The El Cerrito Police Department announced murder charges have been filed against a man who was involved with a wrong-way freeway driver resulted in a fatality after a burglary in the City of El Cerrito.
According to police, the El Cerrito Police Department in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol presented the investigation to the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office with a request for prosecution against both suspects in this incident.
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed the following charges:
Patrick Owens Scheckells
- Count 1 – Murder
- Count 2 – Driving the Wrong Way on a Divided Highway Causing Injury or Death
- Count 3 – Driving Under the Influence of a Drug Causing Injury
- Count 4 – Driving or Taking a Vehicle Without Consent
- Count 5 – Second Degree Commercial Burglary
- Count 6 – Grand Theft of Personal Property
Andre Lamar Alberty
- Count 1 – Second Degree Burglary
- Count 2 – Grand Theft of Personal Property
*UPDATE* 3/19/2024
The El Cerrito Police Department and California Highway Patrol have identified suspects in this incident. The driver of the suspect vehicle is identified as Patrick Scheckells, a 34-year-old man from Oakland. The other burglary suspect is identified as Andre Alberty, a 56-year-old man from San Francisco. The El Cerrito Police Department will be working with the California Highway Patrol to pursue criminal charges related to this incident.
*ORIGINAL RELEASE*
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 4:22 am, El Cerrito Police units received a call of a commercial burglary at Tobacco Outlet (10170 San Pablo Ave.), in El Cerrito. Officers learned that a pickup truck rammed the front of the business. An ECPD unit located the suspect vehicle, while they responded to the call. The ECPD Officer attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, but the driver did not stop and tried to escape.
The ECPD Officer chased the suspects onto westbound I-80 and followed them toward the toll plaza. After westbound I-80 merged with westbound I-580, the suspect abruptly changed direction on the freeway, driving eastbound in the westbound lanes on I-580. The ECPD Officer did not follow the suspects, ended the pursuit, and exited the freeway.
Tragically, the suspects continued on, driving in the wrong direction, and collided with two vehicles on I-580 resulting in the death of a motorist.
The California Highway Patrol responded to the crash scene and is investigating the details of the collision.
The El Cerrito Police Department is investigating the burglary of the Tobacco Outlet.
Related:
March 19 – Updated: 1 Dead in Fatal Crash After Truck Rammed El Cerrito Business
