Latest on Mercury Spill Cleanup, Arrest of Suspect with Gun at Elementary School

Health authorities continue to advise public to avoid walking on streets affected by spill; District Attorney files charges against man who brought gun to John Swett Elementary School

The following news release was issued Friday afternoon by Contra Costa Health Services in response to the mercury spill and cleanup downtown.

Hazmat cleanup crews this week have removed mercury from most streets in downtown Martinez where a maintenance truck unknowingly spilled small amounts of the toxic substance on its trash-pickup route earlier in the week.  Until the cleanup work is finished, people should avoid walking in areas that have been cordoned off, even if they are outside the originally identified areas.

A health advisory remains in effect while hazmat workers finish cleanup at a few remaining sites, including the downtown Amtrak station where the mercury was initially discovered on Monday by paramedics responding to another unrelated matter. The Amtrak station is expected to remain closed through the weekend.

Cleanup crews from CCH, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a private contractor have worked through the week to neutralize and remove all detectable mercury from more than 3,800 feet of roads along the city maintenance truck’s route, an area that eventually extended to locations including in front of Rankin Park and a parking lot in the Martinez Marina.

Health officials believe the mercury was placed in a garbage can in the train station parking lot and, on May 8, removed by a city crew emptying trash cans along a route between the lot and the city yard off Buckley.

It was initially believed that the mercury spill was confined to the Amtrak station, but on Tuesday health officials found traces of mercury that dripped from the truck along the city crew’s route on nearby streets, prompting the May 9 health advisory from Contra Costa Health (CCH) to avoid walking on those streets and to remain on sidewalks.

Exposure to mercury vapors can cause health problems, particularly from prolonged indoor exposure over time. None of the outdoor contamination was measured at levels high enough to create an immediate risk to health. CCH issued the health advisory as a precaution, to warn people against tracking traces of mercury inside, where risk of exposure would be greater. CCH’s CORE homeless outreach teams are communicating with residents experiencing homelessness who are living outdoors near the spill to ensure they have access to information and healthcare if needed.

Anyone who believes they may have walked through or come in contact with mercury from this week’s spill in Martinez, such as by walking in the street or gutter in an affected area, should place shoes, clothing or other items inside two sealed bags, place outside in a secure and sunny location, and call 925-655-3200 for instructions.

Other regulatory agencies are also assessing the potential environmental impacts of the mercury spill and whether it contaminated waterways where the toxin could be absorbed by fish and shellfish that people eat.  

The source of the mercury remains under investigation by law enforcement. Anyone with information about the dumping of the mercury at the Amtrak station is encouraged to contact the Martinez Police Department’s tip line at 925-372-3440. 

Martinez man charged with gun possession in a school zone

The following news release was issued May 3 by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed a two-count complaint against a Martinez man for possessing a firearm in a school zone.

23-year-old Michael Joseph Childressfrey has an arraignment date set on May 31st for offenses related to an incident that occurred on April 26 at John Swett Elementary School in Martinez.

At approximately 1 p.m., Martinez Police were dispatched to the school campus to investigate reports of a known adult male who was in the school parking lot. Police were told that the man was not a welcome presence, and he frequently carries a firearm.

When officers arrived at the school, they approached Childressfrey in a parked vehicle. He was cooperative, and when asked, Childressfrey said he was in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement authorities placed Childressfrey under arrest for gun possession in a school zone and carrying a loaded concealed firearm. Later, police seized two additional weapons from Childressfrey’s residence.

Childressfrey was taken into custody and immediately posted bail before the investigation could be referred for prosecution.

While the incident was resolved peacefully, parents and neighbors have expressed their concern over the matter, and that Childressfrey posted monetary bail on the day of his arrest.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This incident is understandably distressing – my Office worked in conjunction with the Martinez Police Department to ensure a swift filing determination. After receiving a request for prosecution from Martinez Police on (April 28), the DA’s Office reviewed the case and filed the necessary documents with the court to initiate prosecution on (May 1).”

Case No. 01-23-01358 | The People of the State of California vs. Childressfrey, Michael Joseph

In case you missed it…

• The Mt. View Sanitary District last week voted to implement rate increases amounting to 9% annually for the next two fiscal years, with a third-year increase indexed to the rate of inflation. The original proposal, which would have authorized 9% annual increases for five years, drew significant public criticism in the weeks leading up to the vote. The district will also pursue a feasibility study to explore possible consolidation with the much larger Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San). It was also revealed at the meeting that MVSD leaders had not contacted the office of local Congressman Mark DeSaulnier to discuss the possibility of securing federal infrastructure funding to help pay for the needed modernization work that was cited as part of the justification for the rate hikes. Read the report here.

• At an emotional and tense Martinez Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting Monday, LGBTQ+ students from Alhambra High School shared stories of abuse and harassment on campus and confronted school board member Carlos Melendez over his opposition to flying the Pride Progress flag at the district offices for Pride Month in June. After listening to passionate public comments from the students and their adult allies, Melendez reversed course and voted with the rest of the school board in support of the Pride Month resolution that includes the flying of the flag. Read the report here.

  Correction: My post on Wednesday referencing the Community Warning System alert that was sent to residents over the mercury spill included an incorrect description of the accompanying map. The map did not show the area affected by the spill but rather indicated the area where residents received CWS alerts.