David Dewey Whitfield-Pearson was shot and killed in April 2017. Antioch Police released a sketch of the suspect. Photo courtesy of the Whitfield-Pearson family.
As previously reported, on Sunday, April 2, 2017, at approximately 8:00 PM, a black male was shot on K Street near West 8th Street in Antioch. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his wounds. During the investigation, detectives were able to have a sketch completed of a suspect involved in this homicide. The male pictured was described as possibly being a white male adult, in his mid-20s to early 30s, with short hair.
The victim, David Dewey Whitfield-Pearson born on June 30, 1994 and died on April 3, 2017 at the age of 22. He was a 2011 graduate of Pittsburg High School, worked for the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds and lived in Antioch at the time of his death.
According to his parents, David’s murder is an Antioch Police Department cold case and there have been no further police updates nor information regarding the drive by shooting and his subsequent death. They’re asking for help from police and the public in finding the suspect.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Gonzalez with the Antioch Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit at (925) 779-6923. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.
In Memoriam: A Celebration of Life of David Dewey Whitfield-Pearson
David Dewey Whitfield Pearson was born in San Diego, California on June 30, 1993 to David Whitefield Pearson and Martha A. Armenta. David gave his life to God to while attending church with his grandmother, Hazel at the Bayview Baptist Church. Later in David’s youthful life during middle school, David decided to join a positive church family that supports the commitment to ensuring that Biblical principles are the foundation of every aspect of their program through a Christian based curriculum. David grew up to be a free thinker and a very dedicated believer in God and the good in all.
David was a gift from God, as David brought comfort to our family just by his smile. David’s two grandmothers’ love of David knew no bounds, as did his Uncle and Aunty. As the majority of the family would agree, David was a very special treasure to be with as they traveled together throughout the USA, Mexico and Europe during David’s adolescent.
David was very persuasive and, not to mention, handsome. A tall caramel King with defined features David attended secondary school and college in Pittsburg California. Growing up David was very involved in the San Francisco community citywide, from setting up fairs to helping at local, state and national events. David has touched many lives, not only have we lost a brother, but our community has lost an important member. His memories live on through the love we show each other and our community.
To cherish his memory David leaves behind his two daughters, Rachel and Nevaeh; his mother and father Martha and David Whitfield Pearson; two sisters and one brother.
The family of David Dewey Whitfield-Pearson wishes to express their sincere gratitude and thanks for the many acts of kindness shown to them during their time of bereavement and five years later after his murder remains unsolved within a City of concerns community practices or the lack thereof- Antioch CA. May God bless and keep each and every one of you.
Interment: City of Benicia Cemetery.
An effort to obtain an update on the cold case investigation from the Antioch Police Department was unsuccessful prior publication time.
In response to the release of the DA’s report on racist and other offensive text messages by Antioch Police Officers, Mayor Lamar Thorpe has called a special council meeting for next Tuesday, April 18, 2023 to discuss three police department matters. The meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. Because it’s a special meeting there will be no general Public Comments allowed at the beginning or end. The public can only speak on the three items on the agenda which are listed as follows:
1. AUDIT OF THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS PROCESS Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council discuss, receive public comments, and provide direction to staff.
2. AUDIT OF THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT’S HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL PRACTICES Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council discuss, receive public comments, and provide direction to staff.
3. EQUITY AUDIT OF THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT Recommended Action: It is recommended that the City Council discuss, receive public comments, and provide direction to staff.
No details are provided for each of the agenda items.
Thorpe was asked why the meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. when most people who commute to work will not be in Antioch, yet which will limit public participation and why not hold it at the regular 7:00 p.m. time of regular meetings. He was also asked what an Equity Audit means. He did not respond by publication time.
Claims “At least 45 APD officers were on the text chains”
“I request you immediately dismiss all pending Public Defender cases involving APD, agree to release our incarcerated clients, and cease filing any APD related cases.”– Public Defender Ellen McDonnell
“Text messages… reveal a deeply entrenched, department-wide culture of racism, homophobia, targeted violence against Black people, selective enforcement of laws against Black people, fabrication of evidence, and utter disregard of civil and human rights.”
By Allen D. Payton
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
In response to the reports of Antioch Police Officers’ racist texts released this past week, Contra Costa Public Defender Ellen McDonnell sent a letter to DA Diana Becton on Friday, April 14, 2023, requests she “dismiss all pending Public Defender cases involving APD, agree to release our incarcerated clients, and cease filing any APD related cases.” See related articles here and here)
McDonnell had previously asked Becton to pause all criminal filings and prosecutions of the Antioch officers involved in the text scandal and investigation. Now, based on the additional information that more officers including department leaders were included in the text messages exchanged, she’s requesting much more.
I am in receipt of redacted versions of Contra Costa County District Attorney Senior Inspector Larry Wallace’s investigative reports.1 The Antioch Police Department (APD) text messages discussed in the reports reveal a deeply entrenched, department-wide culture of racism, homophobia, targeted violence against Black people, selective enforcement of laws against Black people, fabrication of evidence, and utter disregard of civil and human rights. At least forty-five APD officers2 were on the text chains disclosed thus far. The officers run the gamut from patrol officers to lieutenants. Of the twelve non-CSO senior officers3 in APD’s investigations bureau4, eleven were recipients or active participants in the text chains. The president of the Antioch Police Officers Association, an APD sergeant, was actively involved. Even the internal affairs sergeant participated in the group sending these vile text messages.
At least sixteen of the forty-five officers are in leadership roles at APD as detectives, sergeants, and lieutenants showing they endorsed and shared in these views.
The public simply cannot have trust or confidence in any criminal prosecution involving APD. No one should be charged with a crime based on the report of a police department so thoroughly riddled with corruption. I request you immediately dismiss all pending Public Defender cases involving APD, agree to release our incarcerated clients, and cease filing any APD related cases.
Following up on my March 30,2023 letter, incorporated by reference, I request you identify all law enforcement officers involved in the text messages (whether as active participants or recipients), as well as all Public Defender and Alternate Defender pending and closed cases where the officers were involved in the investigation. I also request that you provide unredacted copies of Inspector Wallace’s reports and further disclose all of the text messages themselves.
The vile text messages were apparently discovered while investigating other acts of moral turpitude by members of APD and the Pittsburg Police Department (PPD). News reports have characterized the acts being investigated as “using cocaine and steroids, cheating on tests or misrepresenting their own training, and assaulting people, among other offenses”5 and “trying to fraudulently obtain college degrees in order to collect pay bumps.”6 At least one PPD officer has been charged with selling AR-15 firearms. {People v. Armando Montalvo, Contra Costa Superior Court docket no. 01-22-02142.)
News reports indicated a grand jury was convened and indictments were expected in or around December 2022.7 It has now been over a year since the news first broke of your office’s joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations of criminal conduct by APD and PPD police officers. I request information regarding the status of this investigation and its estimated end date.
Following up on my March 28, 2022, letter, incorporated by reference, I request you identify all APD and PPD officers that were or are being investigated for crimes of moral turpitude, as well as all Public Defender and Alternate Defender pending and closed cases where the officers were involved in the investigation. I further request you provide police reports and other investigative materials without insisting on a protective order. The extent of the hatred and lawlessness that has recently been revealed within APD is unfathomable. Continuing to prosecute the victims of APD’s targeted, violent, racist policing while simultaneously shielding the officers’ identities and the full extent of their misconduct and criminal activities is manifestly unjust. I request immediate full discovery and complete transparency. Please see the attachment for a specific list of items requested.
Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation with this matter. If you have any questions about this request, please let me know. I look forward to discussing this matter with you on Monday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Sincerely,
Ellen McDonnell
Public Defender
Contra Costa County
1 Nos. 01-1046493/21-001905, dated March 28, 2023, and 013-1046493, dated March 27, 2023.
2 As of March 14, 2019, APD’s roster contained 115 staff. Assuming the current roster is similarly sized and consists entirely of sworn officers, approximately 40% of APD officers are party to the text message chains.
3 Nine are detectives, two are sergeants and one is a lieutenant.
Attachment to April 13,2023 Letter to Diana Becton – Discovery Request
This discovery request is made pursuant to the United States Constitution, Amendments V, VI, and XrV; Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83 and its progeny; California Penal Code section 1054,1; and California case law. The requested material does not constitute personnel records protected by Pitchess, as it was not generated in coimection with appraisal or discipline, was generated independently of internal investigation, and arose in the context of a criminal investigation. {Pasadena Police Officers Association v. Superior Court (2015) 240 Cal.App.4th 268, 287-288, 292; City of Eureka v. Superior Court (2016) 1 Cal.App.5th 755.)
Please provide the following materials:
1. A list of all Antioch Police Department (APD) and Pittsburg Police Department (PPD) officers being investigated by Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigations for acts of moral turpitude;
2. Investigative reports, recordings, videos, phone records, and/or any other materials gathered during the course of the investigation, in complete and unredacted form, without any limiting protective order;
3. A list of all law enforcement officers involved in the text chains that were discovered by your office during the investigation of acts of moral turpitude, and the agency each officer is employed by;
4. Unredacted copies of any reports regarding the text messages, including but not limited to Contra Costa County District Attorney Senior Inspector Larry Wallace’s reports;
5. Copies of all the text messages discovered to date, including any that may have also been sent or received by PPD officers or officers in any other law enforcement agencies;
6. Any other investigative reports, recordings, videos, phone records, and/or any other materials gathered during the course of investigating the text messages, in complete and unredacted form, without any limiting protective order;
7. A complete list of all pending and closed Public Defender and Alternate Defender cases in which the officers engaged in the text messages, whether as recipients or active participants, and/or under investigation for crimes of moral turpitude, were involved;
Please consider this request as ongoing. As your office obtains new material, please continue to provide complete, unredacted discovery and provide an updated list of affected cases.”
Questions for DA Becton, Antioch Police Chief Ford
Becton and Antioch Police Chief Steve Ford were asked via email Saturday afternoon if they had responses to McDonnell’s request.
4/17/23 UPDATE: DA’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo responded Monday morning, “DA Becton and PD McDonnell are scheduled to meet this afternoon at 1 pm at the DA’s Office on Ward Street in Martinez.”
Please check back later for any additional other updates to this report.
Focuses on Officer Eric Rombough, involves seven others including sergeant, detective, plus, U.S. Postal Inspector
“Nice babe, another one for the mantle.” – from an unidentified person in response to Rombough bragging about beating and shooting one of the suspects with a non-lethal weapon
WARNING: Contains offensive language
By Allen D. Payton
Another report by Larry J. Wallace, Senior Inspector with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office was leaked and posted on social media on Saturday, April 15, 2023 about the two suspects and the eight Antioch Police Officers involved in a murder case, plus, a U.S. Postal Inspector, and their racist and other offensive texts. Some of the texts were included in the previously released 21-page report dated March 27, 2023.
The 14-page report, dated March 28, 2023, focuses on the “text messages derived from the personal cellular telephone belonging to Antioch Police Department (APD) Officer Eric Rombough” and include “conversations between APD Officer Rombough and the following APD Officers regarding an investigation into Teryon Deshon Pugh and Trent Allen in March of 2021: APD Sergeant (Sgt) Josh Evans, Detective Robert Gerber, Johnathan Adams, Scott Duggar, Timothy Manly Willams, Tom Smith, and Brock Marcote.” The report also shows offensive texts between Rombough and U.S. Postal Inspector Francisco Garcia. Many of the texts reveal mistreatment of the two suspects.
Antioch Police Officer Eric Rombough following his hire as a lateral officer from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 14, 2017. Photo by APD
Examples of Text Messages
On March 20, 2021, the report shows text message exchange between Rombough and Gerber:
At 9:16 p.m., APD Officer Rombough responded, “Bro I can’t wait to forty all of them (“forty” or “40” are references to the deployment of the 40mm less-lethal launcher)”
At 9:16 p.m., APD Detective Gerber text, “Hell yeah.”
The report shows more racist texts sent on March 25, 2021:
At 7:36 p.m., APD Officer Rombough texted, “Well we knew they wouldn’t be by the pool.”
At 7:39 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “Look at all the Infiniti’s.”
At 7:40 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “And cuz they’re dark black.” APD Officer Adams responded with “(laughing emoji).”
At 7:41 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “Gotta get them to smile.”
At 8:02 p.m., APD Officer Rombough continued, “Definitely can’t see them.”
The report reads: On 3/30/202 at 8:22 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text APD Detective Gerber, “This looks like dudes car from his ig.” – a reference to Instagram.
At 8:23 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “And he’s chilling at ruth Chris steakhouse”. I hate all of them.”
At 8:24 p.m., APD Detective Gerber text, “Turds… all turds”, a comment that APD Officer Rombough “liked”.
The texts on the final day of the report’s time period included exchanges with an unidentified person who praised Rombough for mistreating suspects and claim by Marcotte that a nurse laughed about a suspect being in pain:
On 03/31/2021, at 8:29 a[sic].m., APD Officer Rombough text “Yeah 40 deployment” and “F-g–t got his ass whooped.”
At 9:09 a.m., (An unidentified person) text, “Nice babe, another one for the mantle.”
At 9:10 a.m., APD Officer Rombough texted, “Murder suspect. In custody and that a–hole made me run.” (An unidentified person) text, “Good thing you fast honey.”
At 9:12 a.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “We managed to setup a perimeter and he ‘got his ass whooped in the back yard and I field goal kicked his head. (An unidentified person) responded, “I thought that was a no no.”
At 9:13 a.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “No we can do that just no chokes” and “I tried to knock him unconscious. And he got muzzle thumped 6 times before he gave us his hands.”
At 9:12 a.m., APD Officer Marcotte responded, “The nurse saw me smiling when he was ‘making noises in pain and she started laughing (laughing emoji).”
At 9:13 a.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “Lmao.”
At 9:15 a.m., APD Officer Rombough added, “What a b–ch.”
At 9:24 a.m., (An unidentified person) texted, “Glad you’re havin fun babe.”
At 9:25 a.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “It was nice after a very boring swat op.”
During this same time, APD Officer Rombough also group text his co-workers, APD Officers Brock Marcos, Timothy Manly Williams, (An unidentified person) and Scott Duggar, (An unidentified person)
At 8:45 a.m., APD Officer Rombough texted the group, “Lol I 40d him right next to his throat.”
At 8:46 a.m., APD Officer Marcotte responded, “Oh f–k” and “Cuz he ducked so fast.”
Later that day the report reads, At 4:43 p.m., APD Officer Rombough replied, “Yup and another f–g-ot in the butt” and “2 for the day.”
At 4:49 p.m. (An unidentified person) responded, “Nice babe.”
Only One Reference to Officers Being Corrected by Department Leader
During an exchange with Rombough on March 31, 2021 the report reads, At 3:11 p.m., APD Officer Adams texted, and “…I forgot that Koch wanted us to stop sending dumb sh-t. Oops.” He was referring to Sgt. Matthew Koch. This is the only text in the report that references any department leader correcting the officers for their offensive texts.
Text Exchange Between Rombough & Postal Inspector Garcia
The text message exchange with Postal Inspector Garcia in the report reads: On 03/31/2021, a 3:10 p.m. APD Officer Rombough text United States Postal Inspector Francisco Garcia, “I 40d and field goal kicked one that fled from us on foot today.”
At 3:11 p.m., United States Postal Inspector Garcia responded, “(laughing emoji)”.
At 3:12 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text, “Bro but my foot f—ing hurts.”
At 5:13 p.m., United States Postal Inspector Garcia asked, “Did you find any guns on any of them?”
At 5:21 p.m., APD Officer Rombough replied, “Sorry we were taking down a second ‘murder suspect and he got 40d too.”
At 5:58 p.m., United States Postal Inspector Garcia texted, “(laughing emoji)….That 40 flag is coming along!! Murica!!”
Questions for DA’s Office
Questions were sent to DA’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo Saturday afternoon asking to whom the report was sent, why it was prepared separately from the 21-page report, why it wasn’t sent to the media and was it intended to be shared with the media. He was also asked how the East Bay Times obtained it earlier this week, was it leaked by someone in the DA’s Office and if so, who. Finally, Asregadoo was asked if there is an investigation in the DA’s Office to determine who leaked the 21-page report and this other, 14-page report.
4/17/23 UPDATE: Asregadoo responded Monday morning, “Our inspectors have investigated the matter and determined someone outside of our organization disclosed the reports to the public and press.”
He was then asked again, to whom were the redacted reports sent from the DA’s Office and who in the DA’s Office sent them out. Asregadoo later sent out a press release about the matter with a further redacted copy of the 14-page report.
Posted on social media; covers period from Sept. 2019 to April 2022
“text communications between sworn law enforcement members of the Antioch Police Departmentwe believe may have violated the Racial Justice Act.” – Report
DA issues further redacted report Thursday afternoon
WARNING: Contains offensive words and images
By Allen D. Payton
On Monday, April 10, 2023, under order of a Contra Costa Superior Court judge the District Attorney’s Office released the unredacted report of racist and other offensive texts by Antioch Police officers to the defense attorneys in a murder case of four suspects in which officers are involved. Then on Tuesday a redacted version was exclusively shared with reporters for the Mercury News for an article published that day. That same day the DA’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo said they were redacting the report further before issuing it to other media and on Wednesday he said it wasn’t ready yet and will “have more info on Friday.” But today, Thursday, April 13 the report provided to the Mercury News was leaked by someone and posted on social media. (See DA’s Court ordered redacted report)
“The judge said to the DA’s office we had to provide the unredacted version to the defense for discovery,” Asregadoo explained. “But she also ordered redactions had to be made such as officers’ cell phone numbers and other information for disclosure.”
He said the leaked redacted version did come from the DA’s Office but he didn’t know who leaked it. But they will be releasing a further redacted version of the report, later today. That occurred at 4:33 p.m.
The texts included in the report, by CCCDA Senior Inspector Larry J. Wallace, were sent and received by officers from September 2019 to April 2022. The report lists the 14 “Antioch Police Department Officers Sending Communications”: Sergeants Josh Evans and Rick Hoffman, who is also president of the Antioch Police Officers Association, Detective Robert Gerber, and Officers Jonathan Adams, Morteza Amiri, Scott Duggar, Aaron Hughes, Brayton Milner, Calvin Prieto, John Ramirez, Andrea Rodriguez, Eric Rombough, Kyle Smith and Devon Wenger.
The report also claims, “the CCCDAO and the FBI found text communications between sworn law enforcement members of the Antioch Police Department that we believe may have violated the Racial Justice Act. This report documents some of the derogatory, homophobic, and sexually explicit language and photographs shared by members of the Antioch Police Department that demonstrates their racial bias and animus towards African Americans and other people of color in the community. This report does not include every derogatory text message retrieved during our review of the above listed (redacted) cellular telephones. This is an ongoing state and federal criminal investigation which may lead additional disclosures. This report also documents potential dishonesty, perjury, abuse of authority, and the violation of individual’s civil rights.”
The California Racial Justice Act, AB2542, passed in 2020, prohibits “the state from seeking a criminal conviction or sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin.”
The report further reads, “This is a joint investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office (CCCDAO) involving law enforcement officers currently and formerly employed by the Antioch Police Department (APD) and the Pittsburg Police Department (PPD) regarding crimes of moral turpitude and criminal offenses.”
Asked if the 14 officers on the list are now included in the FBI investigation, the DA’s PIO Asregadoo said, “I can’t confirm that because I don’t know the scope of the FBI investigation.”
Other Sergeants and Officers Received Text Messages
The report also shows other officers received one or more of the text messages, including Sergeants Jimmy Wisecarver, Matthew Koch, James Stenger, Trevor Fortner, and Loren Bledsoe, the current Vice President of the APOA, and Officers Daniel Harris, John Cox, Jonathan Adams, Kyle Smith, Jacob Ewart, Ryan McDonald, Joseph Magana, Casey Brogdon, Tom Lenderman, Aaron Hughes, Adrian Gonzalez, Matthew Nutt; Brock Marcotte, Scott Duggar, Timothy Manly Williams (who quit the department in 2021), Kelly Inabett, Zechariah Matis, Brock Marcotte, Ryan McDonald, Brittney Crites, Quamaine Murphy, Johnathan Adams, Jiseok Jeong, Adam Duffy, Casey Brogdon, Matthew Summers, Tom Smith, Marcos Torres, Randall Gragg, Samantha Peterson, Brayton Milner and Arturo Becerra, as well as Brentwood Police Officer Lindzie Laughridge.
Examples of Offensive Messages
The texts include words and memes using derogatory terms, such as, “Ni–a”, “Beaner”, “gorillas”, “I’ll bury that ni–er in my fields”; “monkeys”, “f-g–ot” and more.
The report also shows other text messages in which officers claimed they were breaking the law and violating citizens’ rights. For example, the report reads, “On 04/29/2020, at 5:10 p.m., APD Officer Amiri text Brentwood Police Department (BPD) Officer Lindzie Laughridge, ‘Since we don’t have video I sometimes just say people gave me a full confession when they didn’t. gets filed easier.’”
Another message sent threatened harm to Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe. The report reads, “On 06/08/2020, at 9:27 a.m., Officer Ramirez text to APD Officers, “I’ll buy someone a prime rib dinner at House of prim rib to 40 that mfr (Thorpe) during the protest today.” This is a reference to the potential use of a .40mm less lethal launcher being utilized on current Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe. The following APD Officers received the above listed text message: Sgt.’s Josh Evans, James Wisecarver, Rick Hoffman, Loren Bledsoe, and James Stenger; Detective Robert Gerber; APD Officers John Cox, Jonathan Adams, Kyle Smith, Jacob Ewart, Ryan McDonald, Joseph Magana, Eric Rombough, Daniel Harris, Casey Brogdon, Tom Lenderman, Aaron Hughes, Adrian Gonzalez, Matthew Nutt, Brock Marcotte, Scott Duggar, and Timothy Manly Williams.”
The report also includes text messages about specific cases. It reads, “At 6:28 p.m., APD Sgt. Wisecarver text, ‘Baldwin was the one providing the grades.’ APD Officer Aaron Hughes adds, ‘84% percentile for deadly force.’ APD Officer Inabnett responds, ‘But we kill more mexicans than anything else. Soo blacks can feel safe.’ This is a reference to Malad Baldwin who was assaulted by the APD in 2014, and his mother, Kathryn Wade, later stated this incident led to him suffering from mental illness, and he later died.”
The report reads about another offensive text that “On 06/22/2020, at 9:04 a.m., APD Officer Rombough text a private citizen a photograph depicting a large naked African American male, with his penis exposed, sitting on the neck of George Floyd.”
The report also shows officers conspiring to write false information about a suspect. It reads, “On 07/02/2020, at approximately 9:55 a.m., APD Officer Rodriguez text APD Officer Prieto, ‘I don’t know if I can do the DRE (drug recognition evaluation) cuz he’s knocked out now. APD Officer Prieto responds, ‘No we’ll just say he refused to comply and take the blood. Sh-t aint going anywhere. If anything he’ll get hit for the 2800.4 (California Vehicle Code Section 2800.4 Evading an officer by driving opposite of traffic).’
At approximately 9:56 a.m., APD Officer Rodriguez responds, ‘Okay that’s cool then. What’s the case number again’. APD Officer Prieto responds, ‘5516’.”
The report also shows texts by officers of how they would destroy evidence on their phones if an investigation occurred. It reads, “On 01/13/2021, at 8:22 p.m., APD Officer Morteza Amiri sends information regarding an article where cellular telephones were seized from 100 Oakland Police Officers. At 8:26 p.m., Sgt. Hoffman text, ‘If anyone tries to grab my personal phone I’m gonna smash it Theresa Conde style.’ At 8:27 p.m., APD Officer Cox responded, ‘mines going on the nearest microwave.’ At 8:43 p.m., APD Sgt. Stenger responded, ‘And I never hooked my work phone to the icloud or an email.’”
An exchange racist texts on 03/25/2021, reads, ‘At 5:52 p.m., APD Rombough text, “Sooo many black people (sic).’ At 6:22 p.m., APD Officer Adams responds, ‘Bro. They all look the same.’ APD Officer Rombough laughs at the above comment and responds, ‘Tell me about it’ and ‘I feel like I’m at the zoo.’ At 6:39 p.m., APD Officer Rombough text, ‘I bet it’s chicken.’ APD Officer Adams responds, ‘Could be ribs.’ APD Officer Rombough continues, ‘For sure watermelon and kool aid.’ At 7:14 p.m., APD Officer Rombough to APD Officer Adams, ‘I hate these idiots.’”
DA’s Statement on the Release of Redacted Investigative Report
Thursday afternoon, DA’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo issued the following statement about the release of the initial redacted report on the officers’ texts.
“The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is aware an investigative report detailing texts and images sent and received by certain members of the Antioch Police Department has been obtained and distributed beyond the parties of a criminal case.
The court ordered the release of the investigative report on April 7, 2023, to defense attorneys representing clients in a felony criminal case. The court also advised caution in the distribution of the contents of the report. The District Attorney’s Office agrees with the court advisory in the distribution and publication of this document as it contains explicit words and images that are hurtful, offensive, and inflammatory.
The DA’s Office has received multiple media requests for access to the 21-page investigative report concerning racial, homophobic, and derogatory text communications; a report that contained information that overlapped with a charged felony criminal case.
In light of those requests, and the recent distribution of the report, the District Attorney’s Office is releasing a redacted investigative report that balances public interest with the sensitive nature of what is contained in the report.
To view or download the redacted report, click here.”
Report released to defense on attorneys on Monday, Mercury News obtained, reported on it; DA’s office redacting report before releasing to other media
By Allen D. Payton
Following the release to defense attorneys on Monday, April 10, 2023, of the 21-page report of racist and offensive texts by Antioch Police Officers, which was obtained and reported on by the Mercury News on Tuesday, Contra Costa Public Defender Ellen McDonnell issued a statement calling on D.A. Diana Becton to pause all criminal filings and current prosecutions involving the department.
“I have reviewed these text messages, they are abhorrent and reprehensible. They reveal an entrenched culture of hatred, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and violence throughout the Antioch Police Department,” McDonnell wrote, “The racist, homophobic, and violent behavior of these officers will impact thousands and thousands of criminal cases including pending cases and past convictions related to the Antioch Police Department. I have reached out to District Attorney Becton and asked that she immediately pause all criminal filings and current prosecutions involving the Antioch Police Department. I have also requested that her office evaluate pending Antioch cases for immediate dismissal, and that they begin a comprehensive review of the many thousands of Antioch Police Department related convictions to determine which cases should be dismissed.”
“These racist text messages and the continued disclosures regarding the Antioch Police Department expose a pervasive and troubling culture which should undermine any reliance on the credibility of officers from the force,” she continued. “These text messages clearly constitute textbook violations of the California Racial Justice Act. Our office will initiate a widespread review of all cases involving the Antioch Police Department and will immediately begin seeking justice for those targeted by these officers.”
The unredacted text messages were released to the Times by attorneys for the defendants in the murder case currently being adjudicated in Contra Costa Superior Court, but not to other media. According to Contra Costa DA’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo they will be released to the media once they’ve been redacted.
“Per Judge Clare Maier’s order on Friday, we did disclose the investigative reports in the Pugh, Windom, et al case. These are unredacted reports and they were delivered on Monday,” he wrote. “Judge Maeir’s order also specified that redacted reports could be released. We are in the process of redacting the information in the reports ordered by the judge and will notify the press when those reports are available and how to obtain them.”
How the City’s organizational structure would be if the council decides to directly hire the police. chief.
City has 83 vacancies; will restructure Police Crime Prevention Commission; Thorpe claims Barbanica, Ogorchock, others are siding with racism for opposing direct hire of police chief
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday night, April 11, 2023, the Antioch City Council discussed the budget for Fiscal Years 2023-25 and the majority of members agreed to pursue a new ordinance for directly hiring the police chief. The council also decided to “reframe” the Police Crime Prevention Commission rather than disbanding it.
Budget Workshop
During the Budget Workshop before the regular meeting, Acting City Manager Forrest Ebbs reminded the council “the City is facing a $6 million deficit in the coming fiscal year.”
Finance Director Dawn Merchant said that there were “83 vacancies citywide” in staff, providing savings for the budget.
The council directed staff to return with three options for using Budget Stabilization Funds of zero, $3 million and $4 million to balance the budget.
Police Crime Prevention Commission to Be Reframed
Rather than disband it the council decided to “reframe” the Police Crime Prevention Commission. Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker volunteered to help lead the discussion. The matter will be brought back to the council for future decision.
Moves Forward With Directly Hiring Police Chief
During public comments on the matter of the council directly hiring the police chief, one resident spoke in favor, another, Melissa Case, said she was torn since the mayor has “a tendency to micromanage”.
Sandy Hartrick said she was concerned about the “checks and balances” if the council hires the police chief. “With that, no one group has all the power. If you take over the hiring and management of the police department you will have all the power.” She also shared concern that the council is moving away toward a Charter City form of government.
“Chief Ford is doing a great job. He’s working hard to change the culture,” Hartrick continued.
Another resident, Ron Mohammed said, “I’m not quite clear…in terms of the authority and how that would look. Communication between the council and the chief would be great. But I think it’s wrong Chief Ford has to fall on the sword for all the things that happened before. The micromanaging is not said when they talk about…the city manager.”
Resident Ralph Hernandez spoke next saying, “definitely, no. I do not agree with the change that is proposed. Unfortunately, tonight, you have a lot of people that have a misunderstanding of law enforcement. In fact, the council majority are too busy in their lives…they voted to take on secretaries. Now, they want to take on hiring the chief. You need to be very specific with the city manager when hiring the police chief comes up, and what you’re looking for.”
“Taking it away from the city manager. What’s next, taking away the Public Works Director, the Recreation manager?” he asked.
“I’m here to celebrate democracy. We the people elected you,” Patricia Granados said. “I would feel confident and trusting in our city council making decisions like this. Maybe even some federal oversight to put in their two cents in what is the reasoning for getting hired and getting fired.”
“I do want to clarify…in 2020, we agreed to changing the hiring process for the chief of police,” Mayor Lamar Thorpe said. “I was a huge advocate that the contract was ratified by the city council. The City Attorney said we can’t do that. It’s either one or the other.”
“Every decision made in this room is made by three. Quit believing what the blogs are telling you. It’s trash,” Thorpe said, while raising his voice. “This is not about Chief Ford, it’s about a process that started back in 2020. So, stop personalizing it.”
“OK. Bring it down a notch,” Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker said with a laugh.
“I do remember discussing this in detail,” she said. “It’s just been my experience working in public policy for the past 14 years, city managers are not the check and balance…which is their job. The chief of police runs a department that is to be managed and sometime micromanaged by the city manager. And when the city manager fails for over a decade…is what got us here. It is within the authority of this body to make this change. We won’t be running the police department because we hire the police chief. We will be managing directly the individual who is supposed to be running the police department for transparency and accountability sake which has not happened for over a decade.”
“When we hired Cornelius Johnson, I didn’t want to give him the authority to hire and fire. But we have to give each person a chance. We gave Chief Ford a chance,” Torres-Walker said. “This isn’t the only move in light of transparency we need to make. I hope that Chief Steven Ford agrees to stay because this is necessary.”
“I think this is a mistake…because the police department is not an extension of a political arm,” said District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica. “The city manager needs to be a buffer between politicians and enforcing law. This won’t be just this council it will set policy for years and years to come. It’s not about Chief Ford it’s about the office of the Chief of Police. I think this is a mistake and I do not support it.”
“Yeah, and it’s that buffer that got us to where we are, today,” District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson shot back to applause from the audience. “A couple weeks ago I was on the fence about this. But in light of events over weeks…and today with the texts, it’s obvious there needs to be that line with the Chief of Police. Because that buffer didn’t work.”
“I’ve been through five city managers and the buffer is not working,” she added.
“If this is the will of the council majority how will this affect Chief Ford,” District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock asked City Attorney Thomas L. Smith.
“If you want to give direction to change the structure, we would come back with an ordinance,” Smith responded. “Once the ordinance is passed…the impact it has on an individual police chief…if there is a contract in place, we would have to look at how that would interact with the ordinance.”
“I am not for this,” Ogorchock said. “We’ve never had the accountability with the police chief, before. I’m for that type of vision before anything else.”
“Even if you got a report every six months you wouldn’t have any authority,” Torres-Walker responded.
Thorpe spoke last saying, “I’m for this. I’ve always been for this. The choice is really simple. Either we do this or stay on the side of racism. Come back with an ordinance please.”
All police officers not given performance evaluation since 2017; Thorpe takes swipe at two officers, former Mayor Wright; Wilson apologizes for trusting past police chiefs
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the Antioch City Council received the 2022 Annual Police Department Update from Chief Steve Ford. He informed the council and public that there are 99 filled sworn officer positions on the force out of a total of 115 authorized by the council, 61 on full-duty status, 38 assigned to patrol and seven in the academy.
“We’re going to be OK. We’re going to do the work and keep the city safe,” Ford stated.
The Chief also reported that the new Shot Spotter system has been installed as of March 15th “for mitigating gun violence”.
“We’ve had 84 since installation, that’s four per day,” he shared. “That shows you how much gun play we have in this city.”
“The first part of the puzzle is that we have good relationships with the people we serve,” Ford said.
“The police alone can’t keep this community safe,” he continued. “Without community support, without the community serving as most valuable resource.”
“Since my tenure as of April 23, 2022 we’ve been very intentional in changing” several areas, he explained.
He spoke of putting all officers through a Blue Courage course. “It’s going to be a top-down approach to enhancing our officers’ capacity. We have to have the right mindset and heart set to do this work.”
“We’ve revitalized our PAL program,” Ford continued.
He concluded his report speaking of revitalizing the public information officer position and launched the public surveys partnering with Zen City.
Council Members Question Chief Ford
“I have to apologize for this community because me, in my naivete made me turn my head thinking this was going to get done. Here we are on police chief number four,” Wilson stated. “What I do want to see is a game plan going forward. I want to see a lot of what you addressed. Racial bias and misconduct. I want to see this follow up report every three-to-six months come before Council. So, I will be apprised. I know Chief Ford, you’ve come into a lot and you have a lot to get done. My expectations will be high. I haven’t heard a plan going forward so people don’t die unnecessarily.
“I also want to say to some people…some people came in with their pre-story in their head these three members on council don’t want the police department to do well. We want the department to do well. I stand up here, proudly, of the work I’ve done up here. Never again am I going to hear ‘she’s weak’ because I’m up here not screaming. My father taught me, ‘still waters run deep’. You don’t have to be the loudest person in this room.”
“I want a plan of action and how we’re dealing with these individuals who said these ungodly things,” she said to Chief Ford.
“We have 18 compliance measures (from the DOJ) to make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do,” Ford responded. “I will do everything I can to reframe this department. How things are done politically in this organization. The organization will tell you since I’ve been there, I’ve been very intentional in ensuring organizational change. It takes five to seven years.”
“If you guys would like I can give you the full departmental plan…three goals, 15 strategies,” he stated.
“This is something that has been here long before the four chiefs. This has been festering for years,” District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson stated.
“I’m here, now. I’ll own it and I’ll fix it,” Ford stated.
“Thank you, Chief Ford,” Torres-Walker said then pointed out several items in his update that she appreciated.
“You have…arrest statistics for 2022,” she said, requesting more details. “Not every felony offense is a violent crime.”
“Our top 10 calls for service have nothing do with violent crime,” she stated.
“I appreciate the phone policy,” Torres-Walker said. “It’s too late for those other officers.”
“I know you said it’s going to take several years to implement and that most of us won’t be here to see it,” she added.
Mayor Lamar Thorpe was last to ask the chief questions, wanting to know how the department handled patrol with the lack of staffing.
“We collapsed the Swing Watch. We recently went to a 12-hour shift. The overlap is an hour on each side,” Ford responded.
Thorpe asked about investigations of complaints.
“Investigations should be timely and contemporaneous to the situation. You have one year window from the time the department receives a complaint…according to government code,” Ford responded. “If it’s a case that requires discipline, you can’t impose discipline after that one year has passed.”
“It’s up to the organization and the investigator to be diligent knowing we have that one year,” the chief continued.
“We haven’t had any complaints that have gone over a year since you’ve been here,” Thorpe asked.
“Not that I’m aware,” Ford responded.
Violent crime was up by 9.5% in Antioch between 2021 and 2022. Part I crimes are those reported to the FBI each year.
Thorpe asked him who handles the investigations and Ford offered a list of officers, including Sgt. Lauren Bledsoe who is the vice president of the Antioch Police Officers Association.
Thorpe then asked about the police union and shared his concern that the organizations vice president was one of those who investigated his fellow officers.
Thorpe then asked about performance evaluations of officers saying, “Have we been evaluating our officers every year?”
“We’ve been trying to work with HR for a very long time…and to revamp the evaluations,” said Captain Trevor Schnitzius.
“When was the last time our officers were all evaluated?” Thorpe asked.
“If I had to make my best guess that would be 2017,” Schnitzius responded to groans from the audience.
“I’m glad to know this process is starting again,” Thorpe stated. “We need to make sure our officers are evaluated.”
“What steps are we taking on racial bias?” the mayor asked.
“That’s a cultural thing…and I’ve been working on that since I got here,” Ford responded.
“How are we collecting the data?” Thorpe asked about racial justice reporting.
“I don’t know. I can find out for you, sir,” Ford responded.
“You talked about transparency, I believe you,” Thorpe continued. “We really have to look at data.”
“We have a new policy around text messages,” the mayor said.
“Cell phones?” Ford asked.
“Yes, sir,” Thorpe responded. “You know, if we had Early Intervention Systems in place, we could have avoided a lot of this without terminations,” Thorpe stated. “I look forward to hearing more about that.”
“We can certainly give you an overview on that,” Ford said.
“We haven’t heard necessarily about these text messages…we’re talking about culture, here,” Thorpe stated. “We haven’t heard from command staff, and I know you’re limited in what you can say.”
City Attorney Thomas L. Smith the interrupted the two warning them, “I just want to make sure we’re not venturing into territory…and you giving your opinion on something currently under investigation.”
“I’ll ask the questions and you can decide whether you want to answer or not. I’ll leave it at that,” Thorpe then said. “We’ve got to manage up, too, that’s including the city council, too.”
“We had people protesting down Second Street about Michael Mellone and Steve Aiello,” the mayor said, referring to 2020 protests about two of the department’s sworn officers in leadership, and then took swipes at former Mayor Sean Wright who he defeated in 2020. “Our mayor ran from every chance to speak to the media. He hid out in his office from the protesters. At the end of the day, he was coordinating with the police union.”
