By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney

Today, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton issued a statement regarding the murder of George Floyd:

“I am heartbroken and horrified by the murder of George Floyd and the other unjust deaths of Black men and women in this country. As the chief law enforcement official of Contra Costa, I took an oath to ensure justice for everyone under the law. The fight for justice does not end at the borders of our County or in our communities. We all have a responsibility to speak out against and eradicate injustices wherever we find them. The officers responsible for the murder of George Floyd must be held accountable.

The right to peacefully assemble and protest are a vital part of the fabric of this nation, and the majority of participants have been peaceful and even inspiring. I am disappointed that the righteous marches and gatherings are being infiltrated and hijacked by a small minority of people with other agendas. The individuals who are exploiting the pain, and the cause of so many in our community by committing acts of violence and destruction will be held accountable. We must not let the acts of the detractors deter us from the issue at hand. We must never stop working to eradicate racism and bring about systematic change throughout all systems, especially in our criminal justice system. I will continue to fight for criminal justice reform not only just in Contra Costa but throughout this nation.”

Call on state bar to create a new ethics rule claiming it “would help restore the independence, integrity, and trust of elected prosecutors by preventing them from taking donations from police unions.”

“They’re trying to hamper pro-law enforcement candidates who will run against them” – law enforcement official (who chose to remain anonymous)

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Monday, June 1, 2020, in the wake of mass protests following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, a coalition of current and former elected prosecutors representing millions of Californians in diverse counties banded together to call on the California State Bar to cure the conflict of interest created by police unions’ outsized influence in local elections.  The new rule would explicitly preclude elected prosecutors – or prosecutors seeking election – from seeking or accepting political or financial support from law enforcement unions. (Read letter, here).

“The legal representation of an accused officer is generally financed by their law enforcement union,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton.  “It is illogical that the rules prohibit prosecutors from soliciting and benefiting from financial and political support from an accused officer’s advocate in court, while enabling the prosecutor to benefit financially and politically from the accused’s advocate in public.”

“District Attorneys will undoubtedly review use of force incidents involving police officers,” said San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. “When they do, the financial and political support of these unions should not be allowed to influence that decision making.”

“When videos emerge like the one depicting the killing of George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery, the damage it does to the entire criminal justice system cannot be overstated,” said former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. “That damage, however, is further compounded by delays in the condemnation, arrest, and charging of the involved law enforcement officers. These feelings, these protests, and the pain we’re seeing, would not be as raw and widespread if we had seen police held accountable by local prosecutors quickly and with regularity.  An important step in curing this pain is curing the conflict of interest that gives, at minimum, the appearance that police do not face consequences swiftly – or at all – due to the proximity and political influence of their union.”

“We have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to restore trust in our profession, but trust must be earned, it cannot be demanded,” said San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar.  “The first step to earning that trust back is ensuring the independence of county prosecutors is beyond reproach.”

Prosecutors are in a unique position of having to work closely with law enforcement and simultaneously evaluate whether crimes have been committed by these same officers.  Recent events involving police misconduct in which prosecutors either delayed or failed to file charges have shined a light on the importance of prosecutors making decisions regarding law enforcement officers’ conduct without any undue influence or bias.  Yet when prosecutors initiate an investigation or prosecution of an officer, the law enforcement unions often finance the legal representation of the accused officer. Prosecutors who have received an endorsement from the entity that is funding the defense of the officers being investigated or prosecuted creates, at a minimum, the appearance of a conflict of interest for elected prosecutors.

By precluding elected prosecutors—or prosecutors seeking election—from seeking or accepting political or financial support from law enforcement unions, the State Bar will reduce the presence of conflicts of interest and ensure independence on the part of elected prosecutors.  This proposal also aspires to help reestablish community trust in the integrity of prosecutors at a time when national events have damaged that trust.

For more information, follow #CureTheConflict.

In response, the following questions were sent to Becton’s public information officer, Scott Alonso:

“Is she saying that currently a prosecutor cannot solicit and benefit from financial and political support from an attorney representing a police officer accused of a crime while in court or during the court case? But the police officer’s attorney can support the prosecutor financially and politically when not in court or during the court case?

Please clarify who the accused is in her comment about the ‘accused’s advocate’. I assume it’s the same accused officer she refers to twice before in her comment. But, not sure.

Also, are she and the rest of the DA’s willing to forgo any financial contributions from criminal defense attorneys and public defenders? How about no financial support from any organization and only from individuals who live within their counties? How far should this go to ensure fairness in prosecutions? Isn’t this really one-sided? Also, if the police unions have so much influence in our county and they all backed Becton’s opponent in the last election how did she still win? Isn’t she in effect attempting to violate the free speech rights – which political campaign contributions have been defined as by the courts – of the police unions?

June 2 UPDATE: Alonso responded with, “Any questions about political contributions I cannot answer as a public employee. You would need to direct those to DA Becton’s campaign.”

This reporter then emailed him, “Please pass on my questions to DA Becton. I’m not asking you to answer them. I’m asking for her to.”

Alonso responded, “Her statement speaks for itself. Not sure what else to provide. Her reference to the advocate is the law enforcement union.”

A further email was sent to him with, “Her statement and the effort is clearly one sided and doesn’t answer my questions that I emailed you. Did you pass on my questions to her?  If not can you, please? I really don’t want to have to write that she’s refusing to answer them. Surely neither you nor she expects the media to just run press releases on controversial matters unchallenged and without question.

Thanks for the partial answer to my one question. But it still doesn’t clarify what she’s saying in that quote. How would a prosecutor solicit and benefit from financial and political support of a law enforcement union in court? I seriously don’t understand that.

I really need to hear back from her on the questions I sent. I don’t want to just write she refused to respond.”

Alonso responded with, “With all respect we do answer your questions. Your comment that this ‘effort is one side’ is odd. Not sure what you mean by that. There are standards in place for prosecutors in terms of receiving or benefitting from opposing defense counsel. This is outlined in the letter that you were provided. In terms of any questions on donations I cannot answer that as I have said.”

This reporter further responded by email with, “Yes, in the past you’ve answered my questions and I appreciate that. But I’m talking about this press release on a very controversial, political issue, which is rare if not the only one I recall ever receiving from you.

About the effort being one sided, that’s because all the DA’s and former DA quoted in the press release are attempting to silence one side in the political battle for who should be elected DA. Diana wasn’t backed by any of the police unions in the county, if I recall. They backed her opponent, DDA Paul Graves. Now she’s trying to prevent police unions from contributing to her potential opponents in future elections in effectively silencing their voice during a political campaign. Yet, I don’t see anything in the press release in which she or the other DA’s call for limiting the contributions to candidates from those on the criminal defense side.

Again, I’m not asking you to answer my questions. I’m asking you to pass along my questions to DA Becton, who as an elected official can answer them and should. You sent out on official CCDA letterhead a press release about a political matter. Frankly, that should have gone out on her campaign letterhead if you or she aren’t going to answer questions about it.

Now, please quit being a gatekeeper for her and pass on my questions to her. Another day has passed since you sent me the press release and I still don’t have but one question answered.

I’m trying not to go around you. I do have her cell phone number and have called her before when it was after hours. But I am avoiding calling her. I guess I’ll have to if I can’t get you to simply forward my questions to her.

So, let’s please stop the back and forth. I’m not asking you any questions about a political matter. I’m asking her.”

No response to that email was received.

When reached for comment, Becton said she was in a meeting and to “send questions to Scott.”

Please check back later for any updates to this report and responses from the DA.

Curfew runs from 6:00 p.m. each night until 5:00 a.m. the following morning and will expire at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 – applies to residents, visitors and workers within the city limits.

Antioch, Calif., (June 1, 2020 4:30 PM) – Today, the City of Antioch has announced that effective Monday, June 1, 2020, a citywide curfew will be enacted.

UPDATE: June 1, 2020 6:44 PM – The curfew will begin at 6:00 PM on Monday, June 1, 2020 and expire at 5:00 AM on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

A post on the Antioch Police Department’s Facebook page at 5:09 p.m. reads, “It is with heavy hearts that we put this information out, but it is with an abundance of caution for our community that a citywide curfew has been implemented, beginning tonight at 6 PM and ending at 5 AM on Wednesday, June 3rd. This decision was made after we were made aware of credible threats of subjects coming into our community for the purpose of causing damage and committing criminal acts. If at all possible, stay home. If you need police assistance, we are here for you. (Please see related article)

-Details:
From 6 PM 6/1/20 to 5 AM 6/3/20 a citywide curfew has been established for the City of Antioch. It requires residents, visitors and workers within the city to stay indoors during those hours. Exemptions include, public safety personnel, health care providers, people traveling to and from work, the homeless and media representatives. This order is subject to change or be extended.”

If the City determines that the curfew needs to be extended, the City of Antioch will make an announcement on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Mayor Sean Wright said it was a joint decision by him, City Manager Ron Bernal and Police Chief Tammany Brooks at about 3:30 p.m., and was sent on to City Attorney Thomas Smith for his input.

“Everyone was holding off on saying things until we heard back from the city attorney,” he continued. “Our PIO said we have to get this out, as it’s getting late and people need to know. Then the press release was issued at 4:30 p.m.”

The only report of any kind of related activity was of two males who were arrested by Antioch Police for attempting to loot one of the outside stores at the Somersville Towne Center earlier Monday afternoon.

Some stores already closed or closing early due to threat on social media

By Allen Payton

Due to a comment posted on Twitter by someone who claims to be from Oakland, telling people in Oakland to go to Antioch and the Streets of Brentwood shopping center to loot, on Monday, both the Antioch and Brentwood Police Departments are making preparations.

The message, posted in Antioch at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2020 reads, “Oakland, we need to make our way to Antioch and the streets of Brentwood today and take EVERYTHING. The outlets is outside so it’ll be easier to break in and take everything! THIS IS ALL FOR GORGE DONT FORGET! REPOST!” That refers to George Floyd, the man who died after a Minneapolis police office had his knee on Floyd’s neck pinning him to the street for nine minutes, while two other officers also had him pinned down, while a fourth officer stood by guarding them. The tweet has since been removed.

When asked about the message, Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks responded, “Already on it.”

Brentwood Police posted the following about their actions to prepare their city, and specifically the shopping center:

“While we stand by everyone’s right to peacefully protest in this difficult time, threats of looting and vandalism will be taken seriously. We have learned of such threats being spread on social media directed at the Streets of Brentwood.

As a result, Streets of Brentwood will be closing businesses early today and we will be adding additional staffing to the area to monitor the safety of the public and protection of property. In the interest of everyone’s safety, we ask that you avoid the Streets of Brentwood since businesses will be closed and access to the property will be closed off.”

As of 3:40 p.m., witness said they saw Antioch Police are gathering at the Somersville Towne Center and asking the stores to close. Another resident reported the Lowe’s and Target stores are closed in Antioch.

Also, Brentwood PD posted on their Facebook page at 3:40 p.m. that “Home Depot contacted us to let us know they have closed early today for the safety of their employees and customers.”

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

By Leslie Reano and Antioch Police Department

“What a wonderful day today has been,” Lesli Reano an Instructional Aid for Special Needs with the Antioch Unified School District’s Community-Based Instruction program wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, May 28, 2020. “Our AUSD CBI team had a parade for ALL our graduating young adults today. Our CBI teamed up and brought graduation signs, candy necklace and balloons to all 12 of our graduates. We then did a Graduation parade to each of their homes. The smiles that we saw from our students was priceless! We in CBI all want to thank our wonderful Police force for guiding us on our route to our kids’ homes! They went over and beyond! Thank you, Officer Calvin Prieto, Officer Andrea Rodriguez and Officer Ben Padilla you all were so fun, and your kindness will never be forgotten!! Thank you, Sergeant Smith for reaching out to Lieutenant Mendez and made this all happen. Shout out to our AUSD CBI Team!!!”

“Congratulations to our AUSD CBI graduates!!!” wrote the Antioch Police on their Facebook page. “APD was honored to be part of the graduation parade for the AUSD CBI program. The CBI Program, located on the Deer Valley High School campus, is a community-based instruction (CBI) program for 18- to 22-year-old students with special needs. The program is designed to assist students after earning their certificate of completion, transition into adult life, by helping them to become more independent within the community in the following four basic directions – Vocational Training, Community Access, Independent Living Skills, and Personal Development.

Please join us in congratulating these amazing graduates!”

The program also offers job coaching, Reano said.

 

By Antioch Police Department

There’s a saying in police work – There’s no such thing as a “routine” traffic stop. Case and point yesterday, Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at about 4:50 pm, an officer patrolling Lone Tree Way and Mokelumne Drive spotted a Toyota Camry with illegal tint on the front windows. The officer stopped the vehicle and learned the driver was on probation with a court-ordered condition allowing search by an officer for any reason. The officer searched the vehicle and found a gun underneath the seat. After checking the serial number, he learned the gun had been reported stolen from a burglary in Grants Pass, Oregon. The driver was sent to the County Jail for possession of the stolen gun plus probation violation and his vehicle was impounded.

As you have maybe seen from our previous posts, APD is working hard to take illegally possessed firearms from the wrong hands before they can be used to cause harm. One of the ways we do this is by conducting probation compliance checks on individuals we contact during the course of our day. These checks sometimes result in illegally possessed weapons, drugs, or other contraband.

If you are contacted during a traffic stop, please keep in mind that our officers are trained to never treat these encounters as “routine,” and to always be aware of hidden dangers. What can you do when you’re stopped?

1. Slow down and pull to the right when it is safe to do so.
2. Turn the motor off and do not exit your vehicle unless specifically asked to do so.
3. Roll down all of the windows and turn on the interior light at night.
4. Keep your hands on the steering wheel and avoid digging around for papers or your license until requested.

We get being pulled over can be stressful but, taking these steps will surely be appreciated by the officer, and help things run smoother.

#AntiochPD  #AntiochStrong

By Antioch Police Department

We are all familiar with the term “porch pirates” by now, unfortunately, as people who steal delivered packages off of other people’s porches. Generally, we see an uptick in these types of incidents around the holidays as several people will shop online for their gifts. In today’s shelter in place environment, several members of our community have also increased their online shopping while retail shopping is suspended.

On Monday, May 25, 2020, some would be “porch pirates” met their match when the ever-diligent citizens of Antioch continued to show they’re looking out for each other. This afternoon, we received several calls in the southeast end of town of a male subject stealing items off of unsuspecting residents’ porches. While officers circulated the area, they were able to locate the vehicle and two suspects responsible!

Several items of stolen property and possible stolen mail were found and much of the property will be returned to the rightful owners. For their troubles, these two will be spending the rest of their holiday at county jail on theft, conspiracy and possession of stolen property charges. As always if you see something, say something!!! Thank you to all of the callers that helped us get this case resolved today!

By Corporal Brian Rose #4309, Antioch Police Field Services

On Monday morning, May 25, 2020, at approximately 12:58 AM, officers responded to the report of a shooting in the 2900 block Cashew Street. Upon arrival, officers located two males, 16 and 22 years old, suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers rendered first-aid until relieved by medical personnel. Both victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment and are in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

While at the scene, officers learned of a third shooting victim who arrived at a local hospital. The third victim is 16 years old and his injuries were also considered non-life threatening.

A 26-year-old male was arrested near the scene in connection with the shooting. Additionally, officers located the firearm that was suspected to have been used as well as clothing discarded by the suspect when he fled the scene on foot immediately after the incident.

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.