Antioch Police Community Engagement Team Officers Riosbaas (left) and Shipilov (center) check on Harry on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, who was given a job by 7-Eleven owner Mena. Photo by Antioch PD
By Antioch Police Department
On Thursday, April 23, 2026, officers with the Antioch Police Community Engagement Team responded to a report of an unhoused individual trespassing on private property. When Officers Riosbaas and Shipilov arrived, they made contact with a young man named Harry. During their conversation with Harry, he explained that he had been experiencing homelessness for an extended period of time and was making efforts to obtain employment, so he could afford housing and transportation, but had been unsuccessful so far despite applying to several local businesses.
Officers used their contacts with Mena, the owner of 7-Eleven on Sunset Lane and Davison Drive, and gave Mena Harry’s contact information. Within 15 minutes Mena called Harry and set up a job interview while officers Riosbaas and Shipilov were still on scene. Harry was extremely grateful for the opportunity! Officers gave Harry some pointers for the interview and he aced it! Harry was hired and his first day of work was April 26, 2026.
Officers Riosbaas and Shipilov checked in on Harry on Tuesday, April 28 to congratulate him on his success and took the opportunity to pose with him and Mena.
These are the contacts that make a difference in our community. At the Antioch Police Department, our Community Engagement Team is committed to more than just enforcement. They’re here to build relationships, connect people with resources, and help create pathways to success.
This is just one example of how collaboration, compassion, and proactive policing can positively impact lives. We would like to thank Mena for being willing to give Harry an opportunity, and we wish Harry continued success in this next chapter.
Join us for a community meeting with the Antioch Police Department on Monday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Ignatius Church, 3351 Contra Loma Blvd.
During the meeting, we will share updates and discuss issues or concerns affecting the community. This is an opportunity to ask questions, receive helpful information and engage directly with your Police Department.
For those attending, please note:
– Enter through the Parish Hall entrance
– Park in the nearby lot as shown in the attached location photos
– Please do not enter through the main church entrance
We encourage all interested community members to attend.
Zahvon Hopson was arrested in San Diego on Friday, April 10, 2026. Photo: Antioch PD
By Acting Sgt. John Cox #5705, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
Wanted by Antioch Police for the February fatal shooting of a 20-year-old woman in Antioch, 21-year-old Zahvon Hopson was arrested on Friday, April 10, 2026, by San Diego Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit. Antioch Police Department would like to thank our partners at San Diego Police Department for their assistance in apprehending this dangerous individual.
The case is expected to be filed with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office later next week.
The Investigations Bureau will provide additional updates as they become available.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Shaffer at (925) 779-6944 or via email at cshaffer@antiochca.gov.
Antioch Police Acting Lt. Gary Lowther is joined by Captains Matt Koch and Shane Bower for the SLI graduation on April 3, 2026. Photo: Antioch PD
Chosen by classmates to speak at graduation
By Allen D. Payton
Lt. Lowther speaks at the SLI graduation on April 3, 2026. Video screenshot courtesy of Antioch PD
In an April 7th, 2026 post on their Facebook page, the Antioch Police Department wrote, “We are proud to congratulate Acting Lieutenant Gary Lowther on his recent graduation from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI) after completing the program’s rigorous eight-month long course. This program continues to train new leaders while they learn and collaborate with some of the most experienced law enforcement innovators. Acting Lt. Lowther was honored to be chosen by his peers to be a speaker at the SLI graduation.
Congrats Gary on the accomplishment and we’re excited to watch your career continue to grow!”
California Law Enforcement Officers who hold the rank of Sergeant are the individuals who get to attend this program.
Antioch PD Captain Matt Koch said the graduation was held in Folsom on April 3rd and offered additional details about the program saying, “SLI is an eight-month leadership course, one week a month for eight months. It focuses on adaptive leadership and culture shifts.”
The institute is part of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training, known as POST.
“According to POST’s website, The Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI) is a program designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement front-line supervisors. Designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers, the SBSLI is an intense program based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work.
“The curriculum takes students through an analysis of management (planning, organizing, directing, etc.) and leadership (inspiring, challenging, developing, etc.) and how each discipline compliments the other. The course progresses from self-evaluation, to interpersonal evaluation, to organizational relationships.
Antioch Police Acting Lt. Lowther (sixth from left) with his SLI graduating class and instructors. Courtesy of Antioch PD
“During the program, a typical successful student develops the ability to:
Correlate the relationship between personal and organizational principles and values
Exercise greater leadership in personal and professional activities
Increase personal influence with individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals
Analyze issues from multiple perspectives
Develop increased self-confidence and confidence in the ability of others
Provide support and development for peers and subordinates
Recognize and address areas for personal improvement
Effectively integrate management skills and leadership qualities
“A typical successful student is willing to learn, open to new ideas, and able to engage in deep self-examination of values and beliefs. The program is not a ‘how-to’ course and should not be viewed as a fix for problem individuals. The curriculum provides a forum for personal growth and development of qualities necessary for effective public safety leadership.”
The institute was named for Sherman Block, the 29th Sheriff of Los Angeles County. According to his Wikipedia page, he served from 1982 until his death in 1998, during his campaign for re-election, which he was expected to win, following a 42-year career.
Customers and a security guard can be seen at the US Bank branch inside the Antioch Raley’s store the day after the robbery. Photo by Allen D. Payton
Gave back money plus “a dollar extra”
“He probably just wanted a place to eat and sleep.” – Raley’s employee
By Lt. Michael Mellone, Antioch Police Department
On Monday, March 23, 2026, at 6:06 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a robbery in progress at the US Bank located inside the Raley’s supermarket at 3636 Lone Tree Way, Antioch.
According to reports, the suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Pittsburg resident Gerald Anthony Oretger, entered the bank and passed a handwritten note to a teller demanding money. The teller complied and provided cash. Oretger briefly left the bank but returned shortly afterward and voluntarily returned the money to the teller. A security guard on the premises detained Oretger.
According to a store employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, “The guy walked into the store handed a note to the teller. There was no gun. He asked the security guard to arrest and handcuff him. But the guard said he had no handcuffs. He probably just wanted a place to eat and sleep. He actually gave the money back to the bank and gave them a dollar extra.”
When officers arrived and attempted to take Oretger into custody, he began striking, spitting on and kicking multiple officers. He also attempted to grab an officer’s service weapon. Oretger was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation prior to booking.
No bank employees, customers or officers sustained serious injuries during the incident.
Oretger will be booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges:
1. Robbery — California Penal Code Section 211 (Felony)
2. First-Degree Burglary — California Penal Code Section 460(a) (Felony)
3. Attempting to Remove a Firearm from a Peace Officer — California Penal Code Section 148(d) (Felony)
4. Battery on a Peace Officer — California Penal Code Section 243(b) (Misdemeanor)
The Antioch Police Department thanks the public, as well as the employees of US Bank and Raley’s, for their cooperation during the response.
According to localcrimenews.com, Oretger was previously arrested twice in 2016 by Pittsburg Police for resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer and for an outstanding warrant.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441.
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, our Dispatch Center received multiple calls reporting a large group of approximately 50 dirt bikes and minibikes traveling throughout the city. Callers advised the group was riding recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic, and was being assisted by several vehicles blocking intersections.
Officers monitored the situation and used drones to track the group safely. When conditions allowed, officers made contact with several riders. Four mini bikes were towed and one additional dirt bike driver was cited.
According to Sgt. Rob Green, “The drivers ranged in age from 15 to 20 years old. Initially there were about 50 but it ended up being 100 riders involved. We could tell this was a mass organized event because a lot of them were in clothing that advertised it, called ‘Antioch Rideout 2026.’”
We are thankful for the community members who reported this activity and helped us respond quickly and safely. Reckless riding of this nature puts not only the participants at risk, but also other motorists, pedestrians, and families in our community.
The suspect was driving a tan 2000 Toyota Avalon. Photo: Antioch PD
By Lt. Michael Mellone, Antioch Police Department
The Antioch Police Department is seeking witnesses and possible additional information related to an indecent exposure incident reported on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m. near a bus stop at Buchanan Road and Delta Fair Boulevard.
An 18-year-old woman reported that a tan 2000 Toyota Avalon drove past her multiple times as she walked to the bus stop. After she arrived, the driver parked nearby, sat on the bench next to her, and exposed himself while masturbating in her presence.
Antioch police officers identified the suspect as Armando Cruz Castro, 54, of Pittsburg.
Officers later located Castro and arrested him for a violation of California Penal Code section 314.1 (indecent exposure/masturbation in public).
Investigators believe there may be additional witnesses or individuals who experienced a similar encounter but have not yet reported it. Anyone who witnessed this incident, observed the vehicle in the area between approximately 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., or experienced a similar encounter with this individual in Antioch or nearby areas is encouraged to contact Officer Kyle Smith at (925) 778-2441 or ksmith@antiochca.gov.
Suspect description: Hispanic male wearing a light-colored baseball hat, orange zip-up sweatshirt, gray shirt, and blue/green plaid pajama pants.
Range from $37,500 to $725,000 paid to 18 plaintiffs last year, but lawsuit not finalized; two who received large payouts are serving 19 and 20 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter
By Allen D. Payton
While one portion of the class action civil rights lawsuit against the City of Antioch, specific police officers and former chiefs was settled for just attorney’s fees, 23 plaintiffs also settled their claims last year with 18 receiving payouts costing millions.
During a press conference held on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, John Burris, civil rights attorney for the plaintiffs, called the settlement “historic” and a “win-win” and explained, “There were two parts of the case, one involving the individuals, which we settled, 23.”
Although the settlement announced that day only cost the City plaintiffs’ attorney’s fees for close to $155,000, the City paid out $5,210,000 in 18 of the 23 settled cases that were never announced publicly, nor information provided until now. Some of the cases were past the statute of limitations so those plaintiffs received a lesser payout.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, the City responded to a Public Records Act request submitted by the Herald on Dec. 20, for all of the settlement documents related to the class action civil rights lawsuit against the City showing the names of the parties, how much each was paid including the City’s portion versus the amounts paid by the insurance pool to which the City contributes. In addition, City Manager Bessie Scott’s prepared remarks offered at the press conference were also requested.
Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris and associates filed the lawsuit in April 2023, naming five then-current and former officers, for their racist and other offensive texts and mistreatment of citizens, plus, three past police chiefs, the City of Antioch and Does 1-100. (See related articles here and here)
As previously reported, on March 9, 2021, Terryonn Deshawn Pugh, Trent Allen, Eric James Windom and Keyshawn Malik McGee engaged in a shooting in the City of Antioch wherein they discharged firearms at a vehicle in a residential neighborhood. The barrage of bullets killed Arnold Marcel Hawkins and injured another person.
The four defendants were charged on a six-count felony complaint with enhancements in November 2021 and on May 6, 2024, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a resolution in the 2021 murder of Hawkins and the attempted murder of Aaron Patterson.
In resolving the case, the four defendants entered pleas of no contest to the following:
Terryonn Pugh: No contest on two counts of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter – with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm. He was sentenced on May 8th, 2024, to 20 years in state prison.
Trent Allen: No contest on one count of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter — with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm. He will also serve a concurrent term for an unrelated robbery. Allen was sentenced on May 10th, 2024, to 19 years in state prison.
Eric Windom: No contest on one count of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter — with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm. He will also serve a concurrent term for a robbery that is unrelated to this case. Windom was sentenced on May 8th, 2024, to 19 years in state prison.
Keyshawn McGee: No contest on one count of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter — with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm in both the murder and voluntary manslaughter charges. McGee was sentenced on May 10th, 2024, to 13 years, 8 months in state prison.
The four were part of the arrests of 48 gang members and associates during a complex, six-month investigation involving 24 agencies, for murder, attempted murder and illegal guns. The effort removed 40 firearms, including 15 “ghost guns” off the streets and over $100,000 in cash. (See related article)
City Manager’s Press Conference Comments
During the press conference on Dec. 19, 2025, City Manager Scott said, “I want to start by acknowledging what this period has meant for people in Antioch. The last few years have been difficult and, for many residents, deeply unsettling. Trust was strained. Confidence in institutions took a serious hit. Many in our community have carried that weight in ways that don’t show up in headlines.
“Today reflects the culmination of a long, demanding process. It has taken ongoing effort, patience, and a willingness to stay engaged even when it was uncomfortable. I want to recognize the people who kept showing up and kept working.
“I’m grateful to John Burris and his team. We have approached this from different sides, but there was a shared understanding that Antioch needed a path forward that is durable and serious. That kind of alignment does not erase differences. It makes progress possible.
“I also want to thank our City staff and legal team for moving this work forward with discipline and care, and I want to recognize the community, residents, advocates, and neighborhood voices who insisted the City meet a higher standard and kept that expectation in front of us.
“I appreciate the Antioch Police Oversight Commission and City leadership for supporting forward movement, and for the decision to hire a Chief who reflects the values this moment requires. Leadership sets the tone and over time, it shapes culture.
“Today is about refusing to let the City remain defined by the failures and controversy that brought us to this point. Antioch deserves a government that listens, adjusts, and delivers. It deserves public service that is fair, professional, and consistent across every neighborhood and every interaction.
“As we move into the next chapter, our focus is steady execution, staying transparent about progress, and earning trust through sustained performance and measurable improvements.”
On February 9th, the day the PRA request was partially fulfilled, an email was sent to City Manager Bessie Scott, Mayor Ron Bernal and all four council members, Assistant City Attorney Kevin Kundinger who worked on the settlements, City Clerk Michael Mandy and City PIO Jaden Baird.
They were asked to provide the breakdown of how much was paid by the City for each of the 18 settlements and how much was paid by the insurance pool.
They were also informed that during the press conference attorney John Burris said there had been 23 cases settled and asked for the information about the other five.
The PDF’s of each of the 18 settlements provided were incomplete as they do not include the signatures of the City’s legal representative on the settlements showing the dates each was finally settled. The final versions with the signatures and dates signed by the City’s legal representative were requested.
They were also asked why the City didn’t announce each of the settlements when they occurred last March, April, May, June and July based on the dates the agreements were signed by the plaintiffs and a representative of John Burris’ law firm; why did they wait so long to provide the details to the public and only after a PRA request was made and how is that being transparent.
Finally, they were asked why the lawsuit is still referred to as “Existing Litigation” and was discussed during the Closed Session of the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10th if it’s all been settled.
Since no response was received from any of the city council or staff members, an email with the same requests and questions was, again sent on Feb. 24 and included City Finance Director Dawn Merchant in hopes she could share the amounts the City paid out on each of the 18 settled lawsuits and how much was paid by the insurance pool.
A meeting was then held with City Clerk Michael Mandy on Feb. 25th in another attempt to get the PRA request completely fulfilled. But still, no response was received.
Finally, all five council members and aforementioned City staff were emailed again on Feb. 26th, and included then-Interim City Attorney Derek Cole and Assistant City Clerk Christina Garcia.
Interim City Attorney Says Lawsuit Settlement “Not Currently Finalized”
On Friday, February 27, 2026, Cole responded, “In response, I note that much of what you ask about in your email are questions for comment, not requests for records under the Public Records Act. This consolidated lawsuit remains active as the settlement agreement is not currently finalized and executed. Therefore, neither our office nor City Administration believe it is appropriate to comment on your questions at this time.
“Further, to the extent you have stated proper requests for public records, we note that the City does not have an obligation until after the litigation has concluded to produce any response records. (See Gov. Code sec. 7927.200(a).)
“We do note that, to date, the City’s employment risk manager has paid nearly all of the legal fees and litigation costs for the consolidated action. The City will have to reimburse these expenses after the conclusion of the consolidated action, but as of this time, the City does not have information it can share on what its ultimate share of the litigation expenses will be.
“We also note that the City has agreed to pay the plaintiff’s attorney fees for this case and we do provide a copy of the order the parties entered into to effectuate that agreement. The amount of the attorney fees to be paid is stated in the order.”
The order entitled, “Attorneys’ Fees Agreement” and dated Jan. 8, 2026, shows the City paid Plaintiffs’ counsel attorneys’ fees in the amount $154,902.50 to Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy, LLP.
