NOVATO

Suspect accused of dragging woman

Authorities arrested a Novato man who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend in public.

The incident happened on Dec. 18, when the suspect allegedly attacked the woman in a car, police said. The woman fled into a business on Diablo Avenue. The suspect allegedly followed the woman and dragged her back outside.

The woman escaped and got a bystander to drive her to the police station.

A Marin County sheriff’s deputy detained the suspect two days later in San Rafael.

Luis Armando Rascon-Peralta, 38, was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of robbery, attempted kidnapping and battery. Police allege he stole items belonging to the woman.

GREENBRAE

Alleged fraudster hit with federal charge

A suspect accused of defrauding a Greenbrae resident is now facing a federal case in addition to a local one.

Qingyun Chen, 30, of San Leandro was arrested last month on allegations she stole more than $50,000 from a 79-year-old woman through an internet scam. The Marin County District Attorney’s Office charged her with grand theft and theft from an elderly adult.

Since then, federal authorities have charged Chen with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. An FBI affidavit says the victim received an online alert that claimed that her laptop was frozen and that she needed to call an 800 number to unfreeze it. Chen conned the victim into paying couriers money for the computer fix, the FBI alleges.

In the Marin case, Judge Kelly Simmons set a hearing for March 6 to take Chen’s plea and get an update on the federal case.

FAIRFAX

Permits approved for new residence

The Planning Commission has approved a home construction project at 75 Pine Drive.

The property owners want to build a 1,417-square-foot residence with a three-car parking deck, according to a town staff report. The previous home at the site was demolished in 2022.

The commission held a hearing on the project on Thursday. It approved a request for permits and variances that had expired.

In a separate hearing the commission approved a permit and setback variance for a 102-square-foot expansion at 293 Bolinas Road.

traffic

East Drake Boulevard gets lower speed limit

The county has reduced the speed limit from 40 mph to 35 mph on East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

The change covers 0.65 miles from approximately Andersen Drive in San Rafael to Drakes Cove Road in Larkspur. The action followed a traffic study by the Department of Public Works, which recommended the speed reduction because of “sight distance restrictions” along the curving passage, according to a staff report. An average of 30,666 vehicles a day travel there, the report said.

The Board of Supervisors approved the change at its meeting on Dec. 17.