By Sergeant Steve Bias, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, September 12, 2013 at approx 12:33 pm, Antioch Police received a call of an armed robbery in progress at a business by the name of Gold Palace at 2970 Delta Fair Blvd. This business purchases gold from customers. The two suspects reportedly were armed with handguns. No shots were fired and no one was injured during this robbery.

The suspects were gone prior to police arrival. They were described as follows:

#1 Black male, 18 years old, 5’8″-5’10”, thin

#2 Black male, 22-25 years old, 5’8″, 160

The suspects left in a brown Lexus with tinted windows and no license plate.

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.

By Wendy Oaks

On September 8, 2013, at approximately 1:40 a.m., there was a shooting at Paradise Skate Roller Rink, located at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds.

There was an Adult Late Night Skate Jam taking place at the roller rink when an altercation took place outside the skating rink. The argument resulted in a shooting, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. At this time, we cannot comment on further details.

A 31-year-old woman was killed and an 18-year-old and 40-year-old man were shot, but their identities have not yet been provided, according to Robert Williamson, Fairgrounds CEO.

“On behalf of the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds and Paradise Skate Roller Rink, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” said Williamson. “We are deeply saddened by the entire incident. We strive to create a family-friendly atmosphere, and take every precaution to keep individual’s safe, and my heart breaks to learn of such violence. We will continue to work with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department in their ongoing investigation into the incident and provide any information needed.”

The staff of the skating rink are all OK, according to owner Jeff Warrenburg.

Allen Payton contributed to this report

Rakeem Rucks

Publisher’s Note: We discovered this article was accidently saved in Drafts and was never published on our website, until now. We apologize for the oversight.

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch, Police Investigations Bureau

On Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at approximately 11:59 AM, Antioch police officers responded to a report of a male assaulting a female in the downtown area. As officers arrived on scene, the male subject (later identified as 32-year-old Antioch resident, Rakeem Rucks) fled on foot, while the female victim, also an Antioch resident, remained on scene but was uncooperative and wouldn’t identify her attacker. Antioch officers chased Rucks to a residence in the 400 block of F Street where Rucks violently resisted officers and then forced his way into the home. The residence was surrounded by police and attempts were made to call Rucks out of the home with no response. The original victim to the assault showed up at that scene and interfered with the police officers there and was ultimately arrested.

With no response from inside the F Street residence, officers made entry (deploying two light/sound diversionary devices) and cleared the home. A loaded, stolen firearm was found in the home, but Rucks was not located inside. It was determined that he likely fled out of the back before police could completely surround the residence.

Rucks was found several hours later by police after summoning medical assistance for injuries sustained while he tried to evade police. Rucks was taken into custody after treatment at a local hospital and then sent to the Martinez Detention Facility. This case is currently being looked at by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for criminal filing.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH

By Sergeant Dimitri Barakos, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On August 31, 2013 at 6:38 p.m., an Antioch Police officer was parked on West 9th Street near ‘A’ Street when he was almost struck by a box truck, similar to a moving truck. As that occurred, we received a call of a speeding box truck on W. 9th Street. The officer followed the truck with the intent to stop the truck. The truck pulled over and as the officer got out of his patrol car the driver of the truck drove towards him and almost struck the officer.

The driver of the truck led officers on a vehicle chase on ‘A’ Street. The driver abandoned the truck in the SR4 construction area near ‘A’ Street and Drake Street. The driver, identified as 45-year-old Eric Lehtinen, fled and was apprehended by officers. Dispatch advised the officers that there was a burglary alarm pending at the business, Ordaz Cultured Marble & Onyx, Inc., located in the 2600 block of West 10th Street in Antioch, where the truck was registered.

Officers found that the business had been broken into and the truck had been stolen from the business. Lehtinen was arrested on multiple charges and sent to the Martinez Detention Facility.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Ofc. B. Hewitt, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, August 31, 2013 at approximately 6:55 p.m., a group of citizens were gathered behind the apartments in the 1600 block of Sycamore Drive for a block party. A vehicle was seen speeding west bound through the alley and an occupant of the vehicle fired several shots, striking a 25-year-old male. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injury and released. The investigation is still ongoing.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Sergeant Steve Bias, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, August 29, 2013 at approximately 2:30 pm, calls came into the Antioch Police Department concerning a subject inside of a vehicle being assaulted. Upon arrival, Officers quickly learned that a female Antioch resident was forced to stop in the middle of the street as she drove on Asilomar Drive, because a male (18-year-old Alexander Boivin) with a dog was standing in front of her. After stopping, a female juvenile opened the driver side door and began assaulting the victim. Boivin opened the passenger side door and also began assaulting the victim, who fought back.

Two bystanders witnessed the assault and pulled both suspects from the victim’s car and a brief struggle ensued. As officers arrived, the suspects fled into the park, but were detained by the bystanders and police.

The victim of this attempted carjacking was treated at a local hospital for her injuries and is expected to be released this evening.

Prior to this incident, Boivin had also committed a strong arm robbery of a mail carrier in the same park taking his cell phone. The mail carrier was not injured.

Boivin is a known gang member. He has no adult convictions on his criminal history. Boivin was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for numerous charges related to felony assault, carjacking, robbery, and gang enhancements.

The juvenile was booked into juvenile hall for charges related to felony assault, carjacking, vandalism, and gang enhancement.

No booking photos immediately available.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Capt. Leonard Orman, Antioch Police Support Services Division

Antioch police identified the man whom they shot and killed on Tuesday, as 24-year-old Vallejo resident Korey Marcel Germaine.

Officers responded to the report of a firearm being brandished by a male matching Germaine’s description in a Mercedes. Officers located the suspect vehicle with Germaine driving. They attempted to affect a traffic stop. Germaine fled from the officers and a vehicle pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, one police vehicle was struck by Germaine as well as a civilian vehicle. Germaine eventually lost control of his car and it came to rest in the dirt near the intersections of Hillcrest Ave and Wildflower Dr.

Germaine fled from the vehicle while holding a handgun. Several officers chased him. During the foot chase he pointed the handgun at officers and was shot several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured during this incident. The Critical Incident Protocol was invoked and this case is being investigated by the Antioch Police Department, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the CCC Crime Lab.

According to a 2010 article in the Vallejo Times-Herald, Germaine was arrested on September 14, that year, for “suspicion of possessing a concealed loaded gun” and was “also suspected of loitering and illegal drug activity.”

According to other online information, a misdemeanor bench warrant was issued for Germaine on February 28, 2013 for driving without a license with bail set at $10,000, then another misdemeanor bench warrant was issued on July 15, 2013 also for driving without a license with bail set at $15,000.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch police officers tend to the body of man in a yellow body bag on Hillcrest Avenue, who was shot by police after a car pursuit. – photo by Allen Payton

By Lt. Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department was involved in an officer involved shooting this afternoon on Hillcrest near Wildflower. All officers are OK. As is standard in these situations we are conducting a joint investigation with the District Attorney’s office. A press release will be released shortly.

According to one person at the scene, a man was being chased by police while driving a Mercedes on Hillcrest. The car went off the road near Wildflower. He got out of the car and shot at police. They returned fire, killing the man.

A crow gathered in the parking lot, near the 99 Cent Store, which overlooks the section of Hillcrest Road, where the incident occurred and which the police had blocked off in both directions between Wildflower and the intersection of Davision/Deer Valley Road and Hillcrest.

More details, later, when the press release is received.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.