Stolen car suspect seated in handcuffs on the side of Auto Center Drive Thursday, May 21, 2020. Photo by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

Our friends at CHP – Contra Costa called over and said they had a Mercedes with switched plates (belonging to a Honda) pulled over on southbound Auto Center Drive near Highway 4 Thursday night, May 21, 2020. A check of the dashboard vehicle identification number (VIN) revealed the Mercedes was stolen from San Bruno, so APD Night Shift showed up like a sea of blue to help-out.

The driver is on his way to the county jail, and one more car is being returned to the rightful owner. Our partnership to keep East County safe is multiplied when we work together with our friends at the CHP. Nice bust fellas – call us anytime!

#AntiochPD   #CHPContraCosta   #EastCountyStrong   #CVC10851

By Sergeant James Stenger, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

Suspect Marc Siegel. Photo by APD.

On May 18, 2020, at approximately 8:30 AM, Antioch police officers were called to a residence in the 1900 block of Iron Peak Court for a male subject who had been shot. It was determined there was an argument between roommates. (See related article)

During the argument one of the roommates, 43-year-old Marc Siegel, shot the other roommate, a 43-year-old male, who was declared deceased at the scene.

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, this case was presented the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. Marc Alexander Siegel was charged with one count of murder -Penal Code 187(a) – along with a firearm enhancement –Penal Code 12022.53(d)-. Siegel is being held at the County Jail in Martinez with bail set at $2,000,000.

Antioch Police Department’s Crime Scene Investigators and Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Smith at (925) 779-6876. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Antioch Police Department

Did you see this video? We did, and we weren’t amused! (And we have a pretty good sense of humor!)

Last Saturday evening, this driver of this red Cadi thought the busy intersection of Lone Tree Way and Empire Avenue would be a good place to spin donuts for all to see. We launched an investigation and found the car on Monday morning. The Cadi was brought to car jail for 30 days while the owner reconsiders this behavior.

What can you do if you see reckless driving? Your safety is first – never put yourself in danger and give us a call at (925) 778-2441, or 9-1-1 if you think it’s an emergency. The dispatcher will ask you for a license plate and vehicle description, but don’t worry if you can’t get it. Video evidence helps us track these people down, but again, we don’t want you to compromise your safety doing so.

Car used in donut spinning Saturday evening found by police, impounded and towed away for 30 days on Monday May 18, 2020. Photo by APD.

Here’s the law folks:

California Vehicle Code § 23109.2

(a) (1) Whenever a peace officer determines that a person was engaged in any of the activities set forth in paragraph (2), the peace officer may immediately arrest and take into custody that person and may cause the removal and seizure of the motor vehicle used in that offense in accordance with Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650). A motor vehicle so seized may be impounded for not more than 30 days.

(2) (A) A motor vehicle speed contest, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 23109.

(B) Reckless driving on a highway, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 23103.

(C) Reckless driving in an offstreet parking facility, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 23103.

(D) Exhibition of speed on a highway, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 23109.

#AntiochPD   #AntiochStrong   #ZeroTolerance

New Antioch Police Lt. Joseph Vigil (center) with City Manager Ron Bernal and Chief Tammany Brooks following Vigil’s oath of office on Monday, May 18, 2020. Photo by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

115. It’s a magical number around here. 115 is the number of sworn police officers authorized in the City of Antioch (counting the Chief on down). Did you know our Police Department hasn’t been fully staffed with officers since 2004? Getting hired as a police officer is a long, difficult process. Since Antioch only hires the best of the best, it can be even more difficult here. So, without further ado, please welcome Lieutenant Joseph Vigil, who joins our ranks at that magical number.

Lt. Vigil, who was given his oath of office on Monday, May 18, comes to us from Richmond PD where he was a sergeant. It is truly a team effort that got us to where we are. We have to take a moment to say thank you, first and foremost, to our community for all of the support you give us, but also to our City leaders for their vision and leadership.

Thanks to the passage of Measure C in 2013, Antioch’s half-cent sales tax for more police, then the passage of Measure W in 2018, the city’s one-cent sales tax which replaced Measure C, the city has been able to afford to hire the additional officers and other city staff.

As reported previously, “We already have two more that started the academy…and three additional laterals in our hiring process,” said Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks. “I’m expecting a couple of medical retirements, shortly. But this should keep us at or near fully staffed, even when they leave.”

#teamworkmakesthedreamwork #community #115 #antiochstrong

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Photos by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

In our latest edition of #ShenaniganSaturday

At about 1:45 pm, an alert APD officer was on patrol in the area of 18th and A Streets, when he spotted a vehicle reported stolen the previous day. When Team Blue (that’s us!) attempted to halt the vehicle, the driver hit a cop car and led officers on a pursuit to the area of L and 18th Streets. It was there, the driver struck a curb and his rampage was finally brought to a stop by Canine Officer Smith and his loyal companion Kona (pictured above in all her regalness). Said driver was brought to the County Jail, where he was booked for multiple felonies, including aggravated assault on a police officer, auto theft, and evading.

We receive ongoing training in vehicular pursuits, with YOUR safety always at the top of our concerns. Thankfully, no officers or innocent bystanders were hurt from this incident. We hope you can tell from our posts that APD is serious about protecting OUR city! We take a lot of pride in proactive patrolling because of the overwhelming support we receive from all of you. Trust me when I say it makes a huge difference to our officers, and we won’t ever stop when it comes to PROTECTING OUR CITY!

(FYI: We know you’re probably wondering, but thankfully aggravated felony assault doesn’t qualify for a zero-bail immediate release from jail).

#AntiochPD #AntiochPDK9 #CanineKona #APDDayShift #AntiochStrong

Antioch Police recover stolen U-Haul early Saturday morning, May 16, 2020. Photo by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

While you were sleeping…

At about 3:18 am Saturday, May 16, 2020, an officer on patrol near Hillcrest Avenue and Larkspur Drive spotted a U-Haul which had been reported stolen to the Walnut Creek Police Department. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was found to have a felony warrant for (you guessed it) auto theft out of San Mateo County. Said driver received a complimentary set of chrome bracelets and was brought to the County Jail for a new charge of auto theft, possession of burglary tools, and the outstanding warrant.

Stolen U-Haul recovered and suspect arrested early Saturday morning, May 16, 2020. Photos by APD.

As we mentioned before, auto theft suspects use these vehicles to commit other crimes in our city. We have noticed a trend of stolen rental trucks being used in commercial burglaries during the early morning hours. Luckily, we intercepted this crook just in-time, because there was no stolen loot in the truck.

We are always on the lookout but, ask you to be also. It’s not normal to be moving things at 3 am in a rental truck, so be our extra set of eyes, and give us a call if you spot anything. Our dispatch number is (925) 778-2441, or 9-1-1 if you think it’s an emergency.

Remember, APD Night Shift doesn’t sleep until the sun comes up, so don’t be afraid to call us! Thanks for helping us keep Antioch safe!!!

#AntiochPD #AntiochStrong #APDNightShift #CVC10851

Antioch Police surround stolen car from Pleasant Hill at Antioch gas station on Thursday night, May 14, 2020. Photos by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

APD Swing and Night Shift officers have two detained at Auto Center Drive and Sycamore Drive who were spotted driving a vehicle stolen from Pleasant Hill on Highway 4 into our city. People who drive stolen cars rarely do it to joyride – they usually come into town to commit other crimes, and we just can’t allow that. The driver in this instance will receive complimentary shuttle service to the County Jail in Martinez.

Here’s the law folks:

California Vehicle Code § 10851. Theft and Unlawful Taking or Driving of a Vehicle

(a) Any person who drives or takes a vehicle not his or her own, without the consent of the owner thereof, and with intent either to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner thereof of his or her title to or possession of the vehicle, whether with or without intent to steal the vehicle, or any person who is a party or an accessory to or an accomplice in the driving or unauthorized taking or stealing, is guilty of a public offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. #AntiochPD   #APDSwingShift #APDNightShift #AntiochStrong #CVC10851

Gun, 30-round clip and heroin. Photos by APD

By Antioch Police Department

Antioch Police found the suspect’s gun hidden in his car’s console.

Here’s another #ForgetfulFelon…

This morning, at around 7:00 am, an APD Day Shift officer was on patrol in the area of East 6th Street. He saw a car stopped facing the wrong way and decided to have a chat with the driver. Said driver had a hard time remembering how to spell his own name (which threw up some red flags) so he was asked to step out of the car. Upon doing so, a bundle of heroin fell from his lap onto the ground (we can’t make this stuff up). Immediately after, he was fitted with a pair of bracelets, which we are known for providing in these instances.

A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded semi-automatic pistol with a 30-round extended magazine. The serial number to the firearm was badly scratched-off, which is commonly found on stolen guns in an effort to make them untraceable. Upon learning his true name, our forgetful felon was determined to have a felony warrant for burglary and evading a police officer. We had no hard feelings over the situation and gave our forgetful felon a free ride to the County Jail, where he was booked on eight separate felony charges, probation violation, and his outstanding warrant.

Suspect arrested.

APD is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods, and one of the biggest ways we do this is by conducting proactive stops. In this case, a simple traffic violation led to the seizure of an illegally possessed firearm and the arrest of a wanted felon. Team Blue was able to take another gun off the street before it could be used to harm anyone, and I’d say that’s all in a good day’s work.

So far this year, we have seen a 5.9% reduction in violent crime and a 4% reduction in property crime. What do you think fans of APD? Are you glad proactive policing is back? Let us know in the comments section!

(take a look at the last picture and find the gun hidden along the driver’s seat) #AntiochPD #APDDayShift #AntiochStrong #ProactivePolicing