By Allen D. Payton

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest of a female suspect for robbery of an Antioch Letter Carrier on Nov. 29, 2024.

The USPIS issued the following announcement on Dec. 6th:

“The suspect was described as a medium build female, in her mid-20s to early 30s, and 5’6″-5’7″ feet tall. She was wearing a black or blue hooded sweatshirt, with a Covid mask or scarf covering her mouth. She was last seen running westbound on Lawton Street.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) involved in the robbery of a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier at gun point. The incident occurred on November 29, 2024, at approximately 6:40 p.m., while delivering mail on Lawton Street in Antioch, CA 94509.

TAKE NO ACTION TO APPREHEND THESE PERSONS YOURSELF

If you have any information about this incident, please contact the: U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 (say ‘Law Enforcement’)

Reference Case No. 4432888

All information will be kept strictly confidential.”

Or file a report online at Report – United States Postal Inspection Service.

By Allen D. Payton

As one resident said, “it’s like Antioch’s version of Oprah during her TV show giving out items to her audience members saying, ‘you get a gift, you get a gift, you get a gift’,’ during a ceremony Monday morning, Dec. 9, 2024, departing Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe awarded a Key to the City to “several deserveing [sic] individuals” according to the announcement on his official Facebook page.

The keys mounted on plaques were bestowed upon one former resident, the late Barbara Sobalvarro, the founder of Antioch Friends of Animal Services, who passed away last month, and 10 City department heads.

The recipients also included Director of Finance Dawn Merchant, Director of Information Technology Alan Barton, Economic Development Director and former Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, Director of Parks & Recreation and former Acting Assistant City Manager Brad Helfenberger, Acting Director of Public Works and City Engineer Scott Buenting, Acting Director of Community Development Kevin Scudero, Director of Human Resources Ana Cortes, Director of Public Safety & Community Resources Tasha Johnson, Interim Police Chief Brian Addington, Principal Executive Assistant Susan Vasquez and City Attorney Thomas Smith.

The ceremony held at City Hall also included what Hernandez-Thorpe labeled his “Final Address” as tomorrow night, Tuesday, Dec. 10th, the new mayor, Ron Bernal will be given his oath of office.

City’s 16th homicide of the year

By Lt. D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On December 7, at 10:36 pm, Antioch police officers responded to the parking lot of Delta Bowl at 3300 Delta Fair Boulevard on the report of a shooting. Shortly after arrival, they discovered two adult males in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the males, 34 years old, succumbed to his gunshot injury in the parking lot and the other male was transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital where he also succumbed to his gunshot injury.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit, took over the investigation. Investigators determined the 35-year-old suspect approached the male victim while he was sitting in the driver seat of his vehicle preparing to leave. Gunfire was exchanged between the two males, and both were fatally wounded. At this time, the motive for the shooting is unknown, and no other suspects or involved individuals appear to be outstanding.

This crime is still under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. The victim’s death is the 16th homicide in the city this year.

Additional inquiries or other information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Arturo Becerra at (925) 779-6937 or by email abecerra@antiochca.gov. Tips can also be sent to tips@antiochca.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

With help from K9, Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Pittsburg PD

By Antioch Police Department

Are you guys keeping score!? Tally two more for the good guys! ARMED CARJACKERS IN CUSTODY!

Thursday night, Dec. 5, 2024, at 6:15pm two victims were sitting in their vehicle in downtown Antioch when two brazen bandits forced them from their vehicle at gunpoint! The uncouth characters fled in the now stolen vehicle. What the two brainy bandits didn’t know is the vehicle had LoJack tracking capabilities.

During the chase, speeds reached 112 miles per hour on Highway 4.

K9 Kona and her leash holder located the vehicle on 18th street and gave chase. Luckily our buddies at Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office have a sweet little helicopter and they happened to be out for an evening cruise! The suspects fled to Bay Point where a platoon sized force of Antioch PD, Pittsburg PD and Contra Costa Sheriff’s deputies were waiting. The two suspects were both arrested fleeing from the vehicle!

On a “don’t commit crimes” side note, one of the suspects broke their ankle hopping a fence. They were cleared at the hospital and booked!

See incident video.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

New Course, New Friends, Same Great Event!

In partnership with Rotary Club of the Delta

By Kiwanis of the Delta-Antioch

We are very excited to bring back the Kiwanis Holiday Run & Walk for Health and Health Fair. This year will be the 48th running of this event. We have partnered with Rotary Club of the Delta to make sure we provide a high-quality event. We have worked to provide a better course, and lots of medals. We also hope our school’s challenge will be bigger than ever.

Races on a new course at Contra Loma Regional Park will include a 3-Mile Run/Walk, Kids Dash with Santa and the 1-Mile Run.

There will be a medal to the top five runners in every age category, as well as cash prizes and trophies to our top three high school, middle school and elementary schools.

Bib Pick Up will be on Friday, December 13th, at Fleet Feet Brentwood, 6061 Lone Tree Way Suite H, Brentwood, from 5:00-7:00 PM. AUSD students can pick up their bib at school.

Register today at https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Antioch/KiwanisHolidayRun. On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

The park is located at 1200 Frederickson Lane in Antioch.

See official election results

“I’m just grateful for everybody that has made this a victory that we can all be proud of… thank you very much for this wonderful journey and it’s just beginning” – Mayor-elect Ron Bernal

By Allen D. Payton

Antioch Mayor-elect Ron Bernal and Councilmen-elect Louie Rocha and Don Freitas are inviting the public to their oaths of office ceremony on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, inside the Council Chambers at City Hall. In addition, new City Clerk Melissa Rhodes and City Treasurer Jorge Rojas, Jr. will also be sworn in that night.

On November 20th, Bernal posted on his campaign Facebook page both an announcement of his “Swearing-in ceremony” and a brief video in which he said, “Hey, Antioch. Ron Bernal, here. I just want to thank everybody for this amazing campaign that we’ve been on for the past 10 months. The support, the people that have volunteered and helped with this campaign has been really humbling and I’m just grateful for everybody that has made this a victory that we can all be proud of and all take credit for.”

“So, I want to invite you all out on December the 10th, Tuesday night to the swearing in for myself, for the new council members and for our new treasurer and city clerk,” he continued. “Again, thank you very much for this wonderful journey and it’s just beginning.”

According to the Official Results from the Contra Costa County Elections office, Bernal defeated incumbent Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe by more than a two-to-one margin, 25,791 votes or 61.98 percent of the vote to 12,783 or 30.72 percent. The third candidate in the race, Rakesh Christian garnered 3,041 votes or 7.31 percent of the vote.

District 2 Council

On his campaign Facebook page on Nov. 18, Rocha posted a photo of the three council election victors with a brief invite. He wrote, “Swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Ron Bernal, City Council Members Don Freitas and I will be held at the Antioch City Council meeting on Tuesday December 10, 2024 @ 7 p.m. Please show your support by attending the open public meeting.”

In his race for the District 2 Council seat Rocha defeated his opponent with 5,261 votes or 57.81 percent of the vote to Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Dominique King’s 3,841 votes or 42.2 percent.

District 3 Council

I his race for the District 3 Council seat Freitas defeated his two opponents with 5,735 votes or 49.19% of the vote to newcomer Addison Peterson’s 3,391 votes or 29.09 percent, and Board of Administrative Appeals Vice Chair Antwon Webster’s 2,532 votes or 21.72 percent of the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem

Although Freitas received the most votes in the two council races, because Rocha received the highest percentage of the vote, he will be elected by his fellow council members as the Mayor Pro Tem for 2025, according to the city’s ordinance after it was changed a few years ago. Freitas will have the position in 2026.

City Treasure and Clerk

In the City Treasurer race, newcomer Rojas defeated his two long-time, local officeholder opponents with 14,602 or 37.56 percent of the vote to current District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock’s 12,290 votes or 31.61% and former Mayor and City Treasurer Jim Davis’ 11,986 votes or 30.83% of the vote. Rhodes was the only candidate for Antioch City Treasurer and garnered 33,089 votes.

Council Meeting Details

The Antioch City Council’s regular open session meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown. The meeting can also be seen via livestream on the City’s website at https://www.antiochca.gov/government/city-council-meetings/live/ or viewed on either Comcast local cable channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.

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