By Sergeant John Fortner #3264, Antioch Police Investigations Division, Violent Crimes Unit

On Monday, April 17, 2017, at approximately 4:36 PM Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the Umpqua Bank located at 3700 Lone Tree Way on the report of a robbery. The suspect fled the scene on foot prior to the arrival of officers. Nobody was injured during the robbery and the take was cash.

The suspect was described by witnesses as being an older, white male adult wearing a baseball hat and glasses. The suspect is pictured in the two photographs above. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Gonzalez with the Antioch Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit at (925) 779-6942 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.

Dear Editor:

Good morning Antioch, welcome to the socialism for which you voted. It started long ago, however it is becoming more apparent by the day. The first noticeable action occurred when the ruling class, with no input from or communication with the ruled class, decided that the ruled class really has no right to know what our police force, a force that we have no choice but to pay for, is doing in our community.

Our only source of information was the heavily edited, weekly calls for service. Be assured, crime is down, trust us, just look at the statistics. Now access to even that skewed information is being denied. Any mathematician can tell you that statistics can be skewed to give the results wanted in any given situation. Now that any other sources of information have been cut off, trust us, crime is way down. Do not trust what you hear on the streets, that is just hearsay. We will give you the true facts as we deem necessary.

Someone has a great deal of property in Antioch that they are trying to unload in the midst of a crime wave never before experienced. Someone with a great deal of influence. Someone with no conscience. Someone with only their own well-being is steering us toward their goals and our demise. Someone untouchable in their own eyes. Hmmm…I wonder who might fit this description? Come on now, do I really have to come right out and say it? Do some research or end up losing, again.

Steven Payne

Antioch

By Sergeant Dimitri Barakos #2176, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at approximately 4:52 AM the Antioch Police Department received a call of two subjects in a car in the drive through of the Jack-In-The Box restaurant, located at 2505 ‘A’ Street, armed with a rifle. Officers arrived on scene and attempted to make contact with the occupants of the car, Michael Ferreira, 19-years-old, and Carlos Cabezas, 32-years-old, both Antioch residents, but they received no response.

The officers were unable to see clearly into the car due to heavy tinting on the car windows. Eventually officers approached the car and made contact with the occupants who were passed out in the car. A loaded short barreled shotgun and a military style rifle were located in the car along with a large amount of marijuana. Ferreira and Cabezas were arrested without incident and sent to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Charges for Ferreira: HS11359 Possession of marijuana for sale.

PC29800(A)(1) Felon in possession of a firearm.

PC30305(A)(1) Felon in possession of ammunition.

PC33210 Possession of a short barreled firearm.

PC1203.2 Probation violation.

PC30605(A) Illegal possession of an assault weapon.

Charges for Cabezas: HS11359 Possession of marijuana for sale.

PC33210 Possession of a short barreled firearm.

PC30605(A) Illegal possession of an assault weapon.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Both are expected to turn themselves in, today

By Allen Payton

The former general manager and PGA golf pro at the now closed Roddy Ranch Golf Club in Antioch, Kevin Fitzgerald, is a wanted fugitive according to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office. According to the website www.northerncaliforniamostwanted.org, the 46-year-old is “Wanted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney” and that he “conspired to commit loan fraud, file a false police report, commit insurance fraud, divert construction funds and defraud an elder.”

Also wanted for the same charges is Mark Ellis Mattson.

The same website states, “Mark Mattson a solar contractor while working at the former Roddy Ranch Golf Course LLC conspired to commit loan fraud, commit insurance fraud, divert construction funds and defraud an elder. Mark Mattson lives in San Diego and may work at San Diego State University as an instructor.”

The “elder” referred to in the charges is Jack Roddy, the owner of the golf course.

When reached for comment, Roddy stated, “Kevin and the other guy are supposed to be turning themselves in, today.”

That other guy is “Mark Mattson, the owner of a solar company,” Roddy said, “He’s under a $750,000 bail, who colluded with Kevin on this. They both have multiple felonies they’re wanted for.”

“They were supposed to turn themselves in, last week, but didn’t do it,” he continued. “They hurt a lot of people. Hurt Donna (Jack’s wife) and me, bad. Hurt a lot of golfers. Just did a lot of damage. But they’re going to pay the price.”

Asked about Roddy’s plans for the 235-acre golf course land, after he shut down the operations last summer, he responded with a laugh, “There are a lot of cattle getting fat up there. It wasn’t working, so we shut it done. We decided to put it back to the way it was.”

Asked if he had anything else to say, Roddy said “I’m going to let the law do my talking. I’ll let the cops and the legal system do their work.”

In 2014, Fitzgerald’s company, Roddy Ranch Golf Management leased the golf course from Roddy’s company Roddy Ranch, LLC. In July, Roddy took back control of the course and brought in Touchstone Golf as the operator. They discovered the course was financially unable to continue operations.

An email message to golf club members on August 6, 2016 stated, “we have discovered that the golf course is not financially viable as a going concern. This is due to outstanding debts of the previous operator and the high cost of irrigation water for the golf course.” The course was closed on August 11th. (See related article)

Fitzgerald and his family rented a house on Roddy’s personal property, and was a driver of one of the race cars owned by Roddy Ranch Racing, LLC, which competed at the Antioch Speedway inside the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds.

2:13 PM UPDATE – FELONY WARRANTS ISSUED FOR THE ARRESTS OF KEVIN FITZGERALD AND MARK MATTSON (RODDY RANCH FRAUD)

Earlier today, Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark A. Peterson announced that felony arrest warrants have been issued for Kevin Fitzgerald, age 45, of Brentwood, the   former general manager of Roddy Ranch Golf Course, LLC, in Antioch; and for Mark Mattson, age 56, a general contractor residing in Escondido, California.

Both Fitzgerald and Mattson are charged with felony counts of Grand Theft by Embezzlement, Attempted Grand Theft, Diversion of Construction Funds, Insurance Fraud, and Elder Financial Theft. Fitzgerald is also charged with filing a false police report, a misdemeanor. The victims are the Roddy Ranch Golf Course, LLC, and Mr. Jack Roddy, a long-time resident of the county. The charges stem from the abrupt closure of the Roddy Ranch Golf Course in 2016 after it was learned that Fitzgerald had allegedly diverted $200,000 of an $800,000 loan the Roddys had obtained to build a solar project on the golf course property.

Both Fitzgerald and Mattson, the solar contractor, submitted false construction documents to the loan company claiming that solar panels had been purchased and installed on the Golf Course property. This was done so the loan proceeds totaling $699,000 would be released to Mattson. Mattson did purchase and install some solar panels, but, not the 344 panels claimed in the construction documents. Mattson then gave $200,000 to Fitzgerald who used some of the proceeds for the golf course and to continue making the monthly lease payments to the Roddys. Fitzgerald embezzled the rest of the money through large cash withdrawals and transfers to his personal accounts.

In December 2015, Fitzgerald and Mattson attempted to get the remaining $93,000 of the loan money from the lender.  The lender made inquiries with PGE, the City and Antioch, and then with Mrs. Donna Roddy who told them the project wasn’t complete and, in fact, had barely been started.

When the lender refused to pay the remaining $93,000, Fitzgerald damaged the 12 solar panels that had been installed and then filed a false police report claiming the theft of 344 solar panels that were allegedly on the property awaiting installation. These panels had never been purchased.

Fitzgerald filed an insurance claim for the purported vandalism and theft. In April 2016, he received $267,000 as an insurance settlement from Liberty Mutual. Fitzgerald gave Mattson $40,000 of this money, transferred $55,000 to his (Fitzgerald’s) personal checking account. The remainder was used for golf course expenses and to pay “dividends” to five private investors. None of the insurance money was used towards the solar project.

Ultimately, after these series of crimes, the Roddys brought in a professional golf course management company to try to salvage the golf course operation. These attempts proved unsuccessful and the golf course closed in August of 2016.

Arrest Warrants have been issued with a bail set at $775,000 each for Fitzgerald and Mattson. Local law enforcement and the United States Marshal’s Service are attempting to locate and arrest both individuals.

Inquiries concerning this prosecution should be addressed to Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague of the District Attorney’s Special Operations Unit. He can be reached at (925) 957-2208.

Note: For the purpose of full disclosure, Fitzgerald and Roddy have been personal friends of the writer of this article

By Corporal Matthew Koch, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 1:31 pm, Antioch Police officers contacted 28-year-old Christopher Wilson in the 2900 block of Cashew Street. Wilson has been identified as the responsible for the shooting that occurred at Cruisers Saloon on April 2, 2017. Officers located the suspected firearm used in the shooting.

Wilson was arrested without incident and was booked into County Jail in Martinez on charges for assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a stolen firearm. This case is still under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. This case will be presented to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office for review.

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.

Moves Sand Creek new home area forward; approves cameras for high-crime area of E. 18th Street and Cavallo Road

By Dave Roberts

The Antioch City Council on Tuesday joined the city councils in Oakley and Brentwood in endorsing an innovative rail transit system that could extend the East County eBART line through far East County at significantly less cost.

The ultra-light rail transit (ULRT) system by a private company, CyberTran International (whose investors include a company partially owned by Antioch Herald publisher Allen Payton), is seeking funding to demonstrate the viability of the system on a track in Richmond, and then to roll out the above ground line possibly in East County connecting the Hillcrest eBART Station to stations in Oakley, Brentwood, Discovery Bay and the Byron Airport.

The eBART line now under construction from the Bay Point BART Station with stations at Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg and Hillcrest in Antioch costs $56 million per mile, CyberTran President Dexter Vizinau told the council. His ULRT system would cost about $30 million per mile and have the advantages of providing more stations, perhaps at shopping centers, and provide cars that would go nonstop from any station along the line.

“The problem is that [traditional] transit is too costly to build, operate and maintain,” Vizinau said. “There is a $78 billion backlog in transit maintenance in the country. The only way to pay is to raise taxes. Something has to change and it has to be innovative. We believe we solve that problem.”

Vizinau cited the support of U.C. Berkeley, and the three national labs, in the development of the CyberTran system. He also held up a letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation stating the system was further along technologically than any other innovative transit system in the country.

Mayor Sean Wright noted that few Antioch residents are likely to use the system. “It doesn’t affect Antioch – we’re done and through,” he said. But it does have the potential of reducing traffic from far East County residents on Highway 4 through Antioch, which pleased Council Member Lori Ogorchock. “Anything to reduce traffic and congestion,” she said.

Vizinau said his company has been working on the project for 23 years and is ready to break ground. The main challenge is finding the funding. A 10-mile ULRT line from Hillcrest Station to Brentwood would cost about $300 million.

The company was set to receive $42.9 million from the county’s Measure X half-cent sales tax hike that fell three percentage points short of passing in November, he said. Another tax-hike attempt could be made in two years, he said.

The council unanimously voted to support the project and the company’s efforts to obtain funding, which was a bit of déjà vu as the Antioch Council passed a similar resolution of support seven years ago for the project. That effort was successful in obtaining $15 million in federal funds for innovative transit in the U.S. But, President Obama failed to release the funds before he left office in January, Vizinau said.

Sand Creek Focus Area

In other action, the council listened to concerns from residents opposed to the proposed Sand Creek Focus Area, which updates the city’s General Plan to accommodate as many as 4,000 homes on 2,781 acres surrounding Sand Creek in south Antioch. The area is bordered by homes on the north, Black Diamond Mines park on the west, the city limits on the south and Brentwood on the east.

Residents and environmental groups told the council that the proposal contains too many homes, not enough open space, that it will further burden local schools, roads and police services, and that there hasn’t been enough community input into the proposal.

Council members noted that the plan focuses on land use zoning, and that its approval is not equivalent to approval of actual residential development, which would have to be done separately. Over 1,200 homes have already been approved in the area.

The next step in the proposal is conducting environmental impact studies in the coming months, which would then be reviewed during a public hearing by the Planning Commission.

18th Street at Cavallo Road Cameras

The council also approved $156,412 to place police surveillance cameras at the intersection of East 18th Street and Cavallo Road, which has been the scene of a recent shooting.

Interim Police Chief Tammany Brooks said that installation of cameras in another high-crime area, the Sycamore corridor, in November have been effective. Council Member Tony Tiscareno, who lives near Sycamore, agreed that police sirens have become less frequent in recent months.

A resident who lives near Cavallo and 18^th teared up as she thanked the council for putting in the cameras, saying she’s seen drug activity on that corner and that her husband witnessed a drive-by shooting.

Water Upgrade

The council members voted to spend nearly $3.3 million to eliminate use of ammonia and chlorine in the city’s water treatment plant. Those chemicals have been deemed hazardous and highly corrosive, according to Project Manager Scott Buenting.

Affordable  Housing Progress Report

The council also approved the filing of a state-mandated housing progress report. The state has mandated that it provide over the next six years an additional 1,448 housing units with 349 of them for very low-income households, 205 low-income units, 214 moderate-income units and 680 units for above moderate-income households.

Last year 42 building permits were issued – 41 of them for above moderate-income single-family homes and one for multifamily apartments providing 84 extremely low-income units. Ogorchock noted, “We’re not reaching the goals we’re supposed to be reaching.” The developer of a proposed 126-unit affordable housing project on Wilbur Avenue complained that city fees have made it too expensive for the project to go forward.

By Lieutenant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

At approximately 2:07 PM on Friday, April 7, 2017, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the Antioch Community Federal Credit Union located at 301 G Street on the report of a robbery. The suspect fled the scene on a bicycle just prior to the arrival of officers. Nobody was injured during the robbery and the take was cash.

The suspect was described by witnesses as being a black male adult wearing dark clothing. The suspect is pictured in the three attached photographs.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective McManus with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6940. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Following are the Antioch Police Department calls for service highlights as published in Acting City Manager Ron Bernal’s Weekly Report dated March 31, 2017 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Calls for Service Summary:

Time Period: 03/23/17 00:00:00 – 03/29/17 23:59:59
Number of Calls for Service:	1,615
Number of Case Reports:	296
Number of Arrests:	89
Felony:	36
Misdemeanor:	52
Infraction:	1
Arrests with DUI charge:	4

The data is based upon unaudited CAD/RMS data at time of report generation.

• 3/29/17 at 10:31 am, officers were dispatched to the 2800 block of Sunset Ln. on a report of an occupied stolen Nissan Altima. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located the vehicle occupied with 35 year old Carlos Morales in the driver’s seat along with 28 year old Ashlie Tappin and 28 year old Ryan Sullivan in the passenger seats. All the occupants were detained without incident. Tappin and Sullivan were later released on scene and Morales was sent to County Jail on auto theft charges.
• 3/29/17 at 9:02 am, the Community Engagement Team assisted Antioch Code Enforcement with subjects trespassing on private property. Upon the officers’ arrival, they contacted 40 year old Peter King and 36 year old Richelle Becker who were inside a vehicle on the property. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a fraudulent driver’s license. The name on the fake CDL was, in fact, a real person who had been the victim of identity theft. The officers also located receipts and documents that showed King and Becker had used a credit card in the victim’s name and made charges on the card for several thousand dollars. Upon further search of the car, the officers located an ID card cutter, laminator, laminator sheets, and a lap top computer. Both King and Becker were transported to County Jail on identity theft related charges.
• 3/28/17 at 8:36 pm, an officer was conducting an interview in the 600 block of Wilbur Ave. when 29 year old Emannuel Easter walked up to the person being interviewed and made inappropriate comments. Easter was not related to the case being investigated and continually delayed and disrupted the officer’s investigation with his belligerent behavior. Easter was placed under arrest for obstructing an officer’s investigation. During a search of his person, a concealed fixed blade knife was located in his pants pocket. Easter was arrested and transported to County Jail for obstruction and possessing a dirk or dagger.
• 3/28/17 at 3:15 pm, an officer recognized 30 year old Blain Oksanen and 29 year old Ashley Hammond in a vehicle at W. 7th St. and A St. The officer knew Oksanen and Hammond were responsible for a residential burglary that occurred on 3/26/17 at a residence on Lipton St. Oksanen and Hammond admitted to being at the residence and were placed under arrest. They were both sent to County Jail.
• 3/28/17 at 12:33 am, officers were dispatched to an auto burglary on Oso Grande Way. The victim interrupted 39 year old Victor Ayala burglarizing his vehicle of hand tools. Ayala fled on foot dropping his cell phone. Ayala’s cell phone was how officers were able to identify him. Officers went to Ayala’s residence and conducted a probation search. Ayala was arrested without incident and sent to County Jail for auto burglary and violation of probation.
• 3/27/17 at 10:31 am, officers responded to Bridgehead Café located on E. 18th St. on a report of a subject that appeared to be passed out and slumped over in a gray Dodge Ram truck with no plates. Upon the officers’ arrival, they contacted 27 year old Brett Kroh who first gave a false name to the officers. Upon learning Kroh’s true name, it was discovered Kroh had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for auto theft. In addition to the warrant, Kroh showed to be on probation for vehicle theft. During a search of Kroh’s person, the officers located suspected methamphetamine and heroin. Officers also located gloves, window punches, and devices used to break auto glass. Upon checking the VIN on the Dodge pickup, the officers discovered the truck was a reported stolen vehicle out of Concord. Kroh was booked into County Jail on the outstanding warrant, auto theft, possession of burglary tools, narcotic violations and violation of probation.
• 3/26/17 at 11:02 am, the victim called the police to report he located his stolen Honda Civic parked on Prewett Ranch Dr. and Mesa Ridge Dr. The victim watched his vehicle from down the street and waited for police to arrive. While waiting, 24 year old William Millard got into the driver’s seat, as 20 year old Phillip Morris and 39 year old Robert Williams got into the passenger seats. Millard then drove away as the victim followed at a distance. The victim provided updates to the officers who were able stop the vehicle in Deer Valley Plaza. All three occupants were detained without incident. Officers located numerous shaved keys within the vehicle. Millard was later transported to County Jail where he was booked on charges of auto theft and possession of burglary tools. Morris and Williams were released from the scene.
• 3/26/17 at 10:58 am, an officer on routine patrol attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop on 27 year old Juan Herrera for vehicle code violations. Herrera failed to yield and fled from the officer. Herrera ran the red signal light on G St. at Fitzuren Rd. and collided into a motorist in the middle of the intersection. Herrera’s vehicle became disabled and he attempted to flee on foot. The officer was able to contact Herrera and arrested him without further incident. Herrera was on active CDC parole for assault with a firearm. Herrera was medically cleared and later booked into County Jail for evading and violation of parole.
• 3/25/17 at 9:53 am, the manager of Skippolinis on Fitzuren Rd. arrived to work and found 25 year old Chad Salas attempting to break into the restaurant. The manager called police and gave a good description of Salas. Officers located Salas a few miles away and he was positively identified by the manager. Salas was placed under arrest and sent to County Jail for burglary.
• 3/23/17 at 9:37 pm, officers were dispatched to the Dairy Queen, on E.18th St. for a traffic accident. Upon arrival, officers found that two vehicles were involved in a major collision. 26 year old Megan Meyer was intoxicated and her vehicle struck the 17 year old victim’s vehicle. A passenger in the victim vehicle sustained a serious injury to her leg and a two month old dog that was in the vehicle died. The injured passenger was transported to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries. Meyer was uncooperative and belligerent. She was arrested after a brief struggle with officers. Meyer was sent to County Jail for felony DUI after being medically cleared.
• 3/23/17 at 3:30 pm, an officer recognized 47 year old James Glittens panhandling on the Hwy 4 off-ramp at Auto Center Dr. Glittens has a history of chronic panhandling. Glittens was placed under arrest for his likelihood to continue. The officer also located suspected heroin in Glittens’ pocket after a search incident to arrest. Glittens was sent to County Jail for panhandling and possession of narcotics.