Police Bulletin Police Bulletin (January 09, 2004)

Man killed walking on interstate

A San Leandro man was killed early Saturday morning as he walked north across I-580 near the Hacienda Drive overcrossing. California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Creel said the body of Jimmy Dechaun Smith, 25, was discovered about 7 p.m. by a passing motorist.

CHP investigated the accident and determined that Michael Sapp, 39, of Aptos, struck Smith about 1:45 a.m. in the left westbound lane east of the overcrossing. At the time of the accident, Sapp did not know what he had struck and stopped his 2003 Toyota Tacoma and called the CHP. Officers responded to the call and although the evidence on the vehicle indicated it struck a solid object, the evidence was not consistent with striking a pedestrian, Creel said. Sapp told officers he believed the accident occurred at the Hacienda overcrossing, but it actually occurred about 1,300 feet east of the overpass, delaying the discovery of Smith's body until daylight, Creel said.

After the Alameda County Coroner performed an autopsy on Smith, the cause of death was attributed to a traffic collision, Creel said. Initially, indicators led the coroner's department and law enforcement agencies to believe the death may have been a homicide.

The CHP was able to contact Sapp through the department's Jan. 3 call log. Officers examined Sapp's vehicle and obtained minute trace evidence, including hair less than 1/2 inch in length matching Smith's, Creel said. Lab tests are being conducted on the evidence to confirm the match. No charges will be filed against Sapp, Creel said, adding that the department is now investigating why Smith was walking on the freeway that night. Caught on tape

A thief's image was caught on tape Jan. 3 in a Hopyard Road burglary with loss and damages estimated at $8,000. Police reported that officers responded to a front entry interior alarm at Nor-Ski & Sports, 4855 Hopyard Road, at 3:11 a.m. Officers arrived within six minutes and discovered the business' front glass door was smashed. Although officers searched the premises, a suspect was not found, police said.

During the search, officers found the cash register drawer on the floor near the front door. The drawer appeared to have been broken open, police said. Officers also found a computer hanging by electrical cords from the counter. Business owner Christian Carvacho told police the cash register held only $100 and it did not appear that merchandise was missing. Carvacho and police reviewed a surveillance tape that showed an unidentified suspect smashing the door, entering the business and tearing open the cash drawer. Two cars, two schools, two thefts

Two vehicles at separate schools were targeted Jan. 4 by thieves who shattered windows to steal purses left inside the cars.

A San Ramon woman reported to police that she parked and locked her 2003 Toyota Sequoia at Pleasanton Middle School, 5001 Case Ave., about 2:30 p.m. She returned to the vehicle about 3:10 p.m. and discovered the rear passenger door had been vandalized and the window was smashed. The rock used to break the window was found on the rear floorboard, police said. The thief took the victim's purse, which contained a wallet with credit cards, driver's license, a cell phone, gift certificate, a gift card and $40. Police said it appeared as if the suspect threw the rock at the vehicle several times from a distance before successfully breaking the window.

In an unrelated incident at Foothill High School, 4375 Foothill Road, a Dublin victim told police she parked and locked her vehicle about 3:30 p.m. in the school's south lot. When she returned to the car about 4:30 p.m., she found the front passenger window was shattered and a rock was lying on the driver's seat. The only item missing from the car was the victim's purse, police said. The victim was able to cancel her credit cards before they were fraudulently used. The case has been forwarded to investigations.

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