10/24/24 UPDATE: The victim “died over the weekend”, incident now investigated as vehicular manslaughter
By Lieutenant Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On October 12, 2024, at approximately 8:25 PM, Antioch Police officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run auto vs. pedestrian vehicle collision on Lone Tree Way near Canada Valley Road. Officers arrived on scene and found the 53-year-old female victim unresponsive on the ground in the eastbound lanes of Lone Tree Way. Officers performed first aid until relieved by paramedics. The victim was transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries.
10/14/24 UPDATE: According to Interim Chief Brian Addington, “She is listed in critical condition.”
Traffic accident investigators were called out to take over the investigation. This investigation is still on-going, and the cause of the collision has not yet been determined. This case is in the preliminary stages and the names of the parties involved are not being released at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or Traffic Collision Investigator Sergeant Green at (925) 779-6864, email rgreen@antiochca.gov.
10/23/24 UPDATE: Antioch Interim Police Chief Brian Addington and Captain Joe Vigil confirmed information shared in a comment on the Antioch Herald Facebook page that the victim “died over the weekend.”
10/24/24 UPDATE: When asked if it is now a homicide investigation Lt. Desmond Bittner said, “Anything related to a vehicle, it would be vehicular manslaughter, and the investigation is conducted like a homicide, but it is not classified as a homicide.”
The investigation and search for the suspect continues.
Monica’s Riverview is located at 1 I (eye) Street over the water in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For menu, reservations, entertainment schedule and more information see www.visitmonicas.com.
Incumbent Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and challengers Ron Bernal and Rakesh Christian are battling for the top leadership position in the City of Antioch.
With almost $156K for the former city manager, a little over $139K for the incumbent and $8,500 for the other challenger
By Allen D. Payton
There are several battles in a political campaign war: ground – door-to-door precinct walking, air – including direct mail and TV, endorsements, signs, advertising and fundraising. The most recent campaign finance reports in the race for Mayor of Antioch show former city manager Ron Bernal has slightly increased his lead over Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, while the other challenger, Rakesh Christian, is trailing in a distant third in the battle for the bucks.
Known as a Form 460, the report shows for the period of July 1 through Sept. 21 plus, a Form 497 report showing $1,000 contributed since then, the challenger had raised another $28,322 for a total of $155,967.34 for the year. The incumbent raised $22,375 for the period and an additional $3,000 since then for a total of $81,169. However, that amount does not include the $58,171.60 left over from his Stop the #Karen Recall committee that Hernandez-Thorpe transferred to his re-election committee. That has given the mayor a total of $139,340.60 to spend during the campaign.
The Form 460 report for the third candidate in the race, challenger and second-time candidate for mayor, Rakesh Christian, shows he’s loaned his committee $8,543.17 and spent it all during the period.
Bernal
The 460 report for the period shows Bernal’s largest contributions were $5,500 each from Dave and Thea Shupe, of Oakley, owners of Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, Inc. in Antioch, $3,500 from rancher and farer Robert McGrew of Dixon, $2,000 from Michael Hurd of Antioch, self-employed in commercial real estate consulting and the former track and field coach at Antioch High School for whom the track is named, $1,000 from Antioch State Farm Insurance Agent James Lanter, $500 each from Pruthviraj Desai of Antioch, owner and manager of Antioch Executive Inn, the location of the City’s homeless hotel, Duane Shoemake of Antioch, listed as retired, Joe Stokley of Pleasant Hill, Broker of Stokley Properties, and $250 from Lori Ogorchock’s 2022 city council campaign committee and an additional $150 from the councilwoman.
His Form 497 filed on Sept. 29th shows two $500 contributions from Steven Abfalter of Antioch, listed as retired.
Bernal’s campaign committee spent almost all of the $47,228.72 during the period outside of Antioch and East County. The largest expenditures included $27,461.65 to Praetorian Public Relations of Walnut Creek for campaign consulting, $11,500 to J Wallin Opinion Research of Newport Beach for polling, $3,000 to Corey Agopian for social media content creation, $1,449 to the City of Antioch for candidate filing, $1,281 to the California Homeowners Voter Guide for a slate mailer and $981 to No Party Preference Voter Guide in Sacramento for another slate mailer.
Of the funds paid to Praetorian they in turn paid $8,756.36 to Imprint of Houston, TX for campaign paraphernalia, $3,705.43 to Landslide Communications in Laguna Niguel for literature, $3,006.80 to Prompt.io of Seattle, WA for phone banking, $2,298.76 to SignsOnTheCheap.com in Austin, TX and $774 to the COPS Voter Guide in Sacramento for a slate mailer.
Bernal’s committee began the period with a Beginning Cash Balance of $87,797.97, and as of Sept. 21st, had spent a total of $87,076.09 leaving him an Ending Cash Balance of $68,241.10 for the remainder of the campaign. See Bernal Form 460 0701-092124, Form 497 092924
Hernandez-Thorpe
The mayor’s largest contributions for the period were $5,000 each from Prestige One Investment, LLC of Brentwood, a company owned by businessman and Antioch commercial real estate owner Sean McCauley and Gary’s Liquor and Cigarettes for Less of Antioch, $1,000 each from Doralee Montague of Lawrenceville, Georgia listed as Director, Cox Communications, Robert Collins of Antioch listed as retired, Teresa Moye of Atlanta, GA, Partner of Moye Properties, $500 each from DASS Sweets, Inc. of Antioch, form Contra Costa College Board Trustee Gregory Enholm of Bay Point listed as retired, Mary Simms of Antioch, owner of Simms Enterprises, Victor Baker of Pleasant Hill, CEO of EquitiFy, Pruthviraj Desai of Antioch, listed as a hotelier, owner of the Executive Inn on E. 18th Street and Taylor Drivon of Stockton, listed as a homemaker,
Plus, an additional $3,000 was received on Oct. 3 from Maria Quinto Collins of Antioch, the mother of the late Angelo Quinto for whom the City’s Crisis Response Team is named and listed as the Founder for the Angelo Quinto Foundation. Her husband is Robert Collins listed above. Thorpe voted to settle their family’s lawsuit against the City and police department for $7.5 million.
Unlike Bernal’s campaign, the Hernandez-Thorpe re-election campaign spent a large amount of his $66,481.49 in expenditures locally in Antioch and East County. The largest expenditures for the period include $19,244.59 paid to Belleci Signs of Pittsburg for literature and lawn signs, $11,393 for five slate mailers paid to a company in Torrance, $10,627.64 to Copyworld of Berkeley for literature, $2,898 to the City of Antioch for candidate filing fees, $2,689.63 to La Plazuela in Antioch for a fundraiser, $2,500 to Chef Clarinne LeGrone of Antioch for catering and event space for the Mayor’s Democratic Unity Rally, $2,155 to LowKii Photography of Antioch, $792 to FastSigns of Antioch for 4’x8’ signs, $750 to Vicki Robinson of Antioch the campaign’s treasurer, $729.34 to Facebook for online advertising, $566.30 to Cheapestees of Burlingame and $549.60 to Political Data, Inc. of Norwalk for literature.
The mayor’s campaign committee started the period with a Beginning Cash Balance of $99,204.31 and as of Sept. 21st had spent $81,742.78 and had an Ending Cash Balance of $54,597.82. Add the $3,000 from Mrs. Quinto Collins and Hernandez-Thorpe had $58,597.82 to spend for the remainder of the campaign.
Of the funds Christian loaned to and were spent by his campaign, the largest expenditures were $4,713.58 to Sign-A-Rama of Antioch, $1,954.59 to the City of Antioch for the candidate filing fee and $1,500 to Kingdom Graphix of Antioch for website design. He had no Ending Cash Balance. See Christian Form 460 0701-092124
According to the California Secretary of State, the next reporting period ends on Oct. 19th and the candidates’ campaign committees must submit another Form 460 by Oct. 24th.
For Furry Friends Pet Relief, Saturday from 10-4pm, Pet and Kids Costume Contests
The event presented by Hot Rods 4 Paws and Celebrate Antioch Foundation will be held on W. 2nd and G Streets in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown Business District. The benefit for Furry Friends Pet Relief will offer fun for the whole family, with:
During the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve Open House on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27, free mine tours will be held for both the Coal Mine Experience and the Hazel Atlas Sand Mine! We will also have Victorian Era games to play and a nature table outside the mines, plus staff at the Rose Hill Cemetery to chat with.
Tour Details:
All tours will be first come, first served.
The earliest you can sign up for tours is 10am.
First tours will begin at 10:30am.
Last tours will begin at 3:00pm.
All tours will last 30 minutes.
Tours are only available to ages 7+.
No animals allowed on tours with the exception of service animals.
How to Sign-Up for Free Tours:
Coal Mine Experience- Register at the table outside of the Greathouse Visitor Center.
Hazel Atlas Sand Mine- Register at the table outside of the Hazel Atlas Mine.
*Sign-ups are done in person, there will be no reservations over the phone.
Other Helpful Info:
It can take a good 10-15 minutes to walk to either mine from the parking lot.
It can also take 10-15 minutes to walk from mine to mine – don’t sign up for one mine tour directly after the other.
The Hazel Atlas Sand Mine has train tracks going throughout the tour making it less accessible than the Coal Mine Experience, which is flat the whole way.
The Greathouse Visitor Center will be open from 10am-4pm.
Check the weather and dress accordingly. Even if it’s hot outside, it’s still cold in the mines!
KTVU interview with Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe interview on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Video screenshot
In Wednesday TV news interview about new Violence Reduction Initiative; Bernal says, “No” he didn’t know about police scandals
Although scandals occurred while he’s been on the council since 2016 and mayor since 2020 Hernandez-Thorpe won’t accept any responsibility
By Allen D. Payton
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe who is seeking re-election to a second term in the position, and third term on the council, lashed out at his opponent, former city manager Ron Bernal on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, during a Bay Area TV news interview. He posted a video of the interview on his official Facebook page.
The KTVU interview was about the Violence Reduction Initiative approved the by city council the previous night providing up to $500,000 for help from outside agencies at a cost of up to $200 per hour for their officers and equipment. The plan is to supplement the effort of the Antioch Police Department specifically focusing on the City’s highest-crime areas of Sycamore and Cavallo Roads following a rash of 15 shootings in September, most of which occurred in those parts of town and results in the deaths of two young men.
During the interview the mayor blasted Bernal claiming he was responsible for the current crime which he blamed on the lack of officers due to the two scandals involving officers from both the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments that were investigated by both the Contra Costa DA’s Office and FBI. Hernandez-Thorpe said, “The former city manager left us with this mess.”
The scandals started with the selling of steroids and one officer taking tests so other officers could pass college courses to obtain greater pay and the initial investigation uncovered racist and offensive texts being sent by six officers but received by many more. The investigations resulted in 35 Antioch officers being placed on leave and ultimately, 10 officers being terminated. (See related articles here, here and here)
The texting occurred in 2019, 2020 and 2021 while Hernandez-Thorpe was on the city council having been elected in 2016 and during his first year as mayor, and when Bernal was city manager, having been first hired interim city manager then promoted to the permanent position both in March 2017. The mayor called for the firing of all the officers investigated for the text scandal in May 2023 and again the following month.
The KTVU reporter challenged the mayor asking him if he was elected in 2020, but she failed to ask him how long he’s served on the council. Hernandez-Thorpe’s first term as a council member began in December 2016 and included the time period of both police scandals.
The police chief at that time, Tammany Brooks, who was hired in May 2017, said he was unaware of the texts that were shared among officers’ personal cell phones, not their department-issued phones. In October 2021, Brooks retired from Antioch and took a new position with the Boise Police Department. Bernal retired at the end of December 2021.
It wasn’t always chilly between the mayor and Bernal. Following Bernal’s announcement of his retirement, Hernandez-Thorpe heaped praise upon him saying, “Ron is an impeccable human being, filled with compassion, understanding, and love. This has been demonstrated time after time in his relentless support and desire to house our unhoused neighbors, provide Antioch youth with new paths filled with opportunity, and much, much more. Ron has been a friend, confidant, and advisor. While Ron will be missed in his capacity as city manager, he and his wife will continue to be Antioch residents and neighbors to many of us.” (See related articles here and here)
This is the second time Hernandez-Thorpe has accused Bernal of something that occurred while both were serving in their respective positions. Earlier this year the mayor accused the former city manager of approving the decommissioning of the Antioch Amtrak station, which was later proven false. Bernal, with Hernandez-Thorpe’s knowledge, only approved the demolition of the building at the station. (See related article)
Questions for Hernandez-Thorpe Go Unanswered
Questions were sent Thursday morning to the mayor asking the following:
“If you’re going to blame the former city manager, who was hired in March 2017, shouldn’t you also accept at least part of the blame since you were one of his bosses and were on the council at the time?
Did you know about the texts being sent among the officers?
Since Chief Brooks was hired in May 2017 in your first year on the council and who said he was unaware of the texts as they were sent using the officers’ personal cell phones and that’s not something the department has oversight of, how could you expect the city manager to know of the texts? How could you or any of the council members be aware of them, either?
Since you twice called for the firing of all 35 officers on paid leave during the two investigations, most of whom only received the texts but didn’t send any, which if that had happened would have further depleted the number on the Antioch force by another 25 sworn officers, shouldn’t you take responsibility for contributing to the atmosphere that’s kept officers from wanting to come to work for our city?
As the mayor and one of five council members, do you accept any responsibility for the current crime problems, specifically the recent rash of 16 shootings in Antioch and lack of police officers on the force?
Do you think it’s appropriate to be campaigning during a TV interview about a new City effort to address the current increase in shootings in Antioch’s highest crime areas instead of focusing on the solutions?”
The mayor was also asked to share anything else about the matter.
But multiple attempts to reach Hernandez-Thorpe and his campaign consultant were unsuccessful prior to publication time.
Bernal Says He Didn’t Know About the Police Scandals
In addition, Bernal was also asked questions about Hernandez-Thorpe’s accusations. He was asked:
“Did you know anything about the racist and offensive police texts while you were city manager?
Did you know anything about the use of steroids by some officers?
Were you aware of any reports from within the department that some officers were paying another officer to take tests for them to pass college courses in order to increase their pay?”
Bernal was also asked if he had any other comments about the matter.
Although his campaign consultant, Matt Shupe, responded, “Were not going to engage on any of these Lamar issues/topics/stories” and shared Bernal had also been interviewed by KTVU on Thursday, the candidate later responded simply with, “No, no and no. I have no further comment.”
The election is November 5th and whichever of the three running for mayor, including second-time candidate Rakesh Christian, is victorious will serve for a four-year term.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Shooting between two vehicles on Cavallo Road on Wednesday evening, Oct. 8, 2024, struck the County services building windows and a refrigerator inside. (See yellow circle). Left photo courtesy of Catrina Beverly. Center and right photos provided by a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
“No victims have come forward,” – Antioch Police Lt. John Fortner
16th shooting in city since Sept. 2nd
By Allen D. Payton
A shooting between occupants of two vehicles on Cavallo Road in Antioch, Tuesday evening, October 8, 2024, at about 6:30 p.m. struck the Contra Costa County Social Services building but no individuals.
“No victims have come forward,” said Antioch Police Lt. John Fortner. “We didn’t locate any victims, no hospital calls, nothing.”
“It was two cars going at each other,” he shared. “We’re still looking at video. Basically, what we have, it happened between the Mexican market and the County building in the street.”
Antioch Police investigated the Tuesday evening shooting on Cavallo Road north of E. 18th Street. Photo by a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
“There was a car on the roadway facing south, about the 1700 block of Cavallo, north of E. 18th Street. It was a lighter colored vehicle. A darker colored vehicle heading southbound slowed down as it neared the other vehicle. The occupants of one car started shooting at the other. Both cars ended up making U-turns in the middle of the street and heading northbound, with the darker colored vehicle turning first. So, the lighter colored car may have been chasing the other. We don’t know if it was an exchange or who started it.”
“We’re not aware of any buildings being struck,” he stated. But when informed of the photos provided to the Herald and shared by a resident on social media on Wednesday. Fortner then added, “I will confirm that and get back to you.”
To combat the violence the city council on Tuesday night approved spending up to $500,000 on a Violence Reduction Initiative paying up to $200 per hour for overtime to outside agency officers and for the use of their equipment, but not paying double-time to Antioch officers. The initiative is focused on in the Sycamore corridor and Cavallo Road neighborhood and is designed to assist the “understaffed, overworked police department”, according to District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker in whose district 15 of the shootings have occurred.
Over $65,000 for research, polling, website and mailer saying Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe is “Unfit for Leadership”
By Allen D. Payton
A direct-mail hit piece arrived in Antioch residents’ mailboxes on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, against Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe saying he’s “Unfit for Leadership” and “Not Right for Antioch”. It was paid for by the California Real Estate Independent Expenditure Committee – California Association of REALTORS with the National Association of REALTORS® and California Association of REALTORS® as the “Committee’s Top Funders”.
According to the campaign finance report known as a Form 496, available through the Antioch City Clerk’s website, as of Oct. 8, 2024, the opposition campaign had spent $65,328.50 to defeat the incumbent, of which $40,000.00 paid for the mailer and a website, $17,312.50 for polling and $8,016.00 for research. (See CA Realtors Form 496)
Before independent expenditure committees spend money to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure, they will pay for research and then a conduct a poll or survey of likely voters to determine the level of support or opposition, and what issues they should highlight in a campaign to achieve their goals.
Front of the mailer against Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe paid for by the two Realtors associations that arrived in the mail on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. Photo provided by a reader.
The mailer highlights the mayor’s $350,000 sexual harassment claims settlement by the County in September 2022 and shows newspaper headlines and quotes from articles and editorials of his “intolerable misogynistic behavior” and include comments that, “He must resign” and “For the sake of the city, Thorpe should step aside.”
The mailer provides a website address of www.unfitforleadership.com which offers more details about Hernandez-Thorpe’s controversial behavior during his term as mayor with sub-headers of Sexual Harassment, Illegal Meetings, Selling His Office and Drunk Driving. The website shares information about the mayor’s political affairs consulting business, El Sereno Strategic Group, which, according to Bizpedia he formed on January 24, 2022. The company’s website includes a photo of Hernandez-Thorpe sitting in the Mayor’s Office at Antioch City Hall signing a City of Antioch certificate for someone and other photos from his official duties, including from some of his many press conferences.
Source: UnfitForLeadership.com opposition campaign website screenshot.
One premise of the opposition campaign website is that the mayor is “Trading On His Political Relationships… ‘cultivated’ while an elected official in Antioch should be used to benefit the Citizens of Antioch, not reserved for paying clients.”
Questions for Hernandez-Thorpe Go Unanswered
Hernandez-Thorpe was asked if he’d seen the mailer and website and had any comments about them. He was also asked about his business website and why he’s using photos from his official duties, specifically from inside the Mayor’s Office at City Hall to promote his company. Hernandez-Thorpe was also asked if he thinks it’s appropriate and doesn’t it create the appearance that the mayor is mixing his elected duties with his business activities. Most importantly, the mayor was asked if he does any business with any client who has had dealings with the City of Antioch and/or has been before the city council for a vote.
Multiple efforts to reach the mayor and his campaign consultant were unsuccessful prior to publication time on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
