SUBJECT: Grand Jury Indictment – People v. Chunli Zhao

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   DATE:        Monday, January 22, 2024   TO:             Media Members   FROM:       Stephen M. Wagstaffe   SUBJECT: Grand Jury Indictment – People v. Chunli Zhao  

LGBTQIA+ Commission Seeks Your Feedback!

The LGBTQIA+ Commission of San Mateo County wants to know what the LGBTQIA+ community and allies think are the biggest issues they face living here. We invite you to take this one minute survey to share your thoughts. Your feedback will help the Commission focus in on a topic for the next year as well as future issues to work on. The survey will close October 9 and the LGBTQIA+ Commission will share with you what they learned. The survey is anonymous and allows us to learn a bit more about what is important to you.

Statement on the In Custody Death of Maycarla Sulapas on January 7,2023

August 17, 2023   Re: In Custody Death Of Maycarla Sulapas On January 7, 2023  

Join Us for an exclusive Virtual Event with the County of San Mateo Office of Public Safety Communications August 16th

Jul. 24, 2023Redwood City — 📅 Join us on August 16th from 1 pm to 2 pm PST for an exclusive virtual event with the County of San Mateo Office of Public Safety Communications!   🏢 Embark on a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art facility - the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a 911 dispatcher to get an inside look at the heart of our operations.  

Re: Officer Involved Shooting Of Abran Gutierrez On November 15, 2022

The District Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the fatal shooting of Abran Gutierrez on November 15, 2022 by Redwood City Police Officers Luke Shoats, William Wolfe, Nicholas Muniz, Victor Figueroa, and Jose Montoya during a confrontation near the intersection of El Camino Real and Maple Street in Redwood City.

Statement on the Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting

Just days removed from the tragedy in Monterey Park, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe and all the members of the District Attorney’s Office regrettably now mourn the 7 lives lost to a mass shooting right here in Half Moon Bay.

Firearm Seizure and Arrest by Newly Formed Gun Violence Prevention Program Unit

On Wednesday morning December 21, 2022, San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Prevention Program (GVPP) Detectives, in collaboration with the Menlo Park Police Department served a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of prohibited firearms in the City of Menlo Park. The GVPP Detectives identified Kristian Arnaldo Arguello as a “prohibited person” who is not allowed to possess firearms and/or ammunition based upon a 2015 criminal conviction. Arguello had firearms still registered in his name, despite the 2015 prohibition. GVPP Detectives obtained a search warrant for Mr. Arguello’s residence, and they worked closely with the Menlo Park Police Department’s Investigations Division. As a result of the search warrant served yesterday on the 1300 Block of Henderson Avenue in Menlo Park, Detectives recovered an unregistered and prohibited AR15 assault weapon, numerous high capacity magazines for the AR15, hundreds of rounds of .223 ammunition, a Glock .40 caliber handgun, a Beretta 9mm handgun and 9mm and .40 caliber ammunition. Kristian Arnaldo Arguello was taken in custody and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for 29805(A)(1) PC, 30605(a) PC, and 30305(a)(1) PC, two of which are felony charges. This was a collaborative effort by our Gun Violence Prevention Program Detectives and the Menlo Park Police Department that will help keep our communities in San Mateo County safer.

People v. Jowy Omar Roman

On October 21, 2022, after 40 minutes of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Jowy Roman of Assault on A Peace Officer. On January 22, 2020, police went to the Defendant’s home to serve an arrest warrant and search warrant stemming from the Defendant’s years-long molestation of a minor victim. When officers arrived, the Defendant hid in the shower with a knife. Officers entered bathroom and the Defendant stabbed one officer in the chest which resulted in minor injuries. The knife did not penetrate the officer’s Kevlar vest. During the Defendant’s attack, a second officer shot the Defendant once in abdomen. The jury trial began with the Defendant facing 28 counts related to the molestation of the minor victim, with the 29th count being Assault on A Peace Officer for the January 22, 2020 incident. Midway through the victim’s testimony, the Defendant pled guilty to all 28 counts relating to the molestation. The Defendant is facing a minimum of over 100 years in prison on those counts alone. The trial continued on the one count concerning the Assault on A Peace Officer. The prosecutor was Sexual Assault DDA Nicole Sato, and the Investigating Officer was Clara Leong of the Foster City Police Department.

People v. Christian Fuentes

On September 13, 2022, after two days of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Christian Fuentes of the 2011 murder of Catherine Fisher and the attempted murder of Jamal Thomas. The jury also found a special allegation that the Defendant Fuentes was lying in wait true.

People v. David Wolpert

On September 9, 2022, after one hour of deliberation, a jury convicted defendant David Alexander Wolpert of making criminal threats in violation of Penal Code sections 422. The jury also found a special allegation that the Defendant used a weapon in violation of Penal Code Section 12022(b)(1) to be true.

Resources Developed & Provided by Pride Center - Summer 2022

The San Mateo County Pride Center has been working hard to develop resources for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies/advocates. If it's not a training or community gathering, the Pride Center has clinical services and peer groups to offer. It has also mobilized its many years of relationships and partnerships to develop helpful guides and information that are super easy to access and download.

Vacancy Announcement for LGBTQ Commission

For Immediate Release - Notice of Vacancy Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission             President of the Board of Supervisors Don Horsley announced that applications for appointment to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission are being accepted (About the Commission). There are currently three (3) vacancies. To be eligible, applicants must live in San Mateo County. The ideal candidate will possess several of the following attributes: