Attempted Murder Suspect Shot By Deputies In Castro Valley Charged
CASTRO VALLEY (CBS SF) -- A man who was shot by Alameda County sheriff's deputies in Castro Valley on Tuesday after he allegedly tried to run them over was charged Thursday with attempted murder and other charges for an incident in San Leandro last month.
Leonard Collins, a 39-year-old Hayward area resident, wasn't arraigned Thursday because he is still at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where he is being treated for gunshot wounds as well as dog bites he sustained when he was arrested, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson said.
According to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, the attempted murder charge against Collins stems from an incident on May 2 when he and his wife, 34-year-old Nina Silva, went to the Ashland Village Apartments at 1120 Kentwood Lane in San Leandro to confront a woman who had given them counterfeit money when they sold her methamphetamine three weeks earlier.
According to a probable cause declaration by sheriff's Detective Ricardo Gonzales that was filed in court, Silva punched the victim, Carli Schenck, twice and Collins shot her in the right arm.
Gonzales said Schenck told investigators that on the day she bought methamphetamine from Collins and Silva with counterfeit money near her apartment complex Collins realized the money was fake and chased after her but his handgun fell on the ground.
Schenck said she continued running until she made it inside her apartment and locked the door, according to Gonzales. He said Schenck knows Collins and Silva and identified them in photo lineups.
In addition to attempted murder, Collins is charged with shooting at an inhabited dwelling, attempted first-degree residential robbery, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Collins also is accused of having five prior felony convictions, which could add to his prison term if he's convicted.
The District Attorney's Office alleges that he has three prior convictions for unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, one conviction for second-degree commercial burglary and one conviction for evading an officer.
Silva is charged with attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, attempted first-degree residential robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
She was arraigned in Alameda County Superior Court Thursday and is scheduled to return to court on Friday to finalize her legal representation and possibly enter a plea.
Nelson said deputies attempted to arrest Collins around 4 p.m. Tuesday near Queen Street and Grove Way in Castro Valley but when Collins saw them he jumped in a car and drove toward them.
Nelson said the deputies fired shots at the car and struck Collins but he continued to drive about a half mile before he ditched the car and ran away.
Residents told deputies that Collins was hiding under a deck at a home near Ravenwood Place and Center Street. The deputies ordered Collins to come out and when he did not comply they sent a sheriff's dog after him and the dog found him and bit him in his head and arm before he was taken into custody, according to Nelson.
About a week ago deputies tried to arrest Collins but he led them on a high-speed chase, Nelson said.
According to Nelson, in that chase Collins was driving in the wrong direction at 90 mph near Oakland International Airport.
District Attorney spokeswoman Teresa Drenick said her office hasn't yet filed charges for the incident on Tuesday because it's still reviewing the sheriff's office's reports on the matter.
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