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From the high-profile arrest of a Contra Costa County drug task force leader to a Concord private investigator accused of hiring pretty women to help him catch East Bay men driving drunk, the alleged corruption involving local law enforcement officers is shaking community members' faith in their police services.Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the date of this indictment. A federal grand jury has indicted two former East Bay police officers on charges that include running a brothel and selling drugs. Former Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Cmdr. Norman Wielsch and ex-private investigator Christopher Butler stand accused of 17 felonies. The duo, who had been free on bail on previous charges in the case, were re-arrested by FBI agents and locked up without bail as the indictment was handed down Aug. 8 in a federal court in San Francisco. The indictment accuses …
A federal grand jury indictment that accuses two former Richmond police officers of buying guns for minors, lying to investigators and tampering with evidence is the latest in a growing law enforcement scandal. The indictment was filed in a federal courtroom in San Francisco Thursday against ex-cops Danny Harris Jr. and Raymond Thomas Jr. after an 11-month investigation. It says the pair forced two police Explorers, both under 21, to buy guns for them, then threatened the young men to prevent them from telling anyone about it. Thomas and Harris then paid Concord private eye Christopher Butler…
Patch Staff and Bay City News – Louis Lombardi, the most recent suspect arrested in connection with a police corruption case in Contra Costa County, pleaded not guilty Thursday to several charges related to the alleged conspiracy. Lombardi, 38, a former San Ramon police officer, has been charged along with former Central Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team Cmdr. Norman Wielsch, 50; former private investigator and Antioch police Officer Christopher Butler, 49; and former Danville police Officer Stephen Tanabe, 47. The four men appeared in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Walnut …
The FBI and U.S Attorney’s Office have taken over investigating an East Bay law enforcement corruption scandal that could now involve out-of-state drug trafficking. Three former Contra Costa law enforcement officers and a private investigator, charged with selling drugs, conspiracy, illegal weapons possession and setting up people for DUI arrests, may soon face federal charges as well, according to Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson. Federal investigators will investigate whether the defendants sold drugs outside California, ran a brothel or were involved in growing marijuana…
WALNUT CREEK – A San Ramon policeman arrested as part of a widespread corruption probe appeared in court Thursday morning to ask for more time before he enters a plea. Officer Louis Lombardi, 38, is due back in court June 23 to answer to five felony charges of stealing cash, selling drugs to undercover informants and taking illegal assault rifles from police raids. He was placed on administrative leave after his May 4 arrest and is free after posting bail. Also in court Thursday was Lombardi's co-defendant, former state narcotics agent Norm Wielsch, who asked a judge to allow him to leave the…
Bay City News — A San Ramon police officer who was arrested earlier this week in connection with a widening scandal involving the now-suspended Central Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team was arraigned in Martinez today but did not enter a plea. Louis Lombardi, 38, was charged with several felonies, including conspiracy to sell drugs, possession of an assault rifle, possession of an SKS rifle, embezzlement and receiving stolen firearms. The charges against Lombardi were added to what is now a 38-count criminal complaint against former CNET commander Norman Wielsch, former …
A San Ramon police officer has been arrested on five felony counts in connection with a scandal involving several law-enforcement officers in Contra Costa County. Police arrested patrol officer Louis "Lou" Lombardi, 38, when he came in to work Wednesday morning, according to San Ramon Police Chief Scott Holder. Lombardi was booked at the county jail in Martinez on suspicion of conspiracy, grand theft of weapons and drugs, possession of stolen property and keeping an illegal assault rifle. He is being held in lieu of $760,000 bail. "This is a dark day for not only the San Ramon Police …
By Bay City News — As part of the fallout from a criminal case involving two Contra Costa County law enforcement officers and a Concord private investigator, prosecutors have dismissed 15 pending criminal cases and refused to file charges in five more cases involving so-called "dirty DUI" arrests, District Attorney Mark Peterson said today. The cases being dismissed include three felony drug cases and a misdemeanor drug case investigated by the now suspended Central Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team; five felony prostitution cases and five misdemeanor prostitution cases also …
Bay City News and staff reports — In the widening scandal involving law enforcement officers in Contra Costa County, prosecutors filed new charges today adding a former sheriff's deputy to the criminal complaint against a former local drug task force commander and a private investigator. The 34-count criminal complaint adds charges against former Danville Police officer Stephen Tanabe, a 47-year-old Alamo resident, for conspiracy to possess, transport and sell a controlled substance; accepting a bribe; conspiracy to pervert and obstruct justice for conducting so-called "dirty DUI" arrests; …
Concord private investigator Christopher Butler reportedly worked with two Richmond police officers in a plan to have a Richmond police Explorer arrested on a drunken-driving arrest in Danville. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting on the latest "Dirty DUI" case to involve Butler, although in this particular case the target became aware of the plan and backed out before any arrest could take place. Butler and his good friend Norman Wielsch, the head of the central Contra Costa County's drug task force, were arrested last month and charged with multiple counts of drug dealing and …
Prosecutors have dropped charges filed against a suspected madam at a local massage parlor because the lead witness — a former Contra Costa County drug task force commander — has been accused of multiple felonies in an unrelated criminal case. This is the first case of charges being dropped because of accusations of drug theft and conspiracy against former state Department of Justice agent Norman Wielsch. Wielsch and Concord private investigator Christopher Butler were arrested Feb. 16 and charged with more than two dozen counts of stealing methamphetamines, prescription pills, marijuana and …
If your head is spinning over the recent news involving a Contra Costa County drug force commander, a Concord private eye, various other local law enforcement officers and drugs and conspiracy charges, it's understandable. Here's a timeline summarizing who, according to court records, is involved and what happened when. Key players: Norm Wielsh, 49, former Antioch police officer, former head of a Contra Costa drug task force, friend of Christopher Butler. Free on $400,000 bail on conspiracy and drug dealing charges. Christopher Butler, 49, former Antioch police officer, Concord private …
A member of the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday that investigators are reviewing all the cases involving a former Danville police officer, including the DUI arrest of prominent Tri-Valley winemaker Mitchell Katz. Harold Jewett, senior deputy district attorney, said he and investigators are reviewing cases involving former Danville officer Stephen Tanabe. Tanabe was arrested last week on drug and weapons charges and linked to the drug and conspiracy case against Concord private investigator Christopher Butler and Norm Wielsh, former head of the state-run Central …
A sheriff's deputy identified last week as being involved in a "dirty DUI" arrest in Danville is no longer assigned to the Danville Police Department. "The investigation into the matter is continuing," Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa County sheriff's director of public affairs, wrote in an e-mail. "Deputy Sheriff Tom Henderson is no longer working in Danville. He is currently assigned to patrol." According to a March 4 affidavit for a search warrant, Henderson told a sheriff's department investigator that he had made a DUI arrest after being told by off-duty Danville officer Stephen Tanabe that a …
Town Manager Joe Calabrigo wrote an open letter to residents after the recent arrest of a Danville police officer. Click on the attached PDF file to read the letter. Danville police officer and Alamo resident Stephen Tanabe was arrested earlier this month as part of an investigation by the California Department of Justice, the county sheriff's office and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. Tanabe was arrested on charges including possession and transfer of an assault rifle and conspiracy to possess and sell controlled substances. An affidavit also stated that he had been working with…
A Danville police officer and Alamo resident who was arrested last weekend has resigned, according to a statement issued by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff. Contra Costa County Sheriff's deputy Stephen Tanabe, 47, was arrested March 4 following an investigation by the California Department of Justice, the county sheriff's office and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. He was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility and posted bail the next day. Tanabe was arrested on charges including possession and transfer of an assault rifle and conspiracy to possess and sell …
Bay City News Service — A Danville police officer and Alamo resident arrested Friday on drug charges had been working with a Concord-based private investigator to conduct so-called "dirty DUI" stops on clients' husbands to damage their reputations, an investigator said in an affidavit. In one of the cases, the target was cheating on his wife, and the deputy, Stephen Tanabe, 47, was looking to "dirty him up" for a future legal battle, according to the affidavit. Tanabe was arrested Friday night on suspicion of possessing and selling a controlled substance, sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said…
The commander of a state Justice Department-led county drug task force and the owner of a Concord-based private investigations firm, nationally known for its "Mommy P.I.s," have been booked into county jail on suspicion of conspiring to sell drugs. Special agents from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, arrested Norman “Norm” Wielsch, a 12-year veteran of the bureau, Wednesday in Benicia. Wielsch was arrested on 22 felony counts. The charges are related to the distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana and steroids, bureau spokeswoman Michelle Gregory said. The …
