On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at 2:47 p.m. Antioch police received a call of a hit and run accident that occurred near the intersection of West Ninth and I Streets. When officers arrived they found a 30 year old Antioch resident had been riding his bicycle when he was struck by a passing vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene after the collision and the bicyclist had serious injuries and was transported to a local trauma center. The bicyclist is still currently hospitalized but is recovering from his injuries.

The victim and witnesses describe the vehicle as a gold Acura 4-door, with tinted windows and stock rims. The vehicle has front end damage and a broken front windshield as a result of the collision. The driver of the vehicle was described as a young Hispanic male and there was another young Hispanic male in the passenger seat.

If anyone witnessed the collision, or has information about the suspect vehicle please contact Officer BJ Hewitt at 925-779-6900, ext 83452.

By Acting Lt. Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 6:39 p.m. Antioch police received a 911 call from a 41-year-old man in the 2300 block of Cambridge Drive stating that he had accidentally shot his brother. Antioch police, along with fire and ambulance, responded to find a 36-year-old male suffering from a single gunshot wound.

He was declared dead on scene. It appears that the 36-year-old came to his brother’s home to show him a newly obtained gun. While both brothers were looking at the gun, it went off, striking and killing the 36-year-old.

Later that night, the 41-year-old brother, George Enriquez, born 12-16-71, was arrested for involuntary manslaughter and illegal possession of an assault weapon. He was sent to the Martinez Detention Facility and released on bail on Sunday, April 29.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Desmond Bittner at (925)779-6939.

By Sergeant Scott Freier, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

At approximately 12:08 a.m. on Friday, April 27, 2012 the Antioch Police Department received a call from the Oakland Police Department who stated that they were with a subject who had been kidnapped and robbed in Antioch. Antioch police took over the investigation from Oakland PD and learned that the victim, a 45 year old male, was a cab driver for “Yellow Cab” had picked up three African – American male subjects at the Pittsburg/Bay Point Bart station. The subjects asked to be taken to an apartment complex off of Delta Fair Blvd. in Antioch.

Upon arriving at the apartment complex, one of the subjects pulled out a gun and demanded the victim’s personal property. The subject with the weapon then ordered the driver to out of the vehicle and into the trunk of his cab. The subject(s) then drove the cab to Oakland where they eventually released the victim unharmed. The victim was able to flag down a passerby who called then called Oakland police.

As of Friday, April 27, 2012 at 10:08 a.m. Antioch police received confirmation that the stolen taxi had been located unoccupied in the area of 83 rd Ave. in Oakland. The vehicle was not burned or significantly damaged.  Antioch PD Investigators brought the vehicle back to Antioch PD for evidence processing.

The suspects are described as follows:  Suspect #1 is described as a black male adult, age 23 to 27 years, 5’9” to 6 feet tall 145 to 160 lbs. wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white lining (this subject was armed with the handgun). Suspect #2 is described as a black male adult, age 23 to 24yrs, 5’10” to 6 feet tall, 170 to 180 lbs. Wearing black shirt and black jeans. Suspect #3 is described as a black maile, unknown age, unknown height, unknown weight, wearing a grey hooded sweater and black jeans.

They should be considered armed and dangerous.

The three adult males arrested by the Antioch police are from left, Giovanni Lopez, Juan Peter Herrera and Raymond Wehr

By Acting Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department announced five individuals have been arrested in the March 31^st murder at Cruisers Saloon on A Street.

In custody are Antioch residents Giovanni Lopez, age 26, Juan Peter Herrera, age 22 and Pittsburg resident Raymond Wehr, also age 22. Also arrested was a 17 year old, male, Antioch resident and a 17 year old, male, Pittsburg resident.

All five subjects arrested have gang connections or are active gang members. It appears that the victim, Lizandro “Tony” Bertolazzi was an innocent victim and not involved in either fight.

The Antioch Police Department is not disclosing the identity of the person who fired the weapon in an effort to maintain the integrity of the on-going investigation.

Lizandro "Tony" Bertolazzi from a memorial page on Facebook

The case has yet to be presented to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office and all those arrested are being held on probation or parole holds.

On March 31, 2012 at 1:36 a.m. 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 of the bar and then moved just outside of the front door to the bar. One of the males, who had been kicked out earlier, pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot inside the bar. 

Bertolazzi, a 38 year old Antioch resident and veteran of the Marines, was inside the bar and was hit and died at the scene. He leaves behind his wife, who is serving in the Army, and four sons.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective James Stenger at (925) 779-6894.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

According to a KTVU, Channel 2 news report, squatters in a vacant home in Antioch have issued a restraining order against real estate agent Melissa Case who has the property listed for sale. Now she can’t be within 50 feet of the house.

Thanks to Antioch Herald reader Maria Pia for the heads up on this story.

For the complete story, click here.

Here’s the question that must be answered – who was the judge that approved the restraining order? Not only should the squatters be thrown out, so should that judge!

A female Deer Valley High school student who claimed to have been sexually assaulted on campus on Thursday, March 29, lied about it to cover up an off-campus trip to meet a boy.

During a subsequent interview with the assigned investigator, the alleged victim admitted to fabricating the story about being sexually assaulted on campus. The female student had left campus to meet with a boy and was late coming back to school. When she was confronted by school staff members, instead of admitting her fault, the student deflected the blame for being late by fabricating the story about being sexually assaulted.

By Acting Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

 On March 31, 2012 at 1:36 am the Antioch Police Department received a 911 call from Cruisers Saloon, at 1611 A Street in Antioch, 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 of the bar and then moved just outside of the front door to the bar. One of the males who had been kicked out earlier, pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot inside the bar. A 38 year-old male inside the bar was hit and died at the scene. His identity is being withheld at this time pending notification to his next of kin.

This information is preliminary as the police are still actively investigating this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mike Mellone at (925) 779-6930.

By Lt. John VanderKlugt, Field Services Bureau Commander, Antioch Police Department

On Thursday, March 29, 2012 at approximately 2:40 pm the Antioch Police Department was dispatched to Deer Valley High School, located at 4700 Lone Tree Way, to investigate allegations that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. Preliminary information suggests that the alleged assault took place in one of the restrooms on campus. The investigation and interviews are on-going at this time. No clear suspect information has been developed.