A Livermore woman related to the teen boy was also taken into custody last week, arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact in a homicide, according to police.
"To say the Livermore Police Department has worked tirelessly on this investigation would be an understatement," Police Chief Jeramy Young said of the probe into the city's first homicide of 2022. "Livermore Police worked as a team to ensure every step was taken to solve this case and bring justice to the victim's family. We also want to thank our partners in law enforcement for their assistance."
The investigation began on the night of April 15 when Livermore police responded to the area of Collier Canyon Road and Meritage Common, just north of Interstate 580 and across the street from the community college, after a caller reported seeing a girl unconscious and visibly injured inside a vehicle, police said.
The girl, a 15-year-old from Richmond, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after police and paramedics arrived just after 8 p.m. Police said they are withholding her name from being released because the investigation is still ongoing.
Detectives would soon hone in on a prime suspect, and he was arrested without incident at the Super 8 Motel on Foothill Boulevard in Hayward around 6 p.m. April 26, according to authorities. Hayward police assisted Livermore investigators in making the arrest.
"The suspect and the victim of the murder knew each other," police said in announcing the arrests April 28. "The circumstances surrounding her death as well as a motive are also still under investigation."
The teen suspect was booked into Alameda County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder, and the case has been turned over to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, Livermore police said. They did not release the arrestee's name because he is under 18 years old.
Police did reveal that a family member of the suspect stands accused of helping the boy avoid arrest in the case.
Tomika Cremer, 44, of Livermore was arrested without incident during a traffic stop on North Canyons Parkway at Collier Canyon Road at about 7 p.m. April 27, police said.
"Cremer is related to the suspect. She was arrested for being an accessory after the fact. During the investigation, it was determined Cremer helped the suspect avoid arrest knowing he was wanted for murder," police said.
The investigation into the homicide is ongoing. Police said anyone with information about the case can contact the Livermore Police Department anonymous tip line at 925-371-4790.
-- Jeremy Walsh
In other news
* The Pleasanton Police Department recently put out a call encouraging all residents and businesses with video security systems to register their cameras with the department in order to help deter criminals and better solve crimes.
Knowing where surveillance cameras are located around the city can be an important tool in investigations, and the resulting video can aid in convictions caught in relevant footage, according to police.
"This is a valuable tool for our community to use," police said, "and will significantly benefit our investigative efforts. Time and again, thanks to our community's assistance, surveillance video has provided our detectives with clues they need to crack the case."
The surveillance camera registry is voluntary, and city police said signing up will only result in your information being shared with law enforcement personnel and does not allow the department direct access nor use of the private security system.
"If a crime occurs in your neighborhood, your surveillance video could be the vital piece of evidence in an investigation," police said. "If your system is registered with us, Pleasanton Police Department detectives may ask you to share relevant surveillance video from a particular date and time."
To learn more about the program, or to sign up, visit the "Crime Prevention" page at pleasantonpd.org.
-- Jeremy Walsh
* Nearly 100 pounds of illicit fentanyl is off the streets thanks to sheriff's detectives and the Alameda County Narcotics Task Force, sheriff's officials said on April 23.
The 92.5 pounds or 42,000 grams were recovered recently from locations in Oakland and Hayward.
Sheriff's officials said the drug was headed for Bay Area streets.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is sold illegally for its heroin-like effects and is often combined with heroin and/or cocaine to increase euphoria.
Users often don't know fentanyl has been combined with the other drug or drugs.
According to the CDC, most of the recent cases of harm, overdose and death due to fentanyl are linked to the illicit kind of the drug.
-- Bay City News Service
* The Livermore Police Department said it was able to help a woman recover money she sent via UPS to a man in Arizona who identified himself as Jason Chew.
The woman, who said she was a victim of an Internet scam, had sent $9,500 overnight on April 15 via UPS to Arizona. Livermore Police officers worked with UPS and figured out the money was going to a CVS store in Phoenix.
The officer asked a CVS manager to hold on to the package and then coordinated with Phoenix police to catch the suspect, who arrived with a fake I.D. to collect the package.
The man, identified as 25-year-old Zhenghui Wang, was arrested on multiple charges.
Police did not elaborate on what the particular scam was about.
-- Bay City News Service
This story contains 970 words.
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