Had to meet one of three criteria for multiple stolen vehicle cases

By Allen D. Payton

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, the Antioch Police Department offered, “Congratulations to Sergeant Green, Officer Marques, Officer Tanguma, and Officer Chandler for receiving the CHP 10851 award. The CHP developed the 10851 Awards Program to recognize the efforts made by CHP and allied law enforcement personnel who have met specified criteria toward the reduction of stolen vehicle crimes by making significant contributions to the recovery of stolen vehicles and the arrest of suspected car thieves.”

“We are proud of our officers who received this special recognition,” the department added.

Acting Chief Joe Vigil presented the awards.

According to AAA which participates with the CHP in granting the awards, the 10851 award gets its name from the California Vehicle Code section that prohibits vehicle theft. To qualify for the award, an officer must meet any of the following criteria within a one-year period:

• Make six separate “rolling stolen” (suspect occupied) in-custody arrests
• Recover 12 stolen vehicles, at least three of which are suspect occupied
• Develop information which results in identification of a theft ring, the arrests of at least two suspects and recovery of at least 10 vehicles.

The 10851 award consists of a pin which has been approved for law enforcement officials to wear on their uniforms. An officer or sergeant may be recognized up to 25 times, at which point they receive a gold lifetime achievement pin.

Contributes $365,000 to fund 540,000 meals

By Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

In the Bay Area, 1 in 4 residents will struggle with food insecurity this year. To help manage the expected increase in food insecurity during the holidays, Kaiser Permanente is making multiple investments in the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano by providing funds for 540,000 meals. On Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, Kaiser Permanente presented a $365,000 check at the Concord food bank site.

“To our partners at Kaiser Permanente, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this generous donation,” said Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano VP of Finance Brian Morrow. “With this money, we will be able to provide 540,000 meals to our neighbors in need. We thank you so much. Happy holidays!”

Every month, local residents visit the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano for supplemental food. The food bank anticipates that the demand for food assistance will increase by about 20 percent during the holiday season.

A grant of $270,000 from Kaiser Permanente supports healthy food distributions, and an additional $95,000 grant from a Kaiser Permanente fund at the East Bay Community Foundation supports outreach to ensure that community members will have access to CalFresh (California’s food stamp program) and Medi-Cal. The food bank recently kicked off its 3 Million Meals Campaign.

Last Tuesday, community volunteers sorted and packaged produce at the food bank for upcoming food distributions. According to the CA Association of Food Banks, California produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, about 8.8 million people are food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as limited or uncertain access to enough food to lead a healthy, active life. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano provides more than 3.4 million meals each month.

“We believe that our health is our wealth,” said Kaiser Permanente Contra Costa County and Tri-Valley Service Area Community Health Manager Leslie Brown. “In order for you to be able to take care of your physical health, you need nutritious meals. It’s so important for people to have access to healthy food so they can take care of their physical health.”

By Lt. Rick Martin, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On Friday, December 22, 2023, at approximately 11:30 p.m. Antioch Police Officers responded to the intersection of W. 6th Street and G Street on a report of a traffic collision with injuries. Officers arrived and located two vehicles involved. One of the vehicles involved had two juvenile males inside (12 and 13 years old, both from Antioch). Both juveniles were transported by AMR ambulance to local hospitals. Both succumbed to their injuries and were later pronounced deceased.

The other driver involved fled on foot leaving the vehicle behind.

We are withholding the names of the decedents until proper family notifications have been made. It appears speed and reckless driving were factors in this incident. (See video of accident scene posted on X by Henry K. Lee of KTVU)

UPDATE: Asked who was driving the victim’s car, Sgt. Rob Green responded, “We are still working on that. The vehicle does not have current registration, but we are working with video.”

No further information will be provided at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call Lieutenant Rick Martin at (925) 779-6972 or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Lt. Rick Martin, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On Friday, December 22, 2023, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Antioch Police Dispatch began receiving calls of a shooting in the 800 block of Sunset Drive. Antioch Police officers arrived and located a 26-year-old male from Oakland suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers and paramedics arrived on the scene and immediately began rendering first aid. A short time later, paramedics pronounced the male deceased.

Patrol officers located a 57-year-old male suspect from Antioch nearby and detained him without incident. Antioch Police Detectives are on the scene and have taken over this active investigation. We are withholding the name of the decedent until proper family notification has been made. This appears to be an isolated incident. No further information will be provided at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gragg at (925) 779-6889 or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441.

Learn more about mushrooms at the Tilden Fungus Fair Jan. 20-21

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, East Bay Regional Park District

With the return of winter rains, park visitors may have noticed mushrooms popping up in the Regional Parks. Mushrooms are an ecologically important part of our parklands and can look beautiful – but some of them contain dangerous toxins.

The death cap (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) are two of the world’s most toxic mushrooms, and both can be found in East Bay Regional Parks during the rainy season.

The death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms contain amatoxins, molecules that are deadly to many animals. Symptoms may not appear until up to 12 hours after consumption, beginning as severe gastrointestinal distress and progressing to liver and kidney failure if treatment is not sought immediately. Both mushrooms can be lethal to humans and pets if consumed. They are mainly associated with oak trees and can be found growing anywhere oak roots are present.

The death cap is a medium to large mushroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem, and a large white sac at the base of the stem. Although the death cap is mainly associated with oak trees, it has been found growing with other hardwoods. It was accidentally introduced to North America on the roots of European cork oaks and is now slowly colonizing the west coast. The death cap is not native to California.

The western destroying angel is a medium to large mushroom that usually has a creamy white cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem that can disappear with age, and a thin white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter into spring. It is associated exclusively with oaks. Unlike the death cap, it is a native California mushroom.

The Park District urges the public to be safe and knowledgeable about toxic mushrooms when encountering them in the parks. Collecting any mushrooms in East Bay Regional Parks is not allowed.

Pet owners should contact a veterinarian immediately if they suspect their pet may have eaten a toxic mushroom.

While the death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms are responsible for most cases of mushroom poisonings in California, deadly toxins can also be found in Galerina and Lepiota mushroom species, which also occur in the Bay Area. For more information about toxic mushrooms, visit www.ebparks.org/safety/trails/toxic-mushrooms.

Learn More About Fungi – Tilden Fungus Fair, January 20-21, 2024

Celebrate the fruits of winter! View hundreds of local mushroom specimens, mingle with the mycological community, and enjoy presentations by guest speakers at this two-day special event. Saturday, January 20, and Sunday, January 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/events/tilden-fungus-fair. 

By Allen D. Payton

In a post on the department’s Facebook page Thursday evening, Dec. 21, 2023, the Antioch Police announced the addition of 50 officers for a special enforcement effort to suppress vehicle theft in the city. The post reads:

“Tonight, you may see an extra 50 officers in Antioch. We are hosting VSET (Vehicle Theft Suppression Enforcement Team) These officers will be focusing on sideshow enforcement, preventing auto theft as well as arresting people in stolen vehicles. So far, we have already recovered 4 stolen vehicles and made 3 arrests.”

Unfortunately, one stolen vehicle and its driver got away. At about 3:50 p.m. Thursday, stolen white pickup truck with stolen plates was chased by multiple police vehicles southbound on L Street and Contra Loma Blvd. At least one other vehicle while under the overpass was sideswiped by the pickup which had stolen plates, before the truck turned and headed westbound up the eastbound offramp of Highway 4. The police vehicles could not follow the pickup and headed in multiple directions including westbound on Hwy 4, eastbound on Fitzuren Road and westbound on Buchanan Road.

In spite of the assistance in the search by a Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office helicopter, it was later reported that the truck was lost and possibly dumped near Somersville Road.

Exciting arena events, concert series, carnival rides, livestock, exhibits and more!

ANTIOCH – Save the date for the 2024 Contra Costa County FAIR happening May 16 – 19 at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch.

To FAIR and Beyond is the theme for a fun planned four-day event for fair-goers of all ages.  The Contra Costa County Fair is the perfect place to enjoy live entertainment, exciting arena events, delicious food, carnival rides, animals and hundreds of exhibits – all in a community-friendly environment at affordable prices! 

Main stage entertainment at our 2024 FAIR concert series is FREE with admission to the FAIR.

The Contra Costa Fairgrounds are located at 1201 West 10th Street in Antioch.

Visit www.contracostafair.com for more information.

Permanently protecting almost 7 acres on slopes of Mt. Diablo’s North Peak

By Laura Kindsvater, Senior Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo

CLAYTON, CA—On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, Save Mount Diablo closed escrow on the 6.69-acre Krane Pond property on the slopes of Mount Diablo’s North Peak, permanently protecting it.

The Krane Pond property is part of the “Missing Mile,” a square mile of partly unprotected land on Mount Diablo’s North Peak.

The property has been a priority of Save Mount Diablo’s since our founding in 1971, in part because of its large pond, one of the largest on Mount Diablo’s north side, and its position directly adjacent to Mount Diablo State Park. (See related articles here and here)

Krane Pond is a vital water source for Mount Diablo’s wildlife, one that contains water throughout most summers, unlike many of the creeks and other ponds found on Mount Diablo. The ecological significance of Krane Pond far eclipses its size.

Save Mount Diablo secured the option agreement to purchase Krane Pond in the fall of 2022, with a year to raise the necessary funds to complete the purchase. Save Mount Diablo had one year to raise the $500,000 needed to cover the various project costs for acquiring the Krane Pond property.

We are particularly grateful to have received 257 donations totaling $61,361 from the readers of Joan Morris’s East Bay Times and Mercury News column. Their gifts arrived close to the fundraising deadline, when it was a race against time to acquire the remaining funds to complete the purchase.

A development lies along one of the property’s borders, a very real reminder of how the land could have been graded and paved over had Save Mount Diablo not acquired it.

In 1978, Walt and Roseann Krane purchased 6.69 acres of land on the outskirts of Clayton, bordered by Mount Diablo State Park and the meridian on the west side, Mount Diablo Creek on the north side, and property held by ranchers to the east.

Although the Krane family initially had plans to build a house on the property, they decided to preserve the land and eventually sold it to Save Mount Diablo.

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.