Here’s a look at some of the East Bay’s biggest crime stories in 2022.
If 2022 seemed like another rough year for the reputation of law enforcement nationally, think only of what the East Bay witnessed: One sheriff’s deputy in Alameda County was accused of an execution-style murder after another deputy in Contra Costa County became the first to be sentenced for a felony conviction.
Those stories underlined the East Bay’s most eye-grabbing public safety events over the past 12 months. Here were some of the biggest: Authorities believe that Williams had been in a romantic relationship with Maria Tran, and that he went to her house after completing a work shift at the Santa Rita Jail. The California Highway Patrol took Williams into custody in Coalinga after he fled to central California. He is awaiting trial.File photo of Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Hall walking into the A.F. Bray Courthouse for his arraignment in Martinez in June of 2021.
Multiple sources told this publication that Antioch police Officers Morteza Amiri — whose police dog had bitten at least 22 people since 2019 — and Eric Rombough were two of the 11 officers under federal investigation. The group included eight officers from Antioch and three from Pittsburg, those sources said. The eight Antioch officers represent 15% of that department’s police force.