By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit, Investigations Bureau

On December 4, 2019 at 11:40 PM, APD dispatch received several calls about shots being fired in 2100 block of Peppertree Way and a male down on the sidewalk. Officers arrived on scene and found a 35-year-old male Oakland resident on the sidewalk suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. The male was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau responded and took over the investigation. Detectives are at the beginning stages of this investigation and there is/are no suspect(s) in custody at this time. The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Brogdon at (925) 779-6895, or 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.

Ruby Delgadillo is wanted by police for running her car into barber shop owner Brian Martin on Wednesday. Photo of Delgadillo by APD. Photo of Martin from his Facebook page.

Unhappy with son’s haircut

By Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Antioch Police Field Services

On December 4, 2019 at approximately 3:45 PM, the Antioch Police Department began receiving calls reporting a vehicle collision at Delta Barber Shop at 1631 A Street. It was reported that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian and continued through the glass storefront. APD Officers arrived on scene and located the victim, 63-year-old Antioch resident Brian Martin, the owner. Martin was suffering from major injuries and was transported to a local area hospital for treatment.

After interviewing the victim and several witnesses on scene, officers were able to determine this was an intentional act. Based on the victim and witness accounts, this incident started as an argument over a haircut the victim provided to the responsible’s child.

According to a GoFundMe account set up by Heidi Martin, to help Brian, “the woman became agitated and began using vulgarity.  Brian asked her to leave.  She violently kicked at the glass door several times before exiting the shop and continuing her rant.  A few minutes later, Brian went outside to snap a picture of her license plate due to her behavior.”

As the argument continued, the responsible got into her vehicle and intentionally drove at the victim, hitting him and pushing him through the glass storefront. The responsible fled the scene with her son, in their vehicle, and have not been located.

The responsible in this case was positively identified as 28-year-old Ruby Delgadillo of Brentwood. The vehicle used in the assault was a 2006 Toyota Prius, blue, with California license plate 8LHB387.

Anyone with information on this case or on the whereabouts of Delgadillo 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.

On his Facebook page, Brian posted the following message Wednesday night, “From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU all for your kind words, prayers and well wishes.” Then earlier, today he posted, “Out of surgery and all went well.” Finally, Thursday evening, Heidi posted, “Please please let Brian rest. He feels obligated to respond out of politeness but he needs to rest and sleep. He is out of surgery and out of recovery and in really good spirits. But he’s only had 15 minutes of sleep and they really want him to rest. Thank you.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Brentwood Police

Two thieves were arrested and a gun was taken off of the street this weekend, when officers responded to a business for a theft in-progress. Officers located Samantha Upchurch (37-year-old Antioch resident) and Brian Tolen (42-year-old Concord resident) after they had left Michaels with stolen items, walking in separate directions in the shopping center.

During the investigation, officers located a gun with a scratched off serial number, burglary tools, pepper spray and equipment used to retrieve credit card information. Officers also confirmed that Tolen was on parole for burglary. Fortunately, the gun was not used in the commission of this crime and no one was hurt.

Upchurch and Tolen were arrested without incident, transported to county jail and booked on numerous charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, grand theft, unlawful possession of pepper spray and possession of burglary tools.

Gun, vest, drugs and more confiscated from Oakley man by the Antioch Police on 11/29/19. Photo by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

On Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 Officer Smith and his K9 partner Kona noticed a suspicious person lurking around some parked cars. The subject was seen getting into a vehicle and driving away. Officer Smith conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation. Upon contacting the 35-year-old male driver from Oakley, Officer Smith found in plain view a tactical vest and could smell burning marijuana coming from the car.

During Officer Smith’s investigation he located an assault weapon inside the vehicle. K9 Kona then used her skills and located 56 grams of methamphetamines hidden in a secret compartment inside the vehicle. The driver, who is a convicted felon and on felony probation, was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

Great job Officer Smith and K9 Kona.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the March 7, 2019 death of 65-year-old Leartis Johnson of Antioch at the Martinez Detention Facility. The finding of the jury is that the death is natural causes. (See related article)

The Coroner’s Jury reached the 12-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

Johnson was originally booked into the MDF on May 16, 2018 by the BART police. His original charges included attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and robbery.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

The carjacked vehicle crashed into a tree as it exited Hwy 24 in Pleasant Hill. Photos by Pleasant Hill PD.

K-9 helps apprehend driver

By Sergeant Rick Smith, Antioch Police Community Police Bureau

On Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 at 12:40 PM, the Antioch Police Department responded to the area of Williamson Ranch Park, located at 5000 Lone Tree Way, on the report of a carjacking. The 31-year-old victim reported he was just assaulted by four subjects in the park parking lot as he was exiting his vehicle. The subjects then stole his vehicle and fled the area. The victim suffered minor injuries and declined any medical treatment.

The vehicle was quickly entered into the Stolen Vehicle System as a carjacked vehicle and information about this incident was shared with surrounding law enforcement agencies. A short time later, officers from the Pittsburg Police Department spotted the vehicle travelling westbound on Highway 4. The vehicle exited on Bailey Road and entered a nearby parking lot. Pittsburg Police Department officers attempted to contact the occupants of the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle fled from the lot. A pursuit was initiated and entered back onto westbound Highway 4. Due to the seriousness of the crime, the pursuit was continued and assistance from other law enforcement agencies was requested.

The suspects ran from the crash into the Courtyard Shopping Center.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol and deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Pittsburg Police Department in the pursuit as the vehicle entered southbound 242 and then southbound 680. The driver exited southbound 680 at the Monument Boulevard/Gregory Lane offramp in Pleasant Hill. The driver failed to negotiate the exit and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. All four responsibles fled on foot from the vehicle.

Thanks to the immediate assistance and quick coordination between officers from the Pittsburg Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Pleasant Hill Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, all occupants were quickly located and taken into custody without incident. Three of the responsibles attempted to hide in nearby businesses in the adjacent Courtyard Shopping Center. The driver of the vehicle was captured with the assistance of a Contra Costa County Sheriff Office K-9 as he fled along the rear of the shopping center and refused to stop after being given several commands. He suffered only minor injuries from the apprehension. None of the responsibles were injured during the collision. No citizens or officers were injured during this incident. The responsibles were all found to be 15 to 16 years of age.

All four responsibles were identified by the victim, who was brought to the scene. His vehicle suffered major damage as a result of the collision.

Antioch Police Department officers responded and took custody of all four responsibles. All were medically cleared as standard practice due to being involved in the vehicle collision. They were all later booked into the Contra Costa County Juvenile Detention Facility in Martinez on multiple Felony charges.

Stolen mail suspects in back of patrol cars and the female suspect with officer at the station. Photos by APD.

Antioch Police towed the suspects’ car from the scene.

By Antioch Police

An alert citizen saw suspicious people on his court Wednesday night, Nov. 20, 2019 in the Bear Ridge area. They didn’t hesitate to call us, and upon officers’ arrival, they located a male and female in the area with stolen mail. Further investigation revealed the female lied to officers about her name, and the male suspect was on probation for theft related charges, as well.

Both of them were arrested and later sent to the county jail on numerous charges.

Yet another example of the teamwork that it takes to have situations like these, end in a positive way!

By Brentwood Police

What might have seemed like a good idea at the time, landed four people behind bars yesterday, after they attempted to steal thousands of dollars in fragrances from Ulta. Imoni Cobbs (19-year-old Antioch resident), Jasmine Williams (24-year-old Stockton resident) and a female juvenile (16-year-old San Leandro resident), entered Ulta, opened up large bags and began placing fragrances in the bags. Ulta staff contacted the females as one fled the store. The two remaining females, Cobbs and the female juvenile, skirted Ulta staff, exiting the store and ditched the bags of fragrances.

While attempting to flee the shopping center on foot, they were apprehended by officers. Williams, who had initially fled the store, was located with the get-away driver, Quenneil Burns (25-year-old Oakland resident) in a nearby neighborhood, when alert residents noticed the duo acting suspicious and contacted dispatch. Officers established a perimeter and conducted a search of the neighborhood, locating Burns and Williams hiding in a backyard. All were arrested without incident.

Over $9,000 in fragrances was recovered. Burns, Cobbs and Williams were transported to county jail and the juvenile was transported to Juvenile Hall, all booked on numerous charges including grand theft, organized retail theft and conspiracy to commit a crime.