By non-student, non-resident

By Acting Lt. Michael Mellone #4323, Antioch Police Support Services Division

The Antioch Police Department was made aware of a threat of violence at Dallas Ranch Middle School yesterday, evening, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022.

We took immediate steps to investigate the threat and have determined it was made by a non-student who does not live in the area. While the investigation remains ongoing, officers will be working with school officials to provide ongoing extra patrol of the campus and surrounding area.

Our officers are trained to address threats at school campuses, giving absolute priority to protecting human life. Anyone who sees anything suspicious on or near any school campus is asked to contact us at (925) 778-2441 or 9-1-1 if an emergency. You can also a text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

UPDATE: Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Stephanie Anello was asked for additional details and what the school and district personnel did in response.  Lindsay Lopez–Wisely, Director of Educational Services, Secondary Support for AUSD shared the following Thursday afternoon:

“At 7 am this morning Principal Spires received a message from a parent regarding a threating Instagram post. The parent confirmed that the police were contacted late last night. Principal Spires then contacted me, and we immediately called the APD dispatch and they put us in touch with the supervising officer – Officer Hughes.

Officer Hughes worked with both Principal Spires and myself as we immediately investigated the source of the social media post. We discovered immediately that the post was from a non-student who had moved out of the area. We were able to reach a guardian and confirm the student was safe and did not have any weapons. APD worked directly with that police department and assured the district that there was no threat against the DRMS campus or students. They kept several officers out front as an added safety measure during morning drop off. We also placed additional security personnel (STM) to start the school day. We immediately notified parents on the Remind App about the situation.

This was a great example of parents, school administration, and our police department working together to keep our students safe. When any school stakeholder sees something suspicious on social media or anywhere in the community it is important to say something. We would like to thank the parent for acting quickly contacting police and administration.

Here is the Remind Message we sent out to families:

‘Yesterday evening, a former student decided to write a threat on social media.  A parent saw the post and immediately contacted Antioch Police Department and our Administrative team.  Through our immediate action and the swift APD response, we have verified that there is no viable threat. We would like to thank the Antioch Police Department and the parent who notified us.  Student safety is our top priority, out of an abundance of caution we will have additional officer support on the campus. As always if you have questions, please contact the school office at 925-779-7485.’”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Source: ShotSpotter, Inc.

“To aid in solving and reducing violent crime” – City staff report

97% accuracy rate

By Allen D. Payton

During a special meeting, tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, the Antioch City Council will consider approving the purchase and deployment of a gunshot detection and location system for specific areas in the city. The meeting replaces the regular meeting scheduled for last Tuesday, Nov. 8 since it was Election Day.

According to the staff report on the item (#6 on the agenda), the ShotSpotter, Inc.’s Respond Services technology is designed to give the Antioch Police Department an effective tool and resource to aid in solving and reducing violent crime in the city. It will operate 24 hours a day and allows officers to respond precisely to the location the gunshots originated.

It’s a cloud-based service, and the agreement includes warranty, support, repair, and maintenance of the ShotSpotter owned acoustic sensors that will be installed in the coverage area. The Antioch Police Department, in collaboration with the ShotSpotter Development Team, identified three critical coverage areas in the city.

ShotSpotter Antioch coverage map for Priority Areas 1. Source: ShotSpotter, Inc.

The council is being asked to approve either a five-year purchase agreement for deployment of the technology for a total of $1,060,000 or $1,410,000 depending on the service selected. Funding is proposed to be from “re-allocating police department salary savings in the Fiscal Year 2022/23 General Fund budget to fund the first-year cost per the agreement selected.”

The first proposal offers a coverage area of three-square miles, which identifies two of the most critical areas in the City. The second proposal offers a coverage area of foursquare miles, which identifies an additional area of coverage in southeast Antioch. The first proposal is considered the priority, and the second proposal would be the next priority.

ShotSpotter Antioch coverage map for Priority Area 2. Source: ShotSpotter, Inc.

ShotSpotter Incident Review Center. Source: ShotSpotter, Inc.

According to the company’s FAQ’s sheet, ShotSpotter “uses an array of acoustic sensors that are connected wirelessly to ShotSpotter’s centralized, cloud-based application to reliably detect and accurately locate gunshots using triangulation. Each acoustic sensor captures the precise time and audio associated with impulsive sounds that may represent gunfire. This data is used to locate the incident and is then filtered by sophisticated machine algorithms to classify the event as a potential gunshot. Acoustic experts, who are located and staffed in ShotSpotter’s 24×7 Incident Review Center, ensure and confirm that the events are indeed gunfire. They can append the alert with other critical intelligence such as whether a fully automatic weapon was fired or whether there are multiple shooters. This entire process takes less than 60 seconds from the time of the shooting to the digital alert popping onto a screen of a computer in the 911 Call Center or on a patrol officer’s smartphone or mobile laptop.”

Furthermore, “The ShotSpotter system is highly accurate at detecting outdoor gunshots. In 2019 the system had a 97% aggregate accuracy rate across all of our customers including a very small false positive rate of less than 0.5% of all reported gunfire incidents.”

See how the ShotSpotter system works in a company video.

The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall located at 200 H Street or can be viewed on Comcast channel 24, AT&T U-verse channel 99, or live stream at www.antiochca.gov/government/city-council-meetings.

See the complete agenda packet, here.

CHP helicopter assists

By PIO Darryl Saffold, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, at approximately 7:40 PM, Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Texas Street for a report of an armed carjacking that had just occurred. A 45-year-old male reported that three teenage boys, one age 15 and two age 16 all from Antioch, took his vehicle after one of the teens produced a firearm during an interrupted vehicle burglary.

Antioch officers began circulating the area and located the vehicle near Sycamore Drive and Auto Center Drive, approximately one hour later. The California Highway Patrol’s Air Operations Unit was notified and was overhead within minutes. With the assistance of the Air Operations Unit, officers were able to safely follow and monitor the vehicle as it went onto westbound Highway 4, where they conducted a traffic enforcement stop. The driver yielded and the three occupants were taken into custody without incident.

After a search of the vehicle, a rifle and a replica pistol were recovered. All three boys were transported to Juvenile Hall for their crimes.

We are grateful for our partnership with the California Highway Patrol for the exceptional service they provide communities like ours with their Air Operations Unit.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Gas station robbery suspect Bobby Nathaniel Roan III was arrested Sunday afternoon, Nov. 13, 2022. Photo: APD

Arrested four times in the past two weeks, at least seven times since Sept. 7

By Darryl Saffold, PIO, Antioch Police Department

Sunday afternoon, Nov. 13, 2022, at 3:05 p.m. Antioch officers were sent to the Safeway Fuel Station off Deer Valley Road for a report of a robbery that had just occurred. Based on witness statements, the suspect assaulted an employee and brandished a knife before stealing merchandise from behind the counter.

Officers arrived and detained the suspect, Bobby Nathaniel Roane III, age 29 of in the adjacent shopping center within minutes based on the description given by witnesses. During the investigation, officers located the stolen merchandise on the suspect and arrested him for the robbery. The suspect was taken to the Martinez Detention Facility for his crimes.

We remain dedicated to our citizens and stay grateful for your daily assistance when seeking information about criminal behavior.

According to VineLink.com with information provided by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department and LocalCrimeNews.com, Roane was arrested on Nov. 4 for trespassing on closed lands and as of Nov. 5 he was released from custody. He was arrested again on Nov. 6, but the charges were dropped and as of Nov. 9 he had been released, again. Then, on Nov. 10 Roane was arrested and released, again before being arrested, yesterday. As of Sunday night, he was still in custody.

Roane had been arrested three other times this fall including by San Pablo Police on Sept. 7 for being intoxicated in public; by Antioch Police on Oct. 11 for trespassing while driving on private property and resisting arrest; by Martinez Police on Oct. 22 again for being intoxicated in public; then, again by Martinez Police on Oct. 28 for trespassing on posted land.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

The drugs and stolen gun confiscated from the suspects on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Photo by APD.

“tense and chaotic incident”

Older suspect has history of arrests dating to 2013 including kidnapping, rape; younger is former Antioch High football player

By Antioch Police Department

On Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 8, 2022, Antioch Police officers were patrolling the Sycamore Square shopping center when a 30-year-old male was contacted. As officers continued their investigation, it was discovered that the male was armed, and a brief struggle ensued during which time the loaded firearm was found concealed on his person.

During this tense and chaotic incident, a second male subject attempted to interfere in the arrest and also found himself in police custody. The firearm depicted in the photograph was discovered to be previously reported as stolen to Antioch PD as well from a separate incident.

We are happy to report no one was hurt during this scary encounter, and the male arrested will be spending some time in the county jail. Harrison was arrested for burglary and grand theft.

According to Antioch Police PIO Darryl Saffold the suspects are Angelito Harrison, age 30 and Mason Lenard, age 24 from Antioch.

According to localcrimenews.com Harrison has a history of arrests dating back to 2013, first in Oakland by Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies the for 207(A) – kidnapping 211 – robbery, 236 – false imprisonment by violence, 261(A)(2) – forcible rape, 266I(A)(2) – pandering by encouraging, 289(A) – rape by foreign object and 496(A) – receiving or concealing stolen property. He was arrested, again in 2021 by Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputies for 4573.8 – possession of drugs or alcohol while in prison or jail.

Harrison was also arrested in August of this year by Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies for 211 – robbery, 243(D) – battery with serious bodily injury, 3056 – felony parole violation, 496(A) – receiving or concealing stolen property and 245(A)(4) – assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily harm.

According to MaxPreps, Lenard is a 2017 graduate of Antioch High School where he played football for the JV team during the 2014-15 season. According to localcrimenews.com he was previously arrested in 2017 twice by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies, first in August for 148(A)(1) – resisting / obstructing / delaying a peace officer, 496D(A) – receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and 594(B)(1) – vandalism of $5,000 or more. He was arrested, again that October on an outstanding warrant.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Alexis Gabe from her missing poster.

Last seen in Antioch on January 26, 2022

According to the Oakley Police Department and the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, on November 3, 2022, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Amador County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous tip from a local resident of the Plymouth, California area who had discovered something suspicious that was thought to be human remains. Amador County Sheriff’s Office detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the scene and initiated a search of the area where they ultimately located the remains described in the tip. The remains were determined as those of missing Oakley woman Alexis Gabe. She went missing on January 26, 2022, was last seen in Antioch, California and is suspected of being murdered by her late ex-boyfriend, Marshall Curtis Jones of Antioch. He was later shot and killed by police in Washington state. (See related articles here and here)

Plymouth is located in the west end of Amador County. The tip was made through the Amador County Secret Witness Program. Amador County Sheriff’s detectives and crime scene investigators documented the evidence found and collected the remains.

Due to the time of day and diminishing daylight, it was determined it would be best to keep watch over the area and initiate a more thorough investigation this morning. Members of the Oakley Police Department and the Antioch Police Department responded to the Plymouth area early Friday morning to assist with the investigation with the assistance of cadaver dogs. More evidence was identified and collected from the scene.

The specific location is an area just off of Jackson Road in Plymouth. The area where Alexis’ remains were found has been searched further and no other remains have been located.

The collaborative investigation did confirm the partial remains were human. A forensic odontologist responded to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office facility to examine the remains. The forensic odontologist positively identified the remains as those of Alexis Gabe. All evidence collected by the Amador County Sheriff’s Office was turned over to Oakley Police Department detectives and Coroner jurisdiction has been turned over to the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office to determine manner and cause of death.

According to the Oakley Police Department, the Gabe family has been notified and they are requesting respect and privacy during this time of mourning.

Jackson Road is an area we identified early on as an area where Jones travelled to in the hours and days after Alexis was reported as missing.

Due to the nature of the condition of Alexis’ remains, and the lack of her full body, we believe the remainder of her remains are scattered in various areas.

Due to the condition of Alexis’ remains we realize there may never be a full recovery of her. The City of Oakley has determined there will be no extensions of reward funds for any future remains that may be found.

A press conference will be scheduled for early next week and we will provide details for the date and time as soon as possible. Any questions regarding this case should be directed to the Antioch and Oakley Police Departments.  The Amador County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend their condolences to the Gabe family in this difficult time.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Darryl Saffold PIO, Antioch Police Department

On Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at approximately 1:30 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a large fight in the area of Golden Bear and Via Dora. As this incident was being investigated, it was determined that a female victim sustained a laceration to the side of her face and was transported to a local area hospital for her injuries.

This is still an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. Anonymous tips can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

Killed Antioch grandmother, blinded Concord nurse

By CHP-Contra Costa

On Friday October 21, 2022, Mark Navone was sentenced in Contra Costa County Superior Court to a 22-year prison sentence after being found guilty of numerous charges relating to throwing objects at vehicles.

Navone, 38-years-old was arrested after a California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigation identified him as the suspect in multiple incidents of vehicles being struck by thrown objects, such as rocks and bricks, on Hwy 4, near Hwy 242. Navone’s malicious actions resulted in the death of a 63-year-old grandmother from Antioch as well as the blinding of a 37-year-old delivery nurse from Concord. Navone was arrested on April 2, 2021, by Contra Costa Area CHP officers on a wide range of felony charges.

We would like to thank Contra Costa Area CHP investigators, CHP Golden Gate Division Investigative Services Unit Detectives, the Concord Police Department, the Antioch Police Department, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for their incredible work in building this case. We would also like to thank the public for the valuable information they provided that enabled us to put this case together and ultimately hold Navone responsible for his actions.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.