By Corporal J McMurry, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Friday, August 23, 2013 at approximately 8:16 pm, Antioch Police Department Officers were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Dept. (Aviation & Marine Patrols) with the search for three missing persons (a 30 year old male, 9 year old female and 5 year old male) who left the Antioch Marina several hours earlier on their single Jet Ski.

Family members called law enforcement after they failed to show back up at the marina. After several hours of searching from the air, and on water, they were located floating on a log. Their Jet Ski had experienced an unknown problem that caused it to sink on them.

They were pulled from the water by Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Deputies who transported them to the Antioch Marina. They were treated by paramedics for hypothermia and released at the scene. The three were reunited with their family.

Dear Editor:

“Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face,” was a comment I often heard from my grandmother whenever I would complain, as a teenager, about how I had been wronged in some way and wanted to get back at those that hurt me. She’s been gone now for over forty years but her advice is as good today as it was back then.

If the half-cent sales tax in Antioch is rejected by voters, the community will need a complete face lift, not just a nose replacement. It’s true that we need more police officers, but we also need a whole spectrum of other important things; community development, code enforcement, job growth, road repairs, care for our seniors and young people, water treatment, transportation and many others.

That’s why I accept the council’s decision not to dedicate all the new revenues to just police services and public safety. To do so at this time would be short sighted. If Antioch is to have any kind of a future we need to plan for it now while we still have the chance.

As to the argument that our residents will leave this area to shop in neighboring cities, I don’t buy that argument. Pittsburg and Brentwood residents haven’t flocked to Antioch because of their tax increases. They’re still shopping at the stores they like – it’s just human nature. The fact that the tax will be eliminated in seven years means that the economy is expected to grow and eventually be self-sustaining; making our community a place we can all be proud to call home.

I’m not happy about it but, it is, what it is and it won’t get any better until we all put our money where our mouth is. I‘m confident there are a multitude of people out there who will make darn sure our money is spent wisely!

Barbara Herendeen

Antioch

Johnny Madden

By Sergeant T. Schnitzius #2480, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 10:36 a.m., Antioch Police responded to a call of a 16-year-old female victim who had been stabbed by her boyfriend Johnny Madden (18 yrs old) in the 2200 block of Hamlin Drive. Madden had fled prior to police arrival. Officers searched for Madden in the immediate area but he was not located. Officers contacted the victim who had a non-life threatening cut to her left leg and abdomen. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The incident is still under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding Madden’s location is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Sergeant Steve Bias, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 7:49 a.m., Antioch police received a call of an elderly woman who had been robbed of her purse in the 3300 block of Contra Loma Blvd. When police arrived, they found the 82 year old woman near St Ignatius Church, where she was walking to when this robbery occurred.

The victim had a minor injury to her head as a result of the male suspect forcibly pulling the purse off her shoulder, and her falling to the ground. The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.

The male responsible is described as a black male adult, 30-40 years old, 5’5” – 5’7”, thin, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. The responsible jumped into a nearby vehicle being driven by another unknown subject, no description available for the second suspect. The vehicle was described as a small light gray vehicle, possibly a two door. It was last seen traveling eastbound on Longview Road from Contra Loma Boulevard.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441 or you may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Saturday, August 17, 2013 at approximately 7:42 PM, officers responded to a report of a stabbing at a gas station in the 3200 block of Delta Fair Blvd. The officers arrived to find the victim – a 49-year-old Antioch resident – suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim was taken to a local area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. An involved subject was contacted on scene and is currently being questioned about the incident by Detectives. We are in the preliminary stages of this investigation and no further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Stenger with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6894. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Dear Editor:

I have turned in the following argument against the proposed sales tax increase measure for the November election 2013.

Argument against the Sales Tax increase

Vote NO on increasing Antioch sales tax beyond the current levels.

The tax dollar would NOT be dedicated to police services and public safety, the number one priority among citizens, but go to the general fund. The sitting council has failed to produce any solutions to Antioch’s crime problem. There is NO plan from our Mayor Harper, Councilman Agopian, and Council woman Rocha, even all three run their re-election campaign in 2012, “tough on crime” Our sitting council had not offered any public discussion, nor produced a plan, how and where the anticipated money will be spend. The City needs to buy locally, and award contracts to local businesses. We need to have open discussions about budget reviews, pension reforms, and reducing the City’s business permit process. We need to conduct independent audit‘s, and a “Workload Study” of our police department. We need to be “brutally honest” if we want to stop our “crime emergency” (Agopian) A created “Crime Sub-Commission”, (Nov/Dec, 2012) has never met. If that measure passes, it does NOT create a steady flow of money, it’s depend on the economy and spending ability/ location of Antioch residents, on top of it, the proposed sales tax increase is eliminated in 7 years. On July 30, 2013, our Chief of Police announced a dramatic, double digest, crime drop for the first 6 month of 2013. We cannot afford to paralyze our businesses with higher taxes, and drive customers to shop in neighboring cities. Antioch residents cannot afford to pay higher taxes.

Vote NO on this tax increase. It is NOT a solution.

Karl Dietzel

Antioch

By Corporal James McMurry, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On August 15, 2013 at approximately 4:58 a.m., Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the 911 call of subjects trying to pry open the emergency exit doors to the JC Penney Department Store at 4951 Slatten Ranch Road. Upon arrival officers located a vehicle, with several occupants, leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed towards Lone Tree Way.

Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle but it failed to yield and entered the Highway 4 Bypass towards Pittsburg. Officers pursued the vehicle and the vehicle later crashed on the Highway 4 Bypass west of Laurel Road.

A 24-yearold Romell Davis and an 18-year-old Devontae Rutherford, both Oakland residents, were taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. A third subject was involved and evaded capture and was not located. The investigation is ongoing.

By Eleanor O’Donnell

The Antioch Historical Society will host their final Summer Open Evening at the museum on Wednesday, August 21, 2013. We will feature a Vintage Car Show and an old fashioned Ice Cream Social, demonstrations of making ice cream in old fashion crank type ice cream maker.

The museum will be open from 1:00 – 4:00 pm and 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Admission is free.

We have had a nice turn out for the open house and have entertained many children with contests and snacks.  Our goal has been to acquaint people with the museum and the history of the area.  We have more people living in Antioch and area now than ever before.  The museum welcomes everyone and hopes to show the history of Antioch and people who were here before us.

The museum has been adding some improvements, a new wrought iron fence at the front of the drive-way, new lighting in front of the building and new carpet in the hallway and Riverview Room.  All provided by generous donations to the museum and fund raising efforts.

The museum is located at the corner of 1500 West 4^th Street at the curve from Auto Center Drive.

For more information please visit www.art4antioch.org/ahs.asp.