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nategartrell.bsky.social

@nategartrell.bsky.social
265 followers 64 following 128 posts

Reporter for the East Bay Times covering state and federal courts in Northern California. Bearer of bad news with no hobbies or outside interests.

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Reposted by @nategartrell.bsky.social
Dustin Volz @dustinvolz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
New: FBI in internal memo says it believes ShinyHunters may have stolen private data on all employees. Fears of longterm consequences of breach magnify as hackers threaten to leak everything online by end of Tuesday. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...
nytimes.com
Embarrassing Breach at F.B.I. Fuels Fears of Harm to Its Employees (Gift Article)
In an internal memo, the F.B.I. said it believed the hackers may have stolen sensitive information on all of its employees.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
NEW: Ex-Antioch mayor appears to be latest local politician under criminal investigation: www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/08/05/e...
eastbaytimes.com
Ex-Antioch mayor says federal prosecutors plan to indict him on criminal charges
Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe painted himself as a victim of the Trump Justice Department, implying the looming indictment is politically motivated.
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Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 04/08/2026
It sounds like the punchline to a joke, but a Nashville pedal steel player is running for governor of Tennessee. Read: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Some familiar names have already come up in the FBI probe of the Contra Costa assessor's office: www.mercurynews.com/2026/07/06/c...
mercurynews.com
Grand jury convened in Contra Costa assessor FBI raids: Subpoenas name refinery, Seeno family, DeNova Homes
New documents obtained by Bay Area News Group shed light on why the FBI raided the homes and offices of the outgoing and incoming county assessors last month.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
#NEW: FBI raids homes, offices of both the Contra Costa Tax Assessor Gus Kramer, and the assessor-elect Vince Robb: www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/09/f...
mercurynews.com
FBI raids homes of outgoing and incoming Contra Costa tax assessors
Federal agents also swarmed the tax assessor’s office on Arnold Drive in Martinez, where employees were told they could take the rest of the day off.
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 08/06/2026
Heidi Blake investigates Andrew Tate, drawing on thousands of private messages, sealed prosecutorial files, and court records—as well as scores of interviews with the Tates, their associates, and more than a dozen alleged victims. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/bHTyNs
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse
How the defining figure of the manosphere built a fortune—and became a political force—by systematically exploiting women.
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NOLA.com @nolanews.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
The inmates’ transfer was spurred by bed capacity shortages and issues related to necessary travel to and from Orleans for the defendants’ court dates, OPSO officials said.
bit.ly
Four inmates who were part of New Orleans jail escape returned to the facility, officials say
The inmates’ transfer was spurred by bed capacity shortages and issues related to necessary travel to and from Orleans for the defendants’ court dates, OPSO officials said.
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Orlando Sentinel @orlandosentinel.com · 05/06/2026
His trial on the second-degree murder charge was expected to begin in a few weeks.
orlandosentinel.com
Murder charge dropped for Arkansas sheriff nominee who killed daughter’s alleged abuser
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NOLA.com @nolanews.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill secured an arrest warrant Thursday against St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith related to a fight at a northshore restaurant last week.
bit.ly
See the charges St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith faces after steakhouse fight
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill secured an arrest warrant Thursday against St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith related to a fight at a northshore restaurant last week.
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The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 27/05/2026
The former police spokesperson will be sentenced July 1 for first-degree manslaughter in the 2011 death of Debbie Higbee Benton.
oregonlive.com
Former Gladstone sergeant pleads guilty in wife’s beauty shop killing
The former police spokesperson will be sentenced July 1 for first-degree manslaughter in the 2011 death of Debbie Higbee Benton.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
The widow of a man who died of suicide in a police van after being arrested in a child sex abuse sting has sued Contra Costa County, alleging police failed to act when he began panicking and attempting self-harm: www.mercurynews.com/2026/05/12/j...
mercurynews.com
‘Just kill me’: He was arrested in Danville child sex sting. Now his wife is suing police over his suicide
When the suspect realized police, not a 13-year-old boy, were waiting for him, he began to scream “kill me” and bash his head into things.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The feds are taking the case against Weez Gotti, who is accused of leaving a gun behind at a burglarized Airbnb rental: www.mercurynews.com/2026/05/01/f...
mercurynews.com
Feds take over firearm case against Bay Area rapper Weez Gotti
Next week, federal prosecutors will formally move to keep Luis Rincon detained while the case is pending.
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Sara Gaiser @akrazia.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Confidential conversations between attorneys and their clients are protected under state and federal law and the U.S. Constitution. This is pretty shocking. @nategartrell.bsky.social
eastbaytimes.com
Exclusive: Alameda County accused of secretly recording attorney-client jail meetings, raising constitutional concerns
A defense attorney discovered prosecutors had obtained a recording of her confidential jail meeting with a client, raising constitutional concerns and halting a murder trial in Alameda County.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 26/04/2026
Breaking News: President Trump appeared to be unharmed and a suspect was detained after gunfire broke out near the White House correspondents’ dinner. Trump said that he would soon hold a news conference at the White House. Follow live updates. nyti.ms/4tysKRV
Law enforcement officers in dark suits, standing in a hallway with guns drawn. A headline reads: Suspect Detained After Gunfire Near Dinner Attended by Trump. Photo by Salwan Georges for The New York Times.
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 24/04/2026
The Atlantic’s Sarah Fitzpatrick speaks with Hanna Rosin about her reporting on FBI Director Kash Patel: “The thing that stood out the most to me was the incredibly high levels of alarm that I would describe as bordering on panic for these sources.” theatln.tc/FglK4ZMd
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
#NEW: Tear It Off Greezy from the Tre-4 gang was charged with a 2021 homicide in Richmond today: www.mercurynews.com/2026/04/16/b...
mercurynews.com
Bay Area rapper Tear It Off Greezy charged with murder in Richmond
Reno Fiapoto is one of the most well-known contemporary rappers in the Bay Area, whose stage name, Tear It Off Greezy, is a reference to the Tre-4 gang he represents.
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Cyrus Farivar @cfarivar.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Sam Altman’s Russian Hill home hit by Molotov cocktail sfstandard.com/2026/04/10/s...
sfstandard.com
Sam Altman’s Russian Hill home hit by Molotov cocktail
An arrest was made within hours based on an investigation by the SFPD’s arson task force.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Jeff Bezos' Washington Post editorial board endorsed Pam Bondi as a "qualified" and "serious" pick for Attorney General. Nowhere in the endorsement did they mention that she's a former Amazon lobbyist. Another reminder that billionaire control of our media is a threat to democracy.
rollingstone.com
Jeff Bezos' Editorial Board Calls Trump's AG Pick, Who Lobbied for Amazon, 'Qualified'
The Washington Post's editorial board gave a thumbs up for Trump's attorney general pick Pam Bondi, who previously lobbi
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The Mercury News @mercurynews.com · 29/03/2026
The onetime prominent local rapper spent his last day screaming at cars in Concord streets and attacking his 83-year-old grandfather before a relative stabbed him to death.
mercurynews.com
DA clears relative who killed rapper Lil Toro in Concord confrontation
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Ken Vogel @kenvogel.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
NEW: Pardon seekers are routinely being asked to pay $1m+ to lobbyists & lawyers claiming access to Trump, often with bonuses if clemency is granted. I investigated the Trump Pardon Industrial Complex, & detailed the backstory behind 1 interesting pardon.
nytimes.com
Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Antioch cop kidnapped while on duty, shot his abductor inside speeding car after 4-minute ordeal: www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/05/e...
mercurynews.com
Second East Bay cop was kidnapped on duty within two months, DA says
The Antioch officer was forced into a car, then shot the suspect as they sped away, police said.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 05/03/2026
If the war in Iran continues — as President Trump has foreshadowed — the economic drag could become much heavier and the cost to U.S. taxpayers much greater. Here are the ways Americans may feel the effects.
nyti.ms
How War in the Persian Gulf Could Spill Into the U.S. Economy
Rising energy prices, snarled supply chains and higher government debt could all hurt American consumers.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
He told police he was digging for treasure but felt drawn to the spirit inside the bag of legs. www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/03/04/m...
eastbaytimes.com
Man claimed he was digging for gold while high in East Oakland when he found severed human legs, police say
Mystery deepens with Oakland’s second discovery of human remains in February.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
It started as a routine traffic stop. Moments later, a CHP officer was the victim of an alleged kidnapping, as he and his abductor hurtled down an I-880 shoulder, both unrestrained, at 80 mph: www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/03/y...
mercurynews.com
‘You are going to kill us’: Hayward man charged with kidnapping an on-duty cop
All of a sudden, the suspect and the officer were hurdling down the roadway at 80 miles per hour, and the officer unholstered his pistol.
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San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 03/03/2026
A mysterious person — or people — snipped and stomped hundreds of blooming flowers in Calla Lily Valley, a favorite stopover along Highway 1 in Big Sur.
bit.ly
Big Sur’s famous flower valley was just destroyed — and no one knows why
A mysterious person — or people — snipped and stomped hundreds of blooming flowers in Calla Lily Valley, a favorite stopover along Highway 1 in Big Sur.
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San Antonio Express-News @expressnews.com · 03/03/2026
'I don't think I'm going to chase this guy,' Officer Kirby Painter said. 'He's just being too reckless. I can't keep up with him.'
bit.ly
SAPD officer was holding phone during 124 mph chase that ended in crash
'I don't think I'm going to chase this guy,' Officer Kirby Painter said. 'He's just being too reckless. I can't keep up with him.'
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@hemananthani @hemananthani.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
‘Please don’t do that’: Brentwood releases footage of officers shoving woman into patrol car, where she passed out before death www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/02/27/p...
eastbaytimes.com
‘Please don’t do that’: Brentwood releases footage of officers shoving woman into patrol car, where she passed out before death
The death of Yolanda Ramirez, not disclosed by police until after the media found out, has led to public controversy and dueling autopsy reports.
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Las Vegas Review-Journal @reviewjournal.com · 02/03/2026
Residents of the Las Vegas apartment complex — most with rents under $1,000 a month — fear the arrangement is coming to an end after the nonprofit that operated the apartments was evicted. STORY: lvrj.com/post/3713774
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Andrea Gallo @aegallo.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Important story from our John Simerman about Cade Cole, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, who helped draft a law, then ruled on it from the bench (casting a vote that its ballot language was good to go before voters). Is that allowed? www.nola.com/news/louisia...
nola.com
A Louisiana justice voted on a challenge to a law he helped write. Should he have stepped aside?
They newly-elected Louisiana Supreme Court justice helped kill the challenge in a 4-3 ruling last March. The decision by Cade Cole, a former state tax judge, raises ethics questions.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Grape acquisition fraud and supply theft targeting competitors...a glimpse into the cutthroat side of the wine industry: mercurynews.com/2026/02/27/i-thought-i-was-in-control-ex-napa-valley-winemaker-apologies-as-hes-sentenced-in-2-5-million-grape-scam/?mrfhud=true
mercurynews.com
‘I thought I was in control’: Ex-Napa Valley winemaker apologizes as he’s sentenced in $2.5 million grape scam
Booze has ruined his life at every turn — he was convicted of stealing grapes 10 years ago, mislabeling wine, and now says his “addiction to alcohol” was at the root of it all.
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Katie Phang @katiephang.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
In Austin: 3 dead and 14 injured in mass shooting www.kxan.com/news/crime/p...
kxan.com
3 dead, 14 injured in downtown Austin mass shooting
Three people have died, and 14 were injured in a shooting on West Sixth Street overnight Saturday into Sunday, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 02/03/2026
Jasmine Crockett’s team called The Atlantic’s Elaine Godfrey a “top-notch hater”—then armed guards escorted our reporter out of a rally. Listen to the audio here:
bit.ly
‘Elaine From Atlantic … She Needs to Leave’
Representative Jasmine Crockett claimed I wasn’t kicked out of her rally. Here’s the audio.
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The Detroit News @detroitnews.com · 02/03/2026
Federal records describe fallout from an FBI investigation and a fight over $4.2 million, jewelry, gold, silver and foreign currency seized by agents.
bit.ly
FBI ransacks mansions, Michigan property tied to church, leaders say
Federal records describe fallout from an FBI investigation and a fight over $4.2 million, jewelry, gold, silver and foreign currency seized by agents.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Finally figured out my password to get back on here lol
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@hemananthani @hemananthani.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Worked with @nategartrell.bsky.social on this piece. We still have questions unanswered. www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/01/19/a...
eastbaytimes.com
After secret investigation, Oakley cuts off councilman’s City Hall access
Oakley imposed sweeping restrictions on a city councilman after an investigation found he mistreated the city manager, but withheld key records underlying the decision.
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The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 17/10/2025
Prosecutors have cited “confidential reliable sources” in at least eight criminal cases since June.
oregonlive.com
Portland police deploy ‘informants’ within ICE protest crowds to aid in arrests, documents reveal
Prosecutors have cited “confidential reliable sources” in at least eight criminal cases since June.
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George Kelly @allaboutgeorge.com · 10/10/2025
sfstandard.com/2025/10/09/f... by @kevinbtruong.bsky.social @allaboutgeorge.com @jonahowenlamb.bsky.social @mclaughlinnews.bsky.social @kevinvnguyen.bsky.social @jonsteinberg31.bsky.social #SanFrancisco #sfnews
sfstandard.com
Family of four in murder-suicide investigation faced mounting financial struggles
Public records and accounts from business associates have unveiled a string of failed businesses and a growing tally of unpaid debts.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
The suspect allegedly bragged about being paid in crack cocaine for the homicide: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/06/o...
eastbaytimes.com
Oakland ‘Boss Lady’ paid hitwoman in crack for killing man, police say
Johnna Hall was once shot by an Oakland officer after allegedly running over her foot, and now she’s accused of being an assassin paid in crack cocaine to kill a man outside a grocery shop.
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Politico @politico.com · 06/10/2025
The Supreme Court has declined to take up Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal. The move leaves a potential pardon from Trump as the only obvious path for Maxwell to avoid serving a 20-year prison sentence.
politico.com
Supreme Court declines to take up Ghislaine Maxwell appeal
The move leaves a potential pardon from Trump as the only obvious path for Maxwell to avoid serving a 20-year prison sentence.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
He built the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland with his dad, then served as deacon right up until the day police told him his DNA had been found at two murder scenes: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/09/27/h...
eastbaytimes.com
He was a West Oakland church deacon who allegedly had a secret life. Now the murders have come to light, police say
James Ray Gary, 79, of Fairfield, built the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church and remained its deacon up until the day homicide investigators paid him a visit.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/09/2025
Breaking News: Flawed policies and old equipment slowed down evacuations as the Palisades and Eaton fires spread in January, a report found.
nyti.ms
L.A. Wildfire Evacuations Were Slowed by Poor Visibility and System Weaknesses
An independent report on the January disaster found that emergency alerts were hampered by flawed policies, aging equipment and high winds.
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San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 25/09/2025
The agreement includes $1 billion in penalties and $1.5 billion in refunds to an estimated 35 million customers, averaging about $51 each.
bit.ly
Amazon Prime settlement: $2.5 billion payout could mean $51 per customer
The agreement includes $1 billion in penalties and $1.5 billion in refunds to an estimated 35 million customers, averaging about $51 each.
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nategartrell.bsky.social @nategartrell.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
The career switch cost him 13+ years in prison: www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/23/h...
mercurynews.com
His Panda Express job wasn’t cutting it, so he arranged to sell 30 lbs of meth in San Jose
The case sent 31-year-old Jesus Salamanca-Benitez from the Panda Express assembly line to federal prison, where he is set to spend the next decade.
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Seamus Hughes @seamushughes.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Oh. Ok. Then. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
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San Francisco Chronicle @sfchronicle.com · 05/09/2025
Supervisor Joel Engardio was found in violation of San Francisco’s open government rules. This comes less than two weeks before Engardio’s district decides whether or not to recall him from office.
bit.ly
S.F. Supervisor Engardio found in violation of open government rules ahead of recall election
The decision by San Francisco’s Sunshine Ordinance Task Force comes less than two weeks before Supervisor Joel Engardio’s district decides whether or not to recall him from office.
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The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 29/07/2025
Investigators have no suspects.
oregonlive.com
12,000 rounds of ammo stolen from FBI training camp in SW Washington, deputies say
Investigators have no suspects.
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East Bay Times @eastbaytimes.com · 28/07/2025
Airline pilot arrested at SFO amid investigation into child sex crimes trib.al/jpmDhcS
trib.al
Airline pilot arrested at SFO amid investigation into child sex crimes
Rustom Bhagwagar remained held on $5 million bail early Monday afternoon on suspicion of several sex crimes, the sheriff’s office said.
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East Bay Times @eastbaytimes.com · 28/07/2025
Dog facing euthanization stolen from Oakland Animal Services shelter trib.al/IyQ54SZ
trib.al
Dog facing euthanization stolen from Oakland Animal Services shelter
Both the dog and thief were being sought Monday by police.
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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
NEW: A criminal defendant filed the first of what coudl be many challenges to the authority of Acting U.S. attorney Alina Habba. The matter has been sent to a district judge in PA because all the NJ judges are conflicted out. w/ @ryrivard @joshgerstein www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
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The Mercury News @mercurynews.com · 28/07/2025
Driver arrested on DUI charge after fatal motorcycle crash in Brentwood trib.al/iJd95a2
trib.al
Driver arrested on DUI charge after fatal motorcycle crash in Brentwood
A motorcyclist died after being struck from behind while stopped at an intersection.
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