Confrontations, stolen property in background of Ghost Ship leader

Court records show that the man in charge of the cluttered Oakland warehouse that erupted in flames Friday night, killing dozens of partyers, had been investigated for stealing a trailer, having confrontations with tenants and holding illegal parties.

Derick Ion Almena , who is on probation for a felony conviction and is being investigated for alleged wrongdoing associated with the fire, finally spoke out as former residents accused him of ignoring fire danger.

Alameda County coroner’s investigators have confirmed that 36 people were killed in the inferno at 31st Avenue and International Boulevard, but only 11 of the victims have been identified.

Almena’s statement came as detectives and fire officials from Oakland and Alameda County began a criminal investigation into the cause and circumstances of the fire.

The probe comes amid evidence dating back more than a year of criminal allegations and complaints, including the theft by Almena of a trailer, numerous code violations and a lack of permits allowing use of the warehouse as a living space.

In incident reports obtained by The Chronicle, Officer Josue Mora said he and Officer Richard Kane were called to the building on Jan. 2, 2015, to investigate an allegation that Almena had stolen a cell phone belonging to a performer at a New Year’s Eve party.

The officers found that Almena and another Ghost Ship resident had gotten into an argument with the performer about a condom being left out overnight and damage to an art piece during the party.

When the confrontation turned physical, a friend of the performer started taking a video with his cell phone, allegedly catching Almena stealing it, according to police reports.

Less than two weeks later, on Jan. 13, 2015, Almena was arrested and jailed for two days when his former landlord found out he had stolen her Airstream trailer, according to an affidavit from Deputy Jeremy Lucha of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

Almena, who lived on the second floor of the warehouse with his wife and three children, later wrote that he didn’t know people had died in the fire when he posted that message and was heartbroken.