Latest news with #VPD
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man arrested in Vallejo murder case: PD
(KRON) — A 42-year-old man from San Jose has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of a woman who was shot and killed in Vallejo on July 5. A woman suffering from at least one gunshot wound was found unconscious on the 400 block of Admiral Callaghan Lane in Vallejo around 1:36 a.m. She was taken to the hospital where she later died of her injuries. Woman shot dead in Vallejo identified The Vallejo Police Department announced on July 18 that it had arrested the 'primary suspect' in the case. The suspected killer, Jose Guadalupe Castillo, now faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and committing a felony while out on bail. 'A records check revealed that Castillo was currently out on bail for a previous arrest made by the Vallejo Police Department on May 3, 2025, for willfully discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and for being a felon in possession of a firearm,' the Vallejo Police Department said. Castillo was initially arrested on July 16 following a brief foot chase near Admiral Callaghan Lane, according to VPD. 'When the officers attempted to contact Castillo, he tried to evade them and quickly walked into a convenience store,' VPD said. 'The officers entered the store and arrested Castillo without incident.' Woman killed in overnight San Leandro shooting During his arrest, officers allegedly found a gun with an extended magazine in the aisle where he had been standing. Castillo was initially booked into the Solano County Jail for a felon in possession of a firearm. However, two days later, the Solano County District Attorney's Office reviewed the evidence submitted by VPD detectives and subsequently charged him with second-degree murder. Based on the time, location and circumstances of the victim's death, the arrest is seemingly related to the homicide of 45-year-old Vallejo resident Courtney Whitney. KRON4 contacted VPD and the Solano County District Attorney's Office in an attempt to confirm the connection between Whitney's death and Castillo's arrest. However, as of 5 p.m. Friday, the agencies have not responded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
No charges for VPD jail guards in case that left drunk man with skull fracture: BCPS
The Vancouver Police Department's headquarters on Cambie Street are seen in a Shutterstock image. The B.C. Prosecution Service has decided not to prosecute a Vancouver jail guard in connection to an incident that left an intoxicated man with a skull fracture in April 2021. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. forwarded a report to Crown counsel last year recommending consideration of a charge of assault causing bodily harm against a special municipal constable working for the Vancouver Police Department. On Friday, more than a year after the IIO submitted its report and more than four years after the incident itself, the BCPS published a so-called "clear statement" document summarizing the incident and the service's reasons for not laying charges. The prosecution service determined that the available evidence against the jail guard – referred to in the document as the 'subject officer' or 'SO' – did not meet the charge assessment standard. What happened The document indicates that the injured man – referred to as the 'affected person' or 'AP' – was taken into custody by VPD officers on the evening of April 19, 2021. He was intoxicated, and the arrest was for 'the offences of indecent act and breach of peace,' which were alleged to have occurred near the intersection of Cambie Street and West Broadway, according to the document. He was taken to the VPD jail in a prisoner transport van. 'Upon arrival, the AP was still intoxicated,' the document reads. 'Security video footage shows that his jeans fell down repeatedly, and at one point his private parts were exposed. The video also shows that at all times following his arrival at the VPD jail the AP was moderately unsteady on his feet.' Police reported, and the surveillance video appeared to confirm, that the man was 'unco-operative, particularly with regard to instructions to keep his hands on the wall while being searched,' according to the document. The subject officer and a witness officer walked the man to his cell, where he lost his balance, fell and hit his head. Both officers were touching the man at the time he fell, but the BCPS statement says the surveillance video evidence was insufficient to establish that either officer caused the fall. Charge assessment When deciding whether to approve charges, the BCPS considers a two-part test. First, prosecutors must determine whether there is 'a substantial likelihood of conviction.' If there is, prosecutors must believe that 'the public interest requires a prosecution.' In this case, prosecutors found the available evidence did not meet the charge assessment standard. Beyond concluding that it was not clear that either officer had caused the man's fall, Crown prosecutors determined that they would be 'unable to disprove' a defence that the officers' use of force was reasonable and justified in the circumstances. Under the Criminal Code, peace officers acting in their lawful duties and on 'reasonable grounds' are 'justified in doing what (they are) required or authorized to do and in using as much force as necessary for that purpose,' according to the BCPS statement. 'In a prosecution, the onus is on the Crown to prove that the legal defences provided under the Criminal Code to peace officers acting in the course of their duties have not been established,' the document reads. In this case, that means prosecutors would have had to prove that the force an accused officer used went beyond what was necessary in the circumstances. 'The force employed by the SO against the AP for purposes of escorting and securing the AP into cell 1 aligned with VPD jail guards' training,' the statement reads. 'The available evidence does not otherwise establish that the SO employed force against the AP beyond that which was reasonable, necessary, or proportionate for purposes of securing the AP into cell 1.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Vancouver police say they're seeing a ‘sharp increase' in bank card scams
Credit and bank cards are seen in this undated file image. Vancouver police say they've seen 'a sharp increase' in a 'sophisticated' bank card scam in recent months, with fraudsters posing as bank investigators. More than $1.2 million has been lost in 56 reports of the scam in Vancouver so far in 2025, the Vancouver Police Department said in a news release Friday. More than half of that total – some $685,000 worth of cash and 'high-value assets' such as gold bars – has been lost in three major incidents over the last two months, the VPD said. 'These recent cases show a disturbing trend where vulnerable people are being exploited by highly organized and deceptive criminals,' said Const. Tania Visintin, in the release. 'We urge the public to stay alert, protect their personal information, and contact police if they suspect fraudulent activity.' The first of the three recent incidents occurred on May 22, when the victim received a call from a man claiming to be from Scotiabank. The call came from a blocked number, and the victim 'disclosed personal banking information' to the fraudster, police said. The victim is now locked out of her account and unable to access statements. A week later, on May 29, VPD officers were called to a home in the West End, where an 83-year-old woman was defrauded of $17,000. 'The victim, experiencing early signs of dementia, had no recollection of providing her card and PIN to an unknown suspect,' police said in their release. The largest of the three incidents occurred on June 9, when 'suspects impersonating RBC fraud investigators' scammed a victim out of $65,000 in cash and 'multiple gold bars valued at approximately $600,000,' according to police. The VPD said its investigation is ongoing and the incidents are believed to be linked to 'a highly organized crime group, potentially operating from Eastern Canada.' 'Investigators believe these scams are part of a wider, well-co-ordinated operation using high-pressure tactics and sophisticated deception to manipulate victims,' said Visintin. 'No legitimate financial institution will ever ask for your PIN, full account number, or instruct you to transfer or surrender funds under threat.' Police said the suspect or suspects in these three crimes have not been identified, and the VPD Financial Crime Unit is working with 'regional and national partners' to trace the suspects and 'track related activity.' 'Anyone with information about this scam is asked to come forward immediately,' police said. 'If it's a crime in progress or if there is an immediate safety concern, please call 911.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Senior seriously injured in East Vancouver hit and run: police
Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Vancouver police are asking witnesses to come forward after a senior was seriously injured in a hit and run last week. In a news release Friday, the Vancouver Police Department said the victim was crossing Grandview Highway at Slocan Street just before 5:30 p.m. on July 11 when she was struck by a grey SUV. The driver didn't stop and continued driving east on Grandview Highway, according to police. The 70-year-old pedestrian was taken to hospital with injuries police described as serious, but not life-threatening. 'We believe there were several bystanders who attempted to chase after the vehicle,' Const. Tania Visintin said, in the release. 'Investigators would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision. We also want to speak to the driver of the grey SUV to determine what circumstances led up to the incident.' Police asked anyone with information to call 604-717-3012 or email vpdciu@
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Vancouver police officer retires after demotion, suspension for sexual harassment
A Vancouver police sergeant, who was demoted and suspended in May after admitting to sexually harassing five women, has now retired, the force has confirmed. Keiron McConnell had been the VPD's longest-serving sergeant when he was demoted. "McConnell has retired and is no longer a serving member of the Vancouver Police Department," the VPD said in an emailed statement. The department provided no additional information. McConnell was the subject of disciplinary proceedings in the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner earlier this year. The complaints concerned incidents that took place between 2015 and 2019, including sending unwanted sexualized messages to two female officers who worked under his command when he was one of the leaders of the gang squad. McConnell — who first joined the VPD reserves in 1988 — was promoted to sergeant in 2004, becoming part of the leadership of the VPD's gang squad while also earning a doctorate that saw him teach at Royal Roads, Kwantlen and Simon Fraser universities. Three other women, who were students at the universities where he taught, were also targeted by McConnell. Another female officer, who was the first to come forward, had her complaint dismissed as part of a deal that led McConnell to admit to sexually harassing the five other women.
