A 26-year-old male and a 16-year-old female were shot in an apartment at 2405 Peppertree Court on Nov. 26 just after 2:30 a.m., according to police. The male victim was shot in the face, and the female suffered two shots to an arm and leg. Both were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

Police are following up on leads to determine the circumstances of the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Antioch police at 925-584-5246.

Steavean Taylor, 21, turned himself in to the police and was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility, charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run causing death, according to police.

The solo vehicle accident occurred on Nov. 21 at 2:22 a.m. in the 2400 block of Mahogany Way. Witnesses reported that a 1999, silver, Lexus SUV was speeding prior to crashing into a tree and that the driver had fled on foot, according to a police press release. The passenger, a 19-year-old male, Antioch resident, was trapped in the vehicle. The passenger side of the car had wrapped around the tree. He was extricated, flown to UC Davis with major injuries, and died later in the day.

The Antioch Police Department is working on leads, and asking that anyone with information please call Detective James Stenger at (925) 779-6894.

Gregory Flynn Levy, 21, of Antioch, was shot and killed on Nov. 16 outside of the 7-11 at 2301 Buchanan Rd. in Antioch, according to police.

At 8:49 p.m., Antioch Police received reports of a shooting, found Levy inside of a vehicle and provided first aid. Medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased a few minutes later. A second occupant of the vehicle was uninjured and provided a statement, according to a police press release. At this time there is no description available of the shooter, who was on foot at the time of the shooting and fled immediately after. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Detective Castillo at (925) 779-6933, or Antioch Dispatch at (925) 778-2441.

Possession of Cocaine for Sale

Quincy Ford, 33, of Pittsburg;  Timothy Davis, 39, of Martinez; and Johnny Denton, 25, of Pittsburg were arrested on Nov. 9 on suspicion of dealing rock cocaine.  The Antioch Police Department Narcotics Unit has been conducting investigations into several local rock cocaine dealers, according to a police press release.

On Nov. 8 at around 10:30 a.m., detectives attempted to pull over a vehicle being driven by Ford, who had an outstanding felony warrant for narcotic violations, according to police. He failed to stop and led officers on a pursuit through Antioch. Ford was arrested minutes later in Pittsburg after he attempted to flee on foot. He was found in possession of rock cocaine. A firearm belonging to Ford was located at one of his residences during a subsequent service of a search warrant, the police said.

In connection to the arrest of Ford, detectives drove to an Antioch hotel on West 10th Street at approx 11:45 a.m. and arrested two additional cocaine dealers as they prepared to leave in their vehicle. Several ounces of cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy were located in their possession, according to the police statement. They were identified as Davis and Denton. All three were sent to the Martinez Detention Facility and charged with varying drug violations. Ford will also be charged as a felon in possession of a firearm.

Shooting near Antioch High

On Oct. 28 at just after 1 p.m., Antioch police officers responded to the area of West 18^th and G streets on a report of an in-progress shooting. Upon arrival officers were advised that a person had been seen shooting at a group of individuals located at the dead end of West 19th Street.

Due to the close proximity of the incident to Antioch High School and the unknown direction of flight of the shooter, restricted access procedures were initiated at Antioch High School. It was quickly determined that the suspect in the shooting fled from the shooting scene.

Within moments the Antioch Police Department apprehended a 17-year-old Hispanic male and recovered the firearm. The Antioch Unified School District was notified, and the restricted access procedure was rescinded. There were no reported victims or injuries in this case. There is no indication that any Antioch High School students were involved in this incident.

The Antioch Police Community Action Team has been awarded by the California Peace Officers Association, but sued by Bay Area advocacy groups for African-American Section 8 tenants.

By Dave Roberts

For the first decade that Walter Ruehlig lived in Antioch his neighborhood was “just as quiet as could be,” he said. “I would always tell people how blessed I felt. I couldn’t even recall one instance of complaining to a neighbor about loud music. Then all of a sudden all hell broke loose.”

That hell began around five years ago. He had a car stolen out of his driveway. Someone attempted to break in through the back door. Two bicycles were stolen. A neighbor threatened to kill his wife and dog. A house down the street was the scene of drug activity with people coming and going at all hours, loud parties late into the night, people smoking marijuana on the roof, garbage strewn in the front yard. Neighbors placed about 20 calls to the police. Another house contained a juvenile who attempted to rob a kid of his iPod, then shot him in the back when he ran. (more…)