Antioch Councilman Mike Barbanica, State Senator Steve Glazer and Assemblyman Tim Grayson are working to get help from the CHP for the Antioch’s depleted police force.
Send joint letter to Governor seeking aid in addressing public safety crisis amid ongoing police scandal
Follows on Councilman Barbanica’s requests of county police chiefs, CHP, Sheriff’s for assistance
ByAllen D. Payton
In early August, Antioch District 2 City Councilman Mike Barbanica asked the City of Antioch to look into getting more help from both the CHP and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office after sideshows got out of hand.
Earlier this month, Barbanica, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, Acting Police Chief Joe Vigil and two other police chiefs from the county held a meeting but “Vigil said, ‘we don’t need anything’,” the councilman stated.
“Grayson’s office offered help. The chiefs told Vigil you don’t have enough staffing,” Barbanica continued. “I spoke to the city manager. We have a commitment from the county police chiefs that they are ready to assist and provide personnel. The city manager is putting together a plan, and the police department will get assistance for traffic enforcement.”
“I personally met with the Chiefs of El Cerrito and San Pablo, who are the president and VP of the county chiefs association and they are working with Acting Chief Vigil who has assigned Sgt. Rob Green to work with surrounding agencies and traffic enforcement. I had two meetings with Assemblyman Grayson that were very productive. He has assured any help we need out of Sacramento, cutting red tape, he’ll be happy to help with.”
Following up on Barbanica’s request, according to a press release from State Senator Steve Glazer’s office, he and Assemblymember Tim Grayson sent a joint letter to Governor Gavin Newsom today, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, seeking assistance for the city of Antioch’s police force, decimated by years of FBI and local investigations.
The investigations into Antioch’s police ranks have eroded local officers’ ability to maintain public safety in the city, according to Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe in an interview on Senator Glazer’s Podcast, Table Talk.
Senator Glazer also spoke with California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee about the public safety crisis and the request.
“The City of Antioch is struggling with public safety right now, and the CHP can help,” Senator Glazer said.
According to the press release by Vivian Bossieux-Skinner, Glazer’s Press Secretary, Mayor Thorpe, a guest on Senator Glazer’s latest episode on his podcast, Table Talk, said, “we have about four or five officers at any given moment patrolling our streets,” in a city of 120,000 people.
Mayor Thorpe said the low numbers of police officers on duty at any given time means police response times can be excessively long depending on the crime being reported. Thorpe said more than half of the 87 city-authorized officers are on leave because of the investigations into the force, leaving just over 40 officers to patrol the city.
“We can use the help because it would drastically reduce time in which an officer can respond to a crime,” said Mayor Thorpe on Table Talk.
These safety concerns were echoed by Mayor Thorpe on Senator Glazer’s Table Talk; the two areas that were decimated as a result of the racist text messaging scandal were traffic and investigations. “And so, it has had real impacts on the community in terms of keeping them safe,” Thorpe said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has already assigned CHP officers this year to cities that request the help; the City of San Francisco has had CHP assistance in dealing with the Fentanyl crisis since May and Oakland has had CHP help since August in dealing with road-related incidents to give City police officers more time to focus on solving violent crime.
Police body cam footage screenshots show Daniel Mackin during and after the police foot chase with a gun in his hand (red circle). Source: Antioch Police Department
Family of man shot by Antioch police claim he didn’t fire his gun, was shot in back 9 times
Video screenshot shows suspect with gun in his hand
By Allen D. Payton
Following the officer involved shooting on Oct. 1, 2023 and the Antioch Police update on Friday, Oct. 20th, a family member of the suspect, Daniel Mackin, posted a video of the shooting on the Antioch Herald Facebook page on Saturday, Oct. 21st. (See related articles here and here)
That day, the Herald asked APD if they would soon be releasing body cam video footage from the four officers involved in the shooting and if not, then for them to consider it a Public Records Act request for the videos.
Mackin’s discarded gun. Photos by APD (left) and by Antioch Herald (right)
The video, which appears to have been taken by someone from the apartment complex on W. 3rd Street, shows Mackin running from police across then eastbound on W. 2nd Street, a gunshot could be heard while he was obscured by trees, then more shots can be seen being fired by police while Mackin was no longer in view. On Monday, Oct. 23rd, the video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by civil rights attorney Melissa Nold and later by KTVU FOX 2 News reporter Henry Lee. When reached for comment, Nold said she was not representing Mackin, but might if a civil rights lawsuit was filed. She said he is being represented by a public defender. Nord also said the family is claiming Mackin was shot in the back nine times and that he didn’t discharge his gun.
Officers can be seen pursuing and shooting at Daniel Mackin (in red circles) on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2023. Source: Video screenshots. (Red circles added by The Herald)
In response to the Herald’s PRA request Lt. Mike Melone responded today, on Tuesday, Oct. 24 with, “We are preparing the body-camera footage for release and intend to so within statutory guidelines.”
He, Acting Chief Joe Vigil and two others with the APD were informed of the video shared by the family member and Nold and asked if they could confirm the details of who shot first and if Mackin fired his gun. They were also asked how many total shots were fired by him and officers.
Mellone responded, “the incident is still being investigated by APD and the DA, therefore, additional information will be provided when it is prudent to do so.”
In addition, the Antioch Police Department issued the following press release by Lt. Rick Martin of the Antioch Police Investigations Bureau, Tuesday evening, Oct. 24:
“On October 23, 2023, a civilian cell phone video was made public depicting a recent shooting incident involving Daniel Mackin and officers of the Antioch Police Department. This video footage was not provided to the Antioch Police Department and is from an unknown source. Due to the angle and perspective at which the video was recorded, it does not depict everything that occurred.
A cell phone video recorded by a civilian of a police incident may present a limited perspective, failing to capture all angles and the entirety of the incident, potentially leading to a lack of context and incomplete information. This can hinder a comprehensive understanding of the situation and may contribute to misinterpretation or incomplete narratives.
The Antioch Police Department conducts exhaustive investigations following any officer involved shooting. The investigation related to this incident is still ongoing and could take a significant amount of time to complete. With that in mind, we withhold judgment and do not draw any conclusions about whether or not our officers acted within our policies and in accordance with the law, until after all the facts are known and the investigations are complete.
In the City of Antioch, when a critical incident such as an officer involved shooting occurs, several investigations are immediately initiated. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office conducts an independent investigation to determine whether the involved officers’ actions were within the law. The Antioch Police Department’s Detective Bureau investigates criminal conduct of any potential suspects prior to or during the incident. Finally, our Internal Affairs Division examines any areas where improvement can be made and determines whether the actions of the involved officers were within policy and consistent with our training.
If you would like more information on the Antioch Police Department’s use of force policy, please click on the following link: https://www.antiochca.gov/fc/police/apd-policy-manual.pd
The Antioch Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office are committed to transparency, and this is still an active investigation. Below are three screenshots obtained from officers’ body camera footage. The first image is of Mr. Mackin initially running and turning towards officers with a weapon in his hand. The second image is Mr. Makin pointing a handgun at officers. The third image is a crime scene photograph of the weapon Mr. Mackin was holding at the time of the shooting. The weapon was loaded at the time of this incident.
Additional information to include the involved officers’ body worn camera footage will be provided in accordance with state laws. All Antioch Police patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. Per Antioch Police Department Policy, all body-worn cameras must be worn in a forward-facing position that facilitates comprehensive recordings of the contacts and/or incidents.
It is important to keep in mind that body worn cameras are an investigative tool, and like any device, they have limitations. Body worn cameras do not necessarily capture everything an officer sees — just like a body worn camera may capture something an officer does not see. Further, body worn cameras do not have the ability to depict what an officer is feeling or experiencing during a given incident.
The APD would like to thank our community for their patience and assistance with this investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Duffy at (925) 779-6884 or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.”
However, APD did not say if Mackin had fired his weapon nor how many bullets were fired.
Arrests were made outside the Pleasant Hill Target store on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Photo: Pleasant Hill PD
Has history of arrests dating back to 2014
By Pleasant Hill Police Department
We had another successful Theft Suppression event at the Pleasant Hill Shopping Center on Contra Costa Blvd., Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 10, 2023, which resulted in the recovery of over $2,500 of stolen merchandise. This shopping center houses stores like Target, Ross, and HomeGoods, as well as Burlington.
During this planned operation, the following 11 people were arrested for grand theft, petty theft:
Lavaughna Manuel in a photo dated March 16, 2022. Source: Facebook
Pleasant Hill police officers make arrests outside the Target store on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Photos: PHPD
We will continue to work hard through the upcoming Holiday Season to combat the ongoing issues with Organized Retail Crime and Retail Theft.
Thank you again to our community partners for assisting us in making this another successful event.
According to localcrimenews.com, Manuel has a history of arrests dating to 2014 by multiple agencies including Antioch PD, Concord PD, Walnut Creek PD, and the Contra Costa County and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Departments for such crimes as grand theft, possession of marijuana for sale and assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm. According to a Sept. 5, 2018 eastcountytoday.net report, she was also arrested in Brentwood for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and probation violations.
Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker outside the UN building and speaking while at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland last week. Sources: (L & C) her official Facebook page and (R) Safe Return Project.
See 10/13/23 UPDATE for her responses to questions about her comments.Now claims “entire department…under review.”
Joined by another Contra Costa organization leader at Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland
“Tamisha Torres-Walker…has now misrepresented what is truly happening at the Antioch Police Department to the world…” – APOA attorneyMike Rains
Barbanica Also Disputes Colleague’s Claims
By Allen D. Payton
According to an announcement by the Richmond, CA-based Safe Return Project, “on October 5, 2023, (Antioch Mayor Pro Tem) Tamisha Torres-Walker, (the organization’s) Executive Director and Co-Founder of, alongside James Heard, Director of Lift Up Contra Costa, sat in the grand auditorium in Geneva, Switzerland, at the United Nations to shed light on the decades of alleged racism and corruption of local law enforcement of nearly half the Antioch, CA police force and the impact on Black lives and civil rights at the 38th Meeting – 54th Session of Human Rights Council.”
The announcement also shared, “The United Nations Human Rights Council welcomed 45 speakers from around the globe who gave an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement. The EDFU Foundation invited Tamisha for the prestigious honor of providing a statement before the Human Rights Council based on two reports, the EMLER and OHCHR.
The Human Rights Council will report back to the United Nations to make recommendations using the presented EMLER. OHCHR Report calls upon America to “do something” about the fundamental protection of human rights of Black people and their civil rights when it comes to cruel and unethical acts committed by the institution of American policing as well as ending the war on drugs, that has led to the incarceration and disenfranchisement of missions of Black Americans.
Torres-Walker’s statement to the Human Rights Council, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland:
‘I was encouraged to see solutions to police corruption and use of force driven by community engagement stated prominently in the EMLER and OHCHR Reports.
Civilian oversight of law enforcement is a crucial and necessary mechanism that plays a vital role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the protection of civil rights.
Antioch, CA, is the second most diverse city in the US Bay Area, with a population of over 115,000, with 20.2% of its population identifying as African American. It has a police department with more than 80% of its department sworn and non-sworn personnel under federal and state review for civil rights, use of force, and other violations of public trust.
Oversight serves as a check and balance and has the ability to promote sustainable solutions to public safety that are not simply alternatives to policing but have a higher success rate of preventing crime and harm while keeping communities safe.
Community-based solutions to public safety and protecting the rights of black Americans should be a priority, not over-policing and hypersurveillance. The city of Los Angeles’s police department’s budget, for example, is $3.2 billion annually and climbing; this is a budget the size of most developing countries’ military budgets. These sustainable solutions, like civilian peacemaker operations across America and elsewhere need to be funded at the same scale.
Again, thank you for this report, and thank Edfu Foundation for this opportunity.’”
False Information Corrected
However, part of what Torres-Walker shared is incorrect about the Antioch Police Department officers. As previously and extensively reported, the FBI and Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office have been investigating alleged “crimes of moral turpitude” involving a handful of Antioch officers. The larger number of officers caught up in the racist text scandal are undergoing an internal City investigation using an outside contracted investigator. (See related article here and here)
Furthermore, of the 105 sworn officers currently on the Antioch Police force, 80% would mean 84 are under investigation which is not correct.
Questions for Torres-Walker Go Unanswered
Questions were sent to Torres-Walker asking her to back up her claims. She was asked, “where did you get your statistics and facts that you mentioned in your speech at the U.N. meeting last week? What state review of the sworn and non-sworn personnel for civil rights, use of force and other violations of public trust is currently underway? Which agency is conducting it? Other than the FBI investigation, along with the CCDA’s office of the handful of officers for alleged ‘crimes of moral turpitude’ what federal review are 80% of the department’s sworn and non-sworn personnel undergoing? Which agency is conducting it? Why didn’t you say anything positive about our city? Do you think spreading negative and false information will benefit the Antioch Police Department and city? What good were or are you hoping to result from your speech? Are you wanting the United Nations to get involved in the current investigations of Antioch police officers? Did the City of Antioch pay for your trip?”
Questions for Chief, APOA VP & Attorney
Questions were also sent to Acting Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil, APOA Vice President Lauren Bledsoe and APOA attorney Mike Rains asking for the details on the number of officers on the force and how many are under investigation.
APOA Attorney Says No State Involvement, Provides Correct Statistics
Michael Rains, of the Rains Luca Stern St. Phalle & Silver law firm, which represents the APOA responded with the following:
“Tamisha Torres-Walker is apparently not content simply misrepresenting the facts to the local media in Contra Costa County, or to the constituents in the City of Antioch. She has now misrepresented what is truly happening at the Antioch Police Department to the world at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, which will no doubt give the City of Antioch a bad reputation internationally if someone cares to check the accuracy of her statement that ‘. . . 80% of (the Police Department’s ) sworn and non-sworn personnel are under federal and state review for civil rights, use of force, and other violations of public trust.’
First, she neglected to mention that the former Police Chief, Steven Ford, initiated a request on behalf of his Police Department for an ‘audit’ of the Department by the State of California Department of Justice. State DOJ stated that it was willing to conduct an audit but has not initiated any type of audit or review as of this date.
Civil rights attorney John Burris has ‘demanded’ that the federal government initiate an investigation of the department, but apparently, the federal government does not respond to Mr. Burris’ demands, and has thus not initiated an investigation or notified the department it intends to do so as of this date.
There is currently an administrative investigation underway relating to approximately 17 officers who have been placed on administrative leave by city officials (not at the direction of, or the concurrence by former Chief Steven Ford), for engaging in inappropriate text messaging on their personal cell phones. That pending administrative investigation has nothing to do with either civil rights violations or use of improper force.
The placement of those officers on administrative leave represents approximately 20% of the sworn workforce, not 80%, as stated by Torres-Walker, and of the 17 who have been languishing on paid administrative leave for over half this year, the incompetent City leaders (outside of the police department) who are supposedly ‘managing’ the administrative investigation by hiring ‘outside’ lawyers to interview the officers have only had about half of the officers interviewed thus far, and have no interviews at all scheduled for the other half.
Of the seven or eight officers who were interviewed, other than two who declined to answer questions and face discipline for that reason, there are no adverse findings in possession of the City against those officers.
Alternatively, the City leaders who are supposedly ‘managing’ the investigation, for whatever reason, including the fact that the findings by the outside lawyers do not play into the ‘racist culture’ narrative they have perpetuated, have not shared those findings with the officers or their attorneys.
It sounds like just another day of misrepresenting the truth to the public, but here the distortions were delivered to a much larger audience.”
Barbanica Also Disputes Torres-Walker’s Claims
District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica was also reached for comment and said in response, “I’m unaware of 80% of our department being investigated. I’m very proud of the city that I was raised in and still live in. Having the opportunity to speak on a world stage I would have personally used that opportunity to highlight the positives the city has to offer, while addressing those issues honestly and factually.”
“The investigation is going to weed out anyone who should not be part of our department. The system is designed to identify the bad cops and eliminate them and keep the good cops and make sure those who should be working are,” he continued. “It’s unfortunate, this issue is being dragged back into the news when the situation is being dealt with by the FBI, the DA’s office, the courts and internally through an independent investigator. But I want it to be reported factually. 80% of our officers being investigated is news to me.”
“What she could have said is there is a small number of officers that are being investigated by the FBI and DA’s office. The others are undergoing an internal investigation,” Barbanica added.
The announcement by Torres-Walker’s organization also shared, “The Human Rights Council will report back to the United Nations to make recommendations using the presented EMLER. OHCHR Report calls upon America to ‘do something’ about the fundamental protection of human rights of Black people and their civil rights when it comes to cruel and unethical acts committed by the institution of American policing as well as ending the war on drugs, that has led to the incarceration and disenfranchisement of missions of Black Americans.”
The others did not respond prior to publication time.
10/13/23 UPDATE: Torres-Walker Responds, Doesn’t Back Up Her Claims
On Friday, Oct. 13, Torres-Walker responded to the emailed questions with general information and without providing details to back up her claims:
Q. – Where did you get your statistics and facts that you mentioned in your speech at the U.N. meeting last week?
A. – “The entire department has been under review that’s a fact. Not everyone has been indicted which is why my comments didn’t mention charges or terminations.”
Q. – What state review of the sworn and non-sworn personnel for civil rights, use of force and other violations of public trust is currently underway? Which agency is conducting it?
A. – “You as well as the public knows that there are officers and none sworn personnel facing federal and state charges not misinformation facts. There is also an internal investigation being led by the city attorney’s office again facts.”
Other than the FBI investigation, along with the CCDA’s office of the handful of officers for alleged “crimes of moral turpitude” what federal review are 80% of the department’s sworn and non-sworn personnel undergoing? Which agency is conducting it? Why didn’t you say anything positive about our city?
“I was there to address the topic of law enforcement and its harmful impact on black people and people of color based on two UN Reports. Did you read the Reports? The issues facing the police department is public and has been devastating to the community what’s positive about that?”
Q. – Do you think spreading negative and false information will benefit the Antioch Police Department and city? What good were or are you hoping to result from your speech? Are you wanting the United Nations to get involved in the current investigations of Antioch police officers?
A. – “I also mentioned the budget of the Los Angeles police department the point was to get them to recommend investments in community based violence prevention and intervention programs as stated in my comments.”
Q. – Finally, did the City of Antioch pay for your trip?
A. – “Although I am a council member in Antioch and a resident of Antioch I attended the session as the director of Safe Return Project and a member of the lift up Contra Costa coalition. I included James if you have any questions for him on your fact finding mission.”
Torres-Walker was then asked, “which federal and state agencies are conducting a ‘review’ of the ‘entire department’?” She was also asked, “Where did you get your statistic of 80% of the department? What other personnel besides the sworn officers and the one CSO are under review or investigation?”
She responded simply, “You should be able to get that information from the city attorney.”
The questions and her responses were then sent on Saturday, October 14, to City Attorney Smith, Acting Police Chief Vigil and APD spokesmen asking for them to answer the questions posed to the councilwoman.
Please check back later for their responses and any other updates to this report.
Participated in at least two armed robberies of letter carriers, one in Antioch and one in San Francisco
Enforcement actions are coupled with announcement of $150,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of additional suspects
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND – Tuesday, October 10, 2023 – U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez announced today that multiple arrests have been made in cases involving the interference with delivery of the U.S. mail. The announcement was made at a press conference held this morning at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.
The theft of postal keys, break-ins of postal vehicles, assaults on letter carriers, and various other criminal acts involving interference with delivery of the mail and the alleged illegal possession of personally identifying information were all discussed at the press conference. According to U.S. Attorney Ramsey, defendants in each case now are facing severe federal penalties that make clear their alleged crimes were not worth the consequences. (See surveillance video released by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service of the alleged suspects, here and here)
“In each of the cases I will discuss,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey, “the government alleges the defendants have violated federal criminal laws and, as a consequence, federal agents and local law enforcement has tracked them down . . .. The penalties for these crimes can be sobering.”
Inspector in Charge Nuñez reinforced the U.S. Attorney’s remarks and announced that the reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of any individual who robs or assaults a postal worker is now $150,000.
“There is no more important mission for us as federal agents than protecting postal workers from crime and violence,” said Inspector in Charge Nuñez. “To any copycats or wannabes out there who might consider robbing a postal worker, I ask you to consider the years you will face in federal prison, the price on your head, and that postal inspectors will not stop hunting you. The proceeds of this crime are not worth your freedom.”
U.S. Attorney Ramsey stated that most of the cases involved the theft of specialized postal keys that often grant access to large mailboxes or mail storage facilities. Holding one such postal key in his hand, U.S. Attorney Ramsey explained that federal laws have been “carefully crafted to protect the sanctity of the mail, including the sensitive information we entrust to the mail system; the safety of the federal employees and contractors who deliver the mail; and the federal property that is used to ensure mail delivery.” He then went on to describe how three of the defendants are alleged to have violated the law as follows:
• Robert Devon Nicholson Bell, Jr., 19, of Antioch, Calif., is alleged to have participated in at least two armed robberies of letter carriers, one in Antioch and one in San Francisco. Allegations in the criminal complaint filed against the defendant describe Bell’s use of mail keys to steal mail from blue mailboxes. According to a criminal complaint, Bell was found in Antioch in possession of robbed postal keys, a substantial quantity of stolen mail, a fraudulent USPS ID with his picture, and stolen and counterfeit checks. He now faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of the postal key, as well as 25 years for each of the armed robberies. (Case No. 23-mj-71439 MAG)
• Anthony Medina, 42, of American Canyon, Calif., is alleged to have unlawfully possessed seven mail keys. According to the complaint, officers with the San Francisco Police Department were attempting to perform a traffic stop when the defendant attempted to flee. Officers arrested the defendant and, in addition to the keys, defendant is alleged to have possessed credit cards in the names of other individuals, images of suspected stolen mail, and access codes for an apartment complex in San Francisco. Medina now faces 10 years in prison for each violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1704—the unlawful possession of the postal keys, as well as possible prosecution for unlawful possession of mail and credit cards. (Case No. 23-mj-71443 MAG)
• Derek Hopson, 33, of Oakland, Calif., is alleged to have stolen mail and postal keys in two separate incidents that occurred in June of 2023. The complaint alleges the San Francisco Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in the Mission District of San Francisco when officers encountered the defendant in possession of several postal keys. Hopson also allegedly used a mailbox key to gain access to mailboxes at a residential complex in the Presidio of San Francisco. He now faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison for violating 18 U.S.C. sections 1704 and 1706. (Case No. 23-mj-71403 MAG)
Indictments and criminal complaints merely allege that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, in addition to the prison terms described, as part of any sentence following conviction the court may order defendants to serve an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term, additional fines, and restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The prosecution of these cases are the result of investigations by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Antioch Police assisted Pittsburg Police in pursuing suspects in a stolen Kia that crashed in the parking lot of Somersville Town Center on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Photo source chose to remain anonymous.
Another stolen Kia found overturned at Antioch Skatepark Thursday
By Allen D. Payton
During a Pittsburg Police pursuit of a stolen Kia the driver crashed the vehicle at Somersville Towne Center in Antioch Friday Oct. 6, 2023. Antioch Police assisted Pittsburg PD with a foot pursuit of the suspect. The driver was taken into custody. According to mall security a female passenger who ran from the car was able to flee through the mall.
Another stolen Kia was discovered by Antioch Police overturned after being driven over ramps at the Antioch Skate Park in Prewett Family Park Thursday morning Oct. 5.
Stolen Kia was discovered by Antioch Police at the Antioch Skatepark on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Photo source chose to remain anonymous.
About six Kias and Hyundais stolen each day in Antioch. Eight were recovered in just the last three days and the drivers and passengers were all ages 13 to 16.
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Juan Valentin Manriquez, 21, of Antioch, was sentenced today to three years and eight months in prison for unlawful dealing in firearms, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, co-defendant Andrew Jace Larrabure-Tuma used Snapchat to advertise narcotics and guns for sale. Law enforcement used undercover officers and a confidential informant to buy guns from Tuma. Tuma of Sacramento was 19 years old and could not legally purchase a gun in the state of California. Tuma ultimately introduced the informant working for law enforcement to his gun supplier, Manriquez. During the course of the following month, Manriquez sold the informant nine guns in exchange for cash.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sacramento Police Department, and the Western El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case.
Tuma pleaded guilty to unlawful dealing and manufacturing firearms and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Two police officers stand near the downed motorcycle at the scene of the collision on Deer Valley Road near Prewett Ranch Road Thursday afternoon, Oct. 5, 2023. Photos by Allen D. Payton
Speeding driver of car determined at fault
The driver of the AMR ambulance witnessed the collision.
By Allen D. Payton
A 63-year-old Bay Point man riding a motorcycle on Deer Valley Road was rear-ended by a black sedan near the Prewett Ranch Road intersection in Antioch, at 2:08 p.m. Thursday afternoon. As an AMR ambulance was on its way to Kaiser medical center with a patient inside the driver witnessed the collision. But the ambulance was not involved in the collision. Antioch Police officers in the area and AMR personnel immediately performed CPR.
The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital with major head trauma where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The black sedan was damaged on both front sides and the back window blew out during the colission.
Two pickup trucks were also struck in the accident, with the sedan striking one and the motorcycle hitting the other after the first impact. The driver of the sedan remained at the scene and cooperated with Antioch Police Officers. An officer on the scene said she was emotionally distraught and had a difficult time communicating what happened. It was determined she was at fault as numerous witnesses claimed she was speeding.
The two pickup trucks damaged in the collision remained at the scene during the police investigation.
The driver has not yet been arrested as the police must do an inspection of her car before they can file a case with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
Some of the roads leading to the intersection were closed for several hours causing those driving to Kaiser to make a detour through nearby neighborhoods. The roads were cleared and reopened about 7:20 p.m.
