By Sergeant James Stenger, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

Members of the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau have diligently been working on this case since its occurrence. During the course of this investigation two suspects were identified, a 25-year-old male and 24-year-old female. It is believed the suspects fled the Bay Area after the September 1st murder of 57-year-old Raul Garcia. On Thursday, October 10, 2019, APD Detectives, with the assistance of Tulare Police Department’s SWAT Team, served a search warrant in the City of Tulare, at a residence in the 1500 block of Karen Avenue. (See related articles, here and here.)

During the service of the search warrant, two suspects were taken into custody for the murder of 57-year-old Raul Garcia and critical evidence was located. The investigation is on-going, and an additional press update with the arrested subjects’ information will be released once the case is reviewed by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, at approximately 9:20 PM, an argument between several subjects started in the east driveway of the Chevron Gas Station located at 1235 California Avenue in Pittsburg. The argument appears to be over a road rage incident. The road rage incident continued into Antioch. At approximately 9:36 PM, Antioch police officers were called to St. Christopher Court for a subject who had been shot in the 3400 Block of Rio Grande Drive. When police arrived, they located a 57-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began providing first aid and called for Contra Costa Fire Department and ambulance paramedics.

The victim was transported to a local area trauma center where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives from the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene. During the preliminary investigation officers learned that the shooting happened in the roadway, at the 3400 block of Rio Grande Drive, after some sort of confrontation between the victim and an unknown suspect. Afterwards, the victim fled to St. Christopher Court where the police were called.

No further information will be released regarding this case at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gonzalez at (925) 779-6923, 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.

By Antioch Police Department

Yesterday morning, Saturday, Oct. 5, the APD dispatch center received a call about a commercial burglary in progress. Officers quickly responded to the scene and were able to surround the business. Officers made numerous announcements for the suspects to surrender, but they failed to do so.

K9 Purcy was on scene and assisted Officers with a building search. K9 Purcy was able to locate two suspects hiding in a crawl space and was able to assist in apprehending one of the suspects. Both suspects were ultimately arrested and booked into county jail for burglary.

This is a prime example where our K9 teams are invaluable in locating criminals during incidents such as these. We think Purcy deserves a puppuccino.

By Walnut Creek Police Department

A grab and run of $7,600 in merchandise occurred at Lululemon in Broadway Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. A vigilant citizen contacted Walnut Creek Police Department and gave a description of the vehicle that fled the scene. This same vehicle had been involved in a theft the week prior from Lululemon where $4,000 in merchandise was also stolen.

The Walnut Creek Special Enforcement Team located the vehicle and the five suspects at a gas station in Antioch.

All subjects were taken into custody and charged for grand theft, burglary, and conspiracy. The suspects are Unique Evans, Samir Gray, Dewayne Harris, Erynn Chavis and a juvenile out of Antioch.

Shared with Peru woman photos and videos of her daughters

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, Department of Justice

SAN FRANCISCO – Freddy Jorge Horna was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 to 102 months in prison for distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Special Agent in Charge Tatum King, Homeland Security Investigations.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Jeffrey S. White, U.S. District Judge.

Horna, 39, of Antioch, pleaded guilty to the charge on April 9, 2019.

During 2018, Horna distributed child pornography using a social media platform to an adult woman in Peru.  The images depicted the woman’s two daughters, who were approximately 7 and 14 years old who resided in Peru, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Horna and the woman in Peru transmitted over 900 sexually explicit images and over 60 sexually explicit videos of the minor victims.

On August 1, 2018, a Criminal Complaint was filed charging Horna with distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2).  On August 16, 2018, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Horna with one count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2).  The woman in Peru was charged by the Peruvian government.  Following Horna’s arrest in 2018, she absconded. Peruvian authorities continue to search for her.  At that same time, Peruvian authorities took the minor victims into protective custody.

In addition to the prison term, Judge White sentenced Horna to a 5-year term of supervised release and ordered Horna to pay a special assessment of $5,100.

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan U. Lee is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessica Rodriguez Gonzalez.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (San Francisco and Northern California); the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and the Peruvian National Police.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

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

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019 at 1:55 PM, a large group of juveniles and adults became involved in an argument in the 4800 block of Knollcrest Drive, near Black Diamond Middle School. An unknown male produced a gun and fired several rounds at the crowd and at least two times into an occupied vehicle.

The 49-year-old, female driver of the vehicle suffered a graze wound to her leg, that did not require hospitalization. The Antioch Police Investigations Bureau are currently investigating the case in an attempt to identify and locate the suspect in this case.

No further information will be released regarding this case at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Evans at (925) 779-6937, 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.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Antioch Police Department

On Monday, Sept. 30th, the Antioch Police Department welcomed lateral Officer Kody Odom. Kody was born in Antioch and raised in Nampa, Idaho. After graduating high school, Kody attended Boise State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Social Science. After graduating from BSU, Kody moved to California to focus on getting hired as a Police Officer.

Kody was ultimately hired by the Brentwood Police Department and attended the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Academy in Pittsburg. Kody worked for the City of Brentwood for two years before accepting a job with the City of Antioch, where he had always aspired to be a Police Officer.
In his free time, Kody enjoys spending time with family and friends, in the outdoors, and playing music. He is the son of Kent and Nina Odom, the nephew of Katrina Odom-Culbreath, and Jimmy Odom, Jr. who lives in Antioch, and the grandson of the late Jimmy Odom, Sr.

“We’re excited he’s in Antioch,” said Jimmy Odom, Jr.

Fun Fact: While on probation at Brentwood PD, one night as Kody was doing foot patrol, his beat partners pranked him by staging a break in of his patrol vehicle. They hid his patrol rifle and other equipment and called for the supervisor to respond. Kody thought he was going to be let go from the department as a result, just before being let in on the prank.

That brings the total number of sworn officers on the Antioch police force to 106, according to Chief Tammany Brooks.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Antioch Police Department

We are looking for the public’s help in locating 78-year-old Clarence Smith who suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Mr. Smith is 6’ tall, 150 lbs. with gray hair and blue eyes. Mr. Smith was last seen wearing black pants and a gray sweater leaving his Antioch residence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

County surveillance cameras recorded his vehicle in the area of Stone Valley Road and Danville Blvd in the City of Alamo at approximately 5:35 am today (10/2/19). The vehicle is a silver 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe CA license 4ZKH349. See attached photo.

Mr. Smith and his vehicle have yet to be located. A silver alert via CHP has been issued. If you locate Mr. Smith or the vehicle, please immediately call 9-1-1 or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch at 925-778-2441.

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

On Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, at approximately 3:09 PM, Antioch police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of E 16th Street for a male who had been shot. Officers arrived on scene and found a 45-year-old male on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Officers located a nearby residence where the shooting occurred. 33-year-old Arnulfo Coronado was contacted at the residence and evidence was located that indicated Coronado was the suspect in the shooting. A large amount of heroin and methamphetamine was located on Coronado’s person when he was searched. A semi-automatic firearm was also recovered at the scene. Coronado was arrested and booked into the county jail in Martinez, with bail set at one-million-dollars.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Smith at (925) 779-6876, 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.