Multiple slip and falls at different employers

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

Martinez, Calif. – The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Maria Mendoza (52-years-old) with numerous counts of insurance fraud and investigators with the DA’s Office arrested her this past Friday. The investigation originated after reports of a staged slip and fall in October 2017 at an Olive Garden restaurant located in Pittsburg. The suspect’s insurance claims history revealed a pattern of short stints of employment followed by claims against the employer. The charges allege four specific instances of workers compensation fraud against four different employers, and two additional instances of auto insurance fraud.

The first workers’ compensation fraud charge relates to Mendoza’s employment at Pronto Cleaning Services in early 2014. The charge alleges that Mendoza’s employment terminated after only three months of work. She hired a workers’ compensation attorney to file multiple workers compensation claims, including an allegation that her three months of cleaning resulted in cumulative trauma to her hands, wrists, and knees. She and her attorney litigated the claim throughout 2016 and 2017.

The complaint further alleges that Mendoza obtained employment at Architectural Glass & Aluminum Company and worked in a factory setting in late 2014. Her employment terminated there after two months and again a workers’ compensation claim followed. The complaint alleges that she told medical professionals evaluating her that she made no prior claims and is not a party to any civil litigation.

The third workers compensation fraud charged relates to employment at Olive Garden. Olive Garden hired Mendoza for work in 2017, but after approximately five months several employees and a manager reported that Mendoza faked a slip and fall on her way to a scheduled disciplinary hearing. She again hired an attorney to file and litigate a workers’ compensation insurance claim for injuries to her knees and ankles from the fall.

The final workers’ compensation fraud charged relates to yet another slip and fall claim at Claim Jumper in 2018. After approximately one month at Claim Jumper Restaurant, Mendoza visited a doctor to report a new slip and fall at work. The complaint again alleges that she falsely told the doctor evaluating her that she never previously filed a workers’ compensation insurance claim.

She is also charged with filing an auto insurance claim alleging an accident in April of 2014. Mendoza claimed the same injuries that she pursued in her workers’ compensation claim against Pronto Cleaning, as well as filing a 2018 auto insurance claim for damage to the same vehicle that her attorney claimed was totaled in the 2014 accident.

False insurance claims hurt small business owners with massive rate increases and the general public as the costs of those frauds are passed on to the consumer. The District Attorney’s Office reminds those considering fraud that reporting a fake injury at work to get money or other benefits is insurance fraud punishable by up to five years state prison and an additional fine of up to $50,000.

Anyone with information about possible insurance fraud can report that information to the District Attorney’s Office via email at DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org.

Case information: People v. Maria Mendoza, Docket Number 04-199121-5.

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

On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at approximately 5:25 pm, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to Oakley Road and Willow Avenue regarding a solo motorcycle collision. Upon arriving on scene Antioch Police Officers located the 44-year-old male motorcycle driver down in the roadway suffering from major injuries. American Medical Response Ambulance and Contra Costa Consolidated Fire Department personnel were on scene administering first aid until the driver was transported by helicopter to a local hospital. The motorcycle driver is currently in critical condition with life threatening injuries.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the collision investigation.

The preliminary investigation appears to indicate the motorcycle driver lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the ground. There were no other vehicles involved in this collision.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Traffic Officer Padilla at (925) 779-6900 ext. 85319 or bpadilla@ci.antioch.ca.us.

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

Photo by KTVU Fox2 News.

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

On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at approximately 6:45 pm, Antioch Police Department Officers were dispatched to Lone Tree Way just east of Deer Valley Road regarding a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arriving on scene Antioch Police Officers located the 11-year-old male in the roadway suffering from major injuries and he was eventually pronounced deceased at the scene by Contra Costa Consolidated Fire Department personnel.

Another victim was transported to the hospital with minor injuries according to post on Twitter by the Con Fire Public Information Officer.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. The involved driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be involved at this time.

The preliminary investigation appears to indicate the victim was crossing Lone Tree Way outside of a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a passing vehicle.

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

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

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Discovered during investigation of but unrelated to lock down incident

By Lieutenant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Watch Commander Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at approximately 10:18 am, Antioch High School staff members made the Antioch Police Department aware of information provided by a student concerning three individuals on campus possibly armed with weapons. The school was placed on lockdown by school staff and the Antioch Police Department assisted the school in attempting to locate the individuals. (See related article).

The information provided by the student could not be substantiated and the lockdown was later lifted once the school was determined to be safe. An unloaded pistol magazine was located on a student during an unrelated incident that occurred while officers were on campus. The student was detained and placed under arrest for possessing a firearm magazine on school grounds.

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.

Antioch Police Officer Crandell with shoplifting suspect and the recovered items he allegedly stole. Photos by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

Officer Crandell was on an unrelated traffic stop at JCPenney when a man walked out of the store with $500 in stolen merchandise. The security alarm started going off at the store and the loss prevention officer flagged down Officer Crandell to tell her that the man was stealing. She was able to quickly apprehend the thief and recovered all of the stolen merchandise.

There has been an increase in shoplifting in this shopping center in recent weeks and our officers are doing extra patrols to combat it. Loss prevention is also doing an excellent job reporting thefts and obtaining suspect information. We are working closely with them to prevent theft and apprehend those responsible.

Screenshot of YouTube video of Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks speaking to the Antioch School Board on Wed., Feb. 25, 2020.

By Allen Payton

During her Superintendent’s report at the Antioch School Board meeting, Wednesday night, Feb. 25, 2020 Stephanie Anello said, “I wanted to update the board, while we develop a more comprehensive plan for addressing safety, that includes students, staff and the community, I want to take a moment to share some interim measures that we’re taking in light of the recent events that threatened the safety of students and staff at both Deer Valley and Antioch High Schools.”

“For the foreseeable future two extra site safety personnel will be on each campus, along with two extra administrators,” she stated. “Yesterday, we walked the Deer Valley campus to determine if additional cameras are needed to address safety concerns. As you’ll recall Antioch High’s cameras were updated with Measure B funds, recently.”

“We’ve also increased the lighting on campuses and are working to install gates to the main entrance of the Deer Valley parking lot,” Anello continued. “I’ve also been in contact with Chief Brooks from Antioch Police Department, and he is working to see if there can be increased presence on campus of the Antioch Police Department.”

She mentioned the Say Something app for the phones of students and staff, and everyone in the community can anonymously report incidents to school personnel and law enforcement. It will go live next month.

“As mentioned previously, the police chief and I are working on a grant to add school resource officers to our schools, as well as police presence at particular sporting events,” Anello shared. “We are going to do a perimeter assessment to determine if upgrades are needed and to secure our premises and are working to develop a parent community volunteer corps, so they can also help us.”

“Finally, each school is going to be addressing school safety at all of their ELAC meetings, their school site council meetings, and their PTSA meetings, so the parents have an opportunity to provide input and they’ll also be meeting with the leadership teachers at both sites, as well as students.”

Chief Addresses Incident of Gun on Antioch High Campus

“I don’t think a lot of people understand that during an active criminal investigation how communication works amongst the school district and the police department,” Anello said. So, she invited Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks to speak on the matter of the gun on the Antioch High campus, last Wednesday.

“I had received information that there were some people who thought that it was misinformation that was given by the school in regards to the incident, and I’m talking about an incident that occurred at the Antioch High School actually a week ago, today,” he said. “The question had to with the information that was provided by the school administrator, Principal Rocha that there was a weapon involved, and some people questioned why the school district was not more specific regarding the fact that it was a gun.”

“What I wanted to explain, what a lot of people are unaware of is that during the course of the incident and then the subsequent investigation it wasn’t known for a fact whether or not it actually was a gun,” Brooks explained. “So, for Principal Rocha to put out timely information that day, it would actually be irresponsible of him to say if it was or it wasn’t. He was general in that it was a weapon, because really that’s what we could confirm. But there was no confirmation as to whether or not it was a real firearm.”

“So, in an effort to get that information out timely, he actually had been in contact with our staff. The information was actually part of a collaboration,” Brooks continued. “He wanted to verify what in fact he could say and whether or not we could confirm at that time it was a real firearm or not. So, the information he drafted that day, the day of the incident was accurate.”

“Obviously, with any criminal investigation information changes as we conduct our investigation,” he stated. “So, we have to be very careful in what information we present to make sure that it’s as factually accurate as possible at the time we provide it.”

“So, I wanted to share that information with the board…that the information that Principal Rocha put out that day had actually been vetted through the police department and was accurate based on the information that he knew at the time of the posting,” Brooks concluded.

“Thank you for coming this evening and for all your help and support,” said Board President Diane Gibson-Gray.

Investigation continues

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at approximately 9:30 AM, Antioch police officers were called to the Antioch High School campus regarding a physical altercation between two juveniles. During the fight, one of the juveniles brandished a firearm. As the fight continued, the firearm was discharged and fell to the ground. One of the juveniles picked up the firearm and fled on-foot away from the campus. The other involved juvenile also fled off campus. As officers converged on the area, the juvenile who fled with the firearm was located and safely detained. The firearm used in the incident was not located. It was determined that no one was injured as a result of the firearm discharge. (See related article).

During the investigation, all the involved parties were identified. The juvenile that fled with the firearm was booked into the juvenile hall in Martinez. Today, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, the other involved juvenile (who originally brandished the firearm) was safely taken into custody in the City of Brentwood and will be booked in the juvenile hall.

Currently, the investigation is still ongoing. The Antioch Police Department would like to thank the AUSD staff that contributed to a quick response and assisted with the investigation of this incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Torres at (925) 779-6925. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Antioch High Principal Louie Rocha sent out a message to parents, that morning:

“Good Morning. This is Louie Rocha, Principal of Antioch High School with an important safety announcement. Earlier this morning, two students were involved in an altercation. During the altercation, a student dropped then retrieved what appeared to be a weapon. Both students fled the campus and APD is currently investigating. All students have returned to class and school has resumed its normal schedule. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.”

Dear Editor:

Our Antioch Police Officer’s Association is proud to recommend Supervisor Federal Glover on Election Day, March 3rd.

Please join us.

Under Supervisor Federal Glover’s leadership, Contra Costa County has opened a new Family Justice Center in Antioch to help victims of domestic violence, elder abuse and human trafficking. Supervisor Glover also fought for cameras to deter freeway shooters on Hwy 4. The Antioch Police Officer’s Association joins Antioch Firefighters and 911 personnel in supporting Supervisor Glover’s re-election.

Steve Aiello

President, Antioch Police Officers’ Association