By Act. Sergeant Wisecarver, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Thursday morning, July 31, 2014 at 4:01 AM, Antioch Police Dispatch received 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of West 5th Street. A short time later dispatch received calls from family members in the 1100 block of W 5th Street advising their 23 year old daughter had been shot. Officers arrived on scene to find the 23-year-old female bleeding from a gunshot wound to the back of her neck.

Officers learned that several bullets were fired from outside of the home and that the bullets penetrated the home through the exterior wall. One of the bullets struck the female victim as she was sleeping in her bed.

The female victim was transported to an area hospital where she was treated for this non-life threatening injury.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the Antioch Police Dept. at (925)778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By John Crowder

The recent spate of shootings that have occurred in Antioch, along with media reports deriding the city as one of the most “stressed out” in California, took center stage at the July 22 meeting of the Antioch City Council.

The timing of the shooting incidents happened to coincide with the quarterly address on crime statistics usually given by Chief Cantando to the council. At Tuesday’s meeting the presentation was instead given by Captain Leonard Orman, filling in for Cantando who was recovering from surgery.

Orman began his presentation by relaying a message from the chief recognizing the “unwavering support” given to the police department by the council. He then moved to directly address recent media reports that have been highly critical of the crime situation in Antioch. He said the chief was, “Very concerned about the unfortunate perception we’ve had recently in the media, social media, and on the Internet, that we’ve suffered this upsurge in shootings in our community.”

Saying that he would be presenting facts that he claimed would, “hopefully aid the community’s perception of our true crime picture,” he noted that shooting incidents in Antioch stood at 50 for the year as of close of business the day before, as compared to 44 for the city of Richmond, to which Antioch has been compared in the media recently with regard to crime. He went on to say that, at the same time last year, there were 51 such incidents in Antioch, and that there were 57 at the same time in 2012. “So you can see, we haven’t had quite the surge in violence that is being perceived,” he stated.

Orman spoke to a slide presentation, showing statistics indicating that violent crime was down 15.7%, property crime was up 2.9%, and total crime down just under 1%.

Orman also addressed police staffing in his presentation. He said that Antioch was suffering from, “depleting police resources due to the recession,” and “unprecedented retirements and other separations from our police department,” while also indicating that the department was in the process of rebuilding and adding staff. According to the chart he presented, Antioch had 88 full-time positions filled, but of these, 3 were in field training, 14 were unavailable for full duty due to injury or medical condition, and two were on extended leave, allowing only 69 full duty sworn positions. Orman stated, however, that since the chart he was showing had been produced a week ago, there were now an additional 5 officers back on full duty.

Also addressed during the presentation was the slow rate at which new officers were being added to the Antioch police force. From January to June of this year, the Antioch Police Department (APD) has had 1557 applicants for police officers. Of these, 60 made it to the eligibility list, and 8 were hired, a rate that works out to just over ½% of applicants being hired. Orman said that since January 1^st 2013 the APD had hired 26 officers, but that this has only resulted in a net gain of 4 officers to date.

Following the crime statistic presentation, Mayor Wade Harper asked about the underlying reasons for the shootings, with Orman confirming that it was related to gang and drug activity, as stated in the presentation. Harper also noted that the city manager, Steve Duran, had authorized the APD to use whatever money is needed on overtime to “make up the gap until we can get more officers.”

Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha suggested working with the school district to put together a grant to get some recreation around the Sycamore area. “I think what we need to do also, at the same time we’re trying to suppress, is try to do prevention, in trying to bring something down at Sycamore where we could have a recreational, something that changes the mind of kids and I think I’ll appeal to the school district again, that we get together and put a grant together, I’m sure that there’s availability, that’s number one.” She also requested that community members take down the license numbers of cars they don’t recognize in their neighborhoods.

Council Member Tony Tiscareno expressed concern that community members are not coming forward to report criminal activity. He blamed potential retaliation as a roadblock. Orman noted, in response, that Antioch has an anonymous tip line people can use to report crime, and that, when used, it had been very effective.

During public comments on the issue, several residents spoke out. Roberta Haynes said that the violent crime problem was not just restricted to Sycamore, but that the parking lots at both Raley’s and Walmart are unsafe. “There isn’t enough (police officers) to cover this area,” she said.

Will LeRoy expressed concern for what he said was, “Just a total disrespect for law in this town.” Attributing the crime problem to low-income housing, he asked the council to not, “build more of those types of communities,” which require a greater need for police services. He also stated that he understood Antioch had police pensions owing of between $50 million to $80 million, and that, “the public has a right to know if the city is going bankrupt paying these pensions, and how far these pensions are reaching into funds that we could use in other areas.”

Antioch businessman Ken Turnage pulled out bullets he said had been pried from stucco where shootings had occurred which the police never responded to. He went on to complain of prostitutes on 18^th Street at all times of the day, and said he witnessed an incident of a lady being accosted on the same street and a police officer driving by, witnessing the event, but not stopping to intervene.

William Dee, President of the Antioch Police Officer Association, addressed the issue of police staffing. He said Antioch is, “the fourth most dangerous city in California.” He went on to call for more police offices, noting that Richmond, a city with an almost identical population size to Antioch, has staffing levels of over 190 officers. “Authorized positions and actual boots on the ground is far different,” he stated, “Investigation and administrative staffing accounts for 29 of those 88 positions.” Dee pointed out that with six shifts, “Each shift has approximately seven officers to respond to calls for service.”

The next meeting of the Antioch City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, August 7^th, at 7:00 pm. Meetings are held at City Hall.

By Lieutenant Tony Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

At approximately 8:34 AM on Monday, July 28, 2014, Antioch Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of the 4100 block of Folsom Drive, regarding a rifle that had been found in the street. When an officer arrived, he eventually had an encounter with a male suspect. The officer attempted to detain the male who fled from him into an open garage. At some point during the attempted detention, the officer fired his sidearm striking the suspect several times. The scene was eventually secured and the male was flown by helicopter to an area hospital. The male suspect has been identified as Timothy Sean Randolph, a 34-year-old, Antioch resident. Randolph has an extensive criminal history. He is still undergoing treatment at the hospital but is expected to survive.

We have invoked the Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol. This case is being investigated cooperatively with the Contra Costa County (CCCo) DA’s Office, the CCCo Crime Lab and the Antioch Police Department. The officer involved in this incident was not injured and is currently on paid administrative leave, which is routine during these types of investigations.

This is an ongoing investigation and no further details will be released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Vanderpool with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6988. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Captain Leonard Orman, Antioch Police Department

This morning, Monday, July 28, 2014, our officers were dispatched to Folsom Dr. regarding a rifle that had been found in the street. When an officer arrived, he eventually had an encounter with a male subject. The officer attempted to detain the male who fled from him into an open garage. At some point during the attempted detention, the officer fired his sidearm striking the male several times. The scene was eventually secured and the male was flown by helicopter to a hospital. Although he was responsive when removed from the scene, his prognosis is unknown at this time. The officer, who is a veteran, was not injured.

We have invoked the Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol. This case will be investigated cooperatively with the CCC DA’s Officer, the CCC County Crime Lab and the Antioch Police Department.

No further details will be released at this time. As this investigation develops we look forward to providing further information at that time.

By Sergeant Tarra Nissen, Antioch, Police Community Policing Bureau

On Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at approximately 11:22 PM, Antioch Police dispatch received a call from a 12-year-old reporting party (RP) advising that a family member, who is a 43-year-old Antioch resident, was at the residence, in the 200 block of Sherman Court, with a firearm and was refusing to let her and six family members leave. While officers were responding, the RP advised that the family was able to escape the house and get into their vehicle. They fled from the house and were being chased by the responsible, who was in his vehicle. Officers arrived as the two vehicles were leaving the residence, the responsible vehicle chasing after the RP and her family.

Officer’s pursued the responsible but he refused to yield to the officers and continued to follow the RP and her family. At dispatches’ request, the RP and her family led the responsible and the pursuing officers to the front of the Antioch Police Department, where an officer was able to get a patrol vehicle between the responsible’s vehicle and the RP’s vehicle and stop the pursuit.

Once the responsible was not able move his vehicle, he locked himself inside and refused all of the officer’s commands to exit the vehicle. Officers were forced to break the driver’s side window and remove the responsible from the vehicle. Several firearms were located inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The RP and her family were not injured in the incident. The responsible was taken into custody without further incident.

This incident is still under investigation.

Charles Johnson III

By Acting Lieutenant Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Saturday, July 5, 2014 at approximately 4:50 PM, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting at Williamson Ranch Park at 5000 Lone Tree Way. The officers arrived to find a 17-year-old male, Bakersfield resident suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. This victim was with two others (both 19-year-old male, Antioch residents) who were fired upon, as well, but not struck by gunfire. The injured victim was taken to a local area hospital for treatment and later released.

During the investigation into the incident, information was developed that helped to identify Charles Herbert Johnson III, a 23-year-old Antioch resident, as the suspect.

Several days later, on Wednesday, July 9^th, Johnson was located by officers and arrested for this shooting. He was taken to the Contra Costa County Detention Facility in Martinez on charges of PC 245(A)(2) – Assault with a deadly weapon (firearm).

The case is currently being prepared for filing with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Hewitt with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6933. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Acting Lieutenant Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at approximately 2:34 PM, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting at an apartment complex in the 3900 Block of Delta Fair Blvd. The officers arrived to find a 23-year-old Pittsburg man inside a vehicle in the parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

At the same time, other calls came in of a second shooting victim down in a neighboring apartment complex on Hudson Court. Officers responded there, as well, and located the 28-year-old Antioch man also suffering from a gunshot wound. Medical personnel arrived on both scenes and tended to the victims.

The victim located on Hudson Court was transported to a local area hospital for treatment; however, the victim found on Delta Fair Blvd. was pronounced deceased at the scene. As initial information was being developed, it was learned the shooting actually took place in the parking lot of the apartment complex on Delta Fair Blvd., but the surviving victim had fled to the neighboring apartments on Hudson Court where he was ultimately located by responding officers.

As of this writing, this second victim is still in surgery. We are in the preliminary stages of this investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

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.

By Corporal J McMurry, Antioch Police Department

Our investigation into the shooting of an 11-year-old male on Thursday morning, July 3, 2014, has led to the identification and arrest of a 14-year-old male as the responsible party. The responsible was arrested Thursday night at approximately 11:45 PM. He was booked at the Antioch Police Department for the above listed charges and later transferred to Juvenile Hall.

The victim in this case remains hospitalized in stable condition, and it is unknown when he will be released.

We are continuing our investigation into this incident. If anyone has information related to this case, they can call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. Tips can also be sent anonymously via text message to CRIMES (274637), with the keyword ANTIOCH.