By Sergeant Scott Freier, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

At approximately 12:08 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2012 the Antioch Police Department received a call from the Oakland Police Department who stated that they were with a subject who had been kidnapped and robbed in Antioch. Antioch police took over the investigation from Oakland PD and learned that the victim, a 45 year old male, was a cab driver for “Yellow Cab” had picked up three African – American male subjects at the Pittsburg/Bay Point Bart station. The subjects asked to be taken to an apartment complex off of Delta Fair Blvd. in Antioch.

Upon arriving at the apartment complex, one of the subjects pulled out a gun and demanded the victim’s personal property. The subject with the weapon then ordered the driver to out of the vehicle and into the trunk of his cab. The subject(s) then drove the cab to Oakland where they eventually released the victim unharmed. The victim was able to flag down a passerby who called then called Oakland police.

As of Friday, April 27, 2012 at 10:08 a.m. Antioch police received confirmation that the stolen taxi had been located unoccupied in the area of 83 rd Ave. in Oakland. The vehicle was not burned or significantly damaged.  Antioch PD Investigators brought the vehicle back to Antioch PD for evidence processing.

The suspects are described as follows:  Suspect #1 is described as a black male adult, age 23 to 27 years, 5’9” to 6 feet tall 145 to 160 lbs. wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white lining (this subject was armed with the handgun). Suspect #2 is described as a black male adult, age 23 to 24yrs, 5’10” to 6 feet tall, 170 to 180 lbs. Wearing black shirt and black jeans. Suspect #3 is described as a black maile, unknown age, unknown height, unknown weight, wearing a grey hooded sweater and black jeans.

They should be considered armed and dangerous.

The three adult males arrested by the Antioch police are from left, Giovanni Lopez, Juan Peter Herrera and Raymond Wehr

By Acting Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department announced five individuals have been arrested in the March 31^st murder at Cruisers Saloon on A Street.

In custody are Antioch residents Giovanni Lopez, age 26, Juan Peter Herrera, age 22 and Pittsburg resident Raymond Wehr, also age 22. Also arrested was a 17 year old, male, Antioch resident and a 17 year old, male, Pittsburg resident.

All five subjects arrested have gang connections or are active gang members. It appears that the victim, Lizandro “Tony” Bertolazzi was an innocent victim and not involved in either fight.

The Antioch Police Department is not disclosing the identity of the person who fired the weapon in an effort to maintain the integrity of the on-going investigation.

Lizandro "Tony" Bertolazzi from a memorial page on Facebook

The case has yet to be presented to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office and all those arrested are being held on probation or parole holds.

On March 31, 2012 at 1:36 a.m. Antioch police received a 911 call from Cruisers Saloon reporting that a shooting had just occurred. It appears that a group of males who had been kicked out of the bar earlier in the night, returned with baseball bats specifically with the intention of starting a fight. The fight started inside of the bar and then moved just outside of the front door to the bar. One of the males, who had been kicked out earlier, pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot inside the bar. 

Bertolazzi, a 38 year old Antioch resident and veteran of the Marines, was inside the bar and was hit and died at the scene. He leaves behind his wife, who is serving in the Army, and four sons.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective James Stenger at (925) 779-6894.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

According to a KTVU, Channel 2 news report, squatters in a vacant home in Antioch have issued a restraining order against real estate agent Melissa Case who has the property listed for sale. Now she can’t be within 50 feet of the house.

Thanks to Antioch Herald reader Maria Pia for the heads up on this story.

For the complete story, click here.

Here’s the question that must be answered – who was the judge that approved the restraining order? Not only should the squatters be thrown out, so should that judge!

East County Idol 2012 Winners - from left, Nicholas Crossen, Raina Vizcarra, Andie Paredes and Idara Akpakpa with Antioch Music Foundation President Walter Ruehlig. photo by Luns Louis

Raina Vizcarra

Raina Vizcarra  of the Delta Performing Arts Academy in Antioch placed third in this year’s East County Idol competition at the El Campanil Theatre on Friday night, April 21.  She received a $100 cash prize for her performance of “I Will Always Love You” made famous by the late Whitney Houston. Nicholas Crossen, also of Antioch and a student at De La Salle High, placed fourth by performing “Broken Vow” by Josh Groban and received a $50 cash prize.

The first place winner and reigning Idol was Idara Akpakpa from Liberty High School in Brentwood. She was awarded $400 for her rendition of “And I Am Telling You” by Jennifer Hudson. Second place winner of a $200 cash prize was Andie Paredes from Freedom High in Oakley, for her performance of “Here I Am.”

The show was emceed by jazz performer Malcolm Hunter and produced by Linda Thompson and Sharon Vela. Guest performers were 2010 runner-up Ashley Goins and 2008 winner Chanelle Lewis.

At least two professional agents approached the winner after the show. One past East County Idol, Neshia Go, made the

Nicholas Crossen

top 50 of American Idol.

A free performance by the winners will be held at Somersville Towne Center in the rotunda at noon on Saturday, April 28th.

The competition was sponsored by the Antioch Music Foundation through a grant from District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover and Calpine Corporation.

Second Show Added!

The Multi-platinum-selling, Grammy Award winning Christian rock band Third Day will perform in Brentwood at Golden Hills Community Church on Saturday, April 21, 2012 during their Make Your Move Spring Tour.

A second show jas been added at 2 p.m. – Also performing are Matt Maher and Trevor Morgan!

Third Day has played to millions of fans in numerous sold-out arenas around the world. It’s garnered 25 No. 1 singles across multiple formats—not to mention armloads of Grammy and Dove Awards. Yet the band’s willingness to struggle openly before fans and critics alike to unearth its identity, purpose and mission stands as Third Day’s most valued accomplishment during its first decade together. Backing up the band’s ascent, Billboard magazine noted the act is “not only one of the best Christian bands of the ’90s but one of the best rock bands, period.”

Third Day has clearly weathered the difficult climb from obscurity to success, but the band is hardly suffering from over-confidence or complacency. In fact, the band’s eleventh album, Revelation, addresses that very issue head-on. Rather than lean back in a figurative easy chair, Third Day challenged itself immensely, shaking up its direction and reasserting its place as a rock band of enormous depth and passion.

“Our career is like a dream I didn’t even know I had,” drummer David Carr says. “It’s gone beyond anything I could have dreamed of.”

Influenced by the Southern rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd and other artists such as U2 and Rich Mullins, Third Day were originally formed by vocalist Mac Powell and acoustic guitarist Mark Lee. The duo added bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr from another local band, and recorded some demos. Third Day’s live shows gradually built a loyal fan base, and just after lead guitarist Brad Avery joined, the band signed to Gray Dot Records. Their eponymous debut followed in 1996, with Conspiracy No. 5 appearing a year later. In 1999 Third Day returned with Time, and the next year Offerings, a collection of new and live material, came out, followed in 2003 by its companion, Offerings II: All I Have to Give.

That same year, the American Music Awards tapped them with a nomination in the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist category. For their fifth studio album, 2004’s Wire (which was followed shortly after by Live Wire), Third Day returned to their rock & roll roots, a trend they kept up for 2005’s Top Ten hit Wherever You Are, which came out in CD/DVD format the next year. After the release of the holiday album Christmas Offerings in 2006 and the compilation Chronology the following year, the band announced the departure of Avery in February 2008. Despite the loss, Third Day soldiered on, releasing Revelation in July of that year. The album was produced by Howard Benson and featured appearances by Chris Daughtry and Lacey Mosley. Third Day won the American Music Award in 2008.

The church is located at 2401 Shady Willow Lane, Brentwood. See map: Google Maps

For tickets click here. For more information about Third Day, click here. For more information about Golden Hills Community Church visit www.goldenhills.org.

Lawrence Beaman performs Saturday, April 21 at El Campanil Theatre in Antioch.

America’s Got Talent Finalist LAWRENCE BEAMEN

“A Night of Soul”: A Barry White R&B Tribute Concert

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 at 8:00pm

TICKETS: $15 – $27

El Campanil Theatre

602 West Second Street

Antioch, CA 94509

Box Office: 925.757-9500

www.elcampaniltheatre.com

LAWRENCE BEAMEN stepped into the national spotlight as a contestant on Season 4 of the hit TV Series AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, when his powerful rendition of “Ole Man River”brought the studio audience – and all 3 judges – to their feet. Millions of home viewers rushed to their phones each subsequent week to vote him all the way to the ‘Top 5’ Finals. Since then, he has been playing to sold out crowds in Las Vegas and across the country recreating the sounds that inspired judge Piers Morgan to call him “the next Barry White”.

Currently a Bay Area resident, Beamen’s life and musical inspiration began in the churches of rural Mississippi which he carries with him today. From Gospel to Traditional to Contemporary R&B, his voice projects the passion of his humble beginnings and the optimism of better days.

He has worked with noted artists including Patti LaBelle and Andrae Crouch, and has performed around the world for such diverse audiences as President Bill Clinton, NAACP honoring Rosa Parks, at Buckingham Palace, and even at The Vatican for the Pope.

“I want to bring back the depth of Barry White, the soul of Mahalia Jackson, and the honesty and rhythm of Bill Withers,” says Beamen.

His fans know that he does all of that…and more.

The Contra Costa Clean Water Initiative, whose ballot results won’t be known for a few weeks, was basically a deceptive shakedown which not only didn’t present an opposition argument but, due to the requirement that only property owners, rather than registered voters, approve the fee, the process was able to bypass the independent Contra Costa County Elections Department!

Homeowners already pay an annual “Federal Storm water” charge so why the need for this new tax which needs only majority approval to pass? Advocates claimed that the money is needed to address new state and federal clean water mandates and that, without additional funds, local communities could be forced to pay large fines and be subject to third party lawsuits if not in compliance with strict new clean water mandates. If this was a righteous argument who not present an oppositional viewpoint in the numerous mailers sent to property owners?

Frankly, I don’t react well to threats and I voted no on this unjustified tax as did Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Piepho and the Antioch Unified District school board. Regrettably, after a discussion on the subject by the Antioch City Council on March 27th, it was decided by Council action that that city ballots not be voted, when the vote failed on a 2-2 tie.

Twenty-one of the best youth singers from East Contra Costa County will perform ballads, Broadway, country, folk, gospel, jazz, pop and rock music in hopes of becoming the 2012 East County Idol and win the cash prize of $400 for the first prize winner, $200 for the second prize winner, $100 for the third prize winner.

The competition, which will be held at the El Campanil Theatre on Friday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m., is sponsored by the Antioch Music Foundation through a grant from District V Supervisor Federal Glover and Calpine Corporation.

Contestants are all high school students and will sing the following musical pieces:

Andie Paredes…………………………………………………………………… Here I Am

Angelina Phelan (with piano accompanist Kathleen Flemming)….. Memories

Bianca Panaligan……………………………………………………………… If I Ain’t Got You

Cayson Renshaw …………………………………………………………………New Shoes

Enrique Guzman………………………………………………………………… Drop Baby Drop

Hailey Schneider……………………………………………………………….. Someone Like You

Idara Akpakpa………………………………………………………………….. And I Am Telling You

Jackie Richardson……………………………………………………………… American Honey

Jakeb Leroy Baird………………………………………………………………. Fly Me To The Moon

Katelyn Allen (with guitar accompanist Drake Miller)……………….. Rhythm of Love

Kayla Arroyo…………………………………………………………………….. The Climb

Madeline Durling………………………………………………………………… Blue Bird

Marcus Lance…………………………………………………………………….. Hallelujah

Marissa LaMantia………………………………………………………………… Good Bye My Lover

Morgan Handy……………………………………………………………………. Don’t Know Why

Nicholas Crossen…………………………………………………………………. Broken Vow

Patrick Velasquez………………………………………………………………… I’m Yours

Rachel Wirtz……………………………………………………………………….. At Last

Raina Vizcarra ……………………………………………………………………. I Will Always Love You

Victoria Young……………………………………………………………………. I Am Changing

Zoe Blalock…………………………………………………………………………. Orange Colored Sky

‘This is the Foundation’s fourth East County Idol; and this event continues to fulfill a vital role in our mission to empower the youth and cultivate a vibrant community,” said Cynthia Ruehlig, board member and administrator of the non-profit Antioch Music Foundation. ‘The competition is a practice of life skills and acquaints the participants to challenges they will soon face as adults.  Contestants learn to complete applications, read and follow rules, write a short bio, plan and prepare for their presentation, face an audience to compete confidently and, most importantly, gain self-esteem and maturity to continue the pursuit of their dreams.”

The event is hosted by jazz artist Malcolm Hunter with special guest performances by Chanelle Lewis, 2008 East County Idol winner, and Ashley Goins, 2010 East County Idol runner-up.