foreclosures

Oakland leaders Tuesday announced a multi-pronged effort to try to prevent home foreclosures with the help of government, major lenders and community partners.

Speaking at a news conference at City Hall, Mayor Jean Quan said the plan, which will be introduced at the City Council's Community and Economic Development Committee Tuesday and go before the full council next week, is needed because there have been about 10,000 foreclosures in Oakland since the mortgage foreclosure crisis began in 2007 and there are still about 3,500 residents who face foreclosure.

Quan said, "This innovative program will outline a clear path back to a secure mortgage and future, using reputable service providers, through the truly impressive array of tools we now have at hand."

She said the new tools include services and laws that are mandated by California's Homeowner Bill of Rights, which aims to end abusive home lending practices, and the $25 billion paid by the nation's top banks in a settlement with the federal government and 49 state attorneys general over "robo-signing" practices.

Robo-signing is the practice of a bank employee signing thousands of documents and affidavits without verifying the information contained in the documents.

If the program is approved by the City Council, which Quan said she's counting on, the city would send community workers door-to-door to contact the 3,500 residents who face the possibility of foreclosure and the word also will be spread through churches and community groups.

Agencies that specialize in housing issues would then work with homeowners and tenants to help figure out ways to help them stay in their homes.

Quan said there also would be a new loan fund that would set aside up to $1.2 million for a pilot program to help 20 to 25 homeowners avoid foreclosure by resetting their mortgages at the current market value for their property.

San Francisco Bay Area Weather Report

Isolated thunderstorms are expected in the Bay Area this morning.

Highs are likely to be around 60, with southwestern winds up to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Mostly cloudy skies are likely this evening. Lows are expected to be in the lower 50s, with western winds up to 15 mph.

Mostly cloudy skies are expected Thursday morning, becoming partly cloudy later in the day. Highs are likely to be in the upper 50s, with southwest winds up to 15 mph.

Ross Mirkarimi will be reinstated as San Francisco's sheriff after the city's Board of Supervisors fell two votes short of upholding official misconduct charges against him Tuesday night.

The 11-member board needed nine votes to approve the permanent removal of Mirkarimi from office, but David Campos, John Avalos, Jane Kim and Christina Olague declined to uphold the charges.

The 7-4 vote comes after several months of legal wrangling that began when Mirkarimi was suspended without pay by Mayor Ed Lee in March following his guilty plea to misdemeanor false imprisonment in connection with a Dec. 31 incident in which he grabbed his wife's arm during an argument, causing a bruise.

"It's been a long and crazy road, not just for our family but the family of San Francisco," Mirkarimi said after the hearing. The mayor issued a statement late Tuesday night expressing disappointment with the board's vote. "I strongly disagree with the action taken by Supervisors Avalos, Campos, Kim and Olague," Lee said.

Olague had been appointed by the mayor to replace Mirkarimi after he was elected sheriff last November and took office in January. "The board's decision returns a convicted domestic batterer to lead the sheriff's office, and I am concerned about our city's nationally-recognized domestic violence programs," Lee said.

"I will do everything in my power to ensure that abusers continue to be held accountable." Mirkarimi said that while he thought the mayor "went too far" in suspending him, he said "on behalf of the people, the right thing to do is to mend fences." Mirkarimi said he will talk to top sheriff's officials in the morning about transitioning back as the head of the department.

His attorneys also noted he will receive back pay for the entire period he was suspended. Vicki Hennessy had been appointed by the mayor as interim sheriff after Mirkarimi's suspension. 

The San Francisco Sheriff's Managers & Supervisors Association issued a statement Tuesday night saying they respect the supervisors' decision and that it is time for the department "to move beyond this difficult period and refocus on our longstanding record of innovative service to the community."

Hundreds of people came to City Hall for the hours-long hearing, forcing authorities to open multiple overflow rooms to accommodate the crowds. A majority of the speakers who talked to the board during the public comment portion of the proceedings supported Mirkarimi, while others spoke against the sheriff, including domestic violence victim advocates who had also held a rally outside City Hall on Monday urging the supervisors to remove him from office.

Deputy City Attorney Sherri Kaiser, representing the mayor, told the supervisors that the fact that the sheriff oversees domestic violence programs and works with the city's probation department conflicts with his being sentenced to a year of domestic violence counseling and three years' probation as part of his plea deal.

Under questioning from some of the supervisors, Kaiser acknowledged that suspending the sheriff was "a discretionary decision" and "at bottom a judgment call," but that law enforcement officers "are expected to enforce the law, not to break it." A majority of the supervisors agreed, including Sean Elsbernd who said Mirkarimi "violated that trust" given to top law enforcement officials.

But the dissenting supervisors ultimately took issue with the discretionary nature of the mayor's decision, including Avalos who said he thought the case was "convoluted from a legal point of view." The case had been sent to the board by the city's Ethics Commission, which was tasked with holding fact-finding hearings and making a recommendation in the case.

In August, the panel voted 4-1 in favor of upholding the charges, and commission chair Benedict Hur gave a presentation to the board at the start of Tuesday's hearing outlining what led to their vote. Hur said the commission made its ruling on the basis of the physical abuse, which it found to fall below the standards of decency expected of an elected official as laid out in the official misconduct clause in the city charter.

Hur was the lone commissioner to vote against the majority, saying today that "there must be a line between official misconduct and personal misconduct" and that he thought there was not a close enough nexus between the case and Mirkarimi's duties as sheriff.

 

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Three Injured In Crash This Morning

Three people were seriously injured in crash near an Antioch
elementary school this morning, including a school crossing guard, a Contra
Costa County fire official said.

Antioch police and Contra Costa firefighters responded to a report
of a crash at School Street and Delta Fair Boulevard, outside Turner
Elementary School, at about 8:05 a.m., a fire dispatcher said.

It appears the three people injured were on foot, Contra Costa
County Fire Protection District Capt. Robert Marshall said.

"One of the crossing guards out there was one of the people
injured," he said.

Two of the victims were critically wounded and were airlifted to
John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, Marshall said.

The third victim was taken by ambulance to another hospital.

School was in session at the time of the crash, said Nancy
Billeci, senior executive assistant in the Antioch Unified School District
superintendent's office.

Billeci said the three people injured are not students or faculty
at the school.

Classes are continuing today, according to the district.

Evacuations Pending As Authorities Prepare To Detonate Hazardous Material

Authorities are warning Calistoga residents that there will be a
loud explosion at the Napa County Fairgrounds today as they detonate a crate
of decades-old ether that they say is volatile and dangerous.

A wooden crate containing 96 quarter-pound canisters of ether was
discovered during a hazardous materials collection event at the fairgrounds
on Monday, authorities said.

The crate was marked that it was packaged in March 1957, and
sheriff's officials said it was originally part of a stash of disaster
supplies for a 200-bed hospital, and had been stored at the fairgrounds for
decades.

The ether was considered highly explosive, so rather than trying
to transport it elsewhere, plans were made to render it safe by creating a
counter-charge, according to the sheriff's office.

"The only way to get rid of it is to detonate it," sheriff's Capt.Tracey Stuart said.

UC Berkeley Officer Shoots Himself In The Leg While Dressing For Duty

A University of California at Berkeley police officer is being
treated at a hospital this morning after accidentally shooting himself in the
leg while dressing for duty, a UC Berkeley police lieutenant said.

The veteran officer of about 20 years was getting dressed at about
8 a.m. when his weapon discharged and the bullet struck him in the leg, Lt.
Eric Tejada said.

A few other officers were in the dressing room at the time but no
one else was injured, Tejada said.

The officer, whose name has not been released, was transported to
Highland Hospital in Oakland, Tejada said. His injury is not considered
life-threatening.

Tejada said there will be a full investigation, but that at this
time it looks like there may have been a problem with either the officer's
holster or his gun.

He said that typically when a weapon is discharged, the officer is
placed on administrative leave for four days. But because the officer is at
the hospital and unable to work, he has not yet been placed on leave, he
said.

Double Homicide In West Oakland

Two men were fatally shot in a vehicle in West Oakland Monday
night, according to police.

The shooting was reported at 9:55 p.m. in the 1000 block of
Filbert Street, police said.

Police said the car traveled another block after the victims were
shot and came to rest at 12th and Filbert streets.

Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Investigators Still Looking Into Series Of Suspicious Fires

Investigators believe a fire that burned in West San Jose on
Monday evening may be part of a string of suspicious fires that have occurred
in that area over the past two weeks, a fire captain said today.

Monday's one-alarm fire burned outside 834 Delna Manor Lane, a
residential street near South Bascom Avenue and Downing Avenue, fire Capt.
Mary Gutierrez said.

At least eight similar fires have burned in the neighborhood since
Sept. 26, and investigators believe they may be related, Gutierrez said.

"The majority seem to be happening after dark," Gutierrez said.

She said the fires have burned in back or side alleys of large,
multi-tenant residential buildings, some near Dumpsters, brush or trees.

So far, Gutierrez said, none of the fires have spread to the
buildings, but fire investigators are still concerned.

"We are taking this seriously because there is a high potential
for property loss and loss of life," Gutierrez said.

No suspects have been identified yet, she said.

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the San
Jose Fire Department's arson tip hotline at (408) 272-7766.

Pedestrian Killed On Highway 87 Identified

A man who was killed after walking onto southbound state Highway
87 in San Jose on Friday has been identified by the Santa Clara County
medical examiner's office as 22-year-old Alejandro Sandoval.

Sandoval, a San Jose resident, entered Highway 87 around 8:15 p.m.
Friday, threw his skateboard at a passing vehicle, then ran into oncoming
traffic, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Sandoval was struck by at least one car and died at the scene.

The driver of a black SUV that initially hit Sandoval was then
involved in a three-car crash. The SUV was gone by the time authorities
arrived, and CHP Officer DJ Sarabia said investigators are looking for the
driver.

According to Sarabia, although the pedestrian was at fault for the
collision, the driver is now suspected of felony hit-and-run for leaving the
scene.

Police Search For A Man Who Attempted To Abduct An 11-Yr Old Boy

Police are trying to identify a man who attempted to abduct an
11-year-old boy in Santa Cruz on Monday afternoon.

The boy told police that a middle-aged man in a truck yelled for
him to get into the vehicle in the 800 block of Walnut Avenue at about 4:10
p.m. Monday, police said.

The boy did not get into the truck, and left the area, police said.

The suspect was described as a scruffy-looking white man in his
40s with a mustache. He is said to have been driving a gray truck similar to
a 2000-model Toyota Tundra, police said.

Detectives are working with the victim to develop a sketch, police
said.

Santa Cruz police encourage anyone who sees a similar suspect or
vehicle to call the department at (831) 420-5857 or call 911

Woman Cut With Glass During Fight, In Serious Condition

A woman was critically injured in a fight with three other women
in San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood on Friday night, police said
today.

The altercation occurred around 9:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of
Eddy Street.

During the fight, one of the suspects picked up a shard of glass
and cut the 23-year-old victim with it several times while the other two
suspects pepper sprayed her, according to police.

The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for numerous
lacerations to her back -- injuries that are considered life-threatening,
police said.

The suspects all fled and had not been found as of this morning.
Anyone with information about the attack is encouraged to call the Police
Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text
message to TIP411.

Man Attacked With Stun Gun During Home Invasion Robbery

A man was shocked with a stun gun during a home invasion robbery
in San Francisco's Mission District early Sunday morning, police said today.

The robbery was reported around 2:35 a.m. in the 2300 block of
Folsom Street.

The 47-year-old victim was approached outside his house by three
suspects who threatened to kill him if he did not let them inside, according
to police.

Once inside, the trio let in two other accomplices and the group
demanded money from the victim. After the victim handed over cash, one
suspect shocked him with a stun gun, police said.

The suspects also took the victim's TV and laptop before fleeing.

The group, described as three men and two women between 25 and 30 years old,
had not been found as of this morning, according to police.

The victim was not injured in the robbery, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the
Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by
text message to TIP411.

Early Voting Starts Today

San Francisco residents eager to cast their ballots for the
November election can take part in early voting starting today at City Hall.

Voters can go to the Department of Elections on the ground floor
of City Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays to fill out a ballot.

The department is also setting up weekend voting from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. on the two weekends prior to the Nov. 6 election, which includes the
presidential race as well as other federal, state and local contests.

City election officials have also started sending out more than
200,000 vote-by-mail ballots and recently finished mailing voter information
pamphlets to registered voters.

People wishing to vote by mail must send a request to the
Department of Elections by Oct. 30.

More information about early voting or vote-by-mail ballots can be
found on the department's website at www.sfelections.org/toolkit or by
calling (415) 554-4375.

A water main broke in San Francisco's Marina District this morning, fire department officials said.

The main broke at about 6 a.m. near 1901 Lombard St., located between Webster and Buchanan streets.

A San Francisco Public Utilities Commission spokesperson was not immediately available to provide more information about the incident.

Sanjita Patel, an employee at the nearby Ramada Limited hotel at 1940 Lombard St. who lives on adjacent Moulton Street, said water service to her home had been interrupted.

"We don't have water this morning, not even to drink," Patel said.

She said the hotel's water service was not affected.

 

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The California Air Resources Board announced Sunday evening that it is easing certain restrictions on gasoline production in response to a directive issued by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Brown ordered the board to allow refineries to switch to a gasoline blend that is normally only used in winter in an effort to lower gas prices.

The order, issued Sunday, directed the board to take whatever steps are necessary to authorize refineries to make an early switch to winter-blend gasoline.

The blend, which isn't normally sold until after Oct. 31, evaporates more quickly than summer blend and is worse for air quality during the smog season, according to state officials.

However, an early transition to it could increase the state's fuel supply by an estimated 8 to 10 percent with a negligible air quality impact, Brown said. Due to its composition, refiners can produce more of the winter blend.

Sunday evening, in response to the governor's order, the California Air Resources Board announced that it will allow the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of the winter-grade gasoline.

State officials said the recent spike in gas prices, which has seen gas prices above $5 a gallon in some areas, has been fueled in part by recent disruptions in gas production, including at an Exxon refinery in Southern California.

However, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said that even with the disruptions, gas production in the state this week remained nearly as high as a year ago, and that stockpiles remain similar to last year's.

Feinstein sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Sunday calling for an investigation into the price hike.

"California's consumers are all too familiar with energy price spikes, which cannot be explained by market fundamentals and which turn out years later to have been the result of malicious and manipulative trading activity," Feinstein said the letter.

 

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Bevy Of Boaters On Bay Advised To Watch For Marine Mammals This Weekend

The busy Bay Area weekend is expected to spread to the region's waterways and officials are warning boaters to be mindful of marine mammals in the San Francisco Bay.

With San Francisco's Fleet Week and America's Cup World Series races taking place in the Bay on Saturday and Sunday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is warning boaters, paddlers, parasailors and all other people on the water to avoid whales, porpoises, dolphins, sea lions and seals.

The weekend will be packed with Fleet Week and other boating and air activities including Saturday morning's Parade of Ships, air shows, ship tours along the southern waterfront and the America's Cup races near San Francisco's Aquatic Park on Saturday and Sunday.

The Giants playoff baseball games also will be held at AT&T Park on Saturday and Sunday evenings, which usually draws crowds in kayaks and other boats to McCovey Cove next to the ballpark.

With the flurry of activity, federal boating regulations will be strictly enforced.

NOAA has requested that all vessel operators be on alert for marine mammals in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, especially whales. Humpback whales have been sighted off of the San Francisco coast and shorelines in the past two weeks.

NOAA advises boaters to look for the whale's blow and to avoid the area if they see the puff of what looks like smoke shooting about 10 feet high. Boaters should also not get between a whale cow and her calf.

The U.S. Coast Guard said with the anticipated crowded waterways, they will be issuing broadcasts letting boat operators know about congestion or any incidents.

Coast Guard officials said parts of the Bay will be restricted to the public for Fleet Week and the America's Cup.

Many Coast Guard boats will be monitoring the water enforcing safety, officials said.

Teen Killed, Another Injured While Allegedly Trying To Rob Business in Salinas

An alleged robber was killed and another was critically injured when they were shot by a Good Samaritan after trying to hold up a business in Salinas on Thursday evening, police said today.

The armed robbery occurred around 6:45 p.m. at a business in the 1500 block of North Sanborn Road.

The two suspects demanded money at gunpoint from the business owner and several patrons who were also inside, according to police.

The Good Samaritan, who was outside the business but was associated with one of the victims, witnessed the robbery and got a gun out of his vehicle to try to stop the robbery, police said.

Fearing for his safety when he entered the business, the Good Samaritan shot both suspects, who fled and were later taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police.

One of the suspects, a 17-year-old boy, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. His name is not yet being released.

The second suspect, also a 17-year-old boy, was listed in very critical condition this morning, police said.

The Good Samaritan fled briefly out of fear but eventually returned to speak with police. Following extensive interviews with him and the victims, as well as review of video surveillance footage at the business, police do not plan to seek charges in connection with the shooting.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Police Department's investigations division at (831) 758-7226 or Detective Fors at (831) 758-7124.

People wishing to remain anonymous can call a tip line at (831) 775-4222, the We-Tip line at (800) 78-CRIME or can send a text message to 847411 with "SPD831" in the message.

Fatal Crash On I-880 In Milpitas Causes Car To Burst Into Flames

A fatal crash has closed a lane of Interstate Highway 880 and a state Highway 237 off-ramp in Milpitas after a car crashed and burst into flames, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Around 10:50 a.m., a gold Toyota Corolla was traveling south on Highway 880 at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and crashed into the right side shoulder just south of Highway 237. The car then burst into flames, CHP Officer DJ Sarabia said.

The driver was killed in the crash and has not yet been identified, but the car is registered to a resident of Milpitas, Sarabia said.

Sarabia said he expects the right lane of I-880 to be closed until shortly after noon.

The car fire has been put out and fire crews are no longer at the scene.

Albany Police Chief Defends Probe Of Teacher Who Committed Suicide

Albany's police chief is defending the way his department handled its investigation into a teacher who was arrested on suspicion of molestation but committed suicide before he was charged with a crime.

In a statement he issued on Thursday, Police Chief Mike McQuiston said, "James Izumizaki's arrest and subsequent suicide understandably upset many in our small community. It's clear that people are hurt and confused by this tragic turn of events."

Izumizaki, 28, a sixth-grade teacher at Albany Middle School, was arrested at his Albany home on Sept. 26 on suspicion of performing lewd acts with a child under the age of 14. He posted bail the following day and was released.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office was reviewing the case and his arraignment tentatively was set for Oct. 24, but he hadn't been charged as of Monday morning when he was found dead in his car on Via Alamitos in San Leandro.

A makeshift memorial for Izumizaki was set up at Albany Middle School after his death and some students and parents criticized Albany police for the way they investigated the case.

But McQuiston said in his statement that a judge approved a probable cause warrant enabling police to search Izumizaki's home, which provided evidence in the case.

He said, "This step provided judicial scrutiny of the evidence.

This independent, third-party review by a magistrate uninvolved with the investigation is a safeguard against police abuse of the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment."

McQuiston's statement also indicates that there were multiple victims, although it doesn't specify how many.

He said, "The reported victims in this matter are minors" and he wants to thank "those victims and witnesses who have shown great courage and character by coming forward."

McQuiston said the Albany police investigation "continues today and will continue until all known leads are exhausted" despite Izumaki's death.

He also said police will share with the school district any information they share during their investigation if it "might help our school district colleagues better protect their students."

McQuiston said he released the statement "because I believe in transparent and responsive policing."

Vallejo Police Identify Victims Of Double Homicide Wednesday Evening

Vallejo police have identified the two men who were killed allegedly by their neighbor during an argument about politics Wednesday evening as Douglas Kahley, 50, and Michael Scally, 58.

Police arrested Martin Hohenegger, 65, for the city's 12th and 13th homicides of the year. Hohenegger is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. today in Solano County Superior Court.

Vallejo police Lt. Sid De Jesus said the fatal shootings happened in the driveway of Scally's home in the 300 block of Foulkstone Way.

"There was an argument between neighbors over politics," De Jesus said.

Police responded around 6:10 p.m. to calls about shots fired and two people down in the yard of a residence. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Investigators learned the shooting suspect was in a nearby residence. A hostage negotiator made contact with Hohenegger, who surrendered to police about 45 minutes later, Sgt. Jeff Bassett said.

Hohenegger is a former Marine who served between 1966 and 1968. Neighbor Lina Hilario said she and her husband heard what sounded like firecrackers around 5:45 p.m. and soon saw a helicopter hovering overhead.

She said Hohenegger is known as a polite man who would deliver packages to her if they were sent to his address.

She said Hohenegger was always seen outside talking to neighbors. 

"I was shocked. This is a quiet area," Hilario said.

Sonoma Man Identified As Victim Of Fatal Motorcycle Crash

The Sonoma County coroner's office this morning identified the motorcycle rider who was killed in a three-vehicle crash Thursday evening as 43-year-old Sonoma resident Heath Kingsley Hunter.

A passenger on Hunter's 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle, Angelica Saragosa, 34, of Sonoma, suffered major injuries in the crash and was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, then transferred to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. She was in critical condition this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hunter and Saragosa were riding south on Arnold Drive just south of Avenida Sebastiani in unincorporated Sonoma County near Sonoma around 8 p.m. when they approached a 1999 Dodge at an unknown speed, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The motorcycle collided with the rear of the Dodge and slid underneath a northbound 2003 Nissan, CHP officials said.

Saragosa was ejected from the rear of the motorcycle, struck the hood and windshield of the Nissan and landed 40 feet away in a dirt and grass drainage ditch on the east edge of Arnold Drive, according to the CHP.

The driver of the Dodge, a 47-year-old Sonoma man, suffered minor injuries while the driver of the Nissan, a 43-year-old Kenwood woman, was not injured.

Brisbane Man Arrested For Illegal Possession Of 145 Pounds Of Explosives

A Brisbane man accused of stashing 145 pounds of explosives and a gallon-sized bag of marijuana in his apartment pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday, according to prosecutors.

William Myles Harrell, 46, was arrested Monday after Brisbane police were called on reports of a domestic disturbance at the apartment at 132 Cliff Swallow Court that he shared with his girlfriend.

During the investigation, Harrell's girlfriend showed police a closet where he allegedly kept 145 pounds of dynamite, $37,000 in cash and a gallon-sized bag of marijuana, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said the woman's children, ages 11 and 20, also lived in the home at the time, and that the amount of explosives were enough to destroy the neighborhood.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force responded to the residence and seized both the explosives and marijuana.

Subsequent searches in San Francisco and unincorporated San Mateo County led to additional seizures of marijuana.

Harrell faces felony charges of possession of explosives and possession of marijuana for sale. He remains in custody with bail set at $500,000, but the court has granted a prosecution motion requiring Harrell to show a legitimate source for any money he tenders for bail.

Harrell will return to court on Oct. 18 for the preliminary hearing.

New CSU Chancellor Has Strong Ties To The Bay Area

California State University officials named a man with strong Bay Area ties as the new chancellor Thursday.

Timothy White will replace current CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, who announced in late May that he planned to retire after a 14-year tenure.

White, 63, has spent the past four years as chancellor of University of California at Riverside.

Born in Argentina, White and his family moved to Calgary before settling in the Bay Area when he was 9 years old, he said in a teleconference Thursday.

White attended elementary, intermediate and high schools in Pleasant Hill, he said. His first job was delivering newspapers for the Contra Costa Times, and he "never broke a window."

The chancellor then went to Diablo Valley College before getting his undergraduate degree at California State University, Fresno.

White was on the swim and water polo teams while at Fresno State and wanted to become a coach for those sports.

He said in order to coach at a high school level, he needed a master's degree, so he then returned to the Bay Area where he got it at Cal State University Hayward, now Cal State East Bay.

White then wanted to coach those sports at the collegiate level and needed to get a doctorate degree, which he earned at University of California at Berkeley.

White has had stints working at Oregon State, University of Idaho, University of Michigan and UC Berkeley before becoming chancellor at UC Riverside.

"This is a very important job and I'm pleased and proud that the board has selected somebody who understands the California state schools' mission," Chancellor Reed said of White's hire.

White was the unanimous decision by the CSU Board of Trustees to be Reed's heir apparent.

University of California President Mark Yudof issued a statement Thursday morning on the selection, calling White "an excellent choice to lead the California State University system."

Yudof said he will appoint an interim chancellor for UC Riverside in the near future.

"While he will be missed, it is no small consolation knowing that, with Chancellor White at the helm of the CSU, the University of California will continue to have a well-placed partner and ally in the fight to preserve public higher education in California," Yudof said.

As chancellor at UC Riverside, White was leading a campus of 21,000 students. As the CSU chancellor, he'll be overseeing more than 420,000 students.

White will take over as CSU chancellor in late December. He will earn an annual salary equal to Reed, at $421,500 with the CSU standard benefits package, as well as a $30,000 supplement from CSU Foundation sources.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he believes White is qualified to help the state schooling system get back onto a better path.

"His dedication towards pushing public universities forward is equal only to his passion for fostering unique opportunities and innovative ideas at a time when public higher education has become, more often than not, a discussion about funding," Newsom said in a statement. 

"I have no doubt that he will lead a renewal of CSU," Newsom added.

White, a self-proclaimed optimist, believes he can do the job.

"We have our work cut out, but I am enormously optimistic," he said.

Bicyclist Struck By Vehicle In Downtown Santa Rosa Thursday

A bicyclist was injured after being struck by a vehicle in downtown Santa Rosa Thursday afternoon, according to police.

Police responded to the traffic collision at the intersection of Cypress Way and Hoen Avenue, near Montgomery High School at 4:18 p.m.

Emergency medical personnel determined the bicyclist, a man in his 50s, had sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

The bicyclist, who was wearing a helmet when the collision occurred, was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries, police said.

Based on a preliminary investigation, police said the vehicle entered the intersection against a red traffic signal and struck the bicyclist.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call Santa Rosa police Officer Steve Dineen at (707) 543-3636.

Man Exposes Himself To 12-Year-Old Girl Walking Home From School In San Carlos

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man who exposed himself to a 12-year-old girl walking home from school Thursday afternoon in San Carlos.

The student was walking home from Central Middle School on Arroyo Avenue near Cedar Street at about 3:28 p.m. when a dark colored four-door sedan slowed down in the roadway near to her, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

The driver proceeded to expose himself to the young girl, sheriff's deputies said.

The student immediately turned around and walked the opposite direction, returning to her school, where she reported the incident to school officials.

The student said the vehicle had a young child, approximately 6 years of age, sitting in a car seat in the right rear seat of the vehicle.

She said the vehicle drove westbound on Arroyo Avenue toward Cordilleras Avenue.

School officials immediately notified the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, sheriff's deputies said.

Patrol units from both the San Mateo County Sheriff's San Carlos Bureau and from the South County responded.

A San Mateo County alert went out to San Carlos residents and a radio broadcast was transmitted to San Mateo County police agencies.

The driver was described as a Hispanic male between the ages of 20 and 30 years of age. The victim described the man as chubby. The suspect was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and had a buzz-cut hairstyle, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to cal the San Msteo County Sheriff's Office at (650) 802-4277.

San Mateo County Residents Asked To Be On Alert After Series Of Mailbox Thefts

Several mailboxes in unincorporated San Mateo County near Redwood City were forced open and their contents stolen between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, according to county emergency officials.

The series of thefts occurred between 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday from mailboxes located at Skyline Boulevard and Bear Gulch Road West, emergency officials said.

The boxes were forced open with pry tools and locks were cut with bolt cutters to get to delivered mail, according to officials.

Emergency officials said an inspector from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been assigned to investigate the rash of thefts and will be working with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with information about the mail thefts is asked to email oyoch@smcgov.org.

Residents are asked to report any suspicious vehicles or people breaking into mailboxes and to share a full description of suspects to San Mateo County sheriff's dispatch at (650) 363-4911.

Mail theft is often associated with check, credit card and identify theft. Stealing U.S. mail is a federal offense punishable by a lengthy term in federal prison, according to officials.

St. Mary's College In Moraga Gets Ready For 'Gaelebration'

Saint Mary's College of California is gearing up for Saturday when the school will celebrate its sesquicentennial year and a long history that has taken it from San Francisco to Oakland to Moraga.

The school anticipates that approximately 5,000 people will descend upon the Moraga campus Saturday for the school's 150th anniversary "Gaelebration," where Saint Mary's will highlight its accomplishments over that time and showcase what it has to offer in the future.

The event will include open houses for the different undergraduate and graduate programs, discussions on various topics, student presentations and various musical performances.

The discussions include talks about social justice, education, current affairs and even the Rolling Stones.

Saturday's event is part of a series of events throughout the 2012-13 school year to celebrate the occasion, calling this year "The Year of the Gael."

The Gael, a speaker of the Irish, Scottish Gaelic or Manx language, has been the school's sports teams' nickname since 1926 when a writer in the now-defunct San Francisco Call-Bulletin called the Saint Mary's football team "The Galloping Gaels" in one of his articles.

The school's 14 NCAA Division I teams will also be highlighted and people will have the chance to take pictures with the 2011-12 men's basketball, men's soccer and men's golf West Coast Conference championship trophies.

Attendees will also have the chance to participate in a three-point shooting contest while being partnered with one of the members of the men's or women's basketball team.

There will also be games and activities for children, including a dunk tank, bungee basketball, bounce houses and a seven-story Ferris wheel.

The event is free and open to the public and will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be on the main Saint Mary's campus at 1928 Saint Mary's Road in Moraga.

Campus tours will also be offered throughout the day.

Archbishop Joseph Alemany founded the college in conjunction with the Christian Brothers in 1863. Alemany was also instrumental in the opening of the University of San Francisco.

The Christian Brothers is a sect of the Catholic Church completely dedicated to education.

The school was originally located in San Francisco between the Excelsior and Bernal Heights neighborhoods until 1889 when it moved across the Bay to Oakland and a building that came to be known as "The Brickpile" at 30th Avenue and Broadway.

The college then made its final move in 1928 to Moraga.