By James Ott

For the first time in over a year Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando had good news to report regarding law-breaking in the city. After a year of exploding crime rates, the chief said that so far in 2013 total crime is down nearly 20 percent over the same period in 2012.

At a presentation given during the April 24 City Council meeting, Cantando said that violent crime in Antioch was down seven percent while property crime fell over 22 percent this year.

The news was welcome to citizens and leaders alike who have suffered under exploding crime rates and reduced arrest rates along with a reduced police force and a terrible economy.

Antioch has historically been a high-crime city, during the past decade. In 2010 it ranked as the fourth most dangerous city in the Bay Area with 8.46 cases, of crime for every thousand citizens according to a list compiled by the San Francisco Business Times using FBI crime data. The only cities worse than Antioch were Emeryville, (12.54) and notoriously crime-riddled cities Richmond (11.37) and Oakland (15.30). Comparably sized cities like Concord and Fairfield only had to deal with about half the crime rate, and nearby cities such as Pittsburg, (2.34) were almost saintly in comparison.

While overall crime has been increasing in Antioch for several years, last year saw a large increase in both violent and property crime that put real fear into residents. Compared to 2011, 2012 saw double the homicides, 38 percent more cases of rape, and 30 percent more assaults. Last year there was also a 27 percent average increase in property crimes like theft and burglaries.

Because 2012 was such a bad year for crime in Antioch, Cantando’s news that crime is down at all is good news but he also said that the numbers could be skewed a bit because they are being compared to 2012’s rates.

“Keep in mind that we are comparing numbers to 2012 which was a very bad crime year for the city of Antioch,” said Cantando.

Despite the decrease in crime Cantando’s presentation highlighted another problem that has not improved – despite all of the crime Antioch is still arresting less criminals every year.

So far this year arrest rates were only down 6.6 over last year but it still continues a trend that has been going on for years. In 2009 Antioch police made 5398 arrests and that number has decreased every year. Last year only 3186 arrests were made. Those numbers however are likely due to a depleted police force. The city has taken steps recently to try and hire new full time police officers something the police chief and city council members think will make a big difference in both increasing arrest rates and decreasing crime in Antioch.

“As the result of our [low] staffing and trying to rebuild you’ll see that our arrests are down,” said Cantando. “As we bring on more staff we’re hopeful that we’re going to see an increase in those [arrest] numbers.”

Antioch has hired five new police officers as of the chief’s presentation.

By Sergeant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, May 5, 2013 at approximately 8:29 p.m., the Antioch Police Department responded to a shooting that occurred in the area of D Street near W. 19th Street. Upon our arrival, we located a 17-year-old male suffering from a single gunshot wound to his left arm. The 17-year-old male was transported to a local hospital and is currently in stable condition.

A 12-year-old female victim and an 11-year-old male victim were also located. Both victims were sitting in a vehicle that was parked near the location of the shooting. A stray bullet entered the driver window of the parked vehicle. Neither the girl nor the 11-year-old boy were struck by the stray bullet; however they both sustained minor cuts on their arms and hands from broken window glass. Both were treated for their injuries at the scene.

The incident is still under investigation at this time.

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Saturday May 4, 2013 at approximately 3:43 AM, the Antioch Police Department received a report of a subject shot in front of a hotel in the 500 block of E. 18^th Street. Officers responded to the area to find the 38-year-old, male victim incapacitated from multiple, apparent gunshot wounds. Life saving measures were taken by the arriving officers and medical personnel, but the victim was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.

This case is currently being investigated as a homicide by the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Meads with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6884. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Arthur Yu

By Detective Mortimer, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at approximately 7:30 a.m., Antioch Police Detectives served a search warrant at a residence located on the 5100 block of Deerspring Way in Antioch. During the search, detectives located evidence of a large marijuana cultivation inside which turned up over 500 marijuana plants. Detectives took a San Francisco resident, identified as 59-year-old Arthur Yu, into custody in connection with the cultivation.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Matthew Koch at (925) 779-6895.

There were three additional bomb threats called in to the Antioch Police Department concerning area schools this morning. The first was called in at 7:43 AM stating there was a bomb at Black Diamond Middle School. The second two calls were made at 9:39 AM and 10:50 AM; both of those calls were reports of bombs, again, at Deer Valley High School.

The Antioch Police Department sent officers to all three of these events, responding in mutual cooperation with the Antioch Unified School District to evaluate the credibility of each report. All of the incidents this morning and over the past four days have been determined to be hoaxes. At no time were students of any of the effected schools in any danger.

Following-up on a lead after the third bomb threat of the morning, APD Officers and Detectives were able to identify and subsequently arrest a juvenile in connection with these false bomb threats. The juvenile later admitted to making the bogus calls to investigators.

Investigators are still looking into the false bomb threat made at Antioch High School, yesterday.

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

By Sergeant Morefield, Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at approximately 9:41 AM, Antioch High School received a bomb threat. The school was evacuated and searched, and nothing was located. Two more bomb threats were called in concerning Deer Valley High School at approximately 10:35 AM and 1:06 PM. The same measures were taken and nothing was located.

Two similar threats were called in to Deer Valley High School on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 and both of those were determined to be hoaxes, as well. The Antioch Police Department is currently investigating each of these false bomb threats.

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 ANTIOCHq

By Sgt. Tony Morefield #3320, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

At approximately 10:43 a.m., this morning, the Antioch Police Department responded to a bomb threat at Deer Valley High School.  Officers responded and conducted a thorough search of the campus with Deer Valley High staff. Nothing was located.  School staff made the decision to evacuate the campus while the search was being conducted, but the school has since resumed normal operations (as of 1:24 p.m.).  At this time, this case appears to be unrelated to the bomb threat called in yesterday; however, both incidents are still under investigation.

One parent of a student at the high school, who was visiting the campus for the Every 15 Minutes program, stated in an email to this paper, “school made some kind of  announcement today that if another bomb scare is reported that the school will be closed for w weeks and be made up at the end of the school year.”

UPDATE 4/24/13. 10:00 AM – According to Superintendent Don Gill, last night, know that there were no active or inactive bombs found on campus. But they did trace the call to a throw-away phone they found on campus. It’s a felony and considered a terrorist threat to make such a call. So the student who did so will be expelled and face charges.

In response to rumors that both inactive and active bombs were found by a bomb tech on campus, Dr. Gill responded.

“It’s not true that any active or inactive bombs found. I would have been called by Principal Ken Gardner or the police,” Gill stated. “We would never, ever withhold that kind of information. That needs to be out.”

“It’s a felony to make these kind of threats. It’s considered a terrorist threat under California law and extremely disruptive to the school,” Gill added. “If it’s a student they will be expelled and they will be turned over to the police. It’s serious stuff. It’s not a prank. We have to take the threat seriously.”

Police were able to trace the call back to the campus, but it came from an unidentified number, probably from a disposable cell phone.

Following is the automated phone message sent out to parents of students at Deer Valley High:

“This is an auto-dialer message sent Tuesday evening, April 23rd from Mr. Gardner, Principal of Deer Valley High School.

For the second day in row the school received a vague and anonymous bomb threat via telephone. We have reason to suspect that this may have been called in by a student believing this to be a simple prank. Please help us in communicating to your child that such calls are considered terrorist threats as defined under California Penal Code. A false threat is a serious crime and, if convicted, the individual will be liable for all costs incurred as a result of the threat. Additionally, the student will face mandatory expulsion per the California Education Code. Currently, we are working with the police to identify the caller or callers but, in the meantime, I wanted to make sure that all of our students are aware of the seriousness of making such a call. We will also be communicating this message with all students tomorrow via DVTV.

Before ending this call I want to sincerely thank our parent community for their outpouring of support during this difficult time. Overall parents were very understanding of our inability to release students prior to receiving the all clear from police and we have received a number of calls offering support. As always, please do not hesitate to call our office should you have any information, questions, or concerns.”

There is nothing further at this time.

Allen Payton contributed to this report

By Sergeant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On April 9th, 2013 at approximately 10:39 p.m., the Antioch Police Department responded to a shooting occurring inside a residence located in the 2500 block of Yorkshire Drive. Upon our arrival, we located two adult females, ages 22 and 46, inside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds. A third male gunshot victim, age 23, was found deceased inside the residence. The two females were transported to a local hospital and are currently in stable condition.

The incident is still under investigation at this time.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau at (925) 779-6926.