Update
On August 4 the District Attorney filed the following charges on the suspects arrested in this case: Eric Walker: Felony 2nd Degree Robbery, Felony 2nd Degree Burglary, Felony Carjacking, Felony Possession of a dangerous weapon and Firearm Enhancements. Hassan Ameer Ford: Felony 2nd Degree Robbery, Felony Carjacking and Firearm Enhancements.

Both are scheduled to appear in court on August 5.
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Update
Antioch Police have arrested Ford, who was the subject of the Amber Alert related to the robbery/kidnapping case. He has admitted his involvement in the robbery of the barber shop and feigning of his kidnapping, according to police.

Antioch Police served a search warrant on an apartment in the 3100 block of Lone Tree Way in Antioch and arrested 23-year-old Eric Lerone Walker, who has been identified as the gunman. During the search of the premises, the sawed-off shotgun believed to have been used in the robbery was located in a van, along with property stolen during the robbery.

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Hassan Ameer Ford, 16, has been released by his captor after a car jacking at Al’s Barber Shop at 11 West 18th Street on Aug. 1 at 3:41 p.m. He has been in personal contact with family and friends since the incident, according to police.

Although police have not been able to speak to Ford personally, they said they are confident he has been released and is no longer under duress. As a result, an Amber Alert that had been in effect has been cancelled. In addition, the victim’s vehicle, a 2-door, black, 1996 GMC Yukon, has been located in Antioch and is currently being processed for evidence.

The incident began when a black male adult robbed Al’s Barber Shop at gunpoint, taking the owner’s wallet, car keys and Yukon. On his way out of the business the suspect grabbed Ford, who is an employee of the business, ordered him into the owner’s car and told him to drive. The suspect is described as 25 years old, 5-foot-7, 180 pounds, wearing a blue shirt, big pants, and a knitted cap. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 immediately or the Antioch Police Dispatch Center at (925) 778-2441.

By Antioch Police Department

Here is yet another example of our citizens sending a strong message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and neighbors care for each other. It also shows that the neighborhood spirit is strong, which also strengthens the police-community partnership. Crime can be prevented by neighborhood involvement. If criminals know that people are watching, they will be deterred from committing crime.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on July 13, a resident in the northeast portion of Antioch observed a suspicious male sitting on a fence of a nearby residence. The resident was familiar with her neighbors and the person she had seen was unfamiliar to her. With her curiosity piqued, she decided to take a closer look and believed the person saw her looking at him because he ran away.

A second male soon joined the first, and they fled from the area. Responding officers checked the neighboring residence and confirmed a burglary had occurred. After receiving the neighbor’s call, responding officers were able to quickly locate and detain several people who were suspected of committing the burglary.

Not only did the concerned neighbor take the initiative to safeguard her neighborhood, but she also positively identified the suspects after they had been detained by officers, which resulted in their arrest. As the investigation progressed, an additional residence nearby had also been targeted for burglary, but the suspects were not successful in gaining access.

There are two grateful neighbors in this neighborhood today because their caring neighbor took the initiative to get involved and take action against these criminals. The reporting neighbor, police dispatch and responding officers worked together in a cohesive fashion, further strengthening our police-community partnership. A great job was done by all!

Remember, if criminals know people are watching they will be less likely to commit crimes.

At approximately 3:58pm, there was a hit and run, auto versus pedestrian accident on A Street near 8th Street in the city of Antioch. A 40-year-old Antioch man is in serious, but stable condition at a nearby hospital.

Witnesses describe the vehicle as a white Nissan Sentra-type vehicle. The investigation is on-going, but anyone who either witnessed the accident or who might have information as to the whereabouts of the responsible vehicle or as to the identity of the driver is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department.

On May 22 at approximately 7:47 p.m., Antioch police received calls about a shooting victim in the 2300 block of D Street. When officers arrived, they located the victim, a 19-year-old Antioch man, on the sidewalk. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

On the evening of July 12, Antioch police investigators arrested without incident Antonio Esquivel, 21, a transient whose last known address was in Pittsburg, while he was driving in Antioch. The arrest was on a warrant charging him with murder in this case.

Later that night, detectives stopped Steven Abundis, 21, of Pittsburg, while he was driving in Oakley and arrested him without incident for a warrant charging him with murder in connection with this investigation. A detective discovered a loaded 9 mm pistol concealed in the driver’s side door panel of the car. Abundis was driving the vehicle that was used during the murder, according to police. He is the owner of the car.

A search warrant was then served on Abundis’ home where he resides with his parents. An AK-47 style assault rifle, a .22 caliber rifle and approximately one pound of marijuana were located on the premises. These items were identified as Abundis’ property. The murder weapon in this case is still outstanding.

Investigators interviewed both men throughout the night, and Esquivel confessed to shooting and killing the victim, according to police. According to Esquivel, he and the victim did not know one another. He claims to have thrown the pistol used in the killing in the trash somewhere on Buchanan Road in Pittsburg.

Esquivel said that in October 2010 there was a confrontation between two groups of people in the area of the Antioch downtown waterfront. Esquivel and the victim were members of the opposing groups. Esquivel claimed that the victim tried to throw him off the wall above the railroad tracks.

Esquivel was able to hold on to the rail. Esquivel’s friends came to his aid and one of them stabbed the victim. Investigators have confirmed that a confrontation did occur and involved the victim of the murder.

Abundis is denying being present at the scene of the murder and claims he had no knowledge of the crime.

Investigators were able to identify both men as suspects based on information received from the public. Abundis and Esquivel are friends, and known to associate with local gang members in the West Boulevard area of Pittsburg, according to police. Investigators are continuing to work toward determining whether or not they are actually gang members.

One key piece of evidence in this case was a tattoo that Esquivel received approximately two weeks after the murder. The tattoo on his chest reads, “No warning shots.” It is believed this was a way to memorialize the murder of the victim, although Esquivel denies that was the reason he got the tattoo.

Both men have been booked at the Contra Costa County Jail. Their bails are $1 million each. Additional charges involving gang membership, the assault weapon and possession for sale of marijuana and various other charges may be added in the future.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact Detective Desmond Bittner at (925) 779-6939.

On July 8 beginning at 11 p.m. the Antioch Police Department and REACH Project, Inc. collaborated in a Curfew Sweep in Antioch. This program is designed to reduce the number of minors being out after curfew.

The program is intended to be supportive rather than punitive. The City Ordinance generally prohibits minors (under the age of 18 years) from being in any public area between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. seven days a week. The ordinance was adopted to promote safety of the City’s youngest most venerable residents from becoming participants or victims of crimes.

Officers from the Antioch Police Department detained a total of 37 minors. They were brought to the processing center at the police department and turned over to the staff of the REACH Project where the minors were counseled and released to their parents or guardians. Follow-up juvenile diversion services will be provided by REACH addressing decision-making skills and training, understanding youth and the law and applying principles of restorative justice.

This program was a success and future programs will be scheduled throughout the summer in an attempt to further reduce number of minors out after curfew and increase the accountability and responsibility of both the minors and their parents or guardians.

At approximately 5 a.m. on July 7, Antioch police received a call of a suspicious circumstance on Shadow Lane in Antioch. This area is part of a large condominium development, and borders Highway 4. When officers arrived, they located several cut power lines that were either hanging or on the ground near that location.

Further investigation revealed that copper thieves had scaled large metal power poles that line the freeway, and cut multiple power lines attached to these poles. The lines were under extreme tension, and as a result some of the lines fell with sufficient force to damage approximately ten vehicles parked in the parking lot of the development.

There have been multiple similar incidents, not necessarily from the metal power poles, but from wooden poles in the Antioch area. The people responsible for these crimes will then attempt to turn in the copper for money at scrap yards.

Leads are being followed up on. Anyone with information to this theft or similar ones is asked to call Detective Krenz with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6866.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

After spending his entire law enforcement career with the Antioch Police Department, 45-year-old Allan Cantando rose through the ranks to become Antioch’s Chief of Police, last Friday, July 1. He was given the oath of office at an official ceremony, today, Thursday, July 7.

In attendance at the ceremony were a couple hundred family members and guests, including the mayor and city manager, current and past mayors and council members, community leaders, other police chiefs in the county, as well as three former Antioch Police Chiefs.

Both City Manager Jim Jakel and Mayor Jim Davis offered their remarks before Cantando was sworn in  by City Clerk Jolene Martin.

“Sometimes I second-guess myself,” Jakel said. “This is the right decision, right from the beginning.

“He’s held virtually every position in the department. He’d do a good job in any community. But he has connections. Just look at the diversity in this room. He’s linked in,” Jakel added.

Mayor Davis spoke directly to the new chief.

“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate you on your advancement, Allan, to Chief of Police. The council is 100% behind you.”

Then, with his wife Cherith by his side, holding their 17-month-old son, Connor, Cantando was given his oath of office by Martin, as cameras flashed and video cameras rolled to commemorate the event.

He then invited his father, Elwood “Woody” Cantando, to pin the chief’s lapel pin on his uniform.

Then an at-times emotional Cantando was given the microphone  and thanked his wife and family members, who he had introduced earlier, and the Chiefs of Police that had given him his start, and those who mentored him in his career, plus those in the Antioch Police Department.

“This is something I’ve dreamt about since I became a police officer,” he said. “Thank you to Jim Jakel for his confidence in me. I was overwhelmed by the support of the stakeholders in this community.”

He referred to a book about successful people, entitled “The Outliers” and how it takes being in the right place at the right time with people who have mentored them.

He spoke of Jim Nunes, the former Pleasant Hill Police Chief who gave him the opportunity to become a cadet in that police department.  Cantando shared how proud he was to wear “that cool, little shiny police badge.”

“I became a part of a profession I love,” he stated.

Cantando mentioned former Antioch Police Chief Len Herendeen who had hired him and was in attendance at the ceremony. He spoke of the recently retired Chief Jim Hyde who mentored him and finally of former Chief Mark Moczulski who encouraged him to apply for positions and promoted him to Lieutenant then Captain.

He concluded his remarks with a commitment.

“I love this department and love this city and as a department, we’ll make a collective difference,” Cantando stated.

On July 2 at 3:41 p.m. Antioch Police received several reports of shots fired from the apartment complex at 600 Wilbur Avenue. While police were en route, a 22-year-old male, of Lindsay, California, phoned 911 to say that he had been shot at by Joseph Sakamoto, 21, of Oakley, who was later determined to have fled the scene in a vehicle.

Upon arrival, police located the victim and determined he had received non-life threatening injuries to his head but no obvious gunshot wounds. The victim was transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.

A short time later Sakamoto called police and arranged to turn himself. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into county jail. The vehicle and firearm were also recovered and there are no outstanding suspects in this case. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.