Antioch Police calls for service highlights as published in City Manager Steve Duran’s Weekly Report dated September 23, 2016 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Time Period: 09/15/16 00:00:00 – 09/21/16 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,638

Number of Case Reports: 301

Number of Arrests: 74

Felony: 29

Misdemeanor: 40

Infraction: 5

Arrests with DUI charge: 2

The data is based upon unaudited CAD/RMS data at time of report generation.

• ·9/22/2016 at 4:48 am, a witness called after seeing 67 year old Steven Kinder start a small fire behind the Dutch Pride Dairy located at 507 E. 18^th St. near the dumpster. Officers responded and detained Kinder while Contra Costa County Fire extinguished the fire. Kinder stated he was just trying to keep warm. Damage was minimal and limited to an exterior wall. An owner of Dutch Pride Dairy responded and was undecided on prosecuting Kinder. Kinder was released at the scene pending further investigation.
• ·9/21/2016 at 6:59 pm, an officer was on routine patrol in the area of Country Hills Dr. and Appaloosa Way when he observed 20 year old Trent Sereal walking in the area. The officer made a consensual stop on Sereal and discovered he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest on theft related charges. Sereal was taken into custody without incident and was later transported to county jail.
• ·9/21/2016 at 11:24 am, an officer contacted 25 year old Bronson Boyle during a pedestrian stop on Lone Tree Way near Davison Dr. Boyle was found to have a warrant for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Boyle was arrested and transported to county jail.
• ·9/21/2016 at 3:20 am, 39 year old Brandon Hill was contacted during a pedestrian stop in the area of Railroad Ave. and Walter Way. A name check revealed he had an outstanding non-citable arrest warrant for theft related charges held by Antioch PD. He was arrested without incident and booked at county jail.
• ·9/20/2016 at 10:02 pm, 25 year old Desi Davis was contacted in the area of Renwick Ln. and Hillcrest Ave. during a traffic stop. A name check revealed she had an outstanding felony bench warrant for robbery out of Hollywood. She was arrested without incident and sent to county jail.
• ·9/20/2016 at 2:46 pm, dispatch received several 9-1-1 calls advising of a shooting having just occurred in the 1100 block of D St. While en route, a caller from Fremont Elementary School advised they were going on lock down as they heard the shots as well. Officers arrived and contacted several people at 1104 “D” St, most of which were uncooperative. It was determined that the shooting occurred in the driveway at this location. One parked car was struck by gunfire. There are no known injuries.
• ·9/20/2016 at 2:43 pm, officers responded to the 2200 block of Buchanan Rd. on a report of a subject trespassing. Officers arrived and contacted 67 year old James Wedding. A computer check revealed Wedding had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for narcotics charges. Wedding was arrested and released from the scene on a signed promise to appear.
• ·9/20/2016 at 1:30 pm, officers responded to the McDonalds on Mahogany Way on a report of a man lying on the ground screaming. Officers arrived and contacted 29 year old Emmanuel Easter. While speaking to Easter, officers noticed a glass methamphetamine pipe sticking out of his pants pocket. Officers asked Easter to stand up and in doing so a bullet fell from his pants pocket. A search of his person was conducted and no other contraband was located. A computer check revealed Easter is a convicted felon with prior firearms convictions. Easter was arrested and booked into county jail.
• ·9/20/2016 at 12:53 pm, 51 year old Jorge Feliciano came to the front lobby of APD to register as a sex offender. A computer check revealed he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Feliciano was arrested without incident and booked into county jail.
• ·9/20/2016 at 11:42 am, a resident in the 2200 block of Banyan Way called APD to report that last night she heard gunshots in the area at around 3:00 am. She came outside this morning and found both of her cars had been struck with bullets. The resident told the officer she didn’t know who shot her vehicles and some neighborhood kids picked up the casings. There are no other investigative leads at this time.
• ·9/20/2016 at 9:13 am, a neighbor in the 3500 block of Mallard Way called APD to report an unknown vehicle in front of her neighbor’s house with two suspects looking over the fence. When officers arrived a short time later, they heard glass break to the rear of the house. Two suspects ran west bound up a hill towards the entrance to Black Diamond Mines. Soon after that, one suspect appeared from a few houses down and quickly got into a black Hyundai Sonata rental car. The vehicle fled the scene but was picked up by an officer who was just arriving in theneighborhood. The Hyundai fled down James Donlon Blvd. and a pursuit was initiated, but it was quickly terminated due to the excessive speed the Hyundai was travelling. Officers checked the house and found it was burglarized, but there appeared to be no loss. The suspects that ran over the hill were not located.
• ·9/19/2016 at 8:48 pm, 32 year old Adam Smith got onto a Tri Delta bus at the Bay Point BART station. He refused to pay for his fare and the bus driver was afraid of Smith so she didn’t push the issue. Smith began asking other passengers for money and talking about God as he talked to himself. Smith tried to push the bus driver out of her seat while the bus was moving and grabbed at the steering wheel to turn the bus from its course. The driver was able to maintain control of the bus and pulled to the curb at Sycamore Dr. and Auto Center Dr. in Antioch where she called for the police. Officers contacted Smith, but he refused officers’ commands and struggled with the officers. Smith was ultimately arrested and taken to county jail for carjacking and resisting arrest.
• ·9/19/2016 at 11:14 pm, officers noticed suspicious subjects loitering around the detached garage at 29 E. 6^th St, who all quickly went inside and closed the door after seeing the police. Officers made contact with a woman at the garage. The woman initially lied to officers but ultimately admitted that 38 year old Albert Riley was hiding inside the garage. A records check of Riley revealed a felony warrant in the system for grand theft. Riley surrendered after a few announcements were made. He was booked into county jail.
• ·9/19/2016 at 6:06 pm, officers were dispatched to the area of Cavallo Rd. and Gary Ave. for a subject slumped over in a vehicle. Officers arrived and located 49 year old Leonard Burleigh asleep in the passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Burleigh is on misdemeanor probation and during a search was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Burleigh was released from the scene with a citation.
• ·9/19/2016 at 12:22 pm, officers were dispatched to 2530 Cathy Ct. for a restraining order violation. Upon arrival, they contacted 39 year old Marcos Figueroa in the backyard in violation of a served restraining order. He was arrested without incident and booked into county jail.
• ·9/18/2016 at 7:30 pm, 34 year old Michael Vegas called the police stating that he was at CVS located at 4028 Lone Tree Way and that he needed help washing methamphetamine off his body. Vegas was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and arrested. He was booked into county jail.
• ·9/18/2016 at 5:36 pm, an officer was flagged down by the clerk at Romi’s liquors located at 418 E. 18^th St. who said he had a restraining order against 32 year old Randy Williams and that Williams was in front of the store refusing to leave. The officer arrived and located Williams walking away from the store. Williams was contacted and determined to be on felony probation with a stay away order from Romi’s. Williams was arrested and booked into county jail.
• ·9/18/2016 at 3:30 pm, an officer contacted 20 year old Jordon Hanson and 33 year old Sarah Hendrickson at W 2^nd St. and F St. A computer check revealed both subjects had warrants for their arrest. The warrants were confirmed and Hendrickson was cited and released from the scene for petty theft. Hanson was booked into county jail for narcotics related warrants.
• ·9/18/2016 at 2:09 pm, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a Honda without license plates. The officer made contact with 32 year old Jaamar Jones who is on parole. During a search, Jones was found in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine. He was arrested and cite-released in the field.
• ·9/18/2016 at 10:04 am, officers were dispatched to the area of Winterglen Way and Woodbridge Way on a report of suspicious males walking around with back packs, possibly casing the neighborhood for homes to burglarize. Officers arrived in the area and located one subject, 20 year old Tevin Herron, who appeared to be acting as a look-out on Country Hills Dr. and Chism Way. As officers attempted to get into position to contact him, they lost sight of Herron. Officers found Herron again walking on Country Hills Dr. and Hillcrest Ave. but now he was with three other males. Officers attempted to contact the males, but three took off running. Herron stopped and was detained. Officers chased one of the males on foot from Country Hills Dr., through Wal-Mart, around several other businesses and then up the hill behind the skate park where he was caught. The other two males were not located. Herron admitted the other three males were getting ready to break into a house. A homeowner in the 4800 block of Chism Way approached officers at the scene and advised the officers their house had been burglarized. The resident showed officers a photo saved from their Ring.com doorbell system and it was a picture of Herron. Herron was questioned about the crime and he admitted to it. Herron was ultimately booked into county jail. Herron and the second subject that was detained are from the same neighborhood in San Francisco, however, they claimed not to know each other. Officers are still looking into the possibility they committed other burglaries in the area. The second subject was released pending further investigation.
• ·9/18/2016 at 6:08 am, a vehicle travelling on Davison Dr. near Harris Dr. left the roadway and struck a PG&E power box which caused a fire. PG&E had to respond and cut the power before Contra Costa County Fire could extinguish the fire. There were no injuries in the collision.
• ·9/17/2016 at 9:19 pm, 31 year old Elvis Barajas was walking in traffic near A St. and W 16thSt. and found to be too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and sent to county jail.
• ·9/17/2016 at 8:21 pm, a customer was inside the Valero located at 1801 Hillcrest Ave. when he saw a male wearing a mask enter the store and approach the clerk. The male suspect demanded money and brandished a pistol. When the clerk said he did not have any money, the male suspect put the gun away and ran out of the store. He was last seen eastbound on E. 18th St. An area check brought negative results and there was no loss.
• ·9/17/2016 at 2:48 pm, a male suspect entered the Save Cleaner located at 3190 Contra Loma Blvd. and pointed a handgun at the clerk demanding money. The suspect fled the business with cash and left in a gray four door sedan. An area check was conducted with negative results. The suspect was wearing a Philadelphia Eagles Hat and a black t-shirt with “Supporting the Streets” on the front. Surveillance video captured the incident. This case is still under investigation.
• ·9/17/2016 at 9:29 am, officers were dispatched to the rear of Sporting Edge located at 2005 Somersville Road on a complaint of transients in the area possibly using drugs. Officers located 28 year old Jordan Crume who was foundin possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also found to be on felony probation. He was arrested and booked into county jail.
• ·9/16/2016 at 9:04 pm, officers responded to the report of a female screaming at the Delta Pine apartments located at 2301 Sycamore Dr. in the center of the complex. Upon arrival, the female was gone, but officers contacted 47 year old James Saunders. A records check showed an outstanding warrant for his arrest for violation of parole. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into county jail.
• ·9/16/2016 at 8:34 pm, an officer made a vehicle enforcement stop for traffic violations. 40 year old Cesar Franco displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. After a series of field sobriety tests, the officers gave Franco an opportunity to blow into the preliminary alcohol screening device. The device showed Franco’s blood alcohol content to beat .31%. Franco was placed under arrest and was transported to county jail for a sobering period.
• ·9/16/2016 at 2:28 pm, a 21 year old male came to Antioch PD to report an armed robbery. The male stated he ordered approximately 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana and edibles from a marijuana dispensary out of Martinez. The male arranged to meet the delivery driver on Silva St. Upon the delivery driver’s arrival, the male got into the delivery driver’s front passenger seat. The two were about to exchange money for marijuana. The victim had $4,000 in cash and his cell phone on his lap when two unknown males approached him. One of the males pointed a firearm at the victim’s chest as the other male punched the delivery driver in the face. The two males took the victim’s marijuana, cash and cell phone. The responsibles had similar descriptions as the suspects in the robbery at the Credit Union on day shift. A photo line-up was created but the victim was unable to identify them. Officers have not been able to locate or determine who the delivery driver was as of this writing.
• ·9/16/2016 at 12:07 pm, two males entered the Las Brumas Mexican Restaurant located at 913 W. 10^th St. and demanded that the employees get onto the floor. Both males had their hands under their shirts and stated that they had guns. The two males stole the till from the cash register and fled the store on foot. At 1:45 pm, the Antioch Credit Union located at 301 G St. was robbed by two males. 18 year old Anthony Smith and 18 year old Khalid Noel were arrested for the bank robbery. Smith was positively identified as committing the Las Brumas robbery also. The investigation is ongoing. Both males were booked into county jail.
• ·9/16/2016 at 1:46 am, 45 year old Gary Duarte was contacted and arrested in the area of E. 18^th St. and Terrace Dr. on an outstanding no-cite warrant. He was booked into county jail without incident.
• ·9/15/2016 at 10:59 pm, 35 year old Curtis Jones was observed riding his bike on the sidewalk in the area of Hillcrest Ave. and Lone Tree Way in violation of Antioch municipal codes. An officer made an enforcement stop and discovered Jones was wanted out of San Francisco for theft related violations. Jones was taken into custody without incident. Jones was transported to county jail on the warrant and while at county jail, was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Jones was booked on the additional charges.
• ·9/15/2015 at 8:27 pm, a grandfather was pushing his granddaughter in her stroller for a daily walk. He was crossing at Gentrytown Dr. and Lopez Dr. when a vehicle driving northbound on Gentrytown Dr, struck them in the crosswalk. The driver stated a bus pulled from the nearby bus stop and its headlights had temporarily blinded him. He saw the grandfather pushing the stroller at the last minute and slowed to a couple miles an hour. He broadsided the stroller, just knocking it over. The infant was restrained in an attached car carrier that sits on the stroller. This was knocked loose and onto the ground. The baby was uninjured, but transported to the hospital as a precaution. The baby was released later in the shift with no notable injuries. Alcohol and speed were not factors.
• ·9/15/2016 at 7:00 am, a US Postal Inspector requested we assist his unit with a search at a house in the 3200 block of Ashley Way. 54 year old Daniel Hard lives at the residence and is on parole. He is also a known criminal street gang member. We sent two units to be on the outside perimeter and for radio communications. During the search Postal Inspectors found over 1,000 stolen identities, a pistol, a stolen vehicle and methamphetamine. We agreed to book Hard into county jail for the Inspectors, so he can be held until he is indicted federally.

By Nick Goodrich

At the Antioch School Board on Wednesday, September 28th, voiced their support of Proposition 55: Children’s Education and Health Protection Act, and heard complaints about Trustee Debra Vinson and a call for her recall.

During public comments, District employee Nicole Cedano, once again appeared before the Board to voice her displeasure with Vinson. Cedano, who, at the Board’s August 22nd meeting, first complained about Vinson’s behavior, said that since then she has been approached by several others who have experienced similar behavior by the first-term board member.

Cedano’s complaint during the August meeting was prompted by Vinson allegedly calling an Antioch High School employee a “bigot” the day before. Since then, Cedano told the Board, Vinson has made more inflammatory comments about Antioch City Councilmember Mary Rocha.

Vinson’s more recent comments allegedly include calling Rocha “too old, too out of touch, and not qualified to run for City Council” at the internal selections committee. Then, at the Democratic Central Committee meeting, she publicly called Rocha “a racist,” Cedano alleges.

When reached for comment, Rocha was less than pleased with Vinson’s statements.

“It did happen, and I’m very upset about it,” she told the Herald.

To Rocha, it seemed to be a political move aimed at hurting her chances at reelection to the Antioch City Council.

“I couldn’t believe what she said,” Rocha said of the comments. “It really astonished me.”

Vinson was also reached for comment by the Herald and shared her view of what transpired.

“At our Democrat endorsement meeting, I reported what Mary Rocha said during our June primary endorsement process when we were choosing to endorse Federal Glover,” Vinson said. “I reported only what Mary said, and no more. This is typical of the endorsement process when considering who to endorse.”

“She was advocating for Anamarie (Avila) Farias for supervisor and speaking on her behalf,” Vinson continued. “What she essentially said was the blacks have had their turn, the whites have had their turn and now it’s for the Mexican and Latino candidates to have their turn.

“I do remember her saying ‘it’s our time,’” referring to Mexican and Latino candidates, Vinson added.

“I repeated what Mary said (in the primary endorsement meeting) at the endorsement meeting for the November election to remind people and told them ‘we want candidates who are for all people and not to exclude anyone,’” Vinson remembers saying. “I never said Mary is a racist. I never said she’s too old. I never said that. People are saying things that aren’t true. I was very short and brief. Several people will verify what I said.”

Rocha responded to Vinson’s comments and recollection of what was said at the endorsement meetings.

“No. No. I didn’t say that,” Mary said. “You can ask the people who were there, including the chairman.”

“I’ll tell you what I did do. When Federal (Supervisor Glover) called me in January, and he asked me ‘Mary can you give me your endorsement,’ I told him no,” Rocha explained.  “I said ‘I covered you before. This time I have to support Ana Maria. I’ve got to support her because she’s Latina and I’ve got to at least help her make an effort.’”

“And I only said it to Federal, so how did he get it to Debra?” Rocha asked.

“She (Vinson) was endorsing Lamar (Thorpe, candidate for Antioch School Board) and then she said ‘she’s a racist’ and ‘is against black people from going forward,’” Rocha shared. “I said ‘I did not say that.’ She said that in front of 70 people she.”

Rocha then explained where the “too old” comment originated.

“Vinson said she I the ‘old guard’ and that ‘Lamar was the new one and that he would come in and take care of the city,’” Rocha added.

Cedano cited a District code that calls for any employee or official that makes comments detrimental to the District, to be punished with a fine.

With Vinson’s comments costing the District almost $3,000 in legal fees, Cedano said, there are reasonable grounds for her to be removed from the Board, and Cedano stated that a petition for Vinson’s recall is currently in the works.

Board Member Authority

Later in the meeting, Board Member Fernando Navarro brought Board Policy 9200: Limits of Board Member Authority to the Board’s attention.

Navarro proposed having the Board review the policy and make several positive changes. His concern is mostly with the language of the policy, and he stated that while he has some suggestions in mind, the Board should review the policy and present their proposed changes at the next Board meeting. The issue was tabled until that time.

At the end of the meeting, the Board discussed Proposition 55: Children’s Education and Health Protection Act, which proposes extending the temporary Prop 30 tax in California that would provide additional funds for education.

Prop. 55

Many Trustees had mixed feelings about Prop 55. Trustee Walter Ruehlig was wary of the “temporary tax”, as he noted that several other similar taxes have been drawn out long past their original end date.

“It’s probably not the perfect solution,” Ruehlig said. “I’m voting for it, but reluctantly. It looks like the lesser of two evils.”

Vinson stated that she is voting for it now, but that ultimately, the voters will have to decide. Trustee Alonzo Terry said, “When it comes to our kids and schools, we always have to side with them.”

Navarro was the lone dissenter in the Board’s 4-1 vote in favor of supporting the Proposition. He, like Ruehlig, was wary of yet another tax.

“We have to try to live within our means,” he told the audience. “It’s a downgrade, and we’re running out of road.”

Almost 90% of the tax revenue would go towards K-12 schools, with another 11% to state community colleges. An additional $2 billion would be designated for Medi-Cal and other health programs.

Prop 55 will appear on the state ballot in November.

The 75th Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, October 1^st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from the Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission, Neighborhood Watch Program, Volunteers in Police Service, community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

We will be cleaning the neighborhoods along Almondridge Drive and Filbert Street between Willow Ave and Phillips Lane. See map, below. Volunteers will meet at Almondridge Park along Beechnut Street.

Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community!

“if you cherish free expression, and free speech rights generally, you should be worried”

By Allen Payton, Publisher & Editor

I rarely write about national issues on the Herald website or newspaper, but this one is too important not to, as what could happen in the next few days could affect not only my business, but any and all internet-related media and any business and individual who uses the internet.

The Obama Administration supports allowing the international takeover of the internet, which was developed here in America, first by our military, and is currently controlled by American interests.

If that happens, some non-elected body made up mostly of representatives of foreign governments, which in general oppose and work against American interests and the freedoms we enjoy in our country, will be in control of the most powerful information and commerce tool ever created.

The UN could ultimately take control and it is not favorable to America and hasn’t been for years. Back in 1985 while working as an intern for then-U.S. Senator Pete Wilson in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to travel to New York over Thanksgiving weekend to visit a college buddy. He had to work the day after the holiday, so I spent it being a tourist in Manhattan.

One of my last stops was the United Nations building. While in the gift shop I met and struck up a conversation with a delegate from the U.S. State Department and asked him what his thoughts were on the institution. His response was rather eye-opening.

“This place is a joke,” he said. “It’s the U.S. and Israel against the world and once in awhile our old friend Great Britain will abstain.”

Well, things haven’t changed much in the 31 years since then, and actually they’ve become worse. While I believe it’s always better to talk things out than to fight them out, as the delegates to the UN spend much of their time doing in that deliberative body, the decisions they can make once they have control of the Internet could prove disastrous.

Let’s remember who some of the nation states that are members and their policies toward the Internet in their own countries. China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, just to name a few. Do we want their views, which are anathema to our God-given, constitutionally-protected freedoms of religion, speech, and the press be the ones governing or influencing how the Internet operates in our country? What about even England, Scotland or France, where certain comments that we consider disagreements and debate, can get you arrested for “hate speech”?

In a television interview on Wednesday, Ajit Pai, a senior member of the Federal Communications Commission, said “This proposal is to essentially give up the US oversight role that it’s had for the last 20 years, basically for the entire commercial lifespan of the Internet to a company called ICANN, which is an international organization, which includes a number of foreign countries.”

Pai further stated, “[I]f you cherish free expression, and free speech rights generally, you should be worried, I think, when there’s — this oversight role’s going to be ceded to potentially, foreign governments who might not share our values.”

This needs to be stopped and now.

Congress is debating the issue today and the change will occur on Saturday. Our representatives need to hear from us, now. Please join me in contacting them and urging them to vote to stop the Obama administration from transferring oversight of the internet to an international body.

Rep. Jerry McNerney

Washington, D.C. Office (202) 225-1947

Antioch Office (925) 754-0716

Stockton Office (209) 476-8552

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Washington, D.C. Office (202) 225-2095

Walnut Creek Office (925) 933-2660

Richmond Office (510) 620-1000

Senator Diane Feinstein

Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-3841

San Francisco Office (415) 393-0707

Senator Barbara Boxer

Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-3553

Oakland Office (510) 286-8537

By Debbie Hicks

Antioch and East County residents had the opportunity to discuss and hear from a variety of panelists about President Obama’s report on 21st Century Policing during a symposium held in Antioch, Saturday night.  Organized by the recently formed Antioch Community Team (ACT), made up of local residents and parents, the symposium addressed the first pillar of the report, Trust and Legitimacy.

Organizers originally planned to focus the symposium on Antioch and had begin promoting it as such. But, once it was learned that neither Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando nor Captain Tammany Brooks, who learned about 21st Century Policing while at the FBI in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, could attend that evening, the focus was changed to a general discussion on issues affecting our nation. The group then published a new flyer reflecting that change.

The theme of the event was, ‘Building Bridges and Tearing Down Barriers’.  Current police-related deaths of African Americans across the country, have brought attention to the mistrust and damaged relationship between communities and law enforcement.  ACT assembled a panel of six professionals from Antioch and the Bay Area to have a proactive, meaningful discussion on how and why fear plays a role in affecting Trust and Legitimacy between law enforcement and communities-at-large.

Panelists included attorney Mary Kelly Persyn, founder and principal of Persyn Law & Policy, Sgt. Joe Johnson of the California Highway Patrol, Tamisha Walker, a re-entry professional and former convict, Retired Oakley Police Officer Mark Hicks, who has a background in stolen car defense training, Shonta Archie, a nurse and mental health professional and clinical therapist Dr. Richard Hanzy.

Held at the Delta Bay Church of Christ, the approximately 70 residents who attended, including some local officials, had the change to participate in the discussion. During public speaking and testimony, a diverse group of people described why trust was difficult to come by.  In order for us to build upon trust, all attendees concluded, we must continue to partner with each other, be respectful of one another, and continue to hold events which bring together communities and law enforcement to address current topics.  The importance of educating our community on difficult challenges officers experience every day, law enforcement having a better understanding of the community they serve and bringing young people into this discussion was also emphasized.

For information on future symposiums, email Con Johnson @conjohnson1@gmail. To learn more about 21st Century Policing, please see the original article about the symposium, here and click on the links at the bottom.

Hicks is one of the founders of ACT. Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Lieutenant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, September 18, 2016, Naomi Lomax (15 years old) was reported as a missing person. She was last seen around 7:00 a.m. on September 17, 2016 near the 4400 block of Wolf Way in Antioch. Her whereabouts are unknown at this time. She is described as being mixed-race, 5’03” tall, 120 lbs, dark curly hair dyed red, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black pants, a red flannel shirt, black shoes, and a black hat.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is encouraged to call Detective Matt Allendorph with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6933. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Lieutenant Tony Morefield, Antioch Police  Patrol Division

From 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Monday, September 26, 2016 through Wednesday the 28th, officers and detectives of the Antioch Police Department, in partnership with members of the United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, San Francisco Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Department of State, California Department of Corrections, Contra Costa County Probation, Pittsburg Police Department, and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) conducted a three day, felony warrant sweep and sex registrant compliance check operation around East Contra Costa County.  This multi-agency event consisted of two parts: the first (two day) part of the operation was focused on serving outstanding, felony arrest warrants, and the second (one day) part was devoted to sex registrant address verifications and compliance checks.

The event went from the early morning hours into the afternoon each day and yielded a total 25 arrests for charges ranging from fugitive warrants to weapons charges.  In addition to these arrests, one loaded firearm was seized during this operation and over five dozen sex offender address verifications were conducted.  This was a cooperative effort intended to bring known and suspected offenders into custody and help further ensure the safety of this and our surrounding communities.

No additional information concerning this operation will be released at this time.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Allen Payton

There were no big surprises in the results of the Community Priorities Survey paid for by the City of Antioch and shared with the Antioch City Council at their regular meeting, on Tuesday night.

“Crime and gangs are clearly perceived as the most-urgent problems in Antioch,” the headline of the survey results reads.

The live phone survey using both landline and cell phones, which lasted about 15 minutes according to some residents who received the call and participated, was taken between July 17 and 21, 2016 and conducted in both English and Spanish.

Of the 400 residents who participated in the survey, 75% of residents who responded said crime was very or extremely serious. Of those surveyed 72% also rated gangs and youth violence as very or extremely serious.

Homeless was the next highest rated problem, with 62% saying it’s very or extremely serious, followed by a lack of good-paying, local jobs, with 59% of respondents rating that issue very or extremely serious.

The next major concern was categorized as “An empty downtown,” with 53% of respondents rating that as very or extremely serious. Waste and inefficiency in local government had 46% of those surveyed calling it very or extremely serious, and another 32% rating it as somewhat serious, for a total of 78% of respondents giving it a serious rating.

The condition of the local economy had 43% of respondents rating it very or extremely serious, and another 39% rating it as somewhat serious.

Finally, in the categories which a majority of those surveyed rating as serious is traffic congestion, with 41% rating as very or extremely serious and another 32% rating it as somewhat serious.

The survey next stated “Few are concerned about development, or the lack of retail or parks” with only 17% of respondents saying “A lack of parks and open space” was very or extremely serious, and another 29% rating it as somewhat serious. However, 55% rated it as “not too serious” or “didn’t know” or provided “no answer.”

Then the survey states “A plurality feel the city is growing at the right pace.”

It also states “Respondents were overwhelmingly satisfied with existing parks; they are less satisfied with nightlife and fine dining options.”

The survey then focused on downtown Antioch, stating “Only half of respondents indicated they were familiar with Waldie Plaza,” and “More than three in five say they haven’t heard about plans for the former lumberyard,” the controversial  lot on which a group of residents are pursuing an initiative for a park and event center. The survey also states about the lumberyard, “Those who have heard something know relatively few details other than ‘new housing.'”

Finally, the survey states and provides a breakdown in statistics of answers by respondents that “Jobs and scenery were seen as top priorities for the land.” Of those surveyed, 77% said “Creating local jobs” was extremely important or very important, and another 15% said it was somewhat important, for a total of 92% saying it is important at some level.

Please see the complete results of the survey, here: antioch-community-priorities-survey-report