By Antioch Police

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 shortly after a young male suspect attempted to commit a residential burglary, the effectiveness of our Neighborhood Watch Program proved just how useful it truly is. The burglary suspect repeatedly rang a front door bell and then knocked on the door. When the resident didn’t answer the door, the suspect attempted to kick in the front door. The resident yelled at the suspect and the suspect fled on foot.

Soon thereafter an officer arrived in the area, located the suspect and then the chase was on. A neighbor, who happened to be a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain, had witnessed the attempted burglary and she started to follow the suspect while driving her vehicle. She temporarily lost sight of the fleeing suspect, but soon relocated him as she came across the pursuing officer. The Neighborhood Block Captain noticed that the suspect had quite a lead on the pursuing officer, so she pulled up alongside the officer and ordered him into her car. The pursuing officer happily obliged and the Neighborhood Block Captain drove the officer up next to the fleeing suspect and the officer promptly jumped out of the car and pounced on the surprised would be burglar. The suspect was arrested without incident thanks to the assistance of the Neighborhood Watch Block Captain.

A Neighborhood Watch Program can put the “Neighbor” back into a neighborhood by creating a sense of community. It brings citizens and law enforcement together to reduce crime. Neighborhood Watch allows us, community members and the police department, to effectively communicate about criminal activity in a particular neighborhood. It provides a network or set of contacts throughout the community, which serves to enhance the communication between the citizens and members of the police department.

This is an example of how a concerned neighbor helped multiply the resources of the police department, which in-turn helps reduce the incidence of crime and improves the quality of life for all.

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

Shahin Ahoorai (In-Custody)

On 2/11/2012, at about 9:14 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the Antioch Women’s Club (509 ‘G’ Street) for a report of shots fired. They arrived and found two (2) victims, including a 49 year old woman, and 26 year-old man, suffering from gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigation revealed the victims were attendees of a religious baptism reception. Individuals present at that reception began physically fighting with a lone male victim in the street, in what has been determined to be a gang-related assault. When the victims tried to separate the parties involved in the fight, at least two of the involved individuals produced handguns and began shooting. Both gunshot wound victims were hit by errant gunfire and transported to local hospitals for non life-threatening wounds.

Zachary Cook

Subsequent investigation led to the identification of Shahin Ahoorai, a resident of Oakley and San Jose. Ahoorai was located by investigators at his jobsite in the city of Santa Clara and arrested. During a subsequent interview, he confessed to his involvement in the incident, and also admitted being the getaway vehicle driver. He remains in-custody at the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez on three million four hundred thirty-three thousand dollars bail ($3,433,000). The investigation also led to the identification of Zachary Cook and Raul “Jo Jo” Pena, both residents of Oakley, as co-participants in this incident.

On 2/21/2012, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felony charges against Ahoorai, Cook, and Pena, including: Two (2) counts of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and enhancements for being criminal street gang members.

Cook and Pena are currently at-large and believed to be concealing themselves from law enforcement. Both have felony warrants for charged offenses and should be considered armed and dangerous. Investigators are currently following up on several leads regarding their whereabouts, but are seeking the public’s help in this endeavor.

Raul "Jo Jo" Pena

Anyone with information regarding this incident, or the whereabouts of Cook and Pena are asked to contact Detective Mike Mellone, (925) 779-6930, or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center, (925) 778-2441. Anonymous tips can also be made to Bay Area Crime Stoppers via their toll free tip-line, (800) 222-TIPS, or website, bayareacrimestopers.org. Anonymous text-tips can also be sent to 274637 with the word “CRIMES” in the subject line.

The Antioch Police Department received multiple 911 calls on May 1 at 8 a.m. regarding a vehicle that struck a house on Linden lane. Officers discovered that an out-of-control Dodge Durango had crashed into multiple cars on Spanos Street and ultimately came to rest inside a residence on Linden Lane.

The Durango left the roadway on Spanos Street, crashed through a wooden fence, struck the rear of a house and came to rest inside a bedroom. The residents were home, but not in the bedroom at the time of the crash and were not injured.

One of the four vehicles that were struck on Spanos Street was occupied. The driver had to be extricated from that vehicle and was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The driver of the Dodge Durango fled the scene prior to the arrival of the police. While investigating this incident, police received a call from the owner of the Durango, advising that he had been robbed at gunpoint on Contra Loma Boulevard. The victim of the robbery was not injured.

On Febtuary 22 at 3:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to a report of gun shots being fired near Antioch Middle School. It was later discovered that the gun shots had been fired in the 200 Block of W. 18th Street, closer to A Street.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple gun shots (possibly 3 to 6) and described the suspects as Black or Hispanic males wearing baggy white T-shirts. The suspects fled the area on foot. Officers recovered 3 expended shell casings from the area of the shooting and later learned that a passing vehicle may have been grazed by a bullet while driving through the area.

At this time no shooting victims have been located. There is no indication that any students were involved in this shooting. This case is still being investigated.

By Lieutenant R. Kelley
Antioch Police Department

A volunteer orientation has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 13th at 6:00 P.M., in the police department community room.

We will be giving an informational presentation with regard to the various volunteer positions within the police department. We will also have some of our volunteers present in order to answer any questions interested applicants may have.

On February 18 at 12:35 a.m. Antioch Police Officer Matt Harger spotted a reported stolen vehicle being driven by Douglas Martinez, 18, of Antioch, in the 2300 block of Sycamore Drive. When Officer Harger attempted to stop the vehicle and detain Martinez and his passenger, they both jumped out of the car and fled on foot.

Officer Harger and his K9 ,Thor, gave chase. When Martinez refused to stop, Thor was deployed and took him to the ground. However, when Martinez jumped out of the car, he failed to put it into park. The vehicle continued to roll forward and struck Officer Harger, knocking him to the ground. The vehicle then ran over K9 Thor as he was detaining Martinez.

Thor held onto Martinez until Officer Harger was able to pull Thor from under the vehicle before the rear tires rolled over Martinez. The vehicle eventually came to a stop after it struck a light pole. Officer Harger sustained minor scrapes from being knocked to the ground, and Thor appears to be okay at this time.

Martinez was then taken into custody and transported from the scene to SDMC. Brentwood PD sent their K9 to assist in the search for the second suspect, but he was not located.

Come join Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando on Saturday, March 10th from 9-11 A.M. in a casual setting to discuss public safety issues, crime statistics, etc. Captain Steve McConnell will also provide a brief presentation on Community and Problem Oriented Policing. Open communication about community issues is encouraged.

The location for this casual “Coffee with the Cops” workshop will be held in the Antioch Police Department Community Room located at 300 L Street. Members of the Antioch Crime Prevention Commission will be in attendance, and make themselves available to answer questions with a focus on enhancing Neighborhood Watch programs for Antioch residents.

The “Coffee with the Cops” concept was developed as a pilot program by the Antioch Police Department in an effort to improve communication between the Police Department and the citizens they serve. These meetings will consist of a “one-on-one” type format with a member of the police command staff and members of the community. The format of these meetings has been designed to be informative.

The Antioch Police Department is dedicated to promoting the quality of life in Antioch in partnership with our community, by proactively reducing crime with integrity and commitment to excellence.

On Feb. 13 at 8:23 p.m. a resident in the 4800 block of Wexler Peak Way was in his home with his young son, when he heard the door bell ring. He did not answer the doorbell right away and soon heard his front door being kicked in.

The resident confronted a man with a gun at his front door, and began to fight with him. The resident was able to take the gun away from the man and shoot him several times before calling the police. The unidentified man died at the scene.

The resident and his son were uninjured, and the Antioch Police are working on identifying the deceased man.

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