“…disheartening and undermines the incredible work our staff does on a daily basis.”
“No individual – including a police officer – is above the law.”– Acting Chief Joe Vigil
Acting Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil. Photo: City of Antioch
August 17, 2023 – Antioch, California – Acting Chief of Police Joe Vigil released the following statement regarding the arrest of current and former APD Officers as announced by the United States Attorney today in San Francisco (See related article):
“Today’s announcement reporting the arrest of current and former APD officers is disheartening and undermines the incredible work our staff does on a daily basis. Any police officer who breaks public trust must be held accountable, especially because our effectiveness relies heavily on confidence and support from our community.
I would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, California Department of Justice, and United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence in this investigation. From the beginning of this investigation, our administration has been fully cooperating with these agencies, and will continue to do so. No individual – including a police officer – is above the law.
We are precluded from making any further statements on this matter out of concern for the ongoing criminal and internal investigations.”
According to U.S. Attorney for the Northern California District Ismail Ramsey, 10 current or former officers were arrested today in California, Texas and Hawaii, including one current and two former Pittsburg Police officers, one Oakland Housing Authority officer and six officers from Antioch, three of whom are no longer with the department. They include Timothy Allen Manly Williams, as previously reported and according to APD spokesman Lt. Michael Mellone, Daniel Harris and Devon Wenger are also no longer employed by the department.
For possible “crimes of moral turpitude” following federal grand jury indictment; APOA, Mayor Thorpe issue statements, he calls it “a dark day in our city’s history”; task force set up in parking lot of John Muir Health Brentwood Outpatient Center
By Allen D. Payton
According to an exclusive report by the Mercury News, the Antioch and Pittsburg police officers were arrested by the FBI during raids, Thursday morning, August, 17, 2023. The officers have been under investigation by both the FBI and Contra Costa DA’s Office since early 2022. That followed an indictment issued by the Federal Grand Jury in San Francisco on Wednesday. The details of the indictment have yet to be revealed but are expected to during a press conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today.
FBI task force drew a map of homes in the John Muir Health – Brentwood parking lot in preparation for their raids on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. Source chose to remain anonymous
Task Force Set Up at John Muir Health in Brentwood
According to a source who chose to remain anonymous, the FBI task force set up in the parking lot of John Muir Health’s Brentwood Outpatient Center on Balfour Road near Highway 4. There were about 20 cars carrying agents, two riot vehicles, and a Life Flight helicopter on stand-by.
As previously reported, the investigation was for alleged “crimes of moral turpitude” defined as “conduct that shocks the public conscience or, which does not fall within the moral standards held by the community.”
The names of the officers and details of their alleged crimes were inadvertently revealed in a report issued by the DA’s Office, earlier this year, that was not properly redacted.
The officers are being investigated “for violations of the following federal offenses; Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(A), distribution, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Section 843(b) illegal use of the mail in furtherance of narcotic trafficking; Title 18, USC, 1503 Obstruction of Justice; Section 846, attempt and conspiracy to commit the foregoing offenses; Section 241, Conspiracy for two or more persons to agree to injure, threaten, or intimidate a person in the United States in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege; and Section 242, a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. The CCCDAO is investigating these officers for assault under the color of authority, bribery, embezzlement, possession of controlled substances (steroids) for sale, knowing or offering any false or forged instruments, possession, and sales of assault weapons, and attempt and conspiracy to commit the foregoing offenses. The CCCDAO is also reviewing whether any of the above listed individuals have violated Penal Code (PC) section 745, the Racial Justice Act, which prohibits the use of race, ethnicity, or national origin by a law enforcement officer in pursuit of a conviction or sentence.”
The names of the officers under investigation by the FBI and DA revealed in the improperly redacted report were included in the following information:
“On 03/22/2022, the Honorable Presiding Judge Rebecca C. Hardie, Judge of the Superior Court of California, Contra Costa County, signed a search warrant under seal authored by CCCDAO Senior Inspector Larry J. Wallace for the seizure and search of the following cellular telephones: Pittsburg Police Officer Willie Glasper, (redacted phone number); Pittsburg Police Officer Brauli Rodriguez Jalapa, (redacted phone number); Pittsburg Police Officer Ernesto Juan Mejia-Orozco, (redacted phone number); Pittsburg Police Officer James Robert Anderson, (redacted phone number); Antioch Police Officer Ben C. Padilla, (redacted phone number); Antioch Police Officer Eric Rombough, (redacted phone number); Antioch Police Officer Devon Wenger, (redacted phone number); and Antioch Police Officer Andrea Rodriguez, (redacted phone number). The search warrants and affidavits were signed under seal and filed with the Martinez Superior Court.
On 03/22/22, the Honorable Laurel Beeler, United States Magistrate, Northern District of California, signed a federal search warrant under seal authored by FBI Special Agent (SA) Thuy Zoback for the seizure of the following cellular telephones: Pittsburg Police Officer Armando Montalvo; Pittsburg Police Officer Patrick Berhan; (now former) Antioch Police Officer Timothy Manly Williams; Antioch Police Officer Morteza Amiri, Antioch Police Officer Nicholas Shipilov; Antioch Police Officer Eric Rombough; Antioch Police Officer Daniel Harris; and Antioch Police Officer Calvin Prieto. The purpose of the search warrants were to seize electronic communications; such as, but not limited to the following: records and communications indicating the possession, use, purchase, sale, distribution, transfer, theft, and/or concealment of controlled substances, including books, receipts, notes, ledgers, pay and owe sheets, correspondence, records noting price, quantity, date and times when controlled substances were purchased, possessed, transferred, distributed, sold or concealed.
On 03/23/2022, sworn law enforcement members of the CCCDAO and the FBI retrieved the above listed cellular telephones from the above listed sworn law enforcement members of the Pittsburg and Antioch Police Departments. Law enforcement members from the CCCDAO and the FBI downloaded/extracted electronic cellular data communications from the above listed cellular telephones. A thorough review of the electronic cellular data communications took place for the past year.”
However, which officers were arrested Thursday morning has not yet been confirmed. The Antioch officers have been on paid administrative leave since the beginning of the investigation.
Antioch Police Officers Association Issues Statement
The Antioch Police Officers APOA issued a brief statement posted on their Facebook page Thursday morning. It reads, “The APOA has learned that several of our current and former members have been indicted by the FBI at the culmination of their investigation into members of the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments. We are saddened to learn of what has happened and look forward to the legal process playing itself out. We are committed to still providing quality service to the citizens of Antioch and also providing support for our members who are still working through this difficult time.
“Today is a dark day in our city’s history, as people trusted to uphold the law, allegedly breached that trust and were arrested by the FBI.
As our city absorbs this tragic news, we must come together as one. Today’s actions are the beginning of the end of a long and arduous process.
To those that have accused me and others of being anti-police for seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department, today’s arrests are demonstrative of the issues that have plagued the Antioch Police Department for decades.
Seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department is not anti-police, it is pro our residents, and pro officers that have served and continue to serve with honor.’
-Office of the Mayor”
Efforts to reach APOA’s attorney, Mike Rains, for comment were unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
On August 15, 2023 at approximately 3:25PM the Oakley Police Department was dispatched to Delta Vista Middle School because of two guardians being in a very heated verbal exchange with one another. After de-escalating the dispute one of our officers remained in the area.
Approximately 15 minutes later our officer became aware of another altercation occurring at the school and he was quickly intervening in the situation. Our officer was met by the same people being involved in a heated verbal altercation, but this time other people were yelling somebody was armed with a knife. Our officer called for emergency assistance, which prompted a fairly large police presence at the school. Our officer witnessed an adult female (Yvette Carmilla Brice 61, Antioch), armed with a knife, yelling at other adults. The female who had the knife was clearly angry and she seemed like she was ready to use the knife against the other adults. A gathering of school kids were also present.
Our officers moved in to get everybody separated and ensure the safety of the kids. As our officers took this action Brice moved closer to the people she was angry with and she moved the knife into an even more threatening position. Fearing a deadly situation was about to take place one of our officers drew his handgun and prepared to use it to protect the kids who were nearby. Our officers then forcibly took Brice into custody with nobody being hurt. As our officers were taking Brice into custody several students broke out into mutual combat type fights with each other, even while school staff and our officers were actively trying to keep the peace.
Our officers detained two female juveniles during this incident. The juveniles are aged 13 years old and 15 years old. The juveniles were not armed and were only engaged in mutual combat. The two juveniles were released to a family member and any Delta Vista student will be managed by the school district.
Brice was arrested for bringing a weapon onto school grounds, assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats.
What happened at Delta Vista Middle School is disheartening and unacceptable by all means. I am grateful nobody was hurt in this incident, and I am proud of our officer who had the presence of mind to make sure everything was going to be okay. This situation could have gone horribly wrong. I am thankful it did not turn out that way and I am grateful we had police officers and school staff members intervening and standing in the way of what could have happened. We urge the adults in our society to be good and positive role models. Today so many kids got to see positive role models at work and examples of what not to be.
Brice was booked into jail Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday morning, she had bonded out of custody.
A car spinning donuts at the Antioch boat ramp parking lot in July 2023 and an example of an automated license plate reader. Source: (left) Herald file photo and (right) Flock Safety
“We’re just not going to put up with it anymore,” Sean McCauley downtown Antioch business and property owner.
Barbanica requests process to hire private security guards begun last year to continue
By Allen D. Payton
During a meeting at Antioch City Hall, Tuesday, August 15, 2023, which included city staff, Rivertown business and property owners and District 3 Councilman Mike Barbanica, it was decided a solution to the problem of sideshows, cars doing donuts and gunfire in downtown, city-owned parking lots will be cameras and automated license plate readers.
In the meeting were Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, Police Lt. John Fortner, the owners of Monica’s Riverview and Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill, Sean McCauley, who owns several buildings in Rivertown, and Barbanica.
“It was a very productive meeting,” the District 3 councilman shared. “My position is still zero-tolerance and anyone participating in sideshows.”
“I made a request for license plates readers and cameras in the city-owned parking lots north of W. Second Street,” he stated. “I’m probably going to add the one next to the Senior Center, as well.”
“We’re just not going to put up with it anymore,” McCauley said. “We have meetings once a month. It’s a public private partnership.”
Barbanica said, “Sean has offered to pay for the equipment. But this is a city problem, and the city should pay for it.”
Asked if he’d requested it for next Tuesday’s council meeting agenda, Barbanica responded, “Requested it ASAP.”
Asked if it requires council action or if APD can pay for it from their budget, Fortner responded, “Both can technically happen. Historically, the PD has run with the city’s Community Camera Project, and we would budget for that. If a larger project cane up over $50K that has to go to council to be approved.”
Later, Barbanica spoke about the RFQ (Request for Quote) process for hiring private security guards approved by the city council last year.
As previously reported, during their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, the Antioch City Council voted to adopt a resolution to develop a comprehensive Downtown/Rivertown Public Parking Lots Security Plan and authorize the City Manager to issue a Request for Qualifications for a private patrol security service either on and/or near Downtown/Rivertown Area City-Owned public parking lots or other designated downtown areas. District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock included other city owned parking lots in “southeast” in her motion which passed on a 5-0 vote.
“Four proposals were received in February for patrolling the downtown parking lots,” Barbanica shared. “I asked Kwame to follow up on that and continue the process.”
Later, Lynn Tei, who with her husband, Randy, owns Smith’s Landing said, “Something has to be done even if this isn’t the best solution to stop the craziness. But at least it’s something. We’ve added security on the weekends since we are getting so many calls asking if it is safe to come to the restaurant. Plus, we are concerned for our employees’ safety.”
Antione Jovan Rice and Christina Marie Rivera, Jr. in custody on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Photos: Brentwood PD
He was also a parolee-at-large
By Brentwood Police Department
Early Wednesday morning, August 9, 2023, Brentwood officers were called to a business located at the 2400 block of Empire Avenue, for an alarm call. Shortly after, our Dispatch received a call from a remote video surveillance monitoring company, who advised they were watching a male attempting to break into the business.
The company provided a description of the suspect and saw that he got into a red SUV, which was being driven by someone else.
The on-duty Sergeant, who was close by, arrived to the area and immediately saw a red SUV driving into the Slatten Ranch parking lot. As soon as he attempted to do a car stop, the male attempted to flee on foot.
Our Sergeant was able to safely take him into custody, and 37-year-old Antione Jovan Rice of Antioch was placed under arrest for attempted burglary. Rice, who is on parole for burglary, was also a parolee-at-large.
The driver of the SUV, identified as 33-year-old Christina Marie Rivera, Jr. of Pittsburg, was located in a nearby Starbuck’s drive through. She was placed under arrest for assisting in the attempted burglary and she had a warrant for fraud.
Both Rice and Rivera were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, both Rice and Rivera are still in custody and she is being held on $30,000 bail. No information was provided on Rice’s bail amount.
Started as altercation at Antioch Marinawhere shots were fired
By Lt. Rick Martin, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
On August 12, 2023, at approximately 2:58 AM, Antioch Police Dispatch center began receiving calls of shots fired in the 1000 block of W. 6th Street. At the same time, Contra Costa Sheriff’s dispatch advised they had located a victim of a shooting in Century Plaza in the City of Pittsburg who had been shot in Antioch.
During the initial investigation, it was learned an altercation had occurred between a group of subjects at the Antioch Marina where shots were fired. As the groups left the marina in their vehicles, the altercation continued to the 1000 block of W. 6th Street where more shots were fired. A 14-year-old female victim was driven to Century Plaza and a call to 9-1-1 was made. The juvenile victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
APD Detectives are actively working this investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident are encouraged to contact our non-emergency at 925-778-2441 or Detective Allen at 925-779-6923.
Cars can be seen doing donuts in the Antioch boat launch parking lot and at W. 2nd and L Streets next to the Antioch Police station in front of officers late nights in July 2023. The building in the photo had a bullet hole in one of the outside walls from the gunfire Thursday night, Aug. 10, 2023. Herald file photos
Bullet hole in at least one building; police dealing with homicide unable to respond; Councilman wants zero-tolerance details to supplement patrol
A bullet hole can be seen in the outside wall of the building on the corner of W. 2nd and L Streets across from the Antioch Police Station Friday morning, August 11, 2023. Photo courtesy of Joy Motts.
By Allen D. Payton
Two residents complained about more cars at the Antioch Marina parking lots and dozens of gunshots Thursday night, August 10, 2023, once again disturbing downtown area residents. At least one building that houses a non-profit organization across the street from the police station ended up with a bullet hole in the outside wall.
Rivertown resident Joy Motts shared with the Herald on Friday, “Last night over 40 cars were at Antioch Marina parking lot. At 11:08pm, at least 40 shots were fired from automatic weapons. We heard it at our house. All of downtown heard it. At least 30 cars were counted speeding away.”
“I have videos of what it was like for the residents at 2nd and L Street and of all the vehicles speeding away. But the resident does not want them on social media or news for fear of retaliation,” she continued. “(District 3 Councilman) Mike Barbanica is trying, but this has become an emergency situation in downtown.”
“What is also concerning is there is no reporting after the fact. A bullet hole was found in the building at the corner of W. 2nd and L Streets. Police did show up after the fact,” Motts wrote. “Why was there no police reporting? Innocent people are going to die, it is only a matter of time. We are at our wits end. It is chaos in downtown. All of us know that live here.”
“They need private armed security in the Antioch Marina at night,” she shared. “And APD needs to put those drones to use that Lamar (Mayor Thorpe) says are solving crimes. We are desperate.”
“It’s every night, now. Sideshows, donuts and gunshots,” Motts added later.
On a downtown resident’s Facebook page on Friday, he confirmed hearing the multiple gunshots.
“So last night we are sitting at home and around 11pm we hear 50-60 gunshots (yes really, probably more) and if you live in Antioch you kind of get numb to these things, but this time it was different because we could hear the whizzing noise of the bullets going through the air. Sounded like it originated from the Marina. I look out the window and see multiple cars speeding off, followed by sirens shortly after. What gets me is if you listen to most of our elected officials namely the Mayor or Tamisha (Mayor Pro Tem Torres-Walker), you would think the biggest problem in Antioch is hordes of white supremacists (and the patriarchy) terrorizing the public. The Mayor even claimed that crime and sideshows are down (probably because no one reports it anymore) They offer nothing but deflection. I’m not going to act like they are responsible for all this towns [sic] problems, but they are part of it for sure. Its [sic] downright embarrassing listening to these people talk. The sad part is, Antioch at least on paper has everything to be a very nice city. Miles of waterfront, Black Diamond Mines, Contra Loma, etc, but with years and years of mismanagement its [sic] becoming a dump, literally.”
Their information was shared with Antioch Police media relations officers and the new acting chief asking for confirmation and what if anything the police did in response..
“Yes. We heard about the gunshots and cars at the marina,” APD Public Information Liaison Sgt. Price Kendall shared. “We had four officers working the homicide (from earlier that night) leaving us two officers to deal with 40 cars.”
The department is currently short-staffed with at least 35 sworn officers on paid leave during the two investigations and 16 vacancies from the 115 positions approved in the budget.
When reached for comment Barbanica said, “I had a meeting with the city manager on it, yesterday and I made it very clear that the only way the city is going to get this resolved is with a zero-tolerance, hard-line stance. We cannot continue to have lawlessness. I told him we need to be doing is running special, overtime details in the evenings and bring in surrounding agencies, if need be. If someone is coming into our community to commit crime, it’s going to make it very uncomfortable.”
“I fear this not slowing down until we take a pro-active approach, and it must be a zero-tolerance stance for any crime whatsoever,” he reiterated. “This needs to be outside the standard patrol of the officers who are out there enforcing the law.”
“I ran zero-tolerance details in the City of Pittsburg for six years and the team was credited with lowering the crime rate by 23 percent,” Barbanica shared.
“We need to make sure city leaders and community leaders are on board because there will be people complaining. But we cannot continue on this path,” he added.
After 30 years of service, Sergeant Steve Aiello has retired. Sergeant Aiello began his career in June of 1992 serving the citizens of Antioch as a Reserve Police Officer. In June of 1999, Steve Aiello graduated the police academy and was promoted to the rank of police officer where he proudly served for the next 24 years.
During his career, Sergeant Aiello worked as a member of the Special Response Unit, Auto Theft Investigator, Narcotics/Vice Detective, Gang Unit, Community Engagement Team and a member of the Rifle team. As a detective, he was awarded the Medal of Valor in 2012 for his participation of a robbery/homicide investigation.
In 2017, he was promoted to the Rank of Corporal where he supervised numerous patrol teams, the Crisis Negotiations Team and helped purchase and design the department’s first Mobile Command Vehicle.
Sergeant Aiello served 17 years as part of the Antioch Police Officer’s Association (APOA) holding every position to include POA President for the last 4 of those years. His biggest accomplishment while serving the POA was the purchase, design and overseeing the yearlong construction of our new POA building for current and future members to enjoy.
In 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he has served proudly and honorably until retiring.
Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, Sergeant Aiello. Thank you for your service and you will be missed.
