Archive for July, 2018

Man shot in Antioch early Monday morning, police investigating

Tuesday, July 24th, 2018

By Corporal Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Monday, July 23, 2018 at approximately 12:46 AM, Antioch Police officers responded to a residence in the 5100 block of Homestead Way for a report of a shooting. Antioch Police officers arrived and located a 34-year-old male victim in the street suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower body. The 37-year-old male suspect also remained at the scene and was detained without incident. The suspected firearm used in the incident was also recovered nearby. Officers rendered first aid to the victim until he could be transported to an area hospital. The victim’s injuries were determined to be non-life threatening.

The names of the involved parties will not be released at this time. This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the Antioch Police Dept. at (925) 778-2441 or you may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Final two lanes of Highway 4 (Bypass), Balfour Road interchange completed, now open

Saturday, July 21st, 2018

The two new southbound lanes of Highway 4 between Sand Creek and Balfour Roads in Brentwood opened today, Saturday, July 21, 2018.

Brentwood, CA – The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) has completed the first stage of construction on the Balfour Road Interchange Project, and has opened newly constructed lanes to the public as of Saturday morning. This major project milestone is part of a $42.7 million-dollar construction project to improve safety and efficiency at this busy intersection in Brentwood.

A traffic switch will occur this weekend that will move eastbound Highway 4 drivers onto the newly built, elevated alignment over Balfour Road. Additionally, eastbound Highway 4 motorists will be able to use newly constructed on and off-ramps. A new signal will be activated at the intersection of Balfour Road and the new off-ramp, and directional signage will be in place to help inform motorists.

“This is a big deal for Brentwood”, said Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor. “Balfour Road is a major intersection, and the opening of these new lanes bring us one step closer to making this a better, safer intersection for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”

“Our goal is to help keep Contra Costa moving”, stated CCTA Executive Director Randy Iwasaki. “The Balfour Road Interchange Project is the final piece in the modernization of Highway 4 that our agency has led over the past eight years – and we are excited to be delivering on our promise to the public by bringing improved mobility to eastern Contra Costa County.”

The new Balfour Road on- and off-ramps from and to southbound Highway 4 opened today, Saturday, July 21, 2018.

“We purchased the right-of-way for the four lanes of traffic and two lines of transit down the center, 20 years ago, this year,” said Allen Payton, Chairman of the State Route 4 Bypass Authority in 1998. “Half of that section, of what was known as the Highway 4 Bypass, was paid for with local developer fees. The other half was to be paid for with state funds. But that commitment took years to be fulfilled. Special thanks go to Randy Iwasaki for helping secure the money from the state and to the CCTA for getting the project completed.”

A portion of the funds to complete the project were from Measure J, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation which is allocated by the CCTA. The effort for the project began in the early 1990’s and took until 1998 to get approval from the CCTA Board of Directors, without any financial commitment at that time.

Visualizations of the new eastbound on and off-ramps, as well as eastbound through traffic can be viewed online at:

https://youtu.be/2RU5o3CjcIs

https://youtu.be/2acw46W4AdI

https://youtu.be/saN5QOS9A4E

Traffic on westbound Highway 4 towards Antioch will remain on the same alignment and continue to operate without any changes at this time. The entire project is expected to be complete in late 2018 or early 2019.

About the Highway 4 Projects

The Highway 4 projects include improvements that will help modernize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Balfour Road in Brentwood, add missing connector ramps at the State Route 160/Highway 4 interchange, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch with a new stop in Pittsburg and Antioch. This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region, help reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life for the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County. The projects have been carefully staged to keep 130,000 vehicles per day moving as major construction and demolition work continue. These projects, plus previously constructed projects in the region, bring the total investment in East County to $1.3 billion, including State, Federal, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measures C and J, regional bridge tolls, and other funds. View the story of Highway 4 at http://4eastcounty.org/stories/

About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

6th Annual Stuff The Bus School Supply Giveaway Saturday, Aug. 4

Saturday, July 21st, 2018

Fight ends in murder of man in Antioch early Saturday morning

Saturday, July 21st, 2018

By Acting Lieutenant John Fortner #3264, Antioch Police Field Services Division – Patrol

On Saturday, July 21, 2018, at approximately 12:15 AM, Antioch police officers responded to the report of two males fighting at the 3700 block of Sunset Lane near Davidson Drive. When officers arrived at the scene they located both males in a parking lot. Officers contacted the 31-year-old male suspect who was immediately detained at the scene.

Additional officers contacted the 55-year-old male victim who was down on the ground and suffering from major injuries sustained during the fight. Officers immediately began administering first aid and called for fire department paramedics to respond. The victim was transported by emergency helicopter to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Currently, the area has been designated a crime scene and cordoned off. The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau was notified and responded to the scene. This incident is currently under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Antioch Council to consider placing another sales tax increase on November ballot, doubling Measure C’s tax

Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Total would be one cent instead of the current half-cent sales tax

By Allen Payton

Before the city has fulfilled its 2013 commitment from Measure C’s half-cent sales tax to “immediately” hire 22 additional police officers, the Antioch Council will consider a staff recommendation place another sales tax measure on the November ballot to increase it to a full cent at their meeting on Tuesday night, July 24th. The increase if passed would begin two years before Measure C expires in April 2021. If the measure fails the city will have nnother chance to place it on the ballot, again in November 2020. 1 Cent Sales Tax Ballot Measure Staff Report

When the promise was made in the summer of 2013, by then-Mayor Wade Harper and the four members of the council, which included both current Council Members Monica Wilson and Tony Tiscareno, there were 89 sworn officers on the force and being paid for out of the city’s General Fund budget. To date Antioch has added a net eight sworn police officers to the force for a total of 97 sworn officers, from the Measure C revenue. However, city staff, at the direction of the council, and even the Citizens’ Sales Tax Oversight Committee, continue to use the base figure of 82 sworn officers, which is the total that were on the force at the time the measure passed in November 2013. The department staffing was reduced by seven officers in those several months due to retirement and other reasons.

So, while the council owes the taxpayers and residents of Antioch a total of 111 sworn officers from Measure C funds, their claim is that they only owe 104 officers.

According to the staff report for Tuesday night’s meeting agenda, Measure C currently generates $7.2 million per year for the city’s General Fund. Revenue from the proposed sales tax increase proposed would generate approximately double that amount and would be spent on a variety of items in the budget.

The draft proposed spending priorities include 60% to support public safety, including maintaining and restoring neighborhood police patrols, 20% to support youth services and 20% to support quality of life, fiscal stability and accountability. That means paying off the city’s pension debt. What the staff report doesn’t include is any commitment to the number of additional sworn police officers the tax increase will pay for.  1 Cent Sales Tax Draft Spending Priorities

The proposed ballot measure would have the following title:

To maintain Antioch’s fiscal stability and police patrols, 911 emergency response, youth violence prevention programs; ensuring water quality and safety; repairing streets; cleaning up parks/illegal dumping; restoring youth after-school/summer programs; and other essential services; shall the measure be adopted approving an ordinance to renew the sales tax at the one-cent rate, raising approximately $14,000,000 annually until ended by voters, requiring independent annual financial audits and all expenditures available for public review?

The council meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, between W. 2nd and 3rd Streets in downtown Antioch. It can be viewed live on local cable TV channels or via the city’s website.

To see the complete council meeting agenda, click here.

Antioch kids: Adventures in Fun & Fitness through August 2

Tuesday, July 17th, 2018

Back to School event at HIMC Barber Studio in Antioch offers free backpacks and haircuts Sunday, July 29

Tuesday, July 17th, 2018

Concord police arrest third suspect Friday in May 1st Antioch attempted murder

Monday, July 16th, 2018

Ismael Viveros, age 22

By Lieutenant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Investigations Division

On the morning of May 1, 2018 Antioch Police Department detectives learned of a violent assault which occurred earlier that same morning, at approximately 3:30 AM, at a gas station located in the 4100 block of Lone Tree Way. The victim of the assault had serious facial injuries.

Detectives learned that the victim was attacked by five gang members as he sat in his car. The gang members displayed gang related hand signs, punched and kicked the victim and ultimately shot at the victim with a firearm as the victim drove away.

Marcos Torres and Adrian Nevarez, both age 21, were identified as suspects in the case and are suspected as being local gang members. Charges of attempted murder, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, dissuading a witness, mayhem and firearm/gang enhancements were filed on both subjects. Both were taken into custody through the use of the Antioch Police Department SWAT team and the assistance of the Pittsburg Police Department. An illegal assault rifle and several handguns were located at the home of Marcos Torres.

During the investigation officers located graffiti in the Lone Tree Way corridor symbolizing their gang. The graffiti has been removed and the Antioch Police Department is confident that the apprehension of Torres and Nevarez will stop any further crime involving the gang.

One suspect in this case was still outstanding. He had been identified as Ismael Viveros (22-years-old).

UPDATE: On Friday, July 13, Ismael Viveros was located by the Concord Police Department walking on Earl Lane in the City of Concord. Viveros was ultimately arrested by Concord Police Department officers and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility to be held on his listed charges.