New Antioch Police Officers Corey Blumberg, Jacob Ewart and Rishi Negi are administered the oath of office by Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen as Chief Allan Cantando looks on, during a ceremony on Thursday, July 30, 2015.

By Allen Payton

On the day that thousands turned out at the Oracle Arena for the memorial service of Hayward Detective and Brentwood resident Scott Lunger, three new police officers took the oath of office in Antioch, Thursday afternoon.

Corey Blumberg, Jacob Ewart and Rishi Negi were sworn in to their new positions by Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen during a brief ceremony attended by their family, friends, fellow officers and council members at the Antioch Police Facility in downtown.

Chief Allan Cantando gave each of them the opportunity to speak.

Rishi Negi gets his badged pinned on his uniform by his father Rajan.

“Thank you to my wife and parents for putting up with me, supporting me through all the tests and physical agility,” Blumberg said. “And to the city of Antioch for giving me the opportunity and believing in me that I can do this career.”

Ewart spoke of the academy being a “very stressful experience.”

“I want to thank you for supporting me and Chief and the City of Antioch for believing in me,” he stated.

“I want to thank my mom for getting up each day and making me breakfast,” Negi said to laughter of the audience. “And to my girlfriend…for sending me motivational stuff.”

Cantando then shared his thoughts.

“During the conversation I had with these men before the ceremony, we talked about the events of today,” he said, referring to Lunger’s service, which he attended. “They’re coming to a department where our officers are amazing. Our Field Training Officers are second to none. In a city that has challenges with crime, they are here to help them succeed. You have a supportive city as you start a fun, long, but challenging career.”

“Very few get to be sitting where these gentlemen are sitting today. They are the cream of the crop,” said Cantando. “We are not going to lower our standards to hire more officers. Because that’s when problems happen.”

“We are a family and we care about our own and we want everyone to go home at night,” he added.

That brings the total number of sworn officers on the Antioch force to 90.

According to Cantando, there are two more recruits currently in the academy who will graduate in November and two laterals from allied agencies, who are undergoing background check. Those last two could be on the force in the next two months.

By Acting Lieutenant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Department

On June 17, 2015 at about 12:27 AM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the 1800 Block of Cavallo Road for a report of shots fired. Officers arrived and located three people suffering from gunshot wounds. Two of the subjects were declared deceased at the scene and the third person, a 44-year-old female from Antioch, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

During the investigation of this case it was learned that one of the deceased subjects, 25-year-old Clydedale Hoskin of Antioch, and two other suspects, Julian Johnson, age 26 out of San Pablo and Miguel Gutierrez, age 25 out of Antioch, approached a group of people in the 1800 Block of Cavallo Road and attempted to rob the group at gunpoint. During the robbery Hoskin fired rounds at the person who suffered non-life threatening injuries.

One of the victims of the robbery was armed with a firearm and shot at Hoskin to protect the other people being robbed, ultimately killing Hoskin. Gutierrez then fired at the group and fatally wounded a female victim, 28-year-old Adrian Craig of Antioch. During the investigation it was learned that Teresa O’Sullivan of Antioch (44-years-old) aided the suspects in this case after the murder.

Gutierrez was taken into custody by Antioch Police Detectives on July 9th without incident and was being held on unrelated charges. Johnson turned himself in to Antioch Police Detectives on July 24th. Gutierrez and Johnson are in custody and being held without bail.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed Murder, Attempted Murder, Robbery and Weapons charges against Gutierrez and Johnson.

The District Attorney’s Office also filed Accessory to Murder After the Fact and Weapons charges against O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan was taken into custody by Antioch Police Detectives on July 28th without incident and is being held on $650,000 bail.

This is Antioch’s second and third homicidesof 2015.

No further information is being released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case can reach Detective James Colley at (925) 779-6922. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

The Antioch Police Activities League will be hosting the first “Legos and the Law” activity on Saturday, August 22, 2015. From 9-11 am, Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando and other members of the police department will be on hand to help Antioch residents between the ages of 5-10 build some cool Lego creations.

Who: Antioch residents ages 5 to 10 with a parent or guardian

When: Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Antioch Police Department’s Community Room

Refreshments will be provided.

This event is only for the first 25 children who RSVP. No walk-ins will be allowed to participate. To register please call (925) 779-6875.

By Corporal R. Martin #3343, Antioch Police

On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 8:45 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the area of Hillcrest Avenue near Deerfield Drive on a report of a solo motorcycle collision. Upon arrival, Officers located the motorcyclist, a 25-year-old male Antioch resident with multiple injuries. Paramedics arrived on scene and pronounced him deceased.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441 or Officer Robert Solari at 925-779-6900 ext.82372. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Rudy Cuellar

By Allen Payton

On Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at approximately 5:50 AM, Antioch Police Detectives served an arrest warrant in the 10 block of W. 17th Street in Antioch for Rudy Cuellar.

Rudy Cuellar has been wanted for numerous warrants since 2012 to include a $1,000,000.00 warrant for murder. Cuellar was arrested inside of the home and later transferred to the Martinez Detention Facility.

On March 31, 2012 at 1:36 AM, Antioch Police received a 911 call from Cruisers Saloon reporting that a shooting had just occurred. It appears that a group of males who had been kicked out of the bar earlier in the night, returned with baseball bats specifically with the intention of starting a fight. The fight started inside the bar and then moved just outside the bar’s front door. One of the males, who had been kicked out earlier, pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot inside the bar.

Lizandro ‘Tony” Bertolazzi, a 38-year-old married father of four, and Marine veteran was at Cruisers Saloon on A Street early that morning when he was struck by gunfire.

By Lieutenant Don LaDue, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 9:56 P.M. officers from the Antioch Police Department responded to a business in the 1100 block of Sycamore Drive on a report of a subject who had been shot. When officers arrived, they found the 20-year-old male victim inside the business. The victim had been shot multiple times and was transported to a local area hospital. At the time of this writing, the victim is in critical condition, but expected to survive. Information obtained at the scene indicated the victim was shot at a nearby location and ran to the business for help.

Officers are following up on possible leads and interviewing witnesses. No other information will be released at this time pending further investigation. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the Antioch Police Dept. at (925)778-2441. If you have information regarding this case you may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Acting Sgt. James McMurry #2384, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 11:01 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to numerous 911 calls of shots fired in the 4100 block of Rogers Canyon Road. Upon arrival Officers discovered that several vehicles and a residence had been struck by gunfire. Four residents, ages 19, 26, 37 and 47 were home at the time. Luckily no residents were injured.

Officers located numerous items of evidence at the scene that included spent shell casings and bullet fragments along the street. It appears the 19-year-old victim was the intended target but he was not cooperative with providing any information that could lead to identifying the shooter(s).

There were no witnesses located at the scene. If anyone has information that is related to this case, they can call the Antioch Police Department’s non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441.

Concerned citizens may also send a tip anonymously to: 274637 (Crimes). Make sure to include the word “Antioch” in the message so your information will be forwarded to us. All text messages are encrypted and your number cannot be traced. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Shaohui Tan

By Detective Koch, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Thursday, June 25, 2015 at approximately 12:50 AM, Antioch Police Department patrol officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of Buttonwood Court on a report of a residential burglary in-progress. Patrol officers arrived and located signs of forced entry into the home. Officers checked the interior of the residence and located a large scale marijuana cultivation inside. During the investigation officers contacted Shaohui Tan, a 42-year old resident of San Francisco, in the immediate area and connected him to the cultivation. Investigators arrived on scene and ultimately served a search warrant seizing approximately 1000 marijuana plants from the home. The case is still being investigated by the Antioch Police Department’s Special Operations Unit.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Lowther with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6943. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.