By Sergeant Matthew Harger #3305, Field Services Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On June 14, 2019, at approximately 7:30pm, Antioch Police Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call regarding a possible child drowning in a residential family swimming pool in the 3000 Block of N. Francisco Way. Antioch Police Officers along with ConFire and AMR personnel quickly arrived on scene and began immediate live saving measures on the child.

The child was transported to a local hospital where he later passed away.

The preliminary investigation appears to indicate this incident was a tragic accident. No further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call 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.

By Allen Payton

Not long after Antioch Real Estate Broker Rick Fuller started dating his wife Jennifer, she lost her only son, Deon to meningitis in 1998 at the age of four. The couple donated Deon’s organs which saved the lives of four others. A two-year-old girl named Malysa was the recipient of Deon’s heart. Now, 21 years later, that heart is failing and Malysa is need of another transplant.

The Fullers weren’t supposed to know who received their son’s heart. But, a year later Jennifer met Malysa. Then eight years later, Jennifer felt her son’s heart beating in Malysa’s chest. Now, having learned of her need for another heart, since transplants usually only last for three to 10 years, the Fullers have launched an effort to help raise the $100,000 needed to cover Malysa’s medical care.

Now, having learned of her need for another heart, since transplants usually only last for three to 10 years, the Fullers have launched an effort to help raise the $100,000 needed to cover Malysa’s medical care.

In order to be listed for a second transplant, her family must raise the required funds needed to pay all expenses not covered by insurance. The largest expense being the requirement to relocate Malysa Logan and a full-time caregiver to the Stanford area for an unknown period of time following the transplant.

“I gave life to my Sweet Boy Deon 26 years ago today and I would be amiss if I did not share that we have been working on giving life once again,” Jennifer posted on Rick’s Facebook on April 24. “Through Malysa, Deon’s heart has beat these last 21 years and now she is in need of another heart transplant.”

“Over $53,000 has come in, in less than two months,” Rick shared. “She told us in February that the heart she received from Deon was failing. When she was a child there were several grants that covered the costs. But now that she’s an adult there are no funds for her. That’s when we stepped up and launched our effort in March.”

A donation website has been set up at www.malysasheart.com.

In addition, a fundraiser, hosted by the Rotary of the Delta-Antioch, will be held this Saturday, April 27 at Afrique Restaurant in Antioch. The “Have a Heart” event will run from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the restaurant is located in the Orchard Square at 2370 Buchanan Road. (See flyer above) Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.

“We’re real appreciative about people in our community, coming along side and helping. So, we’re super excited to be a part of that,” Jennifer said.

To learn more about Malysa, her first transplant, her current donor and her need for a new transplant by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/malysasheart/. You may also contact Rick Fuller at info@rickfuller.com.

To see more, watch the NBC Bay Area TV news report about the Fuller’s efforts to help Malysa and the video the couple posted on Jennifer’s Facebook page, on Tuesday night.

By Sergeant Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 at approximately 7:32 pm, Antioch Police Officers and Emergency Personnel were dispatched to the 2600 block of Somersville Road on a report of a vehicle collision involving a vehicle vs. a pedestrian. Upon arrival, Antioch Police Officers located a 3-year-old female juvenile in the parking lot of Sears non-responsive. Life saving measures were started until relieved by medical and fire personnel. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext. 84265 or ejohnsen@ci.antioch.ca.us.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Traffic Division.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441 or Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext. 84265. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

On October 25, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office along with our justice partners, is hosting a community forum and resource fair which will address what family violence looks like in Contra Costa County, what Contra Costa County’s response is to family violence and how law enforcement responds to family violence. Victims may feel conflicted about reporting violence in the home or may not be aware of the wide range of resources in our community that can respond to, intervene in and work to prevent these issues and keep our families safe.

32.9 percent of California women and 27.3 percent of California men experience physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes. In 2016, the National Domestic Violence Hotline received over 28,000 calls from California and nearly one-third of these had children in the home. Research has shown that only 4 percent of domestic violence murder victims nationwide had ever availed themselves of domestic violence program services. Our goal is to increase that number by letting our community members know how to get help right here in Contra Costa County.

The event will occur in Antioch at the Antioch Water Park (4701 Lone Tree Way) starting at 5:00 p.m. with the resource fair. Community members will receive a “passport” to use when visiting providers at the resource fair and will be eligible for prizes if they collect a “stamp” from each provider. A blue ribbon panel of experts from many levels of our County’s family violence response system will address the audience at 6:00 p.m. and be available for questions. After the panelists finish, the resources fair will be continue until 8:00 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided.

 Victims of family violence can get help by reporting the conduct to the police, by calling the STAND! for Families Free of Violence 24-hour toll free crisis line at 1-888-215-5555 or contacting the Family Justice Centers in Richmond (256 24^th St.) or Concord (2151 Salvio St., Suite 201). In any life-threatening emergency, victims should always call 911. In 2019, a new Family Justice Center location will open in Antioch to serve East County residents.

The entire program will be moderated by KTVU’s Candice Nguyen. Panelists will include:

·         Dana Filkowski, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

·         Rhonda James, STAND! For Families Free of Violence

·         Devorah Levine, Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse

·         Kevin McAllister, Rainbow Community Center

·         Nicole Riddick, Pittsburg Police Department

·         Jason Vanderpool, Antioch Police Department

The participating agencies are as follows: 

·         Antioch Council for the Teens

·         Antioch Police Department

·         Bay Area Rapid Transit

·         Brentwood Police Department

·         Brentwood Union School District

·         Catholic Charities of the East Bay

·         Community Violence Solutions

·         Contra Costa Family Justice Centers

·         Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

·         Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department

·         Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office

·         International Rescue Committee

·         Mexican Consulate

·         Oakley Police Department

·         Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Inc.

·         Opportunity Junction

·         Pittsburg Police Department

·         Planned Parenthood

·         Rainbow Community Center

·         Rubicon Programs

·         Ruby’s Place

·         STAND! For Families Free of Violence

·         Tourette Association of America

·         Village Community Resource Center

 October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month.