![Robet Salonga, breaking news reporter, San Jose Mercury News. For his Wordpress profile. (Michael Malone/Bay Area News Group)](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Salonga_Robert_2016.jpg?w=85)
Robert Salonga
Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. A San Jose native, he graduated from UCLA with a BA degree in history and from the University of Maryland with a MA degree in journalism. Robert was a member of the Bay Area News Group reporting team awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for East Bay Times coverage of the fatal "Ghost Ship" fire. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Award: Pulitzer Prize (2017 - Staff award for breaking news coverage of the fatal "Ghost Ship" fire in Oakland)
Expertise: Criminal justice, courts, police, police accountability, criminal-justice legislation and policy, breaking news
All Stories
![Survivors of Vera Plares say a Santa Clara nursing facility contributed to her death by placing her with Connie Delucca, who was accused of trying to smother her previous elderly roommate. Survivors of Vera Plares say a Santa Clara nursing facility contributed to her death by placing her with Connie Delucca, who was accused of trying to smother her previous elderly roommate.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-ELDERSUIT-0724-2.jpg?w=130)
Family sues over 98-year-old woman allegedly killed with cane by nursing home roommate
![The pair is linked to multiple crimes in North San Jose in June that include a shooting following a street robbery, police say. The pair is linked to multiple crimes in North San Jose in June that include a shooting following a street robbery, police say.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SJM-L-SHOOTING-0221-11.jpg?w=132)
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San Jose: Two arrested in violent string of robberies, assaults
![A man sued police and the city alleging that officers allowed a police dog to keep biting him for 20 seconds after he surrendered. A man sued police and the city alleging that officers allowed a police dog to keep biting him for 20 seconds after he surrendered.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SJM-L-SJPDGENERIC-0323-1.jpg?w=132)
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Ninth Circuit upholds excessive force lawsuit from 2019 SJPD dog bite arrest
![A judge allowed Wesley Pollard to remain free on supervised release after his defense attorney argued his recent arrests were largely due to homelessness. A judge allowed Wesley Pollard to remain free on supervised release after his defense attorney argued his recent arrests were largely due to homelessness.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SJM-L-SJPDGENERIC-0323-1.jpg?w=132)
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More charges filed against man who fought with San Jose mayor’s bodyguard
![The case was suspended pending a mental competency examination for the 79-year-old defendant, who is also charged with trying to strangle a previous roommate, authorities say. The case was suspended pending a mental competency examination for the 79-year-old defendant, who is also charged with trying to strangle a previous roommate, authorities say.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/0530-bus-l-gavel-1-42.jpg?w=135)
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79-year-old woman charged with killing 98-year-old roommate at South Bay nursing home
![The man was watching an amateur fireworks display in Alviso on July 4 when a crate tipped over and sent explosives rocketing at him and his wife and friends. The man was watching an amateur fireworks display in Alviso on July 4 when a crate tipped over and sent explosives rocketing at him and his wife and friends.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-FIREINJURE-0711-1.jpg?w=128)
South Bay man severely injured by wayward fireworks speaks out to prevent future disasters
![The suspect reportedly called in a bomb threat July 3 to Ridder Park Drive; police say they found an inert but "viable" improvised explosive device. The suspect reportedly called in a bomb threat July 3 to Ridder Park Drive; police say they found an inert but "viable" improvised explosive device.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_1421.jpg?w=140)
Man arrested, charged after bomb scare in North San Jose
![Civil rights, social justice groups assert that the sheriff's office watchdog is yielding to authority, but supervisors say the firm is doing exactly what they envisioned. Civil rights, social justice groups assert that the sheriff's office watchdog is yielding to authority, but supervisors say the firm is doing exactly what they envisioned.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LDN-L-TASERS-0915.jpg?w=132)
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Who is police oversight serving? Taser issue fuels ideological rift in Santa Clara County
![A report of gunfire and a car collision into a house near a Kaiser hospital led to the discovery of a mortally wounded man; police later found a passenger who was also shot. A report of gunfire and a car collision into a house near a Kaiser hospital led to the discovery of a mortally wounded man; police later found a passenger who was also shot.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SJM-L-SHOOTING-0221-11.jpg?w=132)
Police: Man found fatally shot after fiery crash near South San Jose hospital
![The defendants are accused of a scheme that charged thousands of gallons of diesel fuel to identity theft victims and sold it to a San Leandro trucking company. The defendants are accused of a scheme that charged thousands of gallons of diesel fuel to identity theft victims and sold it to a San Leandro trucking company.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SJM-L-GASTAX-0629-100.jpg?w=132)