In Your Town for Aug. 7, 2024

NOVATO

Charge filed against
camp arson suspect

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office has filed a felony arson charge against a Novato woman accused of burning a camp for homeless people.

Brianna Marie Giudice, 36, was arrested after a fire on July 30 gutted the Lee Gerner Park camp and displaced the residents there. No injuries were reported. Police allege that Giudice set fire to her own tent at the camp.

Police tracked her down two days later on Monterey Court, where she was allegedly occupying a vacant home. Officers booked her and another occupant, Giovanni Rashad Allison, after they tried to flee, police said.

The prosecution has charged Allison, 39, with the misdemeanor offenses of resisting police and disorderly conduct.

Giudice and Allison remained in custody at the county jail Tuesday in lieu of $150,000 bail. The arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.

MARIN CITY

Shooting injures
2 at parking lot

Authorities are investigating a shooting that injured two people in Marin City.

The shooting happened at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot along Drake Avenue, sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn said. Deputies found one victim with a head injury. Schermerhorn said investigators could not get information from the victim or bystanders. Paramedics took the victim to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

Deputies learned later that another gunshot victim had been taken privately to a hospital for treatment.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking tips from the public that could identify a suspect and a motive. Information can be conveyed by phone at 415-473-7265 or by email at tips@marinsheriff.org.

SAN RAFAEL

Police accuse man
of DUI, hit-and-run

A man who was driving intoxicated was arrested after a pursuit and crash in San Rafael, the California Highway Patrol reported.

An officer spotted the driver on northbound Highway 101 in a Nissan Altima with a missing tire at about 6:45 p.m. Sunday, CHP Officer Eduardo Villasenor said. Officers pursued the driver to the Smith Ranch Road exit, where he crossed into an opposing lane and hit a Chevrolet Silverado, Villasenor said. The driver allegedly ran from the crash site before officers detained him.

Gregory Joseph Hansen, 24, of San Francisco was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony intoxicated driving, hit-and-run driving, driving the wrong way and causing injuries, possessing metal knuckles and resisting police. He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The driver of the Silverado suffered minor injuries, Villasenor said.

FAIRFAX

Helpers needed for
fall seed exchange

The Fairfax Library is seeking volunteers to help package seeds for the autumn community seed exchange. The packets will be available free to gardeners.

The packaging sessions are scheduled for 11 a.m. to noon Saturday; 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 17; 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28; and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept 21.

Prospective volunteers can drop in or call 415-453-8151 in advance.