Alexis Gabe – Missing fliers have been posted throughout East County. Source: Oakley PD

Fliers posted throughout community

By Oakley Police Department

The Oakley Police Department received a call of a missing person, under suspicious circumstances, on January 27, 2022. The missing person is identified as Alexis Gabe, 24, of Oakley. She was last seen on Benttree Way in Antioch.

Gabe is described as an Asian female, 5’7”, 170 pounds and last known to be wearing a white tank top, silver/black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and green/white shoes.

Oakley Police patrol personnel and detectives began immediate efforts to locate Gabe. The Oakley Police Department has been in contact with Gabe’s family and have spoken to key people who were last known to be with her. The efforts to locate Gabe are continuing as detectives analyze evidence and patrol personnel continue to field tips and conduct physical searches for Gabe.

Fliers of Gabe have been posted throughout East County over the past two days.

Please report any credible sightings of Gabe, or any information that will lead to her discovery by calling the Oakley Police Department at 925-625-8060.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Guns confiscated by Antioch Police during arrests Thursday night, Jan. 27, 2022. Photos: APD

One suspect named Sir Stephen Forbes demonstrates lack of nobility concealing weapon; another suspect had multiple warrants

By Darryl Saffold, Strategic Communications Officer, Antioch Police Department

Last night, while everyone was hopefully sleeping 🛌, our Blue Swings crew was out searching for things that go bump in the night. On three separate stops, by three separate officers, four illegal handguns were recovered.

There are no code reds 🚨 in Antioch, meaning we will be proactive in making sure our streets and citizens are safe! Thankfully we have a few good men and women who make it so we can all rest a little easier.

DATE: 1/27/22  TIME: 6:06 PM

LOCATION: Peppertree Way at Sycamore Drive

Officer Nutt conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle being driven by Sir Stephen Forbes (22 years old). A probable cause search was conducted, and a loaded firearm was located inside a fanny pack belonging to Sir Stephen. The gun was registered to Sir Stephen but he was illegally concealing the firearm and did not have a concealed carry permit. Sir Stephen was subsequently cited and released from the scene for the MISD weapons possession.

DATE: 1/27/22  TIME: 10:38  PM

LOCATION: G Street at W. 13th Street

Officer Miller conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle being driven by Taylor Michelson (30 years old). A records check showed Michelson to have multiple warrants for his arrest. Michelson was taken into custody without incident and a subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a loaded Glock pistol. Michelson was transported to MDF.

Two other illegal firearms were recovered last night through police efforts. No additional details will be provided to protect identities of parties involved.

Resident reported seeing someone giving the victim CPR.

By Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, Antioch Police Department

ANTIOCH, CA – Today, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at approximately 2:16 PM, Antioch Police Department Dispatch began receiving numerous 911 calls of gunshots being fired in the area of 2958 Delta Fair Boulevard, the location of Super Wine & Liquor. Additional information that was provided indicated a subject was on the ground in the parking lot, who appeared to have been struck by gunfire and was in critical condition. Supplementary witness accounts informed Dispatch that an unidentified vehicle drove away from the area at a high rate of speed.

At approximately 2:19 PM, Antioch Officers arrived in the area and noticed an unresponsive Black male adult approximately in his 50’s, lying motionless in the parking lot. After life-saving measures were attempted by officers, the victim ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The man has not yet been identified.

Please avoid this area, as this is an active crime scene.

Due to the ongoing and active nature of the investigation, no further information is available to be released at this time.

This information is made available by the Support Services Division. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective A. Duffy at (925) 779-8940 or at aduffy@antiochca.gov. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch Police arrest parolee Andre Powell in the parking lot across from City Hall on W. 2nd Street, Sunday morning, Jan. 23, 2022. Photo by Allen D. Payton

By Allen D. Payton

A man was arrested along Antioch’s waterfront across from City Hall, Sunday morning, after Antioch Police received a complaint about a male exposing himself. An officer on the scene said the man was a wanted parolee.

According to APD Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, “he was on parole for a being a felon in possession of a firearm.”

“Officers were dispatched to the area of Monica’s (Riverview restaurant) for a call of a male exposing himself. Officers stopped Andre Powell (born in 1978) who matched the description and found that he was a Parolee at large,” Saffold explained. “It doesn’t say how he violated his parole in the warrant, but his primary offense was felon in possession of a firearm.”

Powell could be heard saying to police, as they placed him in the back of a police van, “you’re violating my rights.”

Illegal guns confiscated by Antioch Police Officer during arrest on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. Photo: APD

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Department Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, Officer Milner made an arrest, today, Saturday, January 22, 2022, in which he recovered an AR-style pistol and another illegal firearm. The suspect arrested is Giovanni Garcia, 21 years old from San Francisco, who was taken to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Officer Milner observed a vehicle that was in violation of the California Vehicle Code in numerous ways and made a traffic enforcement stop in the 700 block of W. 18th Street to speak with the driver.

In addition to the traffic violations, Officer Milner noted the strong odor of smoked marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. In California it is illegal to smoke marijuana inside your vehicle while driving. Think of it the same way one would think about having an open container of alcohol while driving.  Milner had probable cause to search the car.

After the various vehicle code violations and the incense strength aroma of smoked marijuana that exited the car, imagine Officer Milner’s surprise when he searched the car and located multiple firearms.

Needless to say, the vehicle was towed, and the driver went to the county jail in what is another example of proactive policing leading to more guns being taken off our streets.

Authorized to have 115 to 121 sworn officers on the force, currently 94 are at “full duty” status; below 1 officer per 1,000 population; state average greater than 2 officers per 1,000, national average of 2.4

By Allen Payton

Th Antioch Police Department is down 21 and as much as 27 sworn officers from what the city council has authorized of between 115 and 121, as of Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. In addition, there are currently no lateral officers in process that could be hired from other departments.

Plus, the city council, in spite of increases in tax revenue of $5.6 million and $8.7 million in this and next years’ budgets, did not include the hiring of any additional officers. Although District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker has asked for four more officers to be hired for her district,  District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica called for adding six more officers over the next two years and requested the hiring of additional police officers be placed on a council meeting agenda, and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock was the only one to vote against the current, two-year budget because it didn’t include funding for any additional police officers, Mayor Lamar Thorpe has refused to agendize the matter. (See related articles here, here and here)

Current Antioch Police Staffing

In response to questions about police staffing, Captain Trevor Schnitzius wrote, “We are currently staffed at 109 sworn-police officers (authorized to 115) with Council approval to over hire by six (in theory 121).  We have 15 Officers on various leaves which places us at 94 officers at “full duty” status (this number is current as of today and can fluctuate due to injuries and staff returning to work from injuries).  We had two applicants formally withdraw from our hiring process in recent months.  We do not currently have any lateral police officers in process with our department, but that can change at any time.”

“It is not at all unusual for this time of year just coming out of the Holiday Season and heading into the New Year to experience a lull in applicants, it’s typically one of our slowest times of the year for recruiting,” he continued. “We have three new police officer trainees that started the Academy in January, and we maintain continuous, open recruitments for lateral, academy grad, and police trainee positions.  Our agency is still offering a $10,000 hiring bonus for lateral officers dispersed over benchmark timeframes.”

“It’s still an extremely competitive market for qualified police officer candidates these days.  Our recruiting challenges are not unique to us, and we still have a ton to offer as one of the premier law enforcement agencies in our area.”

Less Than One Officer Per Thousand Population

That leaves the city with only 1.0 officer per 1,000 population authorized based on the 2020 Census figure of 115,291 and less than 0.82 officers per thousand at full duty. The goal has been to achieve 1.2 officer per thousand since the mid-1990’s. That’s well below the approximate 2.0 officers per thousand statewide as of 2019 statistics. “Nationwide, the rate of sworn officers was 2.4 per 1,000 inhabitants” in 2019, according to an FBI report.

Source: APD

By Antioch Police Department

Antioch Police Detectives are requesting help in locating murder suspect Robert Mathews. A felony warrant has been issued for his arrest for first degree murder and attempted murder with gang enhancements.

On Nov. 10, 2021, Matthews shot and killed Johnta White in an unprovoked attack, in the middle of the day, at a busy gas station on Lone Tree Way. (See related article)

Another suspect in the shooting was arrested in December and is currently in custody. (See related article)

Matthews is described as a black male, 23 years old, 5’10”, 200lbs, with black hair and brown eyes.

Matthews is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information with his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Whitaker at (925) 779-6890.

Yellow markers indicate the locations of bullet casings at the Sinclair Gas Station on Lone Tree Way in Antioch following the shooting Wed. morning Nov. 10, 2021. Photo courtesy of Mike Burkholder.

Second suspect identified, both from Antioch

By Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department announced, today, Jan. 13, 2022, that on Dec. 8, 2021, Raymond Elijah Jenkins, 24 years old of Antioch, was arrested in connection to the Nov. 10, 2021 murder of 25-year-old Johnta White of Richmond and is currently in-custody. Additionally, another suspect involved in the unprovoked homicide of White has been identified as Robert Matthews, 23 years old, also of Antioch. (See APD announcement about Matthews)

Another victim, a 30-year-old Antioch man was shot at the scene. A felony warrant for his arrest has been issued for murder and attempted murder related to this incident. There are no additional updates at this time.

On Nov. 11, 2021, White was pronounced deceased at a local trauma center.

As reported previously, on Nov. 10, 2021, Officers responded to the report of shots fired at the Sinclair Gas Station located at 3720 Lone Tree Way. Moments later, a local hospital called APD dispatch and stated two shooting victims arrived at the emergency room. One of victims was suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and the other sustained a gunshot wound to his head. At the time of this writing, one of the victims is in grave condition and the other is in critical condition. The suspects are still outstanding. Investigators are actively following up on suspect leads.

Additional inquiries or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Whitaker at (925) 779-6890 or by emailing wwhitaker@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.