Other driver, parents dispute police report, claim police car hit his, have a witness; APD investigation into accident ongoing

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, on Monday, July 4 at approximately 9:32 pm, Antioch Police Officer Lundin was responding Code 3 (lights and sirens) to an emergency of a house that caught fire due to fireworks.

“When she approached the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Wildflower Drive,” he explained. “As she slowly crept into the intersection, making sure it was clear for her to safely proceed, a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed T-boned her patrol vehicle on the passenger side.”

The father of the driver arrived on the scene to find out where his son’s car was towed. He said his son’s car was sideswiped by the police vehicle while chasing another car just his son who is 21 “is banged up a bit but he’s OK.”

7/5/22 12:30 PM UPDATE: However, Saffold in an updated report said, “witnesses stated Officer Lundin was slowly and methodically clearing the intersection when the other driver who was traveling at a high rate of speed was not able to stop or avoid the collision.”

Saffold also shared that the investigation of the incident is ongoing and that we haven’t determined fault, yet. He said he misspoke that the other driver was at fault, in an earlier version of this report.

The 21-year-old driver of the other car and his parents are disputing what APD is reporting about the incident and claim the police officer’s vehicle struck his car. In addition, his mother spoke to a witness who saw the entire incident and offered a different report. The father said he is trying to find which tow yard has his son’s car and will provide photos of it once he finds it. The driver of the other car was also transported to a local hospital, but an X-ray showed no fractures to his leg, which was hurt in the collision and caused him to limp after exiting his vehicle with help from a firefighter. (See more details in a separate article, later)

Asked if there was dash cam footage from the police car, Saffold responded, “we don’t have dash cams.” Asked if there are traffic cameras on the stoplights, he responded, “the investigation is ongoing as to any surveillance in the area.”

Hillcrest was closed in the southbound direction between Wildflower Drive and the back entrance to the Safeway shopping center and traffic was diverted through the back alley behind the stores.

According to an officer on the scene no officers were injured. However, “Officer Lundin was transported to a local area hospital with minor injuries and is in good spirits,” Saffold shared. “No alcohol or drugs were involved.”

Violent crime up 26% from 2020 to 2021, Priority 1 call response times increasing

By Allen D. Payton

Now that the effort to recall Mayor Lamar Thorpe has ended, he finally placed on the agenda the annual crime report during the Antioch City Council meeting on June 14, 2022. Interim Police Chief Steve Ford’s presentation that night shows murder in the city is up 400% with five this year versus one last year between Jan. 1 and May 31, and rapes increased by 380% to 24 this year versus five, last year during the same time period. However, the report shows overall major crimes decreased 8.13% in Antioch during the first five months of the year, with a total of 1,084 this year compared to 1,180 last year. In addition, while the report shows a 9.2% decrease in overall Part I crimes from 2020 to 2021, violent crimes increased 26%.

Major crimes that are reported to the FBI also include aggravated assault which was down 13.5%, with 193 this year compared to 223, last year; robbery, up 58% with 54 reported this year versus 34 last year; burglary down 30% with 109 vs. 139 this year over last; theft down 19% with 444 this year compared to 548 last year; auto theft up 13.1% with 242 cars stolen this year versus 214 last year; and arson down 13.3% with 13 this year versus 16 last year.

Violent Crime Increased During 2021 Over 2020

Regarding violent crimes, which include homicide, aggravated assault, rape and robbery, the report states, “Homicides have remained relatively consistent over the years, but aggravated assaults have increasingly dominated our violent crime numbers,” with 343 aggravated assaults out of 648 total violent crimes in 2019, 400 out of 592 in 2020 and 507 out of 693 in 2021.

Comparing statistics for 2021 to 2020 violent crimes increased 7% in Antioch from 648 to 693 with homicides up 20% with 12 versus 10, year over year, rapes decreased 2.5% from 40 to 39, robbery down 4.9% from 142 to 135, and increase in aggravated assaults by 27% with 507 in 2021 versus 400 in 2020.

There have been a few changes in the statistics from what is on the APD’s website to what was provided in Ford’s presentation.

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, “The most current data is on our new crime statistics website (https://www.antiochca.gov/police/crime-statistics/), as well as an explanation of the change from UCR to NIBRS and how that impacts our numbers. Additionally, I should note that none of the numbers are final until all of the reports for that time period have been audited and submitted to DOJ.”

“December 2021 data was just recently completed, 2022 crime data is all fluid and subject to change,” he continued. “We plan to update the website and adjust it monthly, in an effort to provide more ongoing transparency.”

“Regarding the 2020 data, we had to amend a couple reports after submission to the DOJ (i.e. one of our homicides was initially reported to UCR as justified, but it was not per UCR criterion; two aggravated assaults were reclassified as simple assaults),” Saffold explained further. “For 2020, the correct total for homicides was indeed 10 and the correct total for aggravated assaults was 400. The old website chart…for 2020 was created before these DOJ adjustments I have attached the new one and will update the one on the website.”

Average Response Times

The report also shows average response times reducing over the past nine years, but “2022 response times are slowly increasing, in part due to staffing shortage”. Priority 1 calls experienced an increase in average response times from 7 minutes 36 seconds in 2020, to 9 minutes 1 second so far in 2022.

Use of Force Stats

The report provides use of force statistics for 2021 and 2022. “In 2021, out of 89,016 calls for service, force was used to effect arrest in 111 incidents or in 0.125% of calls,” the report shows. Through May 2022, out of 649 arrests use of force was required four times or in just 0.616% of calls.

According to the report, actions compelling Uses of Force include “Active Aggression, Assault on Officer, Resisting Arrest, Non-Compliance and Armed Subject”. Types of use of force in 2021 included: OC Spray, Carotid, Flashlight, 40 mm ECW/Taser, K-9 Utilized, and Physical/Other.

Citizen Complaints

The report also includes statistics on Citizen Complaints against Antioch Police Officers from 2019 through May 2022. Because each complaint may have multiple allegations or

multiple employees involved and each employee may have multiple allegations, the number of allegations counted per incident and by employee is higher

than the total number of complaints and employees involved.

2019 – 26 Total Complaints with 35 allegations, 39 involved employees (or APD) with 89 allegations.

2020 – 24 Total Complaints with 39 allegations, 48 involved employees (or APD) with 117 allegations

2021 – 23 Total Complaints with 37 allegations, 39* involved employees (or APD) with 83 allegations

2022 – 2 Complaints for 2022 are being processed and pending*.

*The number of involved employees involved in complaints in 2021/2022 may change as pending investigations develop.

Community Engagement

Finally, the report shows the “Antioch Police Department supports proactive engagement with our community members through neighborhood meetings, annual events, youth outreach, demonstrations, forums, and social media.”

“In 2021, APD Officers participated in 683 Community Policing Activities” and “235…so far in 2022”. Those activities included Holiday Adopt a Family, Holiday Food Drive, Holiday Toy Giveaway, Halloween Trick-or-Treat, Birthday Parades, Citizen’s Academy, Youth Academy, Coffee with the Cops, Tip-A-Cop, Torch Run, Community Fundraisers and Bridging the Gap forums.

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

On June 17th, 2022, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton and U.S. Department of Labor Assistant District Director for San Jose Alberto Raymond formalize a partnership to combat wage theft and protect workers’ rights.

Both agencies commemorate the agreement by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the District Attorney’s Office in Martinez. The MOU means the DA’s Office will be devoting resources to prosecute criminal wage theft cases to curtail labor trafficking, unfair business practices, payroll tax evasion, and wage and hour violations. To do this, District Attorney Becton will create a Workplace Justice Unit that’s committed to a fair and equitable workplace.

Becton noted, “While the DA’s Office and the Department of Labor have had an informal relationship on human labor trafficking and wage theft cases since 2014, this Memorandum of Understanding marks the start of a formal five-year partnership to continue our efforts to seek justice for victims of crime.”

Wage theft affects victims in various ways – and at all income levels. Some workers are denied overtime or are paid less than the minimum wage per hour. Some employers also refuse to pay bonuses, vacation pay, or reimbursement of business expenses. According to investigations by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division in 2021, U.S. workers were denied over 230-million dollars in back pay.1

“Cooperation between federal and local agencies is critical in the fight against all forms of wage theft here in Contra Costa County and elsewhere in the country,” Assistant District Director Raymond said. “The formal renewal of this longstanding partnership highlights our determination and commitment to combat wage theft and to hold their perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Wage theft is a felony punishable by up to three years in jail. Employers caught stealing from their employees may be personally liable for unpaid wages and face criminal asset forfeiture actions.2

In addition to investigating and prosecuting cases, both agencies will conduct community outreach programs to inform the public about reporting wage theft — as well as provide resources for employers to help them follow labor and payroll tax laws.

If you are a victim of wage theft, call 1-866-4-USWAGE or contact the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office at: DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org.

1 U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Labor Division (FY 2021) data found a total of $234,280,603.96 in back pay was owed to workers.

2 Pursuant to PC section 186.11

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Safford, there were three shooting incidents in the city on Friday and Saturday. No one was injured.

There was a shooting on Friday, June 24 8:37pm. The victim was at home with her young children when she heard shots from the area of 7-11 on the corner of Buchanan Road and Gentrytown Drive. An upstairs window to their home was later discovered to be broken and officers located a bullet inside a closet to the home. The investigation is ongoing.

On Saturday, June 25 at 2:49am, Officers were dispatched to the area of Greystone Court for multiple calls of shots fired after a loud argument was heard. When officers arrived, they located several spent casings in the area. There were no victims, and the investigation is ongoing

Then again on Saturday, June 25, at 4:36pm Officers responded to shots fired in the area of Spanos Way for numerous reports of shots fired. Officers arrived on scene and located numerous spent casings. There were no witnesses, video or reported injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

Suspect has record of arrests over past three years

By Darryl Safford, Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer

While you were hopefully enjoying family time on a warm summer’s day, your officers were busy getting illegal firearms off the street, Sunday morning, June 26, 2022.

Both our Blue Day Shift and Blue Graveyard crews teamed up for a probation search of a known subject that was selling firearms out of his apartment. With great investigative work by Officer Milner, they were able to develop leads on their target that subsequently led to the recovery of a stolen Glock pistol, a second loaded Glock that was illegally possessed, a large quantity of Xanax pills, and about five pounds of marijuana.

William Ponce-Ramirez, a 21-year-old Hispanic male out of Antioch was arrested and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested in February 2019 by the Chico PD for possession of alcoholic beverage by a minor, in November 2020 by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for WARRANT – Warrants Or Holds Only, 29800(A)1 – Addict in Possession of Firearm, 25850A – Carrying Loaded Firearm On Person Or In Vehicle While In Public Place, 25400(A)1 – Carry Concealed Weapon in Vehicle, 25850C6 – Carry Loaded Firearm When Not the Registered Owner and 27545 – Unlicensed Sale/Loan Trade Of Firearm. Ponce-Ramirez was also arrested, last July, again by the Sheriff’s Department for WARRANT – Warrants Or Holds Only.

The Antioch Police Department is dedicated to the reduction of gun violence in our community. With the assistance of our UAV, CNT, SWAT team, and Gang Unit the streets of our city are a little safer. Thank you to community for your ongoing and constant support. We appreciate you #safestreets #gunviolenceprevention.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Darryl Saffold, Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer

While conducting routine patrol in the area of A Street and Railroad Avenue, Officer Tom Smith conducted a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle. While talking to the occupants, Officer Smith noticed a rifle sitting near the feet of the front passenger. After detaining the occupants and making the scene safe, Officer Smith retrieved the rifle and determined that it was a realistic looking AR-15 BB gun.

No arrests were made.

We want to take this time to discuss how dangerous it can be for people to display an imitation firearm in public. Besides the fact that it is against the law (Penal Code section-12556), it is very difficult to distinguish that they are not real weapons.

There is certainly a time, place, and manner in which these novelties can be enjoyed and used safely. Though, having them present during the commission of a crime or being used to commit a crime, is not it.

Please remember to be kind to one another.

 

The Antioch Police Department is hosting a series of Community Forums held at different locations throughout the City. This is an opportunity for the community to have open and meaningful conversations with Interim Police Chief Dr. Steven Ford and Officers in the department.

The second Community Forum will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from 6PM-7:30PM at Delta Bowl, 3300 Delta Fair Blvd., Antioch.

By Allen D. Payton

Business owners in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown alerted others about a police action at a retail location on W. Second Street, Thursday morning.

According to Danville Police Chief Allan Shields, “at 11:13 am Danville officers served an arrest and a search warrant at 412 W. 2nd Street, a store front but not currently operating as a business. The warrant stemmed from a residential burglary that took place in the Town of Danville on April 9, 2022.”

Danville officers arrested Eddie Martinez, male, age 45 out of Antioch for the arrest warrant for burglary.

Asked what was stolen, Shields responded, “We don’t usually list the property that’s stolen.”

“In lieu of booking Mr. Martinez at the jail, he was admitted to the hospital on an unrelated issue. It had nothing to do with the arrest, today,” the chief continued.

Danville officers will be forwarding the case to the District Attorney and requesting prosecution for the original burglary case.

Asked if Martinez resisted arrest, Shields simply said “no.”

Danville Police were assisted by Sheriff’s Deputies and Antioch Police Officers, including a K-9 unit. But the police dog was not deployed.

Asked what happens after Martinez is released from the hospital, Shields said, “if the DA decides to file charges, they can issue him a notice to appear in court or another arrest warrant.”