Embattled SF sheriff says he's not leaving
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Embattled San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi says he told Mayor Ed Lee he is not leaving his job, despite being recently charged with domestic violence and two other crimes.
Mirkarimi told reporters in City Hall on Tuesday that the meeting with Lee was cordial and he said he could do his job effectively despite the misdemeanor charges.
Lee has the power to suspend the newly sworn-in-sheriff but said he would leave the decision up to Mirkarimi.
Mirkarimi has pleaded not guilty. He says he will not take pay while he is in trial and he also would recuse himself from any disciplinary cases in the sheriff's department.
2 dead in suspect car evading Fremont police
FREMONT. (AP) — A man and a woman are dead after a driver ran a red light and collided with two other vehicles while trying to avoid Fremont police.
A Chevrolet Monte Carlo was carrying four people when it crashed and came to a rest in a flood control canal around 1:30 p.m. Monday.
The coroner on Tuesday identified the dead as 35-year-old Kevin Dutra and 36-year-old Julie Frary. The Fremont Argus reports (http://bit.ly/wXtwOl) that the other man and woman in the car are hospitalized in critical condition.
Police say a patrol officer had tried to stop the Monte Carlo, which he deemed suspicious, but the driver made several quick turns to get away. After it ran a red light, the car was struck by an SUV and then it hit a pickup truck.
Burglary suspect in Newark crash dies
NEWARK. (AP) — A burglary suspect involved in a crash in Newark after fleeing from police has died.
Authorities said this week that 20-year-old Rajwaun Watkins died on Jan. 20 at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.
According to police, Watkins and two other men — Jabrie Watts and Deshon Collier, both 20 — were fleeing the scene of a burglary when their Chevrolet Malibu crashed into a Honda on Jan. 18. The Honda's driver, 69-year-old Robert Cheney of Pleasanton, died at the scene.
Watkins was hospitalized. Watts and Collier were treated and released. All three were arrested on suspicion of residential burglary and vehicle evasion.
Newark police say officers were chasing the men's car, but had ended the pursuit before the crash over concerns about public safety.
College student shot and killed in Richmond
RICHMOND (AP) — Richmond police say a 22-year-old community college student was shot and killed inside a parked vehicle as he prepared to head to class.
The shooting occurred a little before 7 p.m. Monday. Lt. Bisa French says the victim, Edwin Martinez, was in the vehicle with his sister when an unidentified gunman approached on foot.
The shooter was chasing and firing at a fleeing car. He apparently turned to Martinez's vehicle and opened fire after giving up on the pursuit.
French says Martinez's sister then gunned the car and drove away. She was not injured. Martinez, a student at Contra Costa Community College in San Pablo, died at the scene.
