A homeless man, identified as Earl Romiti, was arrested in the 1900 block of Tice Valley Blvd. after authorities found a few illegal items inside his encampment, according to the Walnut Creek Police Dept.
When the officers announced they were on scene, Romiti quickly hid an unknown item between his legs, according to police.
The officers conducted a search and police say they located a handgun, a bullet, and drug paraphernalia.
Romiti was arrested for a felon in possession of a firearm, a felon in possession of ammunition, illegal lodging, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was transported to the county jail in Martinez.
65 comments
Gee, he looks so pleasant, so trustworthy, so gentle. Couldn’t we get some of the homeless advocates to shelter and feed him in their homes?
@ John P
Well said!!
This is the vast majority of the homeless population (urban campers/feral population)
“Vast Majority” – with a sweeping accusation like that surely you can provide data to back that up.
@darwin
That’s not even a little bit true.
@ Dave
What part of what I wrote was not true. I worked with the population for years. Try not to be such a snowflake. People like to throw around the term mentally ill or veterans when it comes to the homeless population and there are some mentally ill and homeless vets. However, they are a small percentage of the homeless population
However, they get overlooked by the vast majority who are drug addict felons who have had help numerous times. Do some research, better yet open your home to them.
It’s only getting worse, society is catering to them which in turn is creating the feral lifestyle. The concord homeless shelter provides a counselor, mail box, shower, laundry and food at least twice daily. Free clothes from donations. Why work? Stealing is practically legal (prop 47). California open your snow flake eyes.
@ Rob
Please have your snow flakes eyes read my response to Dave Snowflake.
@Snowflakes
Since the laws have been watered down and the courts can’t force people into rehab their are multiple beds open at the Salvation Army for those who actually want help.
ENABLERS!
Darwin, your outlook on life is laughably toxic.
I cant understand the thrill you receive by dehumanizing society’s most marginalized people.
Calling homeless people “feral” sounds an awful lot like a page out of the eugenics handbook.
Also I’m sure this irony will be lost on you,
But Dave said literally 7 words, which elicited 3 responses from you with multiple paragraphs.
Obviously he offended our little snowflake, You.
@ JK I just educated you and Dave, you should be thanking me. I have not marginalized anything. I prefer accountability, not excuses. You are an enabling snowflake. And open your eyes, it has become a lifestyle. Liberalism is a mental disease.
Rob is asking for backup data. Says a lot don’t it?
He needs a nap ASAP.
Thank your fellow California voters and your weak elected officials for a slap on the wrist to follow.
If he’s streetwise, he’ll stay in jail over the winter and be back on the streets in the spring.
Uhhh you must not know how the law works. He’s already a felon. Most likely the additional charges put him at 3 strikes, depending on what the other felony was for. But anyways, all I could think was this was someone’s son. And look how lost he is now. It’s tragic and sad. I’m not saying consequences are rubbish. Consequences are good. But rehabilitation would serve us better.
@ Jillian
The three strikes law is B.S.
He has been to rehab a few times, I know him. Maybe you can house him out of the kindness of your heart. Maybe you are the help he needs.
American first, this is the bad guy,! And I think I will spend the winter at your house!
He’s cool, let him in to the party, again and again, again,again…….dude looks like he needs a few days of sleep and water without his “party favors”
Ever see Trading Places with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy??? Good thing to think about before making judgment.
Fiction
Let the Law do their service and duty with wise judgment
Sorry, but his eyes look like Charles Manson..
The 1900 block of Tice Valley is where the Rossmore shopping center is located. Very scary to think that this armed felon was prowling and doping right where many senior citizens buy groceries.
Glad to see the WCPD Homeless Outreach Program (HOP) is actively addressing this problem.
They had to use fast film just so the camera could catch him!
Life is a series of choices, and this guy made his.
He looks like a sweet guy!
What a mugshot or should I say what a mug!!
MOM!!!
@Jillian,
3 strikes laws were gutted by the democrat legislature and governor years ago. Where have you been?
You sound like a very kind person, but you need to catch up on the reality of California law, which has eliminated serious consequences for most drug and property crimes. As a result, substance abusers have no incentive to go into rehab.
Back in the old days, before democrats took complete control, we had 3 strikes laws and other laws which actually threatened to punish repeat offenders if they didn’t go to rehab and make a serious effort to turn their lives around. Now the judicial system is a paper tiger, they get a citation and are released immediately.
Elections have consequences.
This “encampment” stuff has to go. It’s not acceptable. Where are the shelters? Let’s make the shelters work this winter! Encampments can get out of hand very quickly and that is is not a good way to live!
@ Smile
The shelters are available. Unfortunately, people like this do not choose to use them, because doing so would require them to follow the rules (no drug/alcohol use). It’s just another poor choice, like the others that got them to where they are today.
Lots of people have opinions about shelters; not all backed up by facts. If you REALLY want to understand the complexity of the homeless issue you should start by doing some research. Here’s a Grand Jury report to get you started.
http://www.cc-courts.org/civil/docs/grandjury/Report_1712_More_Shelter_Beds_Needed_for_the_Homeless_in_Contra_Costa_County.pdf
Shelters are not meant for this type of individual. Shelters have rules, and are meant for people who want help.
He looks pretty deranged to me. I am especially thankful they found him because I live close by. He looks evil. I hope they can fix him somehow, no I guess not. The saddest thing is that there are so many people that are in this pitiful situation. This is a problem. Hope we as a society can find better solutions to get these poor people help. That may be just wishful thinking. Sad.
He has wealthy parents in the area and could live there if he acted normal and didn’t use drugs.
They all look like that on BART too but BPD does nothing. Cowell for example and Brim two recent examples (both habitual fare evades because BPD and BART don’t care about passenger safety or safety around the stations. Now, they are in all the affluent communities so maybe they will get help! Doubt it. Cops are enjoying being job coasters and not doing a single thing to keep public safe. They walk the other way or just pass right by on the rare occasion one is around period. Hate what this State has become. This guy needs to be committed. Screw housing for this habitual druggie loser that just endangers everyone else.
“They all look like that on BART too but BPD does nothing.”
It’s not against the law to “look like that”.
After release he will move to Concord and live happily ever after. Like a fairy tale.
He has the expression of someone who’s still concealing contraband in a place “where the sun don’t shine”…
He’s just lucky that 108RS did not get him first.
108RS
Yeah, those stiletto platform ankle strap sandals with rhinestones studded on the vamp and entire bottom do look deadly.
Maybe he’s running for Mayor. Looks like a good campaign poster.
It has gotten to the point in our society that there seems to be more of the these type of people on the street everyday. They made their choices and now we continue to suffer due to the entitlement crowd and bleeding heart democrats. Overturn these laws that do nothing but waste everyone’s time, tax dollars and have no consequences. KMart as well as other stores are going out of business everyday due to the stealing and non enforcement of laws. Start to cra
It has gotten to the point in our society that there seems to be more of the these type of people on the street everyday. They made their choices and now we continue to suffer due to the entitlement crowd and bleeding heart democrats. Overturn these laws that do nothing but waste everyone’s time, tax dollars and have no consequences. KMart as well as other stores are going out of business everyday due to the stealing and non enforcement of laws. Start to crack down on these individuals and politicians who do nothing but suck the life out of our society.
Any wonder why lots of us native Californians are looking to leave.
When?
Amazon is why all Brick and Mortar stores are closing not these poor folks that are mentally ill. Duh.
You are all so out of touch with society! Smh, SERIOUSLY? I love this man! I don’t mean in that kind of way but he’s one of my best friends for nearly 40 years. He’s kind and gentle and I trust him with my life a million times over any of you! Yes he does have family in the area and yes he’s been to rehab but the drugs are powerful, more powerful than anyone of you that hasn’t been in this situation can ever know. No I don’t use but nearly 30 years ago I did, I never ended up homeless because I had a simple choice to make before I ended up there (my child or the drugs) well we know which one was more important thank god but you should NEVER judge until you’ve been in that situation…. period! You have no idea what this person has been through or why he got here. He comes over and helps me (I’m disabled and can’t do some things). I pay him what I can and he NEVER asks for money nor has ever ripped me off of anything but ALWAYS right there when I need him! This man is a saint that has gotten into a vicious cycle so please before you judge ANYONE walk in their shoes.
So, he is the one who has destroyed his life with drugs and bad choices, but we are the ones who are out of touch with society? Thank you for explaining that.
Parasites……all the homeless. They should all be sent to a desert island. Give them all a bag of dope and a knife. Nature will take its course.
Earl is a gentle soul with a serious problem. Yes he has been to rehab, yes he has family, NONE of whom are wealthy, but love him in spite of his issues. It is a vicious cycle. Go to rehab, get out, no where to go, no money, can’t get a job, then relapse. Not making excuses, just stating fact. Earl would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and ask nothing in return. I pray he knows he is loved and that he gets the help he needs. Those of you who judge and preach should thank God you are not an addict, or that you have no one in your life with this issue. I bet his family is wishing they were as perfect as yours.
So take him into your house.
Problem solved.
Then why does he have the gun?????? He should be locked up and do his “rehab” there for a few years.
108RS
“Earl is a gentle soul…” Wow.
Listen to you talk about judging and preaching.
Got a spare bedroom in your house I wonder?
Two years ago he was a stabbing suspect.
Now he’s a parolee found with a gun.
Start thinking with your brain.
Well said @ addiction is evil and yes he knows he is loved
I make sure to tell him whenever I see him. He is a beautiful soul and I pray he sees some of these comments and knows that not everyone is a jerk in here. Btw just so its noted. He bought an old gun that didn’t work, the bullet was not even close to the same kind as the gun, he was going to make a necklace out of it. No one was EVER in danger!
@ Jane Doe
What about the people he stabbed a few years back???
So take him into YOUR house.
Problem solved.
Mr. Addition and Jane Doe: You are not talking to a bunch of people from Orinda here. Sorry. You need a less experienced audience to believe you. Many of us here are very acquainted with addiction issues and violence. I am very well aware of charming fun interesting people who are just in their situations because of victimization or bad luck, who, when behind closed doors, will attack you and threaten to kill you. Been there, done that. I lost any sympathy with the gun reference. Some day you might find yourself in the situation many of us have experienced and realize that charming and interesting in public says little about how somebody is behind closed doors. Find a different group to talk down to. You can find the BART schedule to Orinda online.
@ Justifiable Languor this is my thought on that. As apposed to jail yes absolutely! If you just take a bunch of addicts and put them in one place they are all going to get each other high it’s not a good inviorment unless it is fully controlled and the only way for it to be fully controlled is if they are facing jail. My sister died on the streets. She wouldn’t go to a shelter not because of the rules but because everyone there was trying to take what little she had every time she tried to go into one. I’ve had many addicts in my family and in my opinion a treatment facility is the only way to get long time users to stop. It took my sons father 6 times and about that many times in prison before it worked and were still holding our breath.
@ mr to do list. Read my last post. I’ve lost many in my family to addiction please dont dare tell me I dont know wtf I’m talking about. Been there done that about a million times probably way more than you! I can smell a con coming 100 miles away. Earl is way better to me in his worse part of addiction than most of my family were before the ALL died!
EXOPHTHALMOS
May be an undiagnosed or untreated thyroid condition.
Jane: I am sorry if I upset you, but Mr. Addiction said no one here should judge and you called the people on this site “jerks.” I was responding to the tone of both of you that we are not qualified to have an opinion. Unfortunately some of us here are very qualified to have an opinion. You simply do not have a worse story than I do. Really. You do not. You want to think you do, but you do not. My note was just to remind you that it is a bad assumption to think you know more than the strangers you talk to about things.
Let’s all take a moment to be grateful that the cops found him before he could use that bullet.
I feel your all judging without knowing the whole story. Also how dare you only judge a book by its cover.
We will NEVER know the WHOLE story on anything. We have to make judgments on what is presented.
If we wait for ALL of the information before making judgments or posting an opinion, this blog would be empty.
How dare you accuse “all” of judging a book by its cover??? You just made a sweeping judgment yourself, accusing EVERYONE of judging a book by its cover!!!
Deal with it , hypocrite.
Felon with a hand gun. ’nuff said. I bypassed the cover and went straight to the story. BTW, it’s you’re, not your.
Oh, man! And to think that if he had been around a couple weeks ago they might have found him with a gift certificate … and drug paraphernalia.
Resting tweak face aka Rowdy Roddy Piper. Aka Tweek Spagueek Aka Twilight Zone Aka Open Sesame aka Wide Eye Earl
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