By Allen Payton

According to Antioch Police Sgt. Gary Lowther in response to a call to the department’s media line about a reported shooting Friday night, “We did have a shooting take place in the 4700 block of Lone Tree Way. We can’t confirm whether either on or nearby the Deer Valley High School campus.”

“It happened about 8:44 p.m. and it’s still under investigation,” he continued. “It is my understanding that there was a basketball game going on at Deer Valley High School.”

“A press release will be sent out either later tonight or in the morning,” Lowther added.

12:42 AM UPDATE: According to Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations Bureau) in an early Saturday morning news release, “On January 31, 2020 at about 8:44 PM, Antioch Police Department patrol officers were dispatched to the north parking lot of Deer Valley High School for shots being fired in the parking lot. A16-year-old male was located in the parking lot suffering from three gunshot wounds. The male was transported by ground to a local hospital and is currently in critical condition. It was determined the victim is a current student at Deer Valley High School.

At the time of the shooting there was a basketball game between Deer Valley and Antioch High Schools just letting out from the Deer Valley High School gym. A large group of juveniles started fighting in the parking lot when the shots were fired.

The Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau responded and took over this investigation. This investigation is in its infancy and a suspect has not been identified.”

No further information will be released regarding this case at this time. Any further updates will come from the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Smith at 925-779-6876, or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Candice Carter. Photo by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

On March 27, 2005, at around 11:37 PM, 17-year-old Edgar Martinez was in bed sleeping in the 300 block of W. 20th Street, when two subjects fired multiple rounds into Martinez’s apartment. Martinez was struck in the chest and died at the scene from his injuries. The murder was the result of an argument in the 300 block of W 20th Street between 39-year-old Candice Carter and a group of men she believed to be rival gang members. After the argument, Carter and two other men returned to area and fired the fatal shots into Martinez’s apartment. It was determined that Martinez played no part in the initial argument with Carter.

On January 30, 2020, at about 4:00 PM, the Antioch Police Department and Pittsburg Police Department served a high-risk arrest warrant in the City of Pittsburg and took Carter into custody for this murder.

The Antioch Police Department credits advancements in technology and help from the community in solving this 15-year old murder. We expect to make more arrests related to this case in the near future.

The Contra Costa County Library is hosting two candidate forums in advance of the March primary. Voters attending the forums can hear directly from the candidates about their experience and positions on relevant issues. The forums will stream live on Facebook and re-air on Contra Costa Television (CCTV).

The Hercules Library will host a forum for the Board of Supervisors District V race on Tuesday, February 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. East County residents interested in watching the District V forum can attend a viewing party at the Pittsburg Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the library community room.

The Brentwood Library will host a forum at the Brentwood Community Center on Thursday, February 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Candidates for the Board of Supervisors District III seat will take part in the moderated forum.

County residents unable to attend the forums can watch live on the Contra Costa County Library Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ccclib/. The forums will also be archived on the Library’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/theccclib.
All forums will re-air on Contra Costa Television (CCTV). CCTV is available on Comcast channel 27, AT&T U-Verse channel 99 or Astound channel 32. For a full schedule, visit ccclib.org.

The Library is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and the West County League of Women Voters, Contra Costa County Elections Department and Contra Costa Television (CCTV).

For more information, contact Rich Hall at rhall@ccclib.org, (925) 608-7770.

Contra Costa Logistics Center site plan and area map. Photos and graphic by City of Oakley.

One of the most exciting developments in Oakley history is underway. The City of Oakley broke ground on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for the Contra Costa Logistics Center, a two‐million‐square‐foot project from Kansas City‐based NorthPoint Development.

The light industrial, warehouse, distribution, e‐commerce fulfillment, and light manufacturing space will be located on the former site of the DuPont Chemical Plant at 6000 Bridgehead Road.

The City has planned for development at the site since 2002 and it is now becoming a reality. Once completed, the campus is expected to generate 2,800 full and part time jobs and bring in $388,400 annually to the City’s General Fund as well as a contribution of $420,000 per year in revenue to the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District once compete.

Oakley and county officials join representatives of NorthPoint Development for the ceremonial ground breaking at the Contra Costa Logistics Center on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020.

NorthPoint Development has similar light manufacturing and distribution properties in 21 states with a client portfolio that includes Ford, Amazon, and Adidas.

“This is a large‐scale economic driver,” said Josh McMurray, the City of Oakley’s Community Development Director. “This is a catalyst not only for Oakley, but for the region. The amount of jobs and benefit to the county as a whole are just great.”

Plans call for five buildings to be constructed on 143 acres along the southwest portion of the site, with the additional 232 acres remaining natural.

Construction is underway following this week’s groundbreaking and a tenant for one full building has already been secured. NorthPoint hopes to finish the full buildout within four years.

As part of the project, NorthPoint Development will also complete roadway improvements on nearby streets including the intersections of Wilbur Avenue and Bridgehead Road and Bridgehead Road and Neroly Road, as well as alterations on Main Street at Empire Avenue and on Big Break Road at Main Street.

“We are thrilled to be starting construction this month on the Contra Costa Logistics Center in Oakley,” said Jed Momot, NorthPoint Development’s Chief Strategy Officer. “We believe the central location of Oakley being able to reach the population within the Bay Area and Northern California as well as the surplus of qualified labor will attract logistics, manufacturing, and e‐commerce businesses to locate within the park.

Momot went on to say that two buildings have planned construction starting this month, with the three other buildings to follow. He added that the project offers many unique characteristics such as rail service situated on the BNSF line and direct access onto Hwy 160 to Hwy 4.

Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick said that this new development will create a vital, long awaited economic hub in Oakley.

“Since Oakley’s incorporation as a city 20 years ago, this property has been considered a key to job growth and a potential hub of industry,” said Mayor Romick. “To see this project come to fruition is so gratifying and exciting for the entire Oakley community.”

212 homeless encampments cleaned up among the citywide actions

By Allen Payton

During the Antioch City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Jan. 28, Code Enforcement Manager Curt Michael presented an update on his divisions’ efforts to clean up the city.

He shared the definition of Code Enforcement is, “Code Enforcement is the prevention, detection, investigation and enforcement of violations of statutes or ordinances regulating public health, safety, and welfare, public works, business activities and consumer protection, building standards, land-use, or municipal affairs.”

In 2019, Michael and his staff had over 3,000 code enforcement complaints and about 12% of them were issued citations. During the year, they:

• Cleaned up 6,251 cubic yards of illegally dumped debris removed from city sidewalks and streets. One 40’ x 20’ pool holds 30 trailer loads of debris (150 cubic yards). The Abatement Team removed junk/rubbish from city property capable of filling 42 pools.
• Abated graffiti from public property at 733 locations.
• Abated 1,500 abandoned shopping carts on public property.
• Cleared 212 homeless encampments.

In addition, 2019, the Code Enforcement Division began participating in the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) program operated by the State of California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (Cal Recycle). During the year, Code Enforcement reported 748 mattresses collected to MRC/CalRecycle, resulting in $11,220 back to the city in reimbursements. For information on recycling your mattress, visit: www.mattressrecyclingcouncil.org

Finally, last year, the Code Enforcement Division tested a new program to assist residents with debris removal. The City of Antioch and Republic Services partnered together to host cleanup events, providing residents a no-cost way to legally dispose of unwanted items. During the pilot period, nine cleanup events were held in various neighborhoods resulting in 400 tons of debris removed from private properties.

The Code Enforcement Division’s plans for 2020 include:

• Increase staffing to 7 full time Code Enforcement Officers
• Increase staffing to 2 full time Code Enforcement Technicians
• Expand Neighborhood Cleanup program to 28 events, and
• Continue providing high standard of service.

To make a code violation complaint, call (925) 779-7042, email codeenforcementcomplaints@ci.antioch.ca.us or use the See,Click,Fix smartphone application.

A fourth suspect remains at large, victim of gun brandishing uncooperative

By Allen Payton

Three men were arrested for burglary following a high-speed chase with police in southeast Antioch, Tuesday afternoon. A fourth suspect remains at large as of Wednesday morning.

According to Antioch Police Corporal Brian Rose, “the incident started around 3:00 p.m. in the newer part of Antioch, on Bent Tree Way. There were three males arrested, two are 22 years old and one is 20 years old.”

“Earlier in the day on Wednesday, we received multiple calls of prowlers, in the newer parts of the city, the first was two black males in hoodies went into the back yard. No vehicle was seen,” Rose said, reading from the incident report.

“In the second a masked person came into a backyard where a female victim was and fled upon finding the resident at the house. There was a language barrier with that resident and the only information that she was able to provide was that the person fled in a white, four-door vehicle.

While the second case was being investigated, we received a call of someone brandishing a weapon on Bent Tree Way, with four black males in a white Durango pointing a gun at someone before fleeing. We obtained the license plate on the white Durango and that vehicle was wanted for a felony vehicle burglary that occurred in Santa Clara County. That vehicle was apparently used as a getaway vehicle in an auto burglary.

As officers were contacting the victim, they located the vehicle on Country Hills Drive. A pursuit ensued and the vehicle fled at speeds of 70 to 80 MPH, northbound on Hillcrest Avenue. Officers lost sight of the vehicle, briefly in the area of Hillcrest and Highway 4. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was found in the area of Blue Bell Circle and Larkspur Drive.

Three people were located and detained. A lengthy search was conducted for a fourth, outstanding suspect but that person was not located. Discarded clothing was located along the flight path of these three individuals. No gun was ever found. The person who was the victim of the weapon being brandished at them was uncooperative, so we weren’t able to corroborate that any further.”

An Antioch resident who lives off Hillcrest Avenue in that area of the city reported a helicopter flying overhead during the same time. But whether or not a helicopter was used in the search for the suspects could not be confirmed before publication of this report. That information will be provided, later.

Anyone with information regarding this case can call Antioch Police at (925) 779-6900. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Thank you to the Antioch resident who informed the Herald of this incident, giving us the opportunity to gather the details and provide them to our readers.