Ricky Barnette

By Sergeant Rick Smith, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Friday, January 8, 2016 at 12:31 a.m., Antioch Police Officers attempted to stop a stolen BMW in the area of East 18th Street and Cavallo Road. The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Ricky Barnette of Concord, refused to stop and led officers on a vehicle pursuit. Officer’s terminated their pursuit when Barnette entered eastbound Highway 4 the wrong way from Hillcrest Avenue. Barnette drove westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 4 and collided head on with another vehicle heading eastbound. Barnette and his two passengers fled on foot from the vehicle and climbed down to surface streets from the highway. An officer in the area spotted Barnette and the passengers. They were taken into custody without incident. A search of the vehicle located a stolen, loaded handgun and approximately 6.2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine.

As a result of the collision, the victim sustained major, but non-life threatening

injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Barnette was not injured and his passengers were treated for complaints of pain due to the collision. Both passengers were later released at a local hospital and Barnette was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on several Felony charges.

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.

Kamaljot Kaur

By Corporal Powell Meads, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On January 6th, 2016 at approximately 8:43 a.m., Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to Tobin World, located at 2310 Country Hills Drive in Antioch, for a child abuse report. School administration reported that a Teacher’s Aide had assaulted a student, on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 and that video of the assault had surfaced on the internet. Arriving Officers contacted and interviewed school staff members, other student witnesses, and the victim, a 9-year-old resident of Oakland.

The victim did not have any visible injuries or complaints of pain.

After conducting interviews and reviewing the cell phone recording of the incident, Officers determined that a felony child abuse had occurred.

The Teacher’s Aide was identified as Kamaljot Kaur, a 26 year old Antioch resident. Kaur was contacted at her residence in Antioch and was taken into custody. There is no picture available at this time.

Anyone who may have witnessed this assault is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778- 2441.

To see the video posted on the Bay Area KRON-TV Channel 4 news website, click here.

Jeff Belle, courtesy of the Contra Costa County Board of Education

By Allen Payton

Research by Barbara Zivica, a regular, contributing columnist for the Herald, revealed that on August 17, 2015, following an investigation by the California Medical Board that began in 2010 and a prosecution by the California Attorney General’s office, Contra Costa County School Board Trustee Jeff Belle admitted he “is not now, nor has ever been, licensed by the Respiratory Care Board of California” and agreed to pay a fine of $8,200 in a settlement.

According to the Stipulated Citation and Order, before the Respiratory Care Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California, Belle violated “Business and Professions Code section 3760, subdivisions (a) and (c) and 3761, subdivision (a), by misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care without a current and valid license in California.”

Those sections state “no person shall represent himself or herself to be a respiratory care practitioner…or use the abbreviation or letters ‘R.C.P.’…without a current and valid license issued under this chapter” and “granted under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.” The maximum penalty for doing so is $15,000.

According to the Cause for Citation, Belle applied for a license as a respiratory care practitioner in California on December 24, 2010 and completed the “Board’s Statement of Understanding acknowledging he understood the following:

‘During the application period, the applicant shall be identified as a ‘Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant’ and may only practice with a valid work permit while under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.’

‘No person who has not been licensed by the Board shall engage in the practice of respiratory care despite holding a CRT or RRT credential.’

‘No person shall engage in the practice of respiratory care or represent him/herself as such through verbal claim, sign advertisement, letterhead, business care, badge/name tag, or representation unless he or she holds a valid license issued by the Board.’”

Yet, the Citation further states that “Jeffery Johura Belle was and is not licensed to practice respiratory care in the State of California nor was ever issued a work permit. On May 23, 2015, Subject’s (Belle’s) application for licensure was deemed abandoned as he failed to complete the application process.”

The investigation conducted by the California Medical Board, whose findings were forwarded to the state Respiratory Care Board, found that Belle “was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the business, Respiratory Clinical Institute (RCI), which provided tutorial and clinical rotation services to students who were completing their respiratory care studies using an online program. On March 2, 2012, the Subject appeared for an interview with the Medical Board investigator wearing a white lab coat, a name badge and a stethoscope. During the interview, the Subject introduces himself as Jeffery Belle, Respiratory Care Practitioner. On the lab coat was an embroidered patch and name badge that identified the Subject as ‘RCP.’ Subject also provided advertising and contractual/student materials to the investigator. Within the signature block of the Tutorial Agreement between RCI and the Student, the Subject is identified as an ‘RCP.’

During the interview, the Medical Board investigator informed Belle that “he was illegally representing himself as a respiratory care practitioner and again educated the Subject with the laws that govern the practice of respiratory care in the State of California.”

Belle then “signed an affidavit on March 30, 2012, stating he would no longer represent himself as a respiratory care practitioner in California.”

As part of his settlement with the state, Belle was ordered to “immediately cease and desist any and all unlicensed activities pursuant to the Respiratory Care Practice Act” and to “pay civil penalties in the amount of $8,200…to the Board” for “misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care in California without a valid license.”

He is to make payments of $136.66 per month for five years from the date of the decision and if Belle “fails to make a monthly payment, the remaining amount of costs shall be immediately due and payable,” that the “filing of bankruptcy…shall not relieve (him) of his responsibility to reimburse the Board” and “the Board will collect cost recovery from the Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, or by any other means of attachment of earned wages legally available to the Board.”

In spite of the citation and order, and Belle signing the affidavit in 2012, as of January 6, 2016, on his LinkedIn account it states the following:

President/Senior Lecturer

Respiratory Clinical Institutes

January 2008 – April 2011 (3 years 4 months)Sacramento, Contra Costa County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland

Company founder and leader in training respiratory care students through clinical rotations, clinical coordination and partnerships. Established and Trained over 100 students at 10 clinical sites. Attained a student passage rate on National Board Exams of 93 percentile. The Gold Standard in Clinical Education!

Respiratory Care Specialist ( RRT)

Registered Lobbyist and Contract Practitioner

January 1999 – 2008 (9 years)CA, WA, OR, AR, TX, AZ, OK, NM,VI

Served as contract therapist with a speciality in adult critical care and pulmonary diagnostics at various hospitals, clinics and outpatient medical facilities from the U. S. Virgin Islands to Northern California. In addition, I worked as a contract lobbyist in Washington, D.C. for various companies.

Prior to entering the race for County School Board, in 2014, Belle claimed to have been licensed in other states as a respiratory care practitioner and stated he didn’t need a license in California in order to teach in the state, since he wasn’t actually practicing medicine, and that only his students were.

Belle is currently being prosecuted by the Contra Costa District Attorney for lying on his candidate ballot statement, during his 2014 election to the County School Board and faces a maximum fine of $1,000 for that violation if found guilty. Belle stated he had a “Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science,” but had not completed his course work, according to the college. He has pled not guilty and his next court date is set for 8:45 a.m., February 11, 2016 in Martinez. For more information about that case click here.

Barbara Zivica contributed this report.

By Corporal J. McMurry, #2384, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Friday, December 25, 2015 at 5:28 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the 900 block of J Street after 911 calls were received of shots fired. A 26-year-old male was located at the scene suffering from gunshot wounds. The male was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries, and he is expected to survive.

We are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects involved. There are no other updates on the condition of the victim at this time. The public is encouraged to call with any

information, no matter how minor, that could be related to this case. The public is asked to call Detective Colley at (925) 779-6922. They may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word Antioch in the body of the text.

As published in City Manager Steve Duran’s Weekly Report dated December 18, 2015 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando. (The most serious crimes shown in bold)

Calls for Service and Arrest Data Summary:

Time Period: 12/10/15 00:00:00 – 12/16/15 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,512

Number of Case Reports: 277

Number of Arrests: 70

Felony: 29

Misdemeanor: 41

Arrests with DUI charge: 1

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

• ·On 12/16/15 at 7:36 pm a 47 year old female was on her nightly walk. As she was walking on Longview Drive near the south side of Save Mart, an unknown male emerged from the bushes. The subject struck her in the face causing her to fall to the ground. He then went though her pockets and fled the scene on foot. She was able to recover and walk home where she called APD. She did not get a good look at the suspect and could provide little information about the incident. She suffered some minor swelling on her cheek but refused medical attention. An extensive area check was completed but the suspect was not located.
• ·On 12/16/15 at 6:25 pm officers were called to West 9^th Street for a report of a vehicle on fire. When we arrived officers observed the vehicle engulfed. Once the fire was out it was obvious from the damage someone broke out the rear window and put some type of accelerant inside. No one was injured in the fire. According to the victim, she has no idea who would have targeted her. There were no witnesses present and no suspects at this time.
• ·On 12/16/15 at 2:38 pm 23 year old Tyler Belleci entered Delta RC on West 10^th St and selected two electronic drones valued at $1,000 each. Belleci ran out of the business with both drones and was detained outside by the owner of the business until we arrived. Belleci was sent to county jail on the above charge.
• ·On 12/16/15 at 8:13 am a 42 year old male struck a city owned fire hydrant located near Roosevelt Lane. There were no injuries during the collision.
• ·On 12/15/15 at 11:57pm, an officer was on routine patrol when he located an occupied stolen vehicle which abruptly pulled into a resident’s driveway. A high risk stop was conducted and 35 year old John Sanborn, 24 year old Michael Garcia, and 38 year old Robert Williams were taken into custody without incident, Garcia and Williams were later released. Sanborn was the driver so he was sent over to county jail.
• ·On 12/15/15 at 8:28 am Oakley PD officers were in pursuit of a Honda sedan with two occupants. The Honda hit a power pole that fell into the lanes of E 18th St and then ran over a fire hydrant which caused water to spray 75′ into the air. The vehicle continued another 20′ then exploded into a ball of fire. The vehicle collision was catastrophic. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot and a passenger was trapped inside. The passenger remained in place and burned with the vehicle. The driver was caught in the area, and a loaded pistol was recovered from the scene. Oakley PD and CCCSO Deputies responded to the scene and the County Protocol was invoked.
• ·On 12/15/15 at 7:52 am a 55 year old male was driving on Putnam St at Polk Ct driving his 11 year old daughter to school. The male passed out behind the wheel and the vehicle continued down Putnam. The 11 year old grabbed the steering wheel and guided the vehicle into the vacant field east of Polk Ct. and then flagged down a passing motorist for help. The motorist flagged down Ofc. Mayer who requested medical. Ofc. Miller arrived with an AED and both officers provided medical care until Paramedics arrived. Apparently the man suffered a heart attack and the actions by the officers allowed paramedics to establish vital signs and he was transported to a local hospital.
• ·On 12/14/15 at 8:35 pm a resident on Lafayette Drive called to report two unfamiliar vehicles parked in front of his residence. Each vehicle was occupied by a male driver. The resident had already chased the vehicles away once and then they returned. When the resident confronted the subjects a second time the subjects fled on foot. The resident was able to detain 26 year old Angelo Perez. Upon officers arrival they discovered that one of the vehicles had been stolen earlier in the day in Antioch. Perez was arrested and sent to county jail.
• ·On 12/14/15 at 4:50 pm 32 year old Joshua Jacobsen took and concealed approx. $250 worth of cosmetics and electronics while inside Target. When he exited Target a loss prevention agent tried to detain him. Jacobsen began wrestling around with loss prevention and tried to punch him a couple of times. Jacobsen also bit loss prevention on the hand breaking the skin. Loss prevention was able to get control Jacobsen and detain him. Jacobsen was tied to a theft from JC Penny a few hours earlier. He was sent to county jail.
• ·On 12/14/15 at 2:14 pm, 32 year old Joshua Jacobsen loaded his backpack full of clothing from JC Penny and ran out of the business without paying for them. A good description and video was collected. Several hours later Jacobsen tried the same thing at Target and was contacted by loss prevention and tackled. He was identified and then cited released.
• ·On 12/14/15 at 2:17 am officers were dispatched to Longview Road for the report of a 24 year old man who had been shot. This appears to be the case of a wife cheating on her husband with a co-worker, and the husband showing up at the co-worker’s home to find his wife there. As she was walking out of the front door of the residence, 23 year old Fernando Escobedo ran into the residence armed with a handgun. Escobedo confronted his wife’s co-worker in the residence and shot him once in the chest, once in the back, and once in the left thigh. The gunshot wound to the left thigh broke the bone in two. Escobedo stood over the victim appearing as if he was going to shoot the victim in the head. The victim’s father then came out of his bedroom and Escobedo fled the residence in his car. We put a want in the system and soon after an officer found Escobedo in his vehicle and a high risk stop was performed. Escobedo was taken into custody without incident. The victim was taken to a local hospital for surgery.
• ·On 12/13/15 at 4:05 pm officers were dispatched to Panaderia El Pueblo on West 10^th Street for 47 year old Michael Turner who was inside and yelling obscenities. Upon arrival and contact with Turner outside of the business, it was obvious he was intoxicated. Turner was taken into custody and sent to county jail for public intoxication.
• ·On 12/13/15 at 10:43 am during a suspicious vehicle stop an officer contacted 27 year old Nathalie Moala and 23 year old Malia Hoopai who both had warrants for their arrest. Moala had (2) probation violation warrants, and Hoopai had a warrant for traffic and obstruction. Both were transported to the county jail.
• · On 12/13/15 at 1:36 a.m., officers were dispatched to a hit and run collision at 26 E13th Street where it was reported that the responsible in the collision was a naked male, who fled on foot. The male had hit two parked cars and was not located. Almost two hours later officers were dispatched to Windsor Drive for a report of a naked male ringing a doorbell. Officers responded and located 52 year old Hugo Alvarez, who was wearing only a sweatshirt, and under the influence of a controlled substance. Officers were able to handcuff Alvarez without incident. Alvarez was arrested and taken to county jail.
• ·On 12/12/15 at 10:30 am officers responded to W 6^th and E Street on the report of a male on a bicycle looking into vehicles. Officers contacted 34 year old Ronald Mesina in the area and learned he had a $125K warrant out of San Francisco for burglary.Mesina was arrested without incident and booked into county jail.
• ·On 12/12/15 at 8:21 am an officer contacted 22 year old Martin Revuelta sitting in a parked car at the Riverview Lodge. The officer conducted a consent search on Revuelta and located a meth pipe and methamphetamines. Revuelta was arrested without incident and subsequently cite/released from the scene.
• ·On 12/12/15 at 3:33 am the employees at the senior living facility on Olive Lane called 911 at 0333 hrs to report that 87 year old John Cubit was last seen at 5pm on 12/11/15 at dinner by his roommate. Employees reported that Cubit is self sufficient on his own and they thought he would have returned. They finally notified APD 10 1/2 hours later and every patrol unit was sent to assist in the search. As of 0800 hrs he had not been located. The search continues…
• ·On 12/12/15 at 2:47 am officers responded to the 911 call of a male being robbed who was down on the ground bleeding on Cavallo Road. A 30 year old male was found laid out in the middle of the street bleeding from his head. He was awake and alert. He said he was struck over the head with something which knocked him down. The suspect(s) checked his pockets and took his cell phone, wallet w/cash & the Nike Air Force One sneakers off his feet. The suspect(s) fled E/B on E 18th St from Cavallo Rd and they were not located. The male was transported to a local hospital for a head injury.
• ·On 12/12/15 at 1:30 am 57 year old Debra Smith was contacted during a pedestrian stop on East 18th Street. A records check produced a $100,000.00 extraditable warrant for robbery out of Reno, Nevada. Smith was taken into custody and later transported to county jail.
• ·On 12/11/15 at 12:09 pm at JC Penny’s, security attempted to stop a 43 year old female after she stole approximately $600 in clothing. The female punched security in the face and head numerous times while attempting to flee with the stolen property. The security officer was transported to John Muir in Brentwood for swelling to her face and head from the assault. The female fled the area and was not located.
• ·On 12/11/15 at 8:47 am a 16 year old male who attends Tobin World and assaulted three different teachers today after he became upset over school issues. The 16 year old punched one teacher in the face then bit the arms of two other teachers, causing injuries. The 16 year old also kicked the door of a teacher’s vehicle causing significant damage. He was arrested and sent to juvenile hall.
• ·On 12/10/15 at 11:35 pm a suspect entered Domino’s Pizza on Buchanan Road through the front doors wearing a black ski mask and was armed with a black semi-auto style handgun. The suspect walked straight to the back office where he contacted the Manager and told him to open the safe or he would shoot him in the face. The Manager opened the safe and the suspect grabbed the money. The suspect then walked to the front counter where he emptied the money drawer. The manager was not injured. The surveillance video was requested.
• ·On 12/10/15 at 5:37 pm officers were dispatched to Lemontree Way for a report of a male who had just kicked in the front door. A female resident was asleep inside with her (2) year old child and her adult daughter. 24 year old Andrew McBride began kicking the security door and eventually was able to get the front door open. From there he forcibly entered the residence and began talking about how he was going to get a gun to “protect” the woman and her children. The woman immediately grabbed her phone and called 911 for assistance.When asked if she knew McBride, she advised she had met him yesterday when he approached her and asked if he could help her clean her residence. She does not know him other than that and does not know why he forced his way in. McBride was still on scene when we arrived and was taken into custody and sent to county jail.
• ·On 12/10/15 at 4:34 pm a homeowner called to advise of a suspicious male in his backyard. Upon officers arrival the homeowner stated the male had jumped into the rear of 85 South Lake Dr. Officers contacted the resident who allowed them to search for the subject.39 year old Kary Smith was found hiding in a wood pile. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant and taken into custody withoutincident. We believe Smith was spooked due to the numerous patrol cars working the area for a special operation.
• ·On 12/10/15 at 4:16 am, officers responded to an alarm at the Ace Hardware on Sunset Drive and found 53 year old Karl Schmidt and 49 year old Paul Wichlan exiting a gated area on the east side of the store. Both subjects were in possession of wire cutters, knives, and flashlights. A check of the business revealed that a burglary had occurred and various items had been stacked up inside the fenced area in what appeared to be preparation to steal the items. Both subjects were arrested and sent to county jail.

By John Fortner, Field Services Corporal, Antioch Police Department

At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, Antioch Police responded to the intersection of Lone Tree Way at Davison Drive on the report of a traffic accident with injuries. An SUV traveling through the intersection struck two pedestrians walking in the roadway. Both pedestrians sustained injuries and were transported to an area hospital. One pedestrian is currently in critical condition.

The driver of the SUV remained on scene and is fully cooperating with the investigation. At this preliminary stage of the investigation alcohol and drugs do not appear to have played a role for the driver.

The Antioch Police Department’s Traffic Unit responded to the scene to conduct the on-going collision investigation.

We are in the preliminary stages of the investigation and no further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Captain Diane Aguinaga, with Chief Allan Cantando (right), holds a certificate of recognition from Assemblyman Jim Frazier (left) in  honor of her promotion, Tuesday, December 15, 2015. photo by Detective Ron Krenz.

New Antioch Police Captain takes her oath of office from Mayor Wade Harper during a promotion ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. photo by Nick Goodrich

By Nick Goodrich

On Tuesday, December 15th, Diane Aguinaga – a longtime member of the Antioch Police Department – was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain, during a brief ceremony. Mayor Wade Harper was on hand to administer her oath of office.

“The fact that we can promote from within like this really speaks to the quality of the Antioch Police Department,” said Harper.

Captain Aguinaga has served with the department for 22 years. She is only the second female Captain in the history of its history.

Addressing those in attendance at Aguinaga’s promotion ceremony, Police Chief Allan Cantando described her as patient, caring, witty, and dedicated. He noted that she has a long history of dealing with mentally unstable residents.

“She likes them,” he said with a smile.

Aguinaga’s patience and compassion for everyone in the Antioch community will continue to be an asset to the APD, and Cantando said that it was “an honor” to promote her to his command staff.

The new Captain shared her appreciation for the promotion.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to have the trust of the chief and the community,” she said. “I love the citizens of this town who fight for and never give up on Antioch.”

State Assemblyman Jim Frazier was on hand to present a certificate of recognition to Aguinaga.

She replaces Leonard Orman, who recently retired as Captain, after more than 30 years with the department.

John Cubit

By Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Field Services

This is an update to let everyone know that 86-year old John Cubit, who went missing Friday evening, December 11, 2015 from Country Place assisted living center on Olive Lane in Antioch, has been located. He is safe and back at his care facility.

Thank you for all your assistance in trying to locate him.

Editor’s Note: No other details were provided.