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.

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.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that during their regular public meeting on December 13, 2022, at 9:00 am, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will consider the annual report for the fiscal year 2021-22 for the Mid-Coast Park and Recreation Development Fees Trust Fund, findings with respect to the portion of the Trust Fund remaining unexpended, and the annual fee adjustment. The proposed fee is $1.99 per square foot of new assessable space. The annual report is available below.

The County’s Planning and Building Department seeks consultant services to support the creation of a collaborative Midcoastside Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Plan) for the unincorporated Midcoast and City of Half Moon Bay.

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.

The County’s Planning and Building Department seeks consultant services to support the creation of a collaborative Midcoastside Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Plan) for the unincorporated Midcoast and City of Half Moon Bay.

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.

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.

We are pleased to announce the opening of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to update the Safety Elements of San Mateo County and numerous cities within the County including Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica and San Bruno through a collaborative process. The San Mateo County Planning and Building Department is releasing the RFP on behalf of all the participating agencies and will be serving as the fiscal agent for the Safety Element Collaborative. Additional partners in the Safety Element collaborative project include the San Mate

On June 30, 2022 the San Mateo County Agriculture Department pest detection team found a single Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) in a baited trap in Menlo Park. The team followed up with a delimitation survey that includes 40 traps within one square mile of the find. This is in addition to 80 existing traps within the 8 square miles surrounding the find. No new Oriental fruit flies have been detected. Oriental fruit flies are an invasive pest native to southern Asia, that has become established in Hawaii.

Connect the Coastside will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at the July 26, 2022 meeting! See the public meeting notice and learn how to join in.