Guns seized in arrest by CASE Team included an AR-15. Photo by CCCSheriff

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

The CASE (Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort) Team last month launched an investigation into a person who was allegedly buying guns in Nevada (that were illegal in California), transporting them into California and selling them. Following the investigation, the CASE Team obtained an arrest warrant for 50-year-old Virgilio Salazar of Antioch and a search warrant for his home.

Salazar was arrested on March 27, 2018. During a search of his home, the CASE Team seized a .223 Colt AR-15 as-sault rifle, CZ 9mm semi-auto assault pistol, three large capacity rifle magazines, and two large capacity pistol magazines.

Salazar was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: importing an assault rifle, possession of an assault rifle, and importing large capacity magazines. He is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail. He has since bailed out.

The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburg Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, and Probation Officers from the Contra Costa County Probation Department. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.

From CHP-Contra Costa Facebook Page

Monday night, at approximately 10:00 PM, a shooting occurred on westbound Highway 4 at Bailey Road. While the victim’s vehicle was struck several times, the solo occupant was not injured.

CHP – Contra Costa is actively investigating this shooting with the assistance of Golden Gate Division – Investigative Services Unit.

If you have any information or may have witnessed this event call 1-800-TELL-CHP. We wish to thank the public for contacting us with information in tragic cases such as this.

By Sergeant Matthew Koch, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 9:31 pm, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to the 2200 block of L Street on a report of gun shots heard in the area. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a 28-year-old male suffering from several gunshot wounds in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. It was discovered the responsible(s) fled the area prior to police arrival. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment where he was listed in stable condition.

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 Bureau. There will be no further information released regarding this case at this time.

New Antioch Police Officer Nicholas Shipilov with Chief Tammany Brooks on Monday, April 2, 2018. Photo by APD

From APD Facebook page

On Monday, we welcomed lateral officer, Nicholas Shipilov. Nick was born and raised in San Jose, CA, and attended San Jose University. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Nick then attended the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office academy and graduated in 2006.

Prior to joining us at Antioch PD, Nick worked for Brentwood Police Department. He has worked in patrol, as a field training officer, K9 handler and SWAT team member.

In his free time, Nick enjoys riding motorcycles, playing softball, and playing golf.

A fun fact about Nick is that his first job was at Great America. When the park would close, he would go fishing in the Top Gun pond.

Welcome aboard, Nick. We are excited to have you as part of our team!

By Sergeant Matthew Koch, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 5:57 pm, Antioch officers responded with medical personnel for a reported vehicle accident located on E. 18th Street near Hargrove Street. Upon arrival, it was determined a silver BMW traveled southbound on Hargrove Street made a westbound turn onto E. 18th Street. A green Honda was traveling westbound on E. 18th Street and collided into the BMW. The Honda was occupied by a 52-year-old female driver and an 8-year-old male passenger. As a result of this collision, the Honda traveled across the median and into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lanes of E.18th Street. The Honda then collided into a Toyota mini-van, occupied by a 27-year-old female driver and a 9-year-old female juvenile passenger.

The occupants from the Honda had to be extricated from the vehicle. Both occupants from the Honda and Toyota mini-van were taken to an area hospital for injuries sustained from the collision. One of the occupants suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol and/or drugs did not appear to be a factor in this collision.

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 Bureau. There will be no further information released regarding this case at this time.

Chief Brooks and new Officer Price Kendall. Photo by APD

From Antioch Police Facebook Page

On Monday, March 12, Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks swore in lateral police officer, Price Kendall. Price was raised in the Bay Area and went to Vanden High School in Fairfield. After college, Price played professional baseball for the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

After hanging up his cleats, Price began his law enforcement career working for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department. Price left the Sheriff’s Department to work for the Belmont Police Department. Price was assigned to the patrol division before accepting a job with Antioch Police Department.

In his free time, Price enjoys working out and spending time with his family and friends. A fun fact about Price is that he is an avid roller skater and his owns his own pair of roller skates.

Provided courtesy of APD.

Sworn staffing still in the mid-90’s

Antioch Police officers and staff participated in the Tip-A-Cop fundraiser at Chili’s. Photo courtesy of APD

By Allen Payton

During the March 13 Antioch City Council meeting, Police Chief Tammany Brooks gave his first annual report since assuming his position, last year. He offered some good news and some bad news.  The good news is from 2016 to 2017 violent crime in Antioch is down 20.1%. However, since most crimes are property crimes, and they were up 4%, overall Part I crimes were about the same having decreased only 0.1%, plateauing after a three-year decrease.

Larceny

Auto theft increased 24% from 862 incidents in 2016 to 1,072 incidents in 2017. But APD was able to recover 96% of the stolen vehicles in 2016 and 94.5% in 2017. Shoplifting dropped by 10%, but Other Larceny increased 23% from 460 incidents in 2016 to 565 in 2017 for total increase in larceny of 12%.

Burglary

More good news was in the residential burglary category, which continued to decrease from 651 incidents in 2015, to 568 in 2016 and then to 339 in 2017. But, business burglary increased to 250 in 2017 after a decrease of 211 to 194 between 2015 and 2016.

Call For Service & Response Times

Average dispatch call answering times have decreased, so has the time from call received to when the officer arrives on the scene by over a minute between 2016 and 2017. But calls for service for the Community Policing Bureau increased from 87,285 to 89,321, continuing a four-year trend from a base amount of 80,404 in 2014.

Sworn Officer Staffing

The year ended with the department having a total of 94 sworn police officers on the force out of 103 authorized, which is a total of five additional officers from the Measure C half-cent sales tax. (However, the chief’s report states there have been 12 officers added to the force, by continuing to use the council’s alternative figure of 82 officers which were on the force when Measure C passed in November 2013, as the base figure. That’s in spite of the fact 89 sworn officers the department had when the measure was placed on the ballot, and the mayor and council promised the voters an additional 22 officers if Measure C passed). As of the latest new hire in February, there are currently 96 sworn officers on the force. That places Antioch at the lowest level of police officers per 1,000 population of cities of similar size in the county, East and North Bay.

Volunteer Hours & Value

The Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) provided 9,520.49 hours of community service for a total value of $270,953.15 and 16 Explorers provided over 2,400 hours of volunteer time.  The 56 volunteers in Animal Services provided 5,984 hours of service for a value of $170,304.64.

The council members thanked Chief Brooks for his report and the police officers standing in the back of the council chambers for their service, but none of them asked how he planned to hire the additional 15 officers needed to reach the 111 sworn officers promised from Measure C funds.

See the chief’s complete report, here: APD 2017 Annual Report-Final

Emily Courchesne

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

A $10,000 reward is being offered by the family of murder victim Emily Courchesne for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) in her killing.

On Friday, October 6, 2017, at about 10:05 AM, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a “Medical – PD” call at a residence on the 24000 block of Marsh Creek Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Byron.

Deputies found Courchesne, a Danville resident, deceased inside the home. Detectives later determined it was a homicide. Detectives believe Courchesne was killed that week sometime between Wednesday evening and Thursday early morning. She had been housesitting at the residence which is on a farm in Byron.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or call the anonymous tip lines at (925) 313-1166 or (866) 846-3592. Tips can also be emailed to: tips@so.cccounty.us.