By Sergeant Santiago Castillo, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, February 8, 2015 at approximately 11:20 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Bluebonnett Court and Bluebell Circle for the report of a kidnapping, robbery and sexual assault of a pizza delivery driver.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with the 22-year-old female victim who was visibly shaken. The victim advised she was delivering a pizza and had just exited her vehicle when she was approached by a male armed with a handgun. The male forced her back into her car at gunpoint and ordered her to drive to a secondary location approximately one-quarter mile away where he proceeded to sexually assault the victim. The male then forced the victim to drive him back to the original location where he fled the vehicle on foot taking some of the victim’s personal property.

The investigation led Antioch officers to a 17-year-old male juvenile who was positively identified by the victim as the responsible in this case. The juvenile was subsequently arrested on a variety of charges and sent to Juvenile Hall.

The case was forwarded to the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau for further investigation.

If anyone has any information related to this incident, they are encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. They may also text an anonymous tip to 274637(CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH in the body of the text.

Source: Antioch City Manager Steve Duran’s Weekly Report

City Hall and other city offices will be closed on both Thursday, February 12th is a City holiday in observance of President Lincoln’s 206th Birthday and Monday, February 16^th for President’s Day.

Antioch Police Department calls for service highlights

On 2/4/2015 at 12:27 PM, police contacted 46-year old David Salazar in the 500 block of W.13th St. during a suspicious vehicle call. Salazar was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and concentrated cannabis. Salazar was booked at the police department and released with a citation.

On 2/3/2015 at 7:47 pm, officers were working a proactive detail when they saw a minivan being driving by 30 year old Travis Johnson. Upon running the plate they learned the vehicle was reported stolen. A short vehicle pursuit ensued which ended when Travis and the passenger, 32 year old Katie Johnson, parked the vehicle on Putnam St. near Polk Court and fled on foot. Katie Johnson was located and taken into custody without incident. Travis Johnson, who also has an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, was able to flee from the area and was not located.

On 2/3/2015 at 11:22 pm, Officers responded to 16 N. Lake Dr. on a report of possible squatters inside the vacant home. Officers determined the side garage door had been forced open. Officers established a perimeter and searched the house. 22 year old Steven Cardoza and a second subject were located inside. Cardoza was found to be in possession of 4 shaved keys, which are used to steal certain makes of vehicles. Cardoza was arrested and booked at the police department. He was later released on a citation. The second subject was released at the scene.

On 2/2/2015 at 12:49 am, officers responded to a residential alarm at 56 E. Madill Street. Upon arrival, they located 29 year old Jose Escobar in the driveway of the residence. Escobar was not a resident at the house. It was determined there was no burglary at the residence but upon checking Escobar for warrants, he was found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest charging vehicle theft and possession of a controlled substance. Escobar was taken into custody and later booked at the county jail.

Service Call & Arrest Data:

For Duran’s complete report, click here. City Manager’s Weekly Report 020615

By Jimmy Lee, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department

The autopsy into the death of Dewayne Ward took place this morning. The cause of death is listed as multiple gunshot wounds of chest and abdomen. Toxicology tests are pending.

Detectives from the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and Antioch Police Department continue to investigate the officer involved shooting that occurred in Antioch.

At about 12:40 PM on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, Deputy Sheriffs from the Civil Unit went to an apartment complex on the one thousand block of Claudia Ct. in Antioch to carry out a Domestic Violence Restraining Order/Criminal Protective Order, which included a move out order.

The knife the County Sheriff’s office claims was used by Dwayne Ward before he was fatally shot on Tuesday.

Deputies contacted the occupant, 29-year-old Ward, who had prior law enforcement contacts. Ward had a no bail probation warrant. During the contact, Ward did not obey verbal commands from the deputies and resisted. Deputies then deployed force options that included pepper spray, a police K-9 and a Taser. They did not appear to have any effect on him. Ward continued to resist and charged at a deputy with a knife (see attached photo). The deputy fired his duty weapon striking the armed man. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

The deputy sheriff that shot Ward is Scott Pliler, who has been with the Office of the Sheriff for 13 years. He is currently a K-9 Deputy assigned to Patrol Division.

If anyone has any information on this case, Detectives can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

By Corporal R. Martin #3343, Antioch Police Department

On Tuesday, February 03, 2015, at approximately 7:52 PM, Antioch Police Department Officers responded to a motorcycle vs. vehicle traffic collision in the area of E. 13th St. and Simmons St. Antioch Police Officers and Fire Department personnel arrived and located the 29 year old male motorcycle driver with major injuries. The male was transported to John Muir Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441 or Corporal R. Martin at 925-779-6900 ext.83343. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Susan Valenzuela

April 25, 1955-January 18, 1996

To our beloved daughter, sister, and mother, Susan Valenzuela. We miss you dearly. We miss your sense of humor, your jokes, your laughter, your silly ways and most of all, your love.

It’s been 19 years since your life was taken so suddenly by a hit and run driver in Antioch, CA while you crossed the street with a friend. He took your life so senselessly and callously drove on. We all hope he lives with the pain and guilt every day for what he’s done. One day, some how, some way, he will pay.

VEHICLE-1971-1973 Buick Riviera or similar make. Light in color, possibly cream or white. Beveled rear window and tapered dolphin tail rear end.

SUSPECT-Hispanic or African American male with medium build, 25 to 30 years old (19 years ago) with corn row like hair style.

LOCATION-10th Street in Antioch, CA approximately 10 pm.

After this coward hit Susan with excessive speed, throwing her 120 feet, he got out of his vehicle and looked at what he had done to her. Shamelessly, he refused to help and fled from the scene, avoiding all responsibility and consequence.

If anyone has any information regarding this horrific incident, please call the Antioch Police Department or the Antioch Herald. A $10,000 reward is being offered by Susan’s family for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.

Publisher’s Note: The Herald first posted this from her family in 2012 and will continue to post it near the anniversary of her death, each year, until her killer is found.

Detectives from the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and Antioch Police Department continue to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred on Tuesday in Antioch.

At about 1240 PM, Deputy Sheriffs from the Civil Unit went to an apartment complex on the one thousand block of Claudia Ct. in Antioch to carry out a Domestic Violence Restraining Order/Criminal Protective Order, which included a move out order.

Deputies contacted the occupant, 29-year-old Dewayne Ward, who had prior law enforcement contacts. Ward had a no bail probation warrant. During the contact, Ward did not obey verbal commands from the deputies and resisted. Deputies then deployed force options that included pepper spray, a police K-9 and a Taser. They did not appear to have any effect on him. Ward continued to resist and charged at a deputy with a knife (see attached photo). The deputy fired his duty weapon striking the armed man. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

The deputy sheriff that shot Ward is Scott Pliler, who has been with the Office of the Sheriff for 13 years. He is currently a K-9 Deputy assigned to Patrol Division.

The autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday).

If anyone has any information on this case, Detectives can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

County Sheriff and Antioch Police personnel investigate the fatal shooting of a man in an apartment on Claudia Court, in Antioch, Tuesday afternoon. By Allen Payton

By Allen Payton

According to Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department Spokesman Jimmy Lee at a brief press conference and via news releases on Tuesday, “At about 1240 PM, Deputy Sheriffs from the Civil Unit went to an apartment complex on the 1000 block of Claudia Court in Antioch to carry out a Domestic Violence Restraining Order/Criminal Protective Order, which included a move out order.

Deputies contacted the occupant, who also had a no bail warrant. During the contact, the occupant resisted and charged at a deputy with a knife. The deputy fired his duty weapon striking the armed man. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The 29-year-old man is not being identified at this time.

Sheriff and police vehicles line the street on Claudia Court, following the fatal shooting, Tuesday afternoon.

Per the county officer involved fatal incident protocol, this officer involved shooting will be investigated by the DA’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and Antioch Police Department.”

No Antioch Police officers were involved in either the serving of the orders or the shooting, but are involved in the investigation, since it occurred in their jurisdiction, Lee stated in response to this reporter’s question.

Around 4:15 p.m., part of the street was still cordoned off, as well as parts of the apartment complex. Residents on the scene, at that time, said police and sheriff department personnel had told them they couldn’t get back into their apartments until as late as 9:00 p.m. and that the man’s body had not yet been removed from the scene.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact Detectives at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message or email: tips@so.cccounty.us.

Hui Lo

By Acting Sergeant Mortimer, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., the Antioch Police Department Special Operations Unit served a search warrant at a residence located in the 5000 block of Union Mine Drive related to the cultivation of marijuana. When detectives arrived Hui Luo, a 30-year-old Concord resident, was arrested while attempting to flee from the residence.

During the service of the search warrant detectives found the home had been completely converted into an illicit marijuana cultivation operation. Investigators seized approximately 1,414 marijuana plants from the home and located a large amount of equipment used to facilitate the cultivation. Along with the cultivation, Detectives also observed the electricity used to facilitate the cultivation was being stolen. The marijuana cultivation at this home was in various stages of producing an estimated 3.1 million dollars worth of marijuana. 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 Koch with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6895. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.