Illegal “ghost” gun seized by Antioch Police on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. Photos: APD

By Antioch Police Department

Police vehicles at the scene on Worrell Road.

Another illegal firearm off the streets due to our officers’ diligent work.

On Christmas, officers responded to Worrell Road for a dispute. While walking up to a residence associated to the incident, they noticed a male asleep in a vehicle outside the residence.

Officer Kawalya, who has been a police officer for less than six months, noticed the male was holding a firearm! Officer Kawalya and Officer Marques were able to wake the male safely and de-escalate the situation. The male put the firearm down and was safely detained.

The firearm was a “ghost” gun with no serial number and therefore could not be registered.

The situations officers face are often rapidly evolving and can be very dangerous. We commend Officers Kawalya and Marques for their good work and their dedication to keeping the citizens of Antioch safe.

Day after Christmas, suspect’s name is Jesus

By Antioch Police Public Information Officer Ashley Crandell, Support Services Division

On December 26, 2022, at 7:42 am, officers responded to the 3500 block of Clayburn Road for

the report of a fight. Prior to officers arriving, the caller advised someone had been stabbed.

When officers arrived, they located the victim who was suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper body and head. He was transported to a local hospital and is expected to survive. The suspect, 20-year-old Jesus Martinez Perez of Antioch, was located by officers in the front yard of another residence on Clayburn Road.

Jesus Martinez Perez was suffering from a stab wound to his right hand and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was in stable condition and will be booked into county jail for attempted homicide.

Through investigation, officers learned the suspect was related to the victim, whose name is currently being kept confidential, and this was an isolated incident. There is no threat to the public.

CA Dep’t of Fish & Wildlife officers seize and dump illegal marijuana from a home on Mammoth Way in Antioch, Wednesday morning, Dec. 20, 2022. Photos by Allen D. Payton

Four homes raided, three on same street

By Allen D. Payton

Over $14.8 million worth of illegal marijuana was seized during a raid of four homes in Antioch on Wednesday. According to David Hafner, spokesman for the California Department of Cannabis Control  (DCC), “as a result of the four enforcement actions yesterday in Antioch, 16,614 plants, 674 pounds of processed flower, $14,818,650 – total estimated value of all the unlicensed cannabis products seized, and $11,725 of cash.”

Trays of illegal marijuana plants seen in the main garage of one home on Mammoth Way, were confiscated by officers and dumped into a trailer along with bags of marijuana materials from a side garage.

“Four people were cited and released,” he shared including a man and a woman who were occupants of a home on Mammoth Way, one of the four raided. They include two other homes on Mammoth Way and one on another nearby street. The identities of those cited was requested but not provided as of publication time.

The raid was assisted by Antioch Police and Department of Fish and Wildlife officers, as well as Antioch Code Enforcement.

Cannabis Control, Fish and Wildlife and Antioch Police officers and vehicles at the scene of one of four raids of illegal marijuana grows on Wednesday.

At the Mammoth Way home both Cannabis Control and Fish and Wildlife Officers could be seen carrying out trays of small plants from the garage and inside the house, and large bush-size plants from inside.

Front door of one Mammoth Way home was kicked in during the raid.

“Wow,” one of the Cannabis Control officers at the Mammoth Way home could be heard saying after seeing all the plants in the garage. “As far as the count goes it’s going to be a big number”.

Another Cannabis Control officer confirmed. Asked how many plants were being seized he responded, “Almost 11,000 plants in this one house.”

The door of the one Mammoth Way home was kicked in during the raid. Code Enforcement then red tagged the homes and cannot be occupied. Neighbors of the Mammoth Way home who were watching the raid said the occupants, a man and a woman, had lived there for two to three years. Asked if they thought something might be occurring at the house one of the neighbors said, “I could smell marijuana sometimes but since it’s legal wasn’t sure if it was someone smoking.”

This is the second raid on homes for illegal marijuana in Antioch, this year. In August and September, 17 warrants were served and 10,451 unlicensed indoor cannabis plants worth $7.3 million, $23,355 in cash and six guns were confiscated. (See related article)

The DCC is the California state agency that licenses and regulates cannabis businesses. DCC regulates the:

• Growing of cannabis plants
• Manufacture of cannabis products
• Transportation and tracking of cannabis goods throughout the state
• Sale of cannabis goods
• Events where cannabis is sold or used
• Labeling of goods sold at retail

Confiscated marijuana plants from the first enforcement activity in Antioch on Dec. 20, 2022, fill the trailer. Photo by David Hafner

Illegal marijuana plants in the garage of one of the four homes raided on Tuesday. Photo by David Hafner.

Illegal marijuana plants inside one of the four homes raided on Tuesday. Photo by David Hafner.

Photo by David Hafner.

Antioch resident Marvin Victor Thomas booking photo. Source: Merced Co. Sheriff.

Arrested for felony child endangerment; on probation at the time

By Merced Police Department

MERCED- Marvin Victor Thomas, aged 34 of Antioch, was arrested Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 for felony child endangerment. The child will make a full recovery.

On Sunday, Merced Police officers responded to Mercy Medical Center for a two-year-old child that tested positive for fentanyl. The parents transported the child to the emergency room after he experienced life-threatening symptoms consistent with a fentanyl exposure.

Medical personnel administered treatments and the child’s condition improved throughout the morning hours.

The parents were cooperative with investigating officers. Detectives established the father, Marvin Thomas, brought fentanyl-laced marijuana products into the home and the child experienced an exposure.

Officers served a search warrant at a residence near the 2300 block of Gabriel Drive and removed the substance from the residence.

Child Protective Services was involved in the investigation.

Thomas was arrested for felony child endangerment and was booked into custody at the Merced County Jail.

Case Number: 22-73023

According not recentlybooked.com, Thomas was on probation which was revoked as a result of his arrest.

Merced Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Lupian at (209) 385-6905 or by email at lupianc@cityofmerced.org.

Other ways to contact us or report a crime include: For any emergency call or text 911; For non-emergency call 209-385-6912; Anonymous Tip Line (Non-Emergency) call 209-385-4725. Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html

Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https//www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police

K9 Perro, drugs seized and police search suspect’s vehicle on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Photos by APD

By Antioch Police Department

We’re usually pretty good around here with introducing you all to our new employees. Well, K9 Perro seemed to take it personal that we skipped his first official day of work Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, and decided to show off on day 2!!

Earlier Monday afternoon, K9 Perro and his partner, Officer Marcotte, were assisting one of our other officerson a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle started to become increasingly nervous and uncooperative while officers asked about anything illegal being in the vehicle . Upon safely detaining the driver and his passenger, K9 Perro (who has been trained in firearms detection ) helped our officers locate a firearm and loaded magazines in the vehicle!

As you can see in the photos, that wasn’t all. In addition to the firearm located, a considerable amount of cash along with several pounds of suspected narcotics were also located in the vehicle!!!

Perro is our newest addition to the APD K-9 unit and is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois from the Netherlands. He is trained for patrol duties as well as being cross-trained for firearms and article detection and if he’s doing this well on day 2, we can’t wait to see what the rest of his time with us brings!

As for the occupants of the vehicle stopped, they were both booked on numerous felony charges pertaining to narcotics and firearms violations and were sent to the county jail.

Antioch Police Sgt. Rick Hoffman and Sgt. Matt Koch talk at the scene of the shooting at Williamson Ranch Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Photos courtesy of Mike Burkholder

Police seek unknown suspects in car seen at the scene; city’s 9th homicide of the year

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

APD officer vehicles responded to Williamson Ranch Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

On Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at approximately 11:22 AM, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center started receiving numerous 9-1-1 calls reporting multiple gunshots being fired at Williamson Ranch Park, located at 5000 Lone Tree Way.

As officers were responding to the scene, witnesses called to report a subject running from the park and entering the near-by Walmart. Additional officers immediately responded to the Walmart, and with the assistance of several citizens, were able to quickly locate and safely detain the subject. The subject was determined to be a juvenile and in possession of a loaded firearm.

When officers arrived at the park, they located one male juvenile victim near the parking lot suffering from several gunshot wounds. Evidence at the scene indicated the incident occurred outdoors in the east portion of the parking lot. Officers immediately began administering first aid and called for emergency fire department and AMR paramedics. The victim was transported to a local area hospital emergency room, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Prior to police arrival, a dark colored sedan was seen leaving the parking lot of the park at a high rate of speed. During the preliminary investigation, it appears the victim, and the subject detained at the Walmart, arrived together on-foot, and met with the occupants of a dark colored sedan in the parking lot. Shortly afterwards, multiple shots were fired from, and/or around, the dark colored sedan.

Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators, and detectives with the Violent Crimes and Special Operations Units, responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

Currently, detectives are interviewing witnesses and residents in the area and are working to identify any suspects or persons-of-interest. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected.

The death is the city’s ninth homicide of the year according to the City of Antioch 2022 Crime Statistics, which don’t show last month’s shooting death of a gas station convenience store clerk. According to Lt. John Fortner, the victim was from a community just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Cox at (925) 779-6866. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

No show in court, attorney pleads no contest for him; gets one night credit for time served; must attend 3-month DUI program; no other details, yet

By Allen D. Payton

During Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe’s DUI court hearing, Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, 2022, according to an Antioch resident who attended, his attorney, Dan O’Malley pled no contest on behalf of his client who was not in attendance. Judge Rebecca C. Hardie found Thorpe guilty and sentenced him to three years court probation and two nights in jail with credit for one night served. The second can be spent picking up litter.

Thorpe was also directed to not have any alcohol in him while driving and if stopped by the police he must submit to a field sobriety test.

According to Ted Asregadoo, Contra Costa DA’s Office PIO, “Mr. Thorpe’s additional day in jail will be served through the County Sheriff’s Custody Alternative Facility. He must also attend a DUI program for three months. There are standard terms, conditions, and fees he’s required to abide by and pay. The dollar amounts were listed by the Judge Hardie.”

Those will be listed in the minute order which is expected to be posted on the court’s website, later.

“CHP will have the arrest report that has his BAC level,” Asregadoo shared. “You’ll most likely have to come to the courthouse in Martinez to request the minute order — which will show the disposition of the case.” That will include “how long he’ll be on court probation, the alternative custody, and DUI school,” he added.

The Work Alternative Program allows individuals sentenced to less than 30 days in jail to work at various assigned worksites during daytime hours and receive day for day credit on their sentences. Participants will be required to perform physical labor for eight hours at one of many locations throughout Contra Costa County.

A request for the CHP’s full report of Thorpe’s arrest was made on Tuesday afternoon. CHP Public Information Officer Andrew Barclay responded “I will ask the Contra Costa Area to pull the report and start the process with our Public Records Unit.  They will review and make any necessary redactions prior to release. We have a public records unit in Sacramento that handles all of the redactions and ensures everything being released complies with the Government Codes governing PRA’s (Public Records Act requests).”

The government has up to 10 days to fulfill a Public Records Act request.

Attempts to reach Thorpe and his attorney for comment were unsuccessful prior to publication time.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Plans to form Business Mastermind Group

By District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock

Antioch business owners: 

This is an invitation to a private meeting with the City of Antioch’s Chief of Police Dr. Steven Ford to create a Business Mastermind Group.  You are invited to share your ideas on how to deal with the challenges of operating a business in Antioch and how to bring back the joy of doing business in Antioch.

When: Thursday, December 15, 2022

Time: 6:00pm

Where: Community Room at the Antioch Police Department

300 L Street, Antioch

Who is Invited: Business owners and representatives

As you are aware, theft, vandalism and personal threats to your safety have increased.  The costs of repeated vandalism repairs and the hiring of personal security are both driving businesses out of the city.

The City of Antioch is a beautiful and amazing location to live and have your business here.  It is unfair to be driven out of the city by those who do not care if your:

walls are graffitied

windows are broken/boarded up

doors are kicked in/damaged/boarded up

roofs are torn apart

walks to access doors are soiled making customer access difficult

customers feel uncomfortable

This is not acceptable!

There are far more vandals than there are police, hence the reason that the businesses need to figure out how to work together. Businesses need to put a city-wide plan together and work hand in hand with each other and the police.

Bring your suggestions and ideas to the meeting and let’s start to mastermind a better way to do business within the City of Antioch.

To ensure we have enough space RSVP the Antioch Chamber of Commerce at (925) 757-1800.