Antioch Council to continue spending same amount, but not from police budget

By Dave Roberts

When 68% of Antioch voters approved the Measure C half-cent sales tax hike in 2013, the ballot measure said the money would be used to hire 22 more police, plus code enforcement officers as well as help economic development and job creation. The ballot wording didn’t mention that the money would also be used for city government administration, but that’s where more than $1 million of Measure C funds is being spent.

The sales tax had raised $13.3 million as of June 30, 2016. This has provided for the hiring of nine additional police officers and filling more than a half-dozen community service officer and code enforcement positions.

But not all of that money is devoted to public safety salaries and benefits. About 8% goes to what the city budget refers to as “internal services.” Nearly half of internal services revenue goes to the city finance department to provide payroll, accounting and purchasing services. The rest is divided among other city departments, including the city manager, attorney, clerk, human resources, city council and facilities maintenance.

The share of Measure C money going to administrative overhead for the police department has increased from 7.1% two years ago to 8.5% last year and 8% in the current fiscal year. Citywide the percentage budgeted for internal services has grown from 5.6% in 2012 to 6.3% from 2013-15 to 7.8% in 2016 and to 8.1% in 2017. The percentages are based on a formula in the city’s Cost Allocation Plan, which was adopted in 2005, and the growth in the internal services departments.

The increased cost of administration, particularly paid for with Measure C funds, created concerns at last week’s City Council meeting. Sal Sbranti, a former member of the Measure C Citizens Oversight Committee, acknowledged to the council that Measure C funds can be used for administration, but he questioned whether city administrators are taking advantage of the increased sales tax funding for public safety to beef up their own departments.

“The question deserves to be asked as to why this [administrative] allocation continues to rise at such a rate,” he said. “Every year the amount going to citywide administration goes up regardless of whether it meets Measure C guidelines or not. The committee formal report stated that due to the way the city budgets the police department for Measure C, the committee has some concerns as to whether all Measure C monies are being properly utilized to meet the objective of this measure.

“We the citizens of Antioch voted for Measure C to reduce crime, increase code enforcement, reduce 911 response times and to minimize blight. What do we get? More money spent on HR, city manager’s office, city council, city attorney – just amazing. In the last six years citywide administration has gone from $1.44 million to $3.152 million. That’s you guys approving a budget. You approved them to double their budget in six years. In the same period of time the police department only went up 52%. So who’s putting the control on citywide administration, HR, all those functions?

“Measure C is to take care of the crime in the city of Antioch. If we continue to spend money on HR, finance, the attorney and other citywide administration, at the end of the Measure C sunset [in 2021] we’ll not have the money to continue with the number of police that we have. They should not be taking Measure C money to do this. That was not what the City Council told us they were going to do. That is not what we voted on.”

Sbranti’s concerns were shared by several council members.

“I understand the Cost Allocation Plan, I understand the purpose of it,” said Mayor Sean Wright. “As somebody who worked on Measure C to help get it passed, I also understand the consternation of watching Measure C money get spent on other sources that are not helping to directly improve the safety of our community.”

Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, who had asked that the issue be placed on the council agenda, shared the mayor’s understandings and suggested two budgeting options.

“I asked for Measure C just to go toward these officers,” she said, “and the other one was to just flat out remove the Measure C cost allocation of the citywide administration fee. Or to keep doing it the way we’ve been doing it. I do trust that [city administrators are] doing it correctly and that the percentage has not changed. I understand the math where if the funds go up, the amount is going to go up. It does make sense. I do understand what people are saying the [administration] funds should not come out of Measure C funds. I have agreed with that.”

Also concerned was Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe who questioned why administrative costs had risen so much when the police department only had a net increase of less than a dozen police officers.

City Finance Director Dawn Merchant responded, “The police department has the largest share of employees of any department in the city. So we spend more resources with police department payroll versus other departments. It’s not just payroll. We pay accounts payable invoices, any money they collect we do the billing. There are a wide variety of services that finance does.”

Thorpe was skeptical, asking “For 10 additional people?”

Merchant responded, “It’s not just 10 additional people. It’s in total for the entire police department.”

City Manager Steven Duran jumped in, saying, “It doesn’t matter if there’s 10 additional people or 10 less people. The pie that’s divided is the cost of internal services. And the formula is the Cost Allocation Plan. Whether Measure C ever existed or not, the formula stays the same. So it’s nothing that anybody does except apply the math that’s in the plan. It doesn’t matter how many hires we’ve had.

“I think one of the things that some of the detractors have been emphasizing is how much it went up since 2012. That’s because when there were layoffs and furloughs prior to that, it went down. So, for instance, the city attorney has been sharing half of an administrative person and gone without a legal secretary for several years. In this year we budgeted for a legal secretary, therefore the city attorney’s budget is going up. Therefore every other department that pays internal services, they are going to pay a little more for the city attorney – police department, water, sewer, everyone. The formula doesn’t change, and it doesn’t matter what the other departments are doing or how many they have added.”

Thorpe seemed mollified, but he took exception to Duran’s characterization of the people concerned about Measure C money going to escalating administration.

“I hear you and I hear the point that if they hired no police officers and I guess if they had no additional invoices to process, it would still be the same,” said Thorpe. “I was trying to figure out how the formula [came to be] and who decided the percentage. And you’re telling me that it’s a formula that already exists, so I’m understanding that.

“I just have to point out that these are not detractors, Mr. City Manager. These are residents who have concerns, and they bring those concerns to us. So we have to take those concerns seriously. So if it frustrates you that we ask these questions, I’m sorry. But we are going to ask these questions. So I want to make clear that there are people who have concerns out there. I ask these questions to be open and transparent so that folks understand what the process is.

“So now I understand that there’s a formula. Whether it should be applied to Measure C is a starting point that I would like to discuss. Because that seems to be a concern that residents have.”

To address that concern, Wright made a motion that was unanimously passed by the council to direct Merchant to not include the administrative cost charges in the Measure C budget.

Merchant told the council that the administrative overhead would instead be shown to come out of the general fund budget, but the money being spent on administration in the overall budget would remain the same. “The expenditure is going to be there,” she said. “It’s just whether we say it’s a part of the equation for Measure C.”

Councilman Tony Tiscareno echoed Merchant, saying, “I want to make it clear that the public needs to know that there isn’t going to be a difference in cost allocation. It’s going to be the same. It’s coming from one column to another column. The reason I didn’t question the Measure C cost allocation at the time is because it was transparent to me, I saw firsthand where the money was going, knowing the money was being spent like it was supposed to be spent. We wanted to use it for hiring police and code enforcement. And I think we’ve done so.

“But we need to be transparent about all our expenditures where the money goes. This just makes it a little simpler for me to view it. But for folks that believe that this may help extend Measure C, I’ll play. But it’s still money being spent that has to be spent.”

The council is scheduled to begin reviewing the 2017-19 budget in April and to adopt it by July.

Pursuit began in Pittsburg, ended in Concord

Thursday night, January 12, 2017 at about 11 pm, CHP began a DUI investigation of a driver suspected of driving impaired at Harbor Court and Harbor Street in the city of Pittsburg. The driver showed signs of impairment and CHP requested him to exit his vehicle for a DUI investigation. The driver refused to exit and fled the scene prompting CHP to pursue him on westbound Highway 4.

CHP pursued the Honda sedan as he exited Port Chicago Highway, drove to and parked in a driveway located on Gratton Way in Concord. At that point, two CHP units and a CHP supervisor were parked behind the suspect vehicle. While still in his Honda, the suspect (a 45-year-old white male from Antioch) brandished a semi automatic pistol, turned it on himself, discharged it and suffered a self-inflicted wound and subsequently killed himself.

No CHP Officers were injured nor did any CHP officers fire their weapons. CHP’s Golden Gate Divisions Special Investigative Unit (SIU) is conducting a full investigation. This is still an open investigation. A call into the CHP Contra Costa for the suspect’s name and any other details was not returned before press time and that is all the information the CHP has released as of now.

 

By Sergeant Rick Smith, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at approximately 1:05 PM, Antioch Police Officers were advised of a possible shooting victim that had been brought into the Kaiser Hospital Deer Valley Emergency Room by car for treatment. Officers contacted an uncooperative male adult in the Emergency Room with a single gunshot wound.

Exact details of what occurred are still being investigated at this time and are vague. No further information will be released at this time.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Plus armed robbery, shoplifting, trespassing, drugs, stolen vehicles and many outstanding warrants

Antioch Police calls for service highlights as published in the Weekly Report by Assistant City Manager Ron Bernal dated December 30, 2016 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Calls for Service and Arrest Data Summary

Time Period: 12/22/16 00:00:00 – 12/28/16 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,471

Number of Case Reports: 247

Number of Arrests: 70

Felony: 29

Misdemeanor: 41

Arrests with

DUI charge: 4

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

●12/28/16 at 11:46 pm, an officer contacted 38 year old Lewis Wright during a pedestrian stop at Jack’s Car Wash on Fitzuren Rd. Wright was found to have two warrants for his arrest. Wright was arrested and booked into County Jail.

●12/28/16 at 1:57 pm, officers contacted 46 year old Chris Osborne on a traffic stop on A St. and determined him to be on parole. A search was conducted and officers located methamphetamine for sales. Osborne was arrested for narcotics sales and booked into County Jail.

●12/28/16 at 12:39 pm, officers contacted 40 year old Matthew King on a pedestrian stop near 7-11 on Sunset Lane and found him to have a warrant for his arrest. King was booked into County Jail.

●12/28/16 at 2:24 am, 46 year old Shannon Johnson called the police because he believed his girlfriend was hiding in his brother’s bedroom. Officers made contact with Johnson and soon realized he displayed the symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. A check of the residence, including brother’s room, revealed no girlfriend but a parole check of Johnson’s person revealed an amount of methamphetamine for personal use. Johnson was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and Parole placed a hold on him for the violation. Johnson was transported to County Jail.

●12/28/16 at 1:30 am, Sutter Delta Hospital security called APD because 65 year old Andrew Norwood refused to leave the property of the hospital after being discharged. Security placed Norwood under citizen’s arrest for trespassing and officers took custody of him. Norwood was transported to County Jail for trespassing.

●12/27/16 at 8:43 pm, an officer conducted a traffic stop on Manzanita Way And Mahogany Way on a motorcycle for having no license plates. A check of the VIN revealed the motorcycle was listed as stolen out of Burlingame. 37 year old Michael Siscar was arrested without incident and claimed to have recently purchased the motorcycle for $100 from a neighborhood resident. Siscar was transported to County Jail for the stolen vehicle.

●12/27/16 at 3:23 pm, an officer located a stolen vehicle at the gas pumps at the Shell Gas Station on Auto Center Dr. 25 year old Ross Funcannon was seated in the driver seat of the vehicle and attempted to walk away after seeing the officer. Funcannon was detained without incident and found to be on parole for burglary. He was arrested and booked into County Jail for the stolen vehicle as well as a violation of parole.

●12/27/16 at 2:42 pm, officers responded to Starbucks on A St. for a report of a female on the phone asking for the police. Upon arrival, officers contacted an adult male subject and 28 year old Jessie Elery. After speaking with the pair, officers learned no crime was committed; however, Elery was found to have a warrant for her arrest. She was arrested without incident and booked into County Jail.

●12/27/16 at 10:40 am, officers responded to 7-11 on Sunset Lane for a suspicious vehicle possibly involved in narcotics sales. Officers contacted 24 year old Dylan Douglas who was found to have a felony warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and booked into County Jail.

●12/27/16 at 2:20 am, an officer was patrolling the parking lot of the Shell Gas Station on Hillcrest Ave. when he ran the plate on a U-Haul van parked at the gas pumps. The van returned as a stolen vehicle, and 51 year old Annette Corriveau was contacted in the driver seat. She was arrested without incident and transported to the County Jail for the stolen vehicle.

●12/26/16 at 7:52 pm, officers were dispatched to a fight on the front porch of a residence on Greystone Drive. 27 year old Antwon Redmon was contacted on the porch, and it was determined that there was no fight. A records check of Redmon revealed a warrant. He was arrested and booked at County Jail.

●12/26/16 at 2:20 pm, the victim was sitting in her vehicle near Taco Bell on Lone Tree Way when an unknown male approached her driver window. The male lifted his sweatshirt to expose a handgun in his waistband while demanding property from the victim. The victim gave the male some cash and he walked off towards Taco Bell. The victim drove home and then reported the incident. The responsible was not located.

●12/26/16 at 2:03 pm, two suspects entered Sears on Somersville Road with a suitcase and selected numerous items. They stuffed all the items in the suitcase and attempted to leave the store. A loss prevention officer attempted to stop the couple resulting in the merchandise spilling out on the floor. The female suspect started punching the loss prevention officer while the male half collected the stolen items. Eventually, the female reached in her purse and threatened to shoot the loss prevention officer, but no gun was seen. The two suspects fled the store on foot towards Potomac Ct. The suspects were not located.

●12/26/16 at 2:02 pm, officers were working a proactive detail when they located 47 year old James Gregory on K St. and 10th St. He was found to have two warrants and booked in County Jail.

●12/26/16 at 8:16 am, officers were dispatched to Cataline Ave. for a suspicious vehicle in the area. They made contact with 23 year old Tony Brooks. During a consent search, officers located methamphetamine and heroin. Brooks was arrested and given a citation.

●12/26/16 at 7:53 am, the victims were at 5th St. and L St. trying to meet up with a friend. While they were parked on the side of the road, a white pickup pulled up and the suspects got out. One male suspect and one female suspect were armed with guns. The victims were assaulted, ultimately resulting in the suspects taking the victim’s white 2003 Ford Taurus. The suspects fled in the victim’s car and in the pickup. Officers circulated the area but were not able to find the victim vehicle.

●12/25/16 at 8:51 pm, 19 year old Luis Morales was contacted during a traffic stop for erratic driving. He displayed objective symptoms of being intoxicated and refused field sobriety tests. He was arrested for DUI and consented to a blood draw. He was subsequently booked into the County Jail.

●12/25/16 at 11:53 am, officers contacted several subjects in front of a residence on Manzanita Way 44 year old Jeffrey Rice was found to have a warrant for his arrest. He was released with a new court date.

●12/25/16 at 7:15 am, an unknown suspect entered 7-11 on E. 18th St. and went to the bathroom where he stayed for approximately 30 minutes. The suspect came out of the bathroom, approached the clerk and pointed a revolver at him. The clerk ran into the back room and locked the door. The suspect attempted to open the register, but when he couldn’t get into it, he fled the store on foot westbound on E. 18th St. Officers circulated the area, but the suspect was not located. There was no loss for the business.

●12/24/16 at 10:23 pm, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a van with paper plates at the Hillcrest Ave. and E. Lake Dr. A check of the VIN revealed it to be stolen out of Antioch from Templer’s Tow a few days prior. The driver, 30 year old Adam Renfroe, was arrested without incident and transported to the County Jail. During an inventory search of the vehicle, a suspected stolen safe and compressor were located. A Trak flyer was completed in an effort to identify an owner of the suspected stolen property.

●12/24/16 at 5:37 pm, an officer contacted 46 year old Joseph Simoni and another subject in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Ramada Inn on Mahogany Way. Simoni was found to have a warrant. He was arrested and booked at County Jail.

●12/24/16 at 3:33 pm, several witnesses called to report a fight at the Big Lots on Somersville Rd. Responding officers located 36 year old Melody Brown nearby and she matched the description of one of the responsibles. A 71 year old male was contacted at the store and determined to be the victim. He had minor injuries, was not cooperative, and refused to conduct an infield. Brown was found to have three warrants and was booked at County Jail.

●12/24/16 at 3:09 pm, 58 year old Don Gonzales was stopped by officers for vehicle code violations near 1500 W. 4th St. He was found to have a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and sent to County Jail.

●12/24/16 at 2:30 pm, Walmart security called to report 26 year old Jagurtha Sbili was on the property and had already been warned for trespassing. Officers made contact with Sbili and detained him without incident. Security signed a citizen’s arrest for Sbili and he was booked in County Jail for likely to continue.

●12/24/16 at 1:22 pm, 49 year old Kevin Baity was contacted by police at a home on Pinecrest Ct. during a suspicious circumstance call. Baity was found to have a cite/release warrant out of Oakland. He was arrested and released with a new court date.

●12/24/16 at 7:59 am, the victim called APD from the Red and Green on 4th St. to report she was in an altercation with a female subject outside the store; and during the incident, her vehicle was stolen. Officers were able to identify the female suspect as 39 year old Shadia Mitchell-Richards who has been arrested numerous times in the past. A report was taken and officers circulated for the car. At 2:01 pm, an officer saw the stolen vehicle driving towards him on 2nd St. near L St. The officer gestured for the driver to pull over and she complied. The driver was found to be Mitchell-Richards and she was arrested without incident. The passengers, 54 year old Michael Jiles and 37 year old Gregory Eutsey both had felony warrants and were also arrested without incident. All were booked into County Jail.

●12/23/16 at 8:31 pm, 45 year old Rachel Stanko was contacted during a vehicle stop and found to have a warrant for her arrest. She was taken into custody without incident and booked into County Jail.

●12/23/16 at 7:56 pm, the victim was seated inside Starbucks on Lone Tree Way facing away from the door when a male entered the store. The male reached over his shoulder and grabbed his Macbook Pro. The suspect attempted to flee to a waiting vehicle but the victim was too close so the male continued to run towards Lone Tree Way. Eventually, he was picked up by the getaway vehicle and driven away. The victim attempted to track the computer but it was moving and unable to be located in one particular area. Both this case and an earlier incident are under investigation.

●12/23/16 at 5:25 pm, the victim was sitting in Starbucks in the Bluerock Center working on his homework at a table. He saw two males near the bathroom. He also observed a white sedan pulling into the front parking lot. He believes the vehicle was an older model Toyota. As soon as the vehicle pulled into the parking lot, he heard one of the males saying, “Let’s go”. They both ran and grabbed his Apple Macbook Pro from the table. The two males got into the passenger seat of the vehicle. The vehicle sped away towards Lone Tree Way.

●12/23/16 at 9:57 am, the reporting party called to report 28 year old Moises Sanchez was trespassing again at the Food Maxx on Lone Tree Way. Sanchez was contacted by police and arrested at the reporting party’s request. Sanchez was booked at the APD jail and later released on a citation.

●12/23/16 at 12:15 am, officers responded to a silent alarm at a building in the business park off Verne Roberts Circle. 46 year old Lee Cash and 31 year old Michael Hamilton were contacted in the complex walking away from the area of the business. Neither offered a reason for them to be in the complex after hours. Both had broken glass and sheetrock on their clothing. A smashed window was found at the business with a hole kicked into a back wall. An extension cord was also found in back of the business that was setup as a climbing rope. The roof hatch was also found open. A subscriber responded and confirmed a camera was missing from a desk. Cash and Hamilton denied being in the business, smashing the window, or being on the roof. An area check was made for the missing camera with negative results. Cash and Lee were taken into custody and booked into County Jail for burglary.

●12/23/16 at 12:14 am, an officer saw 40 year old Jose Hernandez at an apartment complex on Mahogany Way. He knew Hernandez from prior contacts and knew he had a cite-able warrant for his arrest. Hernandez was contacted and issued a new court date.

●12/22/16 at 4:09 pm, the victim called 9-1-1 advising she was alone and two subjects were trying to get into the residence on Forty Niner Way. She remained on the phone as the subjects continued to try and enter the rear slider. Eventually, the subjects did make entry through a window. The victim locked herself in a bedroom and waited for officers to arrive. Upon arrival, officers detained a juvenile subject on a bike leaving the area. The 14 year old male matched the description of one of the responsibles; however, two other suspects fled on bikes and were not located. The juvenile denied entering the home but was found to have items possibly taken from the residence. The juvenile was arrested and released to his mother with a citation.

●12/22/16 at 11:50 am, 30 year old Zachary Carpenter was contacted by an officer at the Bonfare Market on W. 10th St. and found to have a warrant for vandalism. Carpenter was arrested and booked into County Jail.

●12/22/16 at 10:08 am, a stolen vehicle was located travelling eastbound on Mahogany Way. A traffic enforcement stop was conducted on the vehicle and 28 year old Kia Richardson was contacted driving the car. She stated she borrowed the car and did not know the car was stolen. Richardson was arrested and booked into County Jail on a stolen vehicle charge.

●12/22/16 at 8:12 am, a concerned citizen saw an unusual substance spilled in the roadway on Mandarin Way and flagged down a patrol officer. It was determined there was about a 3 foot by 3 foot area of spilled Mercury. ConFire Engine 83 responded and contacted County Hazmat who responded. The spill took about two hours to clean and it was never determined where the Mercury came from. There was never any danger to the public.

By Sergeant Wisecarver, Antioch Police Special Operations Unit

On Saturday, December 31, 2016 at approximately 7:45 PM, the Antioch Police Department received numerous calls reporting gunshots in the area of a residential apartment in the 2300 block of Sycamore Drive. Officers responded to the reports and located a 20-year old man and a 56 year old man, both bleeding from gunshot wounds.

The officers began treating the injured men and requested paramedics respond to assist. The 20-year-old man was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The 56 year old man died at the scene.

No further information will be released at this time as this investigation is ongoing. Anyone with

information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Jason Vanderpool with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6988.

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Tuesday, Nov. 08, 2016 at approximately 8:45 PM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to an address in the 2100 block of Manzanita Way on the report of suspicious activity around a vacant residence. When officers arrived on scene they found the residence was filled with smoke. The fire department responded and found there had been a fire inside the residence and they located the deceased body of a male that had been burned. The residence had minor damage from the fire and did not affect neighboring homes.

Antioch Police Investigators were called to the scene and are in the early stages of the  investigation into this suspicious death.

The investigation revealed that 33-year-old Pittsburg resident Terrance Hornbeck had been shot and then his body was set on fire inside of the residence. Leslie Simmons, age 33 of Antioch, became a suspect early on in the investigation as he used a false name when calling into the 911 center to report a suspicious circumstance at the location immediately following setting the fire. Simmons left the area before the police arrived. Hornbeck and Simmons knew each other. Simmons has been on the run since the incident and evading police contact.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Simmons for the murder of Hornbeck. On Dec. 28th Simmons turned himself into Antioch Police Investigators at the direction of his attorney. He was taken into custody without incident and will be booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on the murder warrant.

No further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Colley with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6922. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Says he believes he had degree at time he wrote his candidate statement in 2014; retired Dean confirms Belle completed all course work for degree.

By Allen Payton

Embattled Contra Costa County Board of Education Trustee Jeff Belle admitted in court on Thursday, December 15, 2016 that he does not have a college degree in political science, as he wrote in his candidate’s statement, when he ran and was elected in 2014. In his declaration, required as part of his agreement and signed under penalty of perjury, Belle wrote, he “believed then that the statement was true.”

“Belle submitted a letter to the court, it was filed with the court and it is an allocution of sorts,” said Deputy District Attorney Steve Moawad who prosecuted the case against Belle. “He admits he did not have a bachelor’s degree. He said he thought he did at the time and it was not his intent to mislead the public.”

Belle was approved for a diversion program in which he agreed to perform 20 hours of community service and to write the declaration saying he does not in fact have a bachelor’s degree and to obey all laws.

Once he submits proof of his community service, the case will possibly be dismissed in either June or December of next year.

“Diversion is normally a year or 18 months or something along those lines. That’s what we envisioned,” Moawad explained. “Belle asked the court for early diversion, which would dismiss the case earlier.”

However, Moawad wouldn’t commit to that.

“The judge asked if Mr. Belle does more than the 20 hours of service, would you consider dismissing in June,” Moawad continued. “I agreed to keep an open mind about that. It would be my expectation that if he wants the case dismissed in June he would do more than 20 hours of community service.”

In Belle’s Declaration, he wrote:

“I, Jeffrey Belle, state that in 2014 I filed my candidate’s statement for the office of Trustee to the Contra Costa County Board of Education. I drafted the statement to be accurate, true, and complete. I stressed my experience as an educator and also mentioned some of my educational achievements. I mentioned, among several other achievements, that I had earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. I believed then that the statement was true.

When I drafted my statement, I believed that I had earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Oklahoma City University (OCU). In my senior year, I was told by the Registrar’s office at OCU that I would be graduating in August of that year, however the OCU’s registrar’s office also advised me that they were waiting for the certified transcript from American University (AU) where I had spent a semester studying. I walked for my graduation at OCU on May 6, 1989. I believed my graduation was effective in August of 1989 as stated in the graduation program and as I had been told by

the registrar’s office at OCU.

However, it has now been clarified that I do not have a Bachelor’s Degree from OCU. It was not my intent to misinform the voters regarding my degree. In the future I will be more careful about my statements to ensure no misinterpretation.

I state and declare under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California in Contra Costa County, that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

signed
Jeffrey Belle

December 15, 2016

He claimed on his ballot statement that he “earned” a “Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.”

However in an October, 2015 interview for an article with this reporter, Belle said, “I still owe American University for room and board for that semester of almost $3,000. However, in 1989 I walked in the graduation, and they acknowledge it, but they won’t confer the degree, until then.”

Belle referred questions about his letter to his attorneys.

“Talk to Carol or Marsaane about (the) letter,” he said in a message.

By participating in the diversion program, Belle avoids a trial and the maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine. However, the case has cost the taxpayers much more than that.

The DA’s office began the investigation of Belle’s lie in early 2015 and the prosecution began six months later. The case has included multiple court dates, with Belle and his attorneys delaying the process asking for continuances, until Thursday.

The most recent delay in the case included a claim that he’s had cancer has been in the hospital for the past two months getting treatment.

Carol Hehmeyer, one of Belle’s attorneys, said, “He was charged with violating section 18351 of the Elections Code, which is not lying but making a statement that you knowingly know is false when you make it and thought it would have influenced the election.”

That section of the elections code reads as follows:

“Any candidate in an election or incumbent in a recall election who knowingly makes a false statement of a material fact in a candidate’s statement, prepared pursuant to Section 11327 or 13307, with the intent to mislead the voters in connection with his or her campaign for nomination or election to a nonpartisan office is punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).”

“He did earn it,” she said referring to his degree in political science.” He walked for graduation. His family members were there. They provided declarations under penalty of perjury.”

“We have the declaration from the Dean of the Department of Political Science Larry Eberhart, who retired before this exploded,” Hehmeyer continued.

“Jeff does not need the courses they’re now saying he needs,” she explained. “They’re eliminating some of the credits he did get. They’re not going to recognize the credits that were transferred from another college because the school is no longer in business.”

“The DA’s office spent a year trying to find something wrong about the candidate’s statement,” Hehmeyer added. “The first judge that heard this wanted to get rid of this and wanted diversion.”

Which is what Belle ultimately accepted instead of going to trial.

“We didn’t have the money for a trial,” she said.

The confusion in the case and accusation against Belle stem from the use and definition of the term “earn” versus “confer” when referring to his college the degree. He only used the phrase “have earned…Bachelor’s degree in Political Science,” when Belle wrote and signed his ballot statement in summer, 2014 at the beginning of the campaign.

Belle is currently the Vice President of the county school board. His term ends in 2018.

Antioch Police calls for service highlights as published in City Manager Steve Duran’s Weekly Report dated December 16, 2016 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Calls for Service and Arrest Data Summary:

Time Period: 12/08/16 00:00:00 – 12/14/16 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,792

Number of Case Reports: 288

Number of Arrests: 84

Felony: 25

Misdemeanor: 59

Arrests with DUI charge: 5

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

• ·12/14/16 at 10:41 pm, officers were dispatched to a report of a shot fired at 4500 Lone Tree Way. A few minutes later, we began receiving reports of two males fighting in front of Food Maxx, and one of the males had a gun. Officers arrived on scene to see a security guard and 19 year old Jaleel McCrary fighting on the ground. The security guard worked for Food Maxx and was attacked by McCrary. During the fight, one shot was fired in the air by the security guard (no one was struck). Officers arrived on scene and were finally able to take McCrary into custody after a struggle. Both the security guard and McCrary suffered minor injuries during the altercation. McCrary was taken to an area hospital for treatment before being transported to County Jail on felony assault and robbery charges.
• ·12/14/16 at 2:18 pm, 32 year old Zachary Courtland was trespassing on Holy Rosary property on A St. He was contacted by officers and arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Courtland was booked into the APD Jail and later released on a citation.
• ·12/13/16 at 9:00 pm, an officer recognized 32 year old Chino Jones Jr. walking on 19th St. He conducted a records check and discovered Jones had an outstanding warrant. Jones was arrested without incident and transported to County Jail.
• ·12/13/16 at 7:00 pm, an officer located 68 year old James Wedding sleeping under a blanket behind the old CVS on Somersville Rd. Dispatch advised Wedding had two outstanding warrants. He was placed under arrest and transported to County Jail.
• ·12/13/16 at 3:00 pm, an officer conducted a records check on a white Honda traveling in front of him on Lone Tree Wy. Records indicated it was a stolen vehicle. A high risk stop was conducted in the Burger King drive-thru; and the driver, 27 year old Miguel Carpano, was arrested without incident and transported to County Jail for vehicle theft.
• ·12/13/16 at 2:24 pm, officers conducted a traffic stop near Sunset Dr. and Beasley Ave. on a vehicle driven by 20 year old Ronvell Scheneck. Scheneck was found to have a no bail warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and sent to Count Jail.
• ·12/13/16 at 9:29 am, 41 year old Lawrence Worthy entered Walgreens on Deer Valley Rd. and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. He took cash and fled in a vehicle but was located by officers a short distance away. He was positively identified as the responsible and arrested. Worthy was sent to County Jail for armed robbery and a probation violation.
• ·12/12/16 at 11:01 pm, 28 year old Moises Sanchez was contacted during a pedestrian stop. Sanchez was in possession of a stolen bicycle. Sanchez was arrested and later released on a citation.
• ·12/12/16 at 11:00 pm, an officer saw and recognized 49 year old Derrick Battle from prior police contacts. He conducted a records check and discovered Battle had an outstanding warrant. He contacted Battle and advised him of his warrant. Battle thanked him for taking him to jail so he could “sort it out.” Battle was placed under arrest and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/12/16 at 9:07 pm, 34 year old Victoria Alexander was contacted during a pedestrian stop and was found to have two citable warrants for her arrest. Alexander was given a new court date and released with a promise to appear.
• ·12/12/16 at 7:15 pm, employees at the 99 Cent Store on Somersville Rd. advised officers that 25 year old James Yingling may have shoplifted merchandise. Officers detained Yingling, and he spontaneously said, “Please don’t run my name, I have a warrant.” A records check revealed he had two outstanding warrants. The 99 Cent Store recovered their merchandise and did not want prosecution. Yingling was placed under arrest and transported to County Jail.
• ·12/12/16 at 11:20 am, officers contacted 25 year old Ross Foncannon near the Dutch Pride Gas Station on Cavallo Rd. Foncannon was found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody without incident. He was sent to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 11:36 pm, an officer conducted a suspicious vehicle stop on an occupied Honda at Contra Loma Park. The license plate on the Honda was listed as lost/stolen. After checking the VIN, it was determined the vehicle was cold plated, but the vehicle was clear. Pittsburg PD contacted the registered owner of the Honda and it was determined to be an unreported stolen vehicle. The driver, 27 year old Miguel Murillo, and the passenger, 45 year old Gerardo Castrejon, were placed under arrest. Dispatch advised Castrejon also had an outstanding warrant. Both were sent to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 10:44 pm, 28 year old Alesha Luckett was contacted during a traffic stop and was found to have a warrant for her arrest. Luckett was arrested without incident and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 10:10 pm, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a minivan for a vehicle code violation. The driver, 26 year old James Mcevoy, was determined to have two outstanding warrants and on probation. The front passenger, 25 year old Eduardo Rankin, was determined to be on parole and had a baggie of suspected methamphetamine next to him. Mcevoy admitted the suspected methamphetamine was his, but could not explain how it ended up next to Rankin. Mcevoy and Rankin were arrested and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 6:25 pm, 22 year old Michael Harrison was contacted during a suspicious circumstance call of a male and female yelling in the street. Officers contacted Harrison who was stopped in the middle of the intersection. Dispatch advised Harrison had three outstanding warrants. He was placed under arrest and transported to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 5:50 pm, JC Penny’s called APD about 30 year old Jeffry Harrison and 22 year old Jasmine Vega shoplifting merchandise and putting it into their truck. Harrison and Vega returned to the store to continue shoplifting. Officers staged outside the store and detained Harrison and Vega when they exited with additional stolen merchandise. They admitted to the thefts and were placed under arrest. Both were on probation and sent to County Jail for probation violations and theft charges.
• ·12/11/16 at 4:15 pm, officers were dispatched to shots fired in the 2600 block of Forty Niner Wy. Upon arrival, several shell casings were located in front of a residence with several bullet holes into the garage door. The residents were contacted but uncooperative and provided no information to identify the responsible(s). A witness described a silver sedan drive by and a male passenger reaching out the passenger window firing at the residence.
• ·12/11/16 at 4:06 pm, officers contacted 24 year old Robert Nichols at Starbucks on A St. and found that he had a no cite warrant for his arrest for a probation violation stemming from drug charges. He was taken into custody without incident and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 3:04 pm, officers were called to the 400 block of Lawton St. for the report of a subject sleeping in the trees. Upon arrival they contacted 49 year old Victor Tapia who had two citable warrants for his arrest. He was given new court dates and moved on from the trees.
• ·12/11/16 at 2:31 pm, officers were dispatched to the mall in regards to a disturbance. Upon arrival they contacted 31 year old Lecreshia Dudley who was found to have an extraditable felony warrant for fraud out of Georgia. She was taken into custody and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 1:26 am, officers were dispatched to 600 Wilbur Ave. for a vehicle blocking traffic with the driver passed out behind the wheel. 24 year old Angelino Verbis was arrested for DUI without incident, booked at APD, and later transported to County Jail.
• ·12/11/16 at 1:13 am, 25 year old Leah Wallace was contacted by officers during a pedestrian stop and found to have a warrant for her arrest. Wallace was arrested without incident and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/10/16 at 8:30 pm, Walmart employees called about 19 year old Tevin Herron refusing to leave the store after attempting to fight customers. APD officers responded and escorted Herron off of the property, advising him that Wal-Mart would have him arrested if he returned. Approximately an hour later, APD received a call from Walmart that Herron had returned. Officers contacted Herron inside the store and placed him under citizen’s arrest per Walmart staff. He was transported to County Jail (likely to continue the offense).
• ·12/10/16 at 5:30 pm, the Fallas loss prevention officer observed 41 year old Bryan Thompson concealing merchandise from the store. Thompson then bypassed all points of sale and made no effort to pay for the concealed merchandise. He was stopped and detained by loss prevention. APD arrived and positively identified Thompson through the fingerprint reader. Thompson was also found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine. A records check showed Thompson to be on probation for petty theft, shoplifting, and possession narcotics. Thompson was transported to County Jail and booked on a probation violation, theft and drug charges.
• ·12/10/16 at 5:00 pm, the Target loss prevention officer observed 57 year old Cynthia Turner select numerous items and place them in her cart. Turner then bypassed all points of sale with all the merchandise in the cart. Turner was detained and held in the security office for APD because she had no ID. The stolen merchandise totaled over $600. Turner was positively identified and released on a citation for the theft.
• ·12/10/16 at 3:30 pm, the loss prevention officer at Fallas observed 25 year old Farahaisha Miller pay for merchandise she had selected. As Miller was walking out with her purchases, she grabbed a pair of shoes before exiting the store. She was stopped by the loss prevention officer and detained in the security office for APD to arrive. APD Officers identified Miller and released her on a citation for the theft.
• ·12/10/16 at 11:24 am, officers were dispatched to an address on Heacock Way to investigate a possible restraining order violation. Once there, they made contact with 31 year old Bryan Anderson who was found to have a felony warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody and sent to County Jail.
• ·12/10/16 at 1:03 am, 25 year old Kameron Wareham was contacted during a suspicious vehicle stop to the rear of Apollo Ct. He was found to have a warrant for his arrest. Wareham was taken into custody without incident and booked into County Jail.
• ·12/9/16 at 9:07 pm, officers were stopped on southbound L St. at W. 18th St. on a separate vehicle stop when they heard tires screeching. Officers witnessed 33 year old Jose Camerena sliding to a stop westbound on W. 18th St. into the back of a truck which was stopped at the intersection. Camerena then backed up and drove around the truck fleeing the scene. He turned north on L St. and refused to stop for officers attempting to catch him on foot. An officer was able to return to his vehicle and caught up with Camerena on Leggett St. A traffic stop was conducted and Camerena was found to be intoxicated. He was taken into custody without incident and booked at APD before being transported to County Jail for DUI and evading. There were no injuries from the collision.
• ·12/9/16 at 9:13 pm, the victims were inside their open garage on Madrone St., when an unknown male wearing a mask walked up the driveway. The responsible pointed a firearm at both victims and demanded their money. The victims gave the responsible their wallets and iPad out of fear. The responsible then fled southbound into a nearby park. Officers canvassed the area and attempted a trail with the K-9, which met with negative results.
• ·12/9/16 at 4:40 pm, 43 year old Cynthia Vazquez posted the victim’s two stolen bicycles for sale on the “Offer Up” website. The victim agreed to meet Vazquez at Statewide Storage on Verne Roberts Cir. to “purchase” the bicycles at 5:00 pm but contacted APD instead. Officers responded to Statewide Storage shortly after 5:00 pm. Upon arrival, Vazquez and 38 year old Benjamin Jimenez were contacted in front of the business with the two stolen bicycles. Vazquez and Jimenez were both on misdemeanor probation for possession of stolen property. Vazquez admitted to having a storage unit at the location. The officers searched Vazquez’s storage unit and located her vehicle parked in front of it. A search of Vazquez’s vehicle revealed two methamphetamine pipes and a small amount of methamphetamine in Vazquez’s purse. Vazquez and Jimenez both denied knowing the bicycles were stolen. Vazquez and Jimenez were later cited for possession of stolen property and drug charges.
• ·12/9/16 at 10:21 am, 47 year old Ramon Torres was contacted by an officer downtown and found to have a warrant for his arrest. He was booked into County Jail.
• ·12/9/16 at 4:30 am, the victim called APD from his home on Kodiak St. regarding 34 year old Anthony Robles at his door attempting to get in. There was a current, valid restraining order against Robles. Robles fled prior upon APD arrival. He was later located and detained without incident. He was found to be in possession of suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Robles was arrested without incident and booked into County Jail for the restraining order violation as well as narcotics charges.
• ·12/8/16 at 11:53 pm, APD received a single call of 5-7 gunshots fired in the area of Sycamore Dr. and Manzanita Wy. Officers checked the area with negative results. Approximately an hour later, CHP called and advised they had been working a collision for the past hour on westbound Hwy 4 near Bailey Rd. in which the driver was found to have multiple gunshot wounds. CHP began checking various agencies looking for where this may have occurred after they ruled out it occurring on the freeway. The driver advised he had been shot somewhere in Antioch while at an area hospital just prior to being sedated. He was unable to give a statement, but he was expected to survive. Both patrol shifts conducted an extensive canvass of the area on foot and could not locate the shooting scene. The investigation is ongoing.
• ·12/8/16 at 9:05 pm, an officer provided extra patrol inside City Park and located 44 year old Stacey Martinez inside the park past curfew. Upon doing a warrants check, the officer discovered Martinez had an outstanding no cite warrant for her arrest related to charges of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Martinez was arrested without incident and later transported to County Jail.
• ·12/8/16 at 5:55 pm, officers provided routine patrol in the area of E. 6th St. when they made contact with 40 year old Gary Mitchell in front of 35 E. 6th St. Upon making contact with Mitchell, officers observed Mitchell discard a loaded .22 caliber revolver. Mitchell also had an outstanding warrant for violation of his parole. Mitchell was arrested without incident and later transported to County Jail for the probation warrant and weapons violations.
• ·12/8/16 at 12:19 pm, 29 year old Christina Boyd was contacted by an officer as she was loitering and panhandling in the streets and medians on Auto Center Dr. and Hwy 4. She was arrested and removed from the area. This officer conducted numerous extra patrols downtown and made several proactive contacts dealing with unlawful loitering, panhandling, and camping.
• ·12/8/16 at 8:49 am, an officer was conducting extra patrol at the El Campanil because a lot of school kids were on a field trip to the theater. While he was there, the officer on-viewed a loud argument between 34 year old Eddie Crandell and his girlfriend. The officer contacted the girlfriend as Crandall walked away towards the Palms Lot. Crandall was detained by an officer already in the Palms Lot and found to have a felony warrant for his arrest. Crandall was transported to County Jail, and the area was quiet for the rest of the day.