Dec 8, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
December 8, 2023
Alameda County District Attorney’s Public Accountability Unit Found Insufficient Evidence to File Charges in the Joshua Gloria Case
Fremont – Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces the DA’s Public Accountability Unit (PAU) has concluded that it will not proceed forward with any charges in the May 24, 2021, officer-involved shooting death of Joshua Gloria.
According to the PAU, we believe that Fremont Police Officer Brian Burch “had valid reasons to believe that Mr. Gloria represented a substantial risk of causing severe harm or even death to both himself and those in the vicinity and further that he reasonably believed that he needed to use deadly force to stop Mr. Gloria from fleeing. Therefore, applying the guidelines outlined in the California District Attorney’s Uniform Crime Charging Standards, we must conclude that there is insufficient evidence to pursue a criminal prosecution against Officer Brian Burch.”
The PAU thoroughly reviewed, with fresh eyes, the prior Alameda District Attorney’s Office report and the complete case file materials, including but not limited to all available body-worn camera footage, investigative reports, and dispatch recordings. Additionally, the PAU visited the scene of the shooting, reached out to the Gloria family’s civil attorney, and spoke to the Gloria family and has concluded that while this is undoubtedly a tragic outcome and series of events, Officer Brian Burch cannot be held criminally liable under the relevant laws and pertinent facts. DA Price does not believe that the prosecution could prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the first three shots fired by Officer Burch were not in lawful self-defense and that the last two shots Officer Burch fired at Mr. Gloria were not a lawful use of deadly force against an individual who was suspected of a felony and in clear flight.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced the formation of the PAU in January. One of its initial assignments was to review eight in-custody deaths and officer-involved shootings to determine whether any evidence would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a police officer should be held accountable for misconduct.
Earlier this year, the PAU filed charges against two Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies in the Vinetta Martin case. The PAU continues its review of more than 250 Alameda County cases.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dec 8, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
December 8, 2023
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Delivers Year-End Report on Services Provided to Victims and Their Families
Oakland – The Office of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price delivered a year-end report on the services provided to victims and their families. DA Price also announced the formation of the DAO’s first-ever Victims Advisory Commission, which builds on the progress of the past eleven months.
“Victims are a top priority for my administration,” said Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. “In the past eleven months, our office has been able to reduce huge backlogs, build a larger support team for victims, and increase our speed and equity in service delivery for victims and their families.”
DA Price was joined by the victim advocacy group VOICES of the BAY AREA and members of her executive team, including Victim/Witness Advocates Director Kristina Molina and Family Justice Center Director Karla Elias-Flores who reported a long list of achievements—among them hiring 12 victim-witness advocates to serve Alameda County’s culturally diverse and multilingual community and adding seven clinicians to the Family Justice Center. More multi-lingual speakers, including indigenous and African American advocates, were also onboarded, dramatically diversifying the advocate division. DA Price also hired the first transgender advocate.
In 2023, under DA Price’s leadership, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has served more than 22,500 victims, provided over 60,000 services for victims and their families and paid more than $750,000 in compensation and burial expenses. Both Directors Molina and Elias-Flores reported on the dramatic reduction in backlogs created under the prior administration and resolved by DA Price’s administration.
Launching Alameda County’s first Victims Advisory Commission builds off this new tradition of progress. It is the third community commission created by DA Price since she took office, following the Mental Health Commission and the Reentry Commission. It is designed to ensure accountability and inspire innovative solutions through the participation of impacted community members.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dec 6, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
December 4, 2023
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Charges Attempted Murder in Family Party Incident
Oakland – The Office of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced it has charged Leandro Angelo Torres with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The defendant is accused of accelerating his car into four women after disrupting a family party. Torres, 31, faces up to 12 years in state prison if convicted of the alleged charges in the complaint.
The facts, as we understand them, involve a dispute during a family gathering in San Lorenzo. According to Alameda County Sheriff’s Office investigators, on November 25, 2023, Leandro Torres was asked to leave the family party. He later returned and allegedly attacked his brother’s car. He then allegedly drove his vehicle towards four women standing in the street, one of whom was pinned between Torres’ car and a parked vehicle.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price stated, “Family violence in Alameda County is a real problem, especially during the holidays. This incident obviously traumatized the entire family and the neighborhood. Mr. Torres’ uncontrolled anger will have severe consequences for him, his family, and the victims of this unprovoked attack. This is an unfortunate incident for the whole community.”
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dec 2, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
December 2, 2023
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Reaffirms Her Commitment To The First Amendment –Allows Emilie Raguso To Attend Press Conferences
Oakland – Berkeley Scanner Editor-in-Chief Emilie Raguso is welcome to attend future press conferences organized by the office of the Alameda County District Attorney. At the time of the DA’s press conference on November 29, 2023, her media credentials were under review.
During several transitions of the DAO communications staff over the summer, the DAO media list was modified and reduced to a limited number of news outlets. Miss Raguso, among others, including the Bay City News Group, was not included in the updated media list, an oversight now being corrected.
District Attorney Pamela Price has a long and distinguished career that includes defending the First Amendment (see Freitag v. Ayers, 468 F.3d 528 (9th Cir. 2006), 127 S.Ct. 1918 (2007); Davis v. Prison Health Services, U.S. District Court Case No. C 09-2629 SI), along with a proven track record of being committed to transparency, demonstrated by creating the first-ever Public Accountability Unit in the District Attorney’s Office.
Now, DA Price is taking the lead on an effort to work with renowned First Amendment and media ethics experts in developing clear and transparent media credentials and guidelines that balance the need for public safety alongside an updated understanding of how the media works today. This critical work is long overdue at the Alameda County District Attorney’s office.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Nov 28, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
November 28, 2023
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Announces Guilty Verdict in Domestic Violence Case
Oakland – The Office of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces a jury verdict in a domestic violence case against Reynaldo Garibay. The case tried by Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Sinoff was a hard-fought and difficult case involving six separate incidents of domestic violence. The victim was terrorized in her home by Defendant Garibay after she ended their relationship in early 2023.
A jury found Defendant Garibay guilty on all seven charge counts alleged, including making criminal threats, exhibiting a deadly weapon, and vandalism.
Defendant Garibay was sentenced on November 20, 2023, to a term of three years court probation and 180 days custody in the Santa Rita County Jail. He was directed to complete a 52 week Batterers Intervention Program and comply with the terms and conditions under a 3-year Criminal Protective/Stay-Away Order.
“This was a very difficult case to prosecute, and the swift and successful outcome is a testament to the victim-focused training and teamwork of our Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Prosecution Unit and its dedicated advocates under the leadership of Senior Assistant District Attorney Evanthia Pappas,” said Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. “This case sends a message that my office is committed to protecting vulnerable members of our society and we are relentless when it comes to holding defendants accountable.”
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
