Photo: All photos courtesy of Brentwood PD
Written By: Jim Emerson
BRENTWOOD — Two men on active probation in November arrested by Brentwood PD are indicative of high rates of recidivism. Statewide recidivism has averaged 50 percent for ten years, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
One repeat offender was arrested for allegedly breaking into someone’s home. Augustin Martinez, a 36-year-old resident of Brentwood, was booked on suspicion of burglary, and possession of stolen property. His other charges include probation violation.
A Balfour Road resident watched a burglary in progress on live video, as it was recorded by their security camera. Brentwood officers found Martinez hiding outside the victim’s home. Jewelry worth thousands of dollars stolen from the victim was recovered from him.
Another incident involving a suspect on active probation happened in the vicinity of O’Hara Avenue and San Creek Road. Officers responded to a report of road rage involving an armed driver.
The suspect Omar Massoud, 25, of Antioch, drove away before police arrived. However, his vehicle was later found parked outside a Pet Food Express store. Massoud was taken into custody inside the store.
When officers searched Massoud’s vehicle, they found a loaded semi-automatic handgun. They impounded his vehicle, and the weapon was seized as evidence. He faces multiple charges, including probation violation.
High recidivism rates have been of greater concern since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of incarcerated criminals were released then. New arrestees were booked and released. As of 2020, roughly 46 percent of convicts released in California have been convicted for new crimes, and even more were rearrested.
