Contra Costa County courts reporter

Nate Gartrell

Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014 after a year spent working at a beer supply warehouse. Outside of journalism, he doesn't do much. He endeavors to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums.

The 24-year-old man has been charged with arson and vandalism, and police say he was "adamant" that he did not know a Tesla employee was asleep in the van he allegedly torched.

A man was fired from Fremont’s Tesla factory. Police say he came back, with Molotov cocktails

June 7, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

The 24-year-old man has been charged with arson and vandalism, and police say he was "adamant" that he did not know a Tesla employee was asleep in the van he...

The suspect allegedly followed the irate customers to another body shop and opened fire at them from a black Tesla, shooting one twice in the head.

A man had a two-year feud with a Fremont auto body shop. It ended when an employee allegedly riddled his car with bullets, killing him

May 29, 2024 at 11:09 a.m.

The suspect allegedly followed the irate customers to another body shop and opened fire at them from a black Tesla, shooting one twice in the head.

Three men and a woman were charged with burglary and mass retail theft, but police are still working to identify nine others seen participating in the burglary on surveillance tapes.

Dropped cellphone leads to felony charges against four in $54,000 East Bay dispensary burglary, but cops say 13 were involved

May 14, 2024 at 9:28 a.m.

Three men and a woman were charged with burglary and mass retail theft, but police are still working to identify nine others seen participating in the burglary on surveillance tapes.

Police raided two Appian Way suspected brothels in El Sobrante, arrested a man who admitted to paying $80 for illicit services, then followed it up by seizing more than $9,000 in cash from a home in Hayward.

Police once again raid East Bay massage parlors in sex trafficking investigation

April 22, 2024 at 10:59 a.m.

Police raided two Appian Way suspected brothels in El Sobrante, arrested a man who admitted to paying $80 for illicit services, then followed it up by seizing more than $9,000...

The 21-year-old alleged ringleader complained that if her mother had been able to follow simple instructions they never would have been arrested, police say.

East Bay mother, daughter charged in large-scale retail theft ring

April 11, 2024 at 7:10 a.m.

The 21-year-old alleged ringleader complained that if her mother had been able to follow simple instructions they never would have been arrested, police say.

A 40-year-old man allegedly told police he was sure the "13-year-old girl" he was talking to was actually a malfunctioning bot.

After Walnut Creek police arrested an AI employee in online child sex sting, he allegedly claimed he thought it was a bot

March 19, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

A 40-year-old man allegedly told police he was sure the "13-year-old girl" he was talking to was actually a malfunctioning bot.

Nate Gartrell

All Stories

A man was fired from Fremont’s Tesla factory. Police say he came back, with Molotov cocktails

A man had a two-year feud with a Fremont auto body shop. It ended when an employee allegedly riddled his car with bullets, killing him

Dropped cellphone leads to felony charges against four in $54,000 East Bay dispensary burglary, but cops say 13 were involved

Police once again raid East Bay massage parlors in sex trafficking investigation

East Bay mother, daughter charged in large-scale retail theft ring

After Walnut Creek police arrested an AI employee in online child sex sting, he allegedly claimed he thought it was a bot

Oakland auto shop owner was killed in his store by angry customer, police say

Bay Area luxury car dealer sentenced to 6 months for bilking clients

SF restaurant owners charged with offering bribes to acquire leases on Pompei's Grotto, Lou's Fish Shack properties

Ex-CA prison commissary contractor gets 130 months for mailing drugs, contraband to imprisoned Aryan Brotherhood members