The loaded., stolen gun discarded by the suspect during chase with Antioch Police Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. Photos by APD

The suspect following his arrest by APD Officers.

From APD Facebook page

Another one of the great examples of how awesome neighbors help us every day!!
This morning (Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018), at 5:44 am, we received a call from a neighbor in the area of Prewett Ranch Drive and Summerfield Drive who was reporting that she had seen a subject on her surveillance cameras checking vehicle doors in the Prewett Ranch corridor.

She gave a good description of the suspect, and upon officers’ arrival, he fled from them. Officers gave chase, and during the foot pursuit, the suspect threw a loaded pistol. The subject was ultimately apprehended and arrested, and the gun was recovered. He had numerous warrants, drug paraphernalia, stolen credit cards, and the gun was reported stolen during a vehicle burglary two weeks ago.

Without diligent neighbors calling in suspicious people, we oftentimes would never know about this kind of activity. Thank you again, Antioch, and this neighbor that helped us get a gun off the streets today!

Suspect arrested: Angel Leoncio Bautista. Photo by APD

By Sergeant John Fortner, Antioch Police Department, Investigations Bureau, Violent Crimes Unit

During the course of this investigation, evidence was obtained that led to the identification of one of the suspects involved in the shooting homicide of the victim, and the injury of two others.

On Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 at approximately 12:00 pm, detectives from the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, with the assistance of Richmond Police Department officers, arrested Angel Leoncio Bautista (19 years old) at his residence in the City of Richmond. Bautista was peacefully taken into custody and later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

On July 30, 2018 at 1:17 a.m., Antioch Police dispatch received several calls reporting multiple gunshots at a business complex located in the 2700 block of Hillcrest Avenue. (See related article)

When officers arrived at the complex, they located two males down on the ground in the parking lot. One male victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The second male (16 years-old) was located a short distance away and he was also suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers began first aid as fire department paramedics were called to the scene. The surviving victim was stabilized and transported to a local area hospital where he was taken into surgery.

While officers were still at the scene, they were advised that a shooting victim arrived at a local emergency room for treatment. Officers responded to the hospital and determined that this was an additional victim who was related to the shooting in the parking lot. No additional victims have come forward or have been identified at this time.

At this time, evidence suggests that the victims were involved in a confrontation with another group of unknown subjects in the parking lot when gunshots were fired.

The area was designated a crime scene and cordoned off. The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau was notified and responded to the scene. This incident is currently under investigation, and evidence is being collected.

The investigation into this incident remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441 or Detective Colley at (925)779-6922. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

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

Contra Costa County recently received $1.2 million under the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to establish a new Human Trafficking Task Force. Under the three-year grant from OVC, $500,000 is going to the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) for victim services and $700,000 goes to the District Attorney’s Office. This federal grant will assist both departments in developing this multidisciplinary task force that will implement victim-centered and coordinated approaches to identify victims of sex and labor trafficking through services and investigating and prosecuting these trafficking cases.

The Task Force will be an enhancement of the Contra Costa County Rescue and Restore Coalition (commonly referred to as the Human Trafficking Coalition) that was jointly formed with the Office of the District Attorney, EHSD and other partners in 2009 to address human trafficking in our county and the greater Bay Area. The Task Force’s “core team” will be co-chaired by Assistant District Attorney Venus D. Johnson and the Director of the Alliance to End Abuse Devorah Levine to ensure effective and efficient collaboration between investigation and prosecution and victim support and services.

To further combat trafficking in the county, District Attorney Diana Becton recently created a Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit within the District Attorney’s Office, which will be staffed by a dedicated sex trafficking prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Dana Filkowski.

“Our law enforcement partners will be able to focus on the growing problems associated with human trafficking in our community with this task force,” Becton stated. “We know that sharing confidential information and conducting complex investigations is challenging and resource intensive. However, with this new framework, we can prosecute those perpetrators who often times go unnoticed and provide comprehensive services to victims of trafficking. We have to keep raising awareness with the public and our law enforcement partners about the real threats that human trafficking poses to Contra Costa County.”

The Human Trafficking Task Force of Contra Costa County will be a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together with victim service organizations to; 1) better identify all types of human trafficking victims; 2) enhance investigation and prosecution of all types of human trafficking; 3) address the individualized needs of all identified human trafficking victims by linking them to comprehensive services; 4) enhance awareness of human trafficking among law enforcement and service providers, as well as within the broader Contra Costa community; and 5) improve trauma-informed practices for human trafficking victims within law enforcement and victim service providers.

Task Force partners on the law enforcement side, headed by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office, will include agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the F.B.I. and local law enforcement agencies. Task Force partners on the victim service side, headed by Contra Costa County’s Alliance to End Abuse, include Calli House Youth Shelter (Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services), Community Violence Solutions, Bay Area Legal Aid, International Rescue Committee, and STAND! For Families Free of Violence.

Contra Costa County is a natural corridor for human trafficking activities with its linkage to major metropolitan areas like Oakland and San Francisco via public transportation (BART) and its accessibility to Los Angeles and Sacramento via major highways such as 680, 80 and 5 (via Hwy 4). Though human trafficking is illegal, victims often do not know where to turn for help and community members may not know where to report suspicious situations.

The Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition will be working with local agencies to raise awareness about human trafficking in Contra Costa County throughout the month of January. The FBI has identified California as one of the nation’s top destination states for trafficked persons.

New Antioch Police Officer Andrea Rodriguez and Chief Brooks following her oath of office ceremony on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Photo by APD

Staffing back up to 99 sworn officers after loss of two

Posted on APD Facebook page

On Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, we welcomed Andrea Rodriguez to our APD family.

Andrea grew up in San Leandro and moved to Manteca at the age of 13. In 2006, she graduated from Sierra High School. After graduating high school, she attended CSU Eastbay, where she played basketball and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology. After graduating college, she was hired with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office as a Deputy Ranger and was assigned to the courthouse. Andrea eventually got hired as a Deputy Sheriff with Contra Costa County and attended the Contra Costa County police academy in 2013.

After graduating the academy, she was assigned to the main jail in Martinez. In 2015, Andrea moved to the San Leandro Police Department where she worked for the next 3 years. She was assigned to patrol and was a member of the hostage negotiation team. Andrea is excited to be a part of the Antioch PD family, and is honored to be a part of a great department!

In her free time, Andrea enjoys reading, hanging out with family and friends, and being with her fur babies, Rue and Koda.

Fun Fact: Andrea does not drink coffee and has yet to taste it!!

Rodriguez is the third officer added to the force in the last two months, which would have brought the total to 101 sworn officers. However, according to Chief Tammany Brooks, that brings the force to a total of 99 officers because the department recently lost two officers, “one to medical retirement and another left for another agency.”

A recent report in the December issue of the Antioch Herald stated the most recent hire by the department brought the number of sworn officers to 100. However, he pointed out that the “medical retirement happened just a day before his swearing in.”

“Staffing is a constantly changing number,” Brooks added. “We’ve yet to hit 100, but I’m working hard to get us there. It’s the attrition that makes it difficult.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Sergeant Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 at approximately 7:32 pm, Antioch Police Officers and Emergency Personnel were dispatched to the 2600 block of Somersville Road on a report of a vehicle collision involving a vehicle vs. a pedestrian. Upon arrival, Antioch Police Officers located a 3-year-old female juvenile in the parking lot of Sears non-responsive. Life saving measures were started until relieved by medical and fire personnel. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in this collision. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

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

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Traffic Division.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441 or Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext. 84265. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Acting Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Antioch Police Field Services

On Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at 2:13 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 2300 block of Lemontree Way for a shooting that just occurred. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a 26-year-old male victim from Oakland suffering from a single gunshot wound. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment where he was listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. The responsibles, described as two Hispanic males, had fled the area prior to police arrival. Officers are currently working to identify them.

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

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Any further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line 925-779-6874. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau.

Screenshot from a KTVU Fox 2 News report of Debra Bozeman and her granddaughter.

Police seek suspect

By Acting Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Antioch Police Field Services

On Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at approximately 2:56 AM, the Antioch Police Department received a call about a person and wheelchair in the middle of the road in the 3600 block of Lone Tree Way at Davison Drive. Officers arrived on scene and located the subject, a 65-year-old resident of Discovery Bay, unresponsive and suffering from major injuries. The victim was transported to an area hospital where she remains in critical condition.

It was determined that the victim was crossing the roadway in her wheelchair when she was struck by a passing vehicle. The responsible vehicle fled the scene and has not been located.

The Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Officers are currently following up on evidence left at the scene and potential surveillance footage of the collision.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Any further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line 925-779-6874. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Traffic Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Johnsen at (925)779-6900 ext 84265 or ejohnsen@ci.antioch.ca.us. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

According to a KTVU FOX2 news report, the woman has been identified as Debra Bozeman and is in the intensive care unit of John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Her family is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Photos of Lawrence Phipps’ arrest and clothes by provided APD. Photo on right from Phipps’ Facebook page dated Aug. 4, 2012.

Photo of the suspect spray painting a vehicle in downtown Antioch. From APD Facebook page.

From APD Facebook page

We are pleased to report that the person responsible for the extensive vandalism to our downtown community has been arrested. This morning, officers responded to tips from several community members identifying Lawrence Phipps, 24 years out of Antioch.

A search of his residence revealed evidence connecting him to this crime. This is an excellent example of what can happen when the police and the community come together to work as a team. As a community, we refuse to stand for this type of criminal behavior.

In a press release on Tuesday, by Corporal Steve Aiello of the APD Field Services Bureau, he wrote,

“On Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018 at approximately 9:21 a.m. officers followed up on tips from the community regarding the suspect in the vandalism to the downtown area. The tips led to the arrest of 24 year-old Lawrence Phipps of Antioch. A search of his residence revealed evidence connecting Phipps to the crime. Phipps was later transported to the county jail in Martinez on felony charges.

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

On Phipps’ Facebook page, which hasn’t been posted on since Aug. 5, 2012, he refers to himself as L-gunna and states that he is from Pittsburg, lives in Antioch and is divorced.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.