19-year-old driver arrested after she and passengers left the scene, police say alcohol is suspected factor; bail set at $100K; victim ID’d

By Allen D. Payton

A car being driven the wrong way on Deer Valley Road struck an off-road all-terrain vehicle (ATV) taking the life of the male driver Saturday night, July 8, 2023. A witness said the car was driving the wrong direction in the fast southbound lane when it struck the ATV. The incident occurred between Wildflower Drive and Carpinteria Drive shortly before 9:30 p.m.

The driver of the ATV, a 51-year-old African American man, was ejected and landed about 100 feet from his vehicle. His body was down in the southbound fast lane. When emergency personnel from Con Fire and the Antioch Police Department arrived, they ran to him and administered CPR.

A police officer later reported that the man was driving without lights or a helmet at the time of the collision and died at the scene.

The driver of the car left the scene, one witness said. She said she and her husband were at the stoplight at the Carpinteria Drive intersection in the inside northbound lane of Deer Valley Road and saw the car turn into the southbound fast lane and driving the wrong way on Deer Valley Road. They witnessed the collision and heard the impact.

At least one passenger was still in the back seat of the car when officers arrived and could be seen speaking with an officer.

Another witness said there were four females in the car and heard them say “we gotta get out of here”. An officer at the scene said one passenger was transported to the hospital and the other three in the car had been detained.

Assistant Chief Chris Bachman confirmed “it was only one person transported to the hospital.”

Members of the deceased man’s family, who live nearby, arrived at the scene soon after, were seeking information about the collision, and learned he had passed.

Con Fire then used a saw to cut the hood of the car and pried it back and smoke could be scene emanating from the engine.

Later, the females from the car and others could be seen speaking with officers in the parking lot of nearby businesses and one of them could be seen and heard crying. Another of the females could be heard asking why she was included and saying, “I didn’t do anything.”

A few minutes later, three of the females, later identified as the driver and two passengers of the car, could be seen getting into the back of two police vehicles which then drove away.

Traffic was blocked on Deer Valley Road in both directions between Carpinteria and Wildflower.

Antioch Police Provide Additional Details, Identify Victim

A press release by Sgt Rob Green of the Antioch Police Field Services Division was issued Sunday morning providing more details:

On July 8th, 2023, at about 9:27 PM, the Antioch Police Department Communications Center received calls of a two-vehicle head on collision in the area of Deer Valley Road and Wildflower Drive. Officers determined a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Tatiana Monet Bartlow (born 10-20-2003) drove the wrong way, northbound in the southbound lane of Deer Valley Road where she collided head on with a quad ATV driven by 51-year-old Jerry Hill.  The impact caused Hill to be ejected from the ATV. Hill succumbed on scene to his injuries.

A 20-year-old female passenger in Bartlow’s vehicle sustained a head injury and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.  Bartlow left the scene with two other passengers from the vehicle and was followed by witnesses who got the attention of arriving officers.  Officers detained Bartlow and the two passengers a short distance away and was later transported to the Antioch Police Station.

APD Major Accident Investigation Team assumed control of the investigation.  Alcohol is a suspected factor in this collision and Bartlow was arrested and sent to county jail.  This investigation is ongoing, and we ask anyone with information to contact Sergeant Rob Green at 925-779-6864 or rgreen@antiochca.gov.  You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Inmate Locator, Bartlow’s bail was set at $100,000.

By Lt. Holley Connors, Walnut Creek Police Department

On July 3rd, at 1:21 p.m., a 911 caller reported a vehicle collided with a pedestrian on Ygnacio Valley Road, east of the intersection at Lennon Lane. Officers arrived and found a male pedestrian conscious, but with significant injuries. Preliminary details indicated the driver’s vehicle drifted to the right, hopped the curb, and struck the pedestrian who was doing maintenance work at that location. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured.

Officers and AMR personnel provided medical aid to the pedestrian before he was transported to the hospital. Unfortunately, the pedestrian later succumbed to his injuries. The driver remained on scene and cooperated with responding officers.

According to a report by Bay City News, the victim was identified by the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office as Cornelio Tovar Sanchez, age 54 of Antioch.

The cause of this accident is under investigation. If you have any information about this case, please contact Walnut Creek PD Dispatch at 925-935-6400.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

More than 11 million arrest and conviction records automatically cleared including old arrests that never turned into charges and provides relief to people who completed all conditions of their sentence

Due to legislation pioneered by Los Angeles DA George Gascón

By Max Szabo, Prosecutors Alliance of California

SACRAMENTO–New data from the California Department of Justice (CAL DOJ) indicates that 11,164,458 records of arrest and conviction were automatically cleared between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 pursuant to Assembly Bill 1076. The historic reform automated a process that individuals were already entitled to but had to seek out through an arduous process. AB 1076 requires CAL DOJ to automatically clear old arrests that never turned into charges and provides relief to people who completed all the conditions of their sentence, thereby expanding education, employment and housing opportunities for countless Californians.

“People who were arrested or convicted of low-level crimes and did what was asked of them are entitled to a second chance under the law, but bureaucratic barriers kept them in a paper prison,” said Cristine DeBerry, Founder and Executive Director of the Prosecutors Alliance of California.  “That wasn’t just unfair, it was unsafe, as a criminal record hangs over people, hampering their access to employment and housing opportunities, primary factors that drive recidivism. The system had taken away hope and opportunity, but commonsense and technology enabled one of the most important reforms in years.” 

The automated record clearance is due to a 2019 law, Assembly Bill 1076, which was authored by Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by then-San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón.  The legislation mandated that the state Department of Justice automatically clear records of arrests that did not result in a conviction after the statute of limitations had passed as well as convictions involving probation and jail once an offender’s sentence was completed. Individuals sentenced to prison and anyone who had to register as a sex offender or who violated their probation is not eligible.  The record clearance largely benefits individuals who had committed drugs or property crimes.

“It’s a vicious cycle, as communities of color are more likely to be arrested, they are therefore more likely to have a record that includes an arrest or conviction, and yet they were less likely to be aware that they were entitled to relief,” said LA County District Attorney George Gascón.  “These were unnecessary barriers that make it more difficult to successfully reenter and break the cycle by limiting access to jobs, education and housing.  Breaking down these barriers makes our system more just and our communities more safe.”

During the appropriations process that bill was limited to prospective arrests and convictions.  However, a subsequent effort in 2021, AB 1038, authored again by Assemblymember Ting, and sponsored by the Prosecutors Alliance of California, made the record clearance provided under AB 1076 retroactive.  That bill took effect July 1, 2023.  The newly released DOJ data indicates that the relief granted thus far was pursuant to AB 1076, the initial authorizing legislation only, suggesting that the expanded eligibility profile now in effect under AB 1038 will result in the clearance of millions of additional records.  

Prior to the automated record clearance, 8 million California residents had criminal convictions on their records that hampered their ability to find work and housing, secure public benefits, or even get admitted to college.  Studies indicate approximately two million of them were eligible for record clearance. Millions more have old arrests on their record that never resulted in a conviction but, remain as obstacles to employment.  

Under the law arrests that didn’t result in a conviction may be cleared. Convictions that carry probation or jail time are also eligible for record clearance after the individual completes all the terms and conditions of their sentence. Prior to AB 1076, however, this required individuals to be aware of their eligibility and to retain an attorney to proactively file the necessary petition.  As a result, millions of Californians have been entitled to relief for years that they never realized because they had to jump through hoops to get it. In fact, nationally, only 6.5% of eligible people have been estimated to obtain record clearance within five years of eligibility. With more affluent communities more able to afford a private attorney, this bureaucracy disproportionately impacted socioeconomically disadvantaged communities and communities of color in particular.

Nearly 90% of employers, 80% of landlords, and 60% of colleges screen applicants’ criminal records.  According to a 2012 study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, many prospective employees and housing applicants are rejected solely based on having an arrest record on file.  Studies also show people with unsealed arrest records have a substantially increased chance of living in poverty, earning lower wages, with fewer educational opportunities.

The concept for the legislation grew out of DA Gascón’s effort to clear old cannabis convictions that were eligible for clearance pursuant to Proposition 64.  That effort has now been adopted by prosecutors’ offices across the nation.  Notably, the algorithm that enabled automated record clearance pursuant to AB 1076–much like the cannabis clearance effort–would not be possible without the help and support of Code For America. Research by the California Policy Lab of the University of California provided supporting evidence regarding the feasibility of large-scale record clearance automation, as well as its enormous potential impact on the lives of Californians.  Assemblymember Phil Ting has the sincere gratitude of the Prosecutors Alliance for leading the historic initiative and seeing that all eligible and impacted Californians would obtain the relief to which they are entitled.  

The Prosecutors Alliance of California is fiscally sponsored by Tides Advocacy, a social welfare organization. Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton is a founding member. For more information about the Prosecutors Alliance go to www.ProsecutorsAlliance.org and keep up with our work on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

Two males shot, one in the neck; woman arrested in separate shooting with cops in line of fire

By Sgt. Price Kendall, PIO, Antioch Police Department

At 11:21 PM, Tuesday, July 4, 2023, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to the area of 700 K Street on the report two males had been shot. One of the males was shot in the neck and life-flighted to John Muir Medical Center. Both persons are expected to survive.

There were also two large sideshows last night. The first one was at the intersection of Gentrytown Drive and Buchanan Road and first reported at 11:34 PM. Due to the shooting, officers were unable to make it to the first sideshow.

At approximately 11:45 PM, officers were dispatched to an assault with bear mace in the 700 Block of J Street. While officers were on scene and after they separated both parties, a shot was fired at the victim’s direction. Officers were also in the line of fire. After the shot, officers confronted the female, she complied and dropped the gun. She was subsequently arrested.

During the call on J Street it was learned the sideshow that had taken place on Gentrytown Drive had moved to the Lone Tree Way and Bluerock Drive/Golf Course Road intersection. The first call came at 12:40 AM. Officers were still on scene at both shootings. Officers were unable to respond to the sideshow until 1:40 AM. Upon arrival, the vehicles dispersed.

The debris from multiple, illegal fireworks, shot off during the sideshow, could be seen in the roadway Wednesday morning and was cleaned up by noon.

ABC7 News Bay Area reported “dozens of people around the intersection as cars do donuts, some people getting very close to those cars. People were also seen standing around a fire on the street. The flames were put out when firefighters arrived.”

According to Mayor Lamar Thorpe, police used drones to capture video of the second sideshow and cars will be impounded.

There were 40 calls for service, most with multiple callers for fireworks, with well over 100 actual calls into dispatch.

As of Wednesday morning, no arrests have been made regarding the first shooting.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Brentwood Police Department

On June 26, 2023 at around 1:58 p.m., Brentwood PD officers responded to the 5600 block of Lone Tree Way to investigate a silent hold up alarm at the Patelco Credit Union. Upon officer’s arrival, it was determined what appears to be a Hispanic female adult passed a note to the bank teller demanding money. The suspect then fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

At around 3:53 p.m., Antioch PD officers responded to the 2700 block of Lone Tree Way to investigate another silent hold up alarm at the Travis Credit Union. Upon their arrival, it was determined what appears to be the same female suspect passed a note to the bank teller again demanding money. The suspect fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money. Antioch PD Officers believe the suspect may have fled in a gray four-door Honda or Nissan with tinted windows. Thankfully, nobody was physically injured in either robbery.

Our agencies have since confirmed the same female suspect committed the pair of robberies; however, wore different clothing during each incident. The suspect was described to officers as a Hispanic female, early to mid-twenties, between approximately 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair. Do not approach the suspect if she is seen.

If you have any information about the suspect or the suspect vehicle, please contact Brentwood PD Detective Agostinho at 925-809-7870 or the Antioch Police Department Investigations Division at 925-779-6926. Callers can remain anonymous.

Five Antioch homes included

By Moorea Warren, Information Officer, California Department of Cannabis Control

Thanks to the continued dedication and collaboration of the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) 20 East Bay illegal indoor cannabis cultivators were shut down on June 20, and a total estimated value of over $15.3 million of illegal cannabis was seized.

An investigation spanning several weeks culminated in the operation led by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). There were 20 search warrants served by four units of officers and local and state partners, including the Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the California National Guard, and local law enforcement – five in Antioch (according to a witness two with addresses of 2460 and 2480 Stanford Way), three in Brentwood, two in Discovery Bay and ten in Pittsburg, resulting in the seizures of:

• 742 pounds of cannabis flower estimated valued of $1,244,762
• 17,121 cannabis plants estimated valued of $14,124,825
• 7 firearms (including 1 assault rifle)
• $24,197 in cash

Several of the locations were red-tagged for safety and code violations.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Police use taser to subdue suspect

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Department PIO, Corporal Price Kendall, on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at approximately 5:10 pm, the reporting party and victim, a 22-year-old male, was approached, at 300 L Street in front of the APD Lobby, by an unknown 47-year-old male on a bicycle who appeared to be intoxicated. The unknown male brandished and threatened the victim with a large, kitchen-style knife before riding away on his bicycle. Officers were flagged down as they happened to be in the area and the victim reported the crime to them.

The unknown, older male was found in the surrounding neighborhood along K Street near W. 3rd Street. When officers located the suspect, he was still armed with the knife, and he was in possession of an aluminum bat. Officers tried to detain the man, but he attempted to flee and a short foot pursuit followed. The suspect was detained after officers used their taser device to subdue him.

According to Art Ray of Bay News Video, “Fire Department personnel from Engine 81 evaluated the handcuffed suspect who was then taken into custody.”

By Lt. Rick Martin, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On June 15, 2023, at approximately 5:02 a.m. Antioch Police Officers responded to the 2200 block of San Jose Drive on a report of a stabbing having just occurred. Officers arrived and located a 30-year-old female and a 39-year-old male both suffering from stab wounds. The female was pronounced deceased at the scene. The male was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

This is an isolated incident and there is no current threat to the public. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call 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.