Bail set at $2 million

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa Disrict Attorney’s Office

An Antioch woman faces a felony murder charge with an enhancement for the shooting death of a neighbor. (See related article)

37-year-old Serico Justice is currently in the Martinez Detention Facility awaiting arraignment for a felony murder charge [PC187(a)] with an enhancement of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm [PC12022.53(d)]. Justice’s use of a handgun caused the injury and death of 31-year-old Hannisha Jamilah Willis on December 27, 2022. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Mandarin Way in Antioch, where the women lived next door to each other.

Antioch Police Department investigated the incident and reported that the shooting happened during a verbal and physical fight between the women around 2:15 pm. Justice was in possession of a handgun at the time of the altercation – a gun she armed herself with prior to the confrontation. Willis suffered a single shot to her head after Justice fired her weapon. She died later from her injuries at a local hospital.

The case was referred to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office by Antioch Police on December 28th. Charges were filed against Justice on December 29th. She’s scheduled to be arraigned on January 13, 2023, at 1:30 pm in Martinez. Her bail has been set at $2,000,000.00.

However, her arraignment was “put over” to a later date after her attorney filed a 977 Form which waived her right to a speedy trial.

04-22-01440 | The People of the State of California vs. Serico Justice

 

Seek help of nearby residents with surveillance cameras

By PIO Ashley Crandell, Antioch Police Support Services Division

On January 3, 2023, at approximately 2:17 pm, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center received a call reporting a person shot on Deer Valley Road near Asilomar Drive. Officers immediately responded and found a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. She was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition. Through investigation, officers believed the female victim was not the intended target but was shot while driving through the area.

A second gunshot wound victim arrived at a local hospital reporting he had been shot near the same location. The male victim – who was believed to be the intended target – was found to have a gunshot wound to the leg and is also in stable condition.

Officers located multiple spent shell casings in the intersection of Deer Valley Road and Asilomar

Drive. Investigators are asking residents near Deer Valley Road and Asilomar Drive to check their surveillance cameras for anything suspicious around the time of the incident. There is no suspect information at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Gerber at (925) 481-8297 or via email: rgerber@antiochca.gov. You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Josef Britschgi, Marketing & Communication Administrator, BAC Community Bank

December 29, 2022 – Stockton, Calif – Josh Hill has joined locally-owned BAC Community Bank as Senior Vice President and Retail Banking Officer. Hill is a results-driven financial services professional with more than 28 years of extensive leadership experience.  He has most recently led and grown retail banking teams within the BAC Community Bank footprint and Northern California.

“We are excited to be working with Josh,” said Jackie Verkuyl, Chief Administrative Officer, “the skills and insight he brings complement BAC’s future-focused strategic path.”

Working with other seasoned members of management, Hill is responsible for the overall success of the relationship banker and deposit service specialist teams, as well as leading BAC’s branch operations and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality customer banking experiences.  He also assists in developing and overseeing retail policies and strategies while working with team members to improve and implement new retail products and services.

Hill holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Financial Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

About BAC Community Bank

BAC Community Bank is California’s 10th oldest state-chartered bank. Established in 1965, BAC operates branch offices throughout San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Contra Costa counties, including a branch in Antioch at 3448 Deer Valley Road, and is identified as “one of the strongest financial institutions in the nation” by BauerFinancial, Inc.

The bank is centrally headquartered in Stockton, California, and is continuously recognized for banking excellence through local awards and banking industry accolades.

BAC Community Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Equal Opportunity Employer. Member FDIC. More information is available online at www.bankbac.com.

Maximum Enforcement Period Friday night 12/30/22 – Monday night 1/02/23

Multi-state DUI Enforcement Campaign 12/30/22-1/01/22

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) urges everyone to ring in 2023 responsibly by designating a sober driver.

The CHP will conduct a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) starting at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022, continuing through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2023.  During that time, all available CHP officers will be out on patrol with a focus on removing impaired drivers.

“Every year, people’s lives are impacted forever by making the decision to get behind the wheel while under the influence,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Driving impaired is never worth it and certainly not the way to ring in the new year – always designate a sober driver.”

During the previous new year’s MEP, 29 people were killed and CHP officers arrested 495 impaired drivers.  Additionally, the CHP issued over 2,300 citations for speeding and 26 citations for seat belt violations during the same time period.

To help bolster this year’s holiday traffic safety effort across state lines, the CHP will again coordinate with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and law enforcement partners from all over the Western United States.  With this year’s “Eyes on the Interstates” initiative, officers from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana will be teaming up with the CHP to increase awareness about driving under the influence and removing impaired drivers from the roadways.

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

Don’t drop the ball on safety, savings or convenience

By John Goodwin, MTC

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Bay Area transit agencies encourage residents and visitors planning a night on the town to celebrate the new year this weekend to:

• Travel by bus, train or ferry. Several Bay Area transit agencies — including BART —will extend their usual operating hours Saturday night and early Sunday morning to accommodate New Year’s Eve revelers.
• Avoid long lines at the station by adding a Clipper card to your phone’s digital wallet ahead of time. No app fee is required, and customers can instantly load cash value with their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. For those who already have Clipper, make sure you have your round-trip fare loaded before boarding.
• Go to clippercard.com and visit Clipper’s Apple Pay or Google Pay pages for more information, including step-by-step instructions on how to add a new Clipper card to your iPhone or Android system phone running Android 5 or later.

Clipper will waive the standard $3 new-card fee for customers who choose Clipper on their mobile phone. The $3 fee will be charged to customers who opt for a traditional plastic card. MTC reminds travelers riding on BART that each rider age 5 or older needs their own Clipper card to pay the BART fare.

MTC is the transportation planning, funding and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC operates the Clipper system on behalf of the region’s transit agencies.

 

City’s 10th homicide of the year

By Antioch Police PIO Ashley Crandell

Following multiple 9-1-1 calls to Antioch Police Dispatch Center Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at 2:13 pm, officers immediately responded to the scene of a shooting in the 2300 block of Mandarin Way in the Sycamore neighborhood. They located an adult female, 31-year-old Hannisha Willis, lying on the sidewalk, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. During a press conference Crandell said the victim was transported to an area hospital and was later pronounced deceased.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and took over the investigation. They learned prior to the shooting, there was a physical altercation that ensued between Willis and the suspect, Ms. Serico Justice, age 37.

Prior to the physical altercation, Justice armed herself with a firearm, which she retrieved from her residence. During the fight, the firearm discharged and struck Ms. Willis in the head. Investigators recovered the suspected firearm used in the homicide.

Detectives arrested Justice for murder, and she was incarcerated at the Martinez Detention Facility. This case will be presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. This was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.

The members of the Antioch Police Department extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Hannisha Willis.

It’s the city’s 10th homicide of the year according to the Antioch Police Crime Statistics which don’t currently show the shooting death of the gas station convenience store clerk in November nor last week’s shooting death of the 16-year-old boy in a park.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Gerber at (925) 481-8297 or via email: dgerber@antiochca.gov. You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Daniel H. Sohn, President & CEO, Antioch Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau

ANTIOCH, CA— The Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced today that Marivel Branco, Antioch Branch Manager at Travis Credit Union, will serve as the Chamber’s Board Chair in 2023.

Branco previously served as the Board’s Secretary/Treasurer. Also serving in board leadership will be Michael Gabrielson, Co-Owner of Willow Park Mercantile located on G street in Antioch’s Historic Downtown Rivertown District. Gabrielson will serve as the organization’s Secretary/Treasurer for the 2023 Fiscal Year.

“I couldn’t be more honored to represent Travis Credit Union as Board Chair for the Antioch Chamber of Commerce in 2023,” said 2023-2024 Board Chair-Elect Branco. “The Antioch Chamber is embarking on new journeys this coming year and so I can’t wait to work with our President and CEO, Daniel Sohn, on these efforts.”

Recently, Travis Credit Union held a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of its Hillcrest Avenue Branch in Antioch. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce was there to support Branco, who will serve as the location’s Branch Manager upon its completion.

Since 1938, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce has been the lead advocacy organization for business in Antioch and works daily to build a healthy economy and to improve the quality of life in our community and abroad. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 85 years supporting the local business community in 2023. Branco, Gabrielson, and the Chambers 15-member board will be sworn in at the organization’s Annual Gala on Friday, March 24, 2023. Tickets will be available soon.

For more information and membership visit www.antiochchamber.com.

Cops in California no longer have to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; jaywalking no longer a crime

By California High Patrol

As we head into the new year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is educating the public on traffic safety laws that were passed during this year’s legislative season and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.  The laws take effect January 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted.

Public Employment: Peace Officers: Citizenship (Senate Bill (SB) 960, Skinner)

The law maintains that peace officers, including peace officer trainees, be legally authorized to work in the United States consistent with federal law and regulations, however, removes the requirement that they be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Catalytic Converters (SB 1087, Gonzalez) (Assembly Bill (AB) 1740, Muratsuchi)

These laws specifically list who can sell catalytic converters to recyclers and require those recyclers to keep documentation such as the year, make, model, and copy of the vehicle title from which the catalytic converter was removed.  The purpose of these laws is to help reduce catalytic converter theft.

Vehicular Manslaughter: Speeding and Reckless Driving (SB 1472, Stern)

This law expands the criteria for “gross negligence” as it relates to the crime of vehicular manslaughter.  Drivers involved in sideshow activity, exhibition of speed, or speeding over 100 miles per hour which results in a fatality could now be charged with Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence.

Motor Vehicle Speed Contests and Exhibitions of Speed (AB 2000, Gabriel)

Parking lots and off-street parking facilities are now included as locations where it is a crime to engage in a speed contest, exhibition of speed, or sideshow activity.

Endangered Missing Advisory: Feather Alert (AB 1314, Ramos)

The new “Feather Alert” allows law enforcement agencies to request the CHP to initiate an alert when an indigenous person has been kidnapped, abducted, or reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, and specific criteria has been met to permit alert activation. Additionally, consistent with the Department’s existing AMBER, Blue, and Silver Alert programs, this new “Feather Alert” program encourages the use of radio, television, and social media to spread the information about the missing indigenous person.

Hit-and-Run Incidents: Yellow Alert (AB 1732, Patterson)

This law authorizes law enforcement agencies to request the CHP to activate a “Yellow Alert” when a fatal hit-and-run crash has occurred, and specific criteria has been met to permit alert activation. The law also encourages local media outlets to disseminate the information contained in a Yellow Alert.  The new law serves to use the public’s assistance to improve the investigatory ability for law enforcement agencies throughout the state when working to solve fatal hit-and-run crashes.

Online Marketplaces: Reporting (AB 1700, Maienschein)

This law requires the Attorney General’s Office to create an online reporting system for users of third-party online marketplaces to report listings of suspected stolen items.  The reported information would be available to local law enforcement and the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force to assist with investigations.

Bicycles Omnibus Bill (AB 1909, Friedman)

Much like the move over or slow down law, this law provides for increased protections to bicyclists by requiring vehicles passing or overtaking a bicycle in the same direction, to move over to an adjacent lane of traffic, if one is available, or slow down and only pass the bicyclist when safe to do so.  The law also permits Class 3 e-bike riders to use approved bicycle paths and trails, bikeways, and bicycle lanes.  The law prohibits local governments from requiring bicycle registration and allows local authorities to prohibit any electric bicycle on an equestrian, hiking, or other recreational trail.

Electric Bicycles: Safety and Training Program (AB 1946, Boerner Horvath)

This requires the CHP to work with other traffic safety stakeholders such as the California Office of Traffic Safety, to develop statewide safety and training programs for electric bicycles.  This training program, which will consist of electric bicycle riding safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road and laws pertaining to electric bicycles, will launch on the CHP’s website in September 2023.

Pedestrians (AB 2147, Ting)

This law prohibits peace officers from stopping pedestrians for certain pedestrian-specific violations, such as crossing the road outside of a crosswalk, unless there is an immediate danger of a crash. The CHP reminds all road users of the responsibility to travel safely and look out for one another on the road.

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