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Woodside molestation trial on hold
The trial of a retired Woodside attorney accused of molesting the children of family friends will be on hold until mid-April following his hospitalization after a suicide attempt.
Alan Russell, 84, has been hospitalized at Stanford Hospital after he attempted suicide with a pellet gun the night before the prosecution started presenting evidence in mid-January. While Judge Renee Reyna originally allowed the trial to continue, after Russell was placed on psychiatric hold, she found the trial could not continue since his absence was no longer voluntary.
Since then, Russell has stayed on a psychiatric hold as he “keeps threatening suicide,” according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Reyna appointed Dr. Robert Cassidy to examine Russell and report his mental condition and ability to proceed on March 5. The jury was instructed to return on April 15 for potential resumption of the trial. All but one juror is available to continue, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Alleged DUI causes traffic light outage
A 22-year-old East Palo Alto woman allegedly crashed into a traffic signal at the intersection of Willow Road and O’Brien Drive at around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, according to the Menlo Park Police Department.
Police said they conducted field sobriety tests and recorded her blood alcohol content, then arrested her on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Caltrans, which is responsible for the intersection, said crews would repair the signal that same day.
Editor’s Note: It is this news organization’s policy to withhold the name of arrestees until the District Attorney’s Office decides whether to press charges. As of Wednesday, Feb. 11, no charges have been filed in the alleged DUI from Monday.
Atherton homes burglarized
As of Feb. 11, Atherton has reported four residential burglaries this year:
On Jan. 16, at approximately 8 p.m., a homeowner interrupted a burglary on Adam Way, according to police. Police said the suspects attempted to gain entry by breaking a glass door to the master bedroom.
On Jan. 18, at approximately 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a residential burglary alarm on Cowell Lane and noticed a broken rear glass door, according to police. Police believe the suspect was in a white BMW hatchback.
On Jan. 30, at approximately 7:30 p.m., an Atherton resident reported an audible alarm on the 100 block of Encinal Ave. When police responded, they found a glass rear door had been broken.
On Feb. 3, at approximately 7 p.m., police officers responded to reports of a burglary on Irving Avenue that occurred sometime between Jan. 6, 2026 and Feb. 2, according to police. Police found several rooms “ransacked” and an unlocked door.
Suspects in all of the burglaries are still outstanding. The Atherton Police Department asks residents in the area of any of the burglaries to check security camera footage and send any pertinent information to the department.
POLICE SAFETY TIPS
The Atherton Police Department has issued the following safety tips for residents:
- Schedule a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design review of your home at 650-688-6500.
- Keep all doors and windows locked, even when you are home.
- When you are not home, make it appear that someone is home by keeping lights on, installing light timers, and leaving on the TV or a radio.
- Install exterior lighting.
- Do not keep valuables in your primary bedroom as this area is a common target of burglars.
- Keep valuables well-hidden and consider using a safe bolted to the floor and/or wall.
- Keep valuables out of your car and lock your car doors.
- Install an alarm system and security cameras (strongly consider having your alarm system monitored for free by our PD Dispatch Center by calling 650-688-6500).
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