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.

On February 10th the Antioch Police Department received several reports of shots being fired in the area of Spanos Street and Magnolia Way. Officers arrived on scene to find a 56-year-old male in an alleyway behind the apartments on Spanos Street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim, an Antioch resident, was taken to a local hospital where he has been listed in critical condition.

This investigation is still unfolding and updates will be released at a later time. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Stenger at (925) 779-6894.

On January 25 at approximately 11:49 a.m., an Antioch Police Officer was flagged down by a male and female who advised they had just been shot at while waiting for the light to change on northbound Lone Tree Way at James Donlon Boulevard.

Officers observed the victims’ vehicle riddled with bullets along the passenger side, hood and windshield. No one was injured.

The suspected shooters were in a vehicle that was described by witnesses as a gold colored SUV, possibly a GMC Yukon. The suspect vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on Lone Tree Way. The investigation has revealed that the shooting does not appear to be random and is believed to be gang related.

No arrests have been made and officers are following up with leads. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau at 925-779-6926.

Three or four possible shooters being sought by police

By Lt. Scott Willeford, Antioch Police Department

On Saturday night, January 21, 2012 at 10:36 p.m. Antioch police officers responded to the 5000 block of Wilmont Court, off Judsonville Drive and Golf Course Road in Antioch, for a subject who had been shot. While officers were en-route, police received several other calls of 70 to 80 subjects at the residence with many of them running away. On arrival officers found a total of six gunshot victims at the scene.

Numerous emergency personnel were on scene to triage the multiple victims. The victims were transported to various hospitals in the area by ground and air ambulances. At least one was taken by helicopter from Hansen Park on Nortonville Way and Hansen Drive, according to neighbors of the park.

Due to the large number of subjects and injured parties involved, Antioch Police received assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department and Brentwood Police Department to help the injured, secure the scene and identify the parties involved.

The preliminary investigation revealed the residents were having a large sweet 16 party for their daughter. An argument broke out in the garage area between two groups of subjects; there were approximately 30 to 40 party goers in the garage. Weapons were brandished and numerous shots were fired from multiple guns hitting the subjects listed below.

· 13 year old male Antioch resident

· 21 year old female Antioch resident

· 18 year old male Antioch resident

· 16 year old male Antioch resident

· 16 year old male Antioch resident

· 18 year old male Brentwood resident

The victims’ injuries range from superficial graze wounds to a possible fractured leg and abdomen wound. Some of the victims have been released from the hospital while others are currently in surgery.

The Antioch police are still actively investigating the case and following up on all leads.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Anyone with information please call the Antioch Police Department at 778-2441.

On Jan. 18 at approximately 5:40 p.m. an adult male entered the Wells Fargo Bank at 1715 A Street and approached a teller. The man handed the teller a handwritten note demanding all of the money.

The teller alerted other bank employees of the robbery attempt and the man fled the bank on foot and into a nearby residential neighborhood where he began to jump fences. Officers briefly located a man that fit the general description of the responsible, but upon attempted contact he fled over fences.

After an extensive search with K-9s and a helicopter, the suspect was not located. The bank did not suffer any loss in this robbery attempt and no weapon was seen or mentioned.

The suspect was described at a black male adult in his mid 20s. He was approximately 5-feet-7 with a medium build. He had a short 1-to-2inch afro type hairstyle and some facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and sunglasses.

If anyone has any information regarding this robbery attempt, please contact the Antioch Police Investigations Unit at 925-779-6926/7.