APD Crisis team and SWAT members, Brentwood PD’s armored rescue vehicle assist

By Sgt. Kristian Palma #6286, Antioch Police Patrol Services Bureau

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at approximately 5:05 PM, Antioch Police officers responded to Wightman Court for a call regarding shots being fired during a verbal disturbance in front of a residence.

While officers were responding, additional callers reported hearing several more shots.

Upon arrival, officers established containment around the involved residence. With the assistance of on duty Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) members, SWAT team members, and the Brentwood Police Department’s armored rescue vehicle, APD officers were able to safely remove the victim from the residence and resolve this highly volatile and tense situation.

After approximately one hour of de-escalation efforts, the suspect, 18-year-old Angel Jiminez of Antioch, surrendered to APD officers and was subsequently arrested without further incident. Through the investigation, it was determined that Jiminez used a replica firearm to shoot the victim with a metal ball bearing, causing an injury.

Antioch Police Captain Matt Koch later shared the suspect used either a “pellet or BB” gun.

This was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the community. The Antioch Police Department is pleased to have peacefully resolved the situation and restored a sense of normalcy to the affected community.

Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau. Tips can also be sent to tips@antiochca.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Antioch Chamber of Commerce

At the annual Antioch Chamber of Commerce Gala on Friday, March 28, 2025, Mike’s Pastry Shop was awarded the 2024 Antioch Small Business of the Year and Travis Credit Union was honored as the 2024 Antioch Large Corporate Business of the Year.

Small Business of the Year – Mike’s Pastry Shop

Congratulations to Mike’s Pastry Shop for being awarded the Small Business of the Year Award! This well-deserved recognition goes beyond their delicious pastries and warm, welcoming staff. It honors their unwavering commitment to the community. While they never seek the spotlight, Mike’s Pastry Shop quietly made and continues to make a difference by consistently donating to those in need, sharing their love for baking in the most meaningful ways.

Their generosity, done without expectation of praise, speaks volumes about their values and dedication to giving back. This award is not just for their exceptional baked goods but for the kindness and compassion they sprinkle into everything they do.

Thank you, Mike’s Pastry Shop for blessing us all with your kindness, generosity, and delicious treats.

Large Corporate Business of the Year – Travis Credit Union

Travis Credit Union continues to be recognized for its outstanding service and commitment to financial wellness, earning several prestigious awards. In 2024, they were named on the Newsweek’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions List, a testament to its excellence in banking. Additionally, they have been honored as a Forbes Best-In-State Credit Union for multiple years, showcasing its dedication to superior member service. Their impact extends beyond traditional banking, as seen in their recognition as the U.S. Air Force Distinguished Credit Union of the Year.

More than just a financial institution, Travis CU actively works to uplift communities by advocating for financial education, assisting the underserved, and investing in meaningful partnerships. Through its knowledge is Power Financial Education, Financial Literacy, and Financial Advocacy, they collaborate with organizations such as Opportunity Junction, The Lighthouse Mentoring Center, Antioch Parks and Recreation, and the Antioch Public Library.

With a passion for making a difference, Travis Credit Union continues to change lives and strengthen communities through financial wellness.

Economic Development Department partners with key stakeholders to offer direct services to the small business community.

By Collette Hanna, Executive Director, Alliance for Community Development & Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch

ANTIOCH, CA — The City of Antioch Economic Development Department has launched the Antioch Business Collaborative, a collective effort to support the city’s small business community. The Antioch Business Collaborative brings together technical assistance providers and funders to provide one-on-one as well as group advisory services, and access to capital for small businesses located in the city of Antioch. It provides a range of resources to help ensure small business success in the Antioch community.

The Antioch Business Collaborative is an economic development initiative of the City of Antioch, with the goal of providing support to the over 3,000 small businesses in the city. The initiative is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, with targeted support provided to businesses through 2027. Through the Antioch Business Collaborative, small businesses can contact one of the designated partners for help with any of the following services:

• Technical assistance on starting a business, writing a business plan, budgeting, financial management, marketing, and other topics
• Workshops and accelerator programs
• Assistance with access to capital including low-interest loans and grants

Antioch Business Collaborative partners include:
• Alliance for Community Development
• Arroyo West
• East Bay Small Business Development Center
• ESO Ventures
• Pacific Community Ventures
• Renaissance Center
• Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative
• Working Solutions CDFI

In addition, according to Gaby Seltzer, the City’s Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce “has been actively involved as a supporting partner in this effort. The Chamber and the Antioch Business Collaborative are two separate but mutually supportive business resources. The Antioch Business Collaborative is a group of organizations funded by city contracts to provide free technical assistance to all Antioch businesses. The Chamber is a membership organization that provides input and promotes these services to its members.”

“We are very proud to support the small business community in Antioch, understanding that they play a critical role in building the entire Antioch economy. Our businesses deserve support to help them grow and thrive, and our residents and community need their existence for our everyday needs of goods and services. We’re happy to have this partnership in place to build and grow the Antioch economy,” said Brad Helfenberger.

Businesses can visit www.growfromwithinantioch.com to learn more about the Antioch Business Collaborative and to find a partner with which to work on growing their business.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Dress like a cow to eat free on opening day at new location in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center on Lone Tree Way

Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m.

A new Chick-fil-A® restaurant will begin serving guests in Antioch on Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 a.m. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Evan Hawthorne to serve as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center. The new restaurant brings approximately 100 jobs to the community.

To celebrate the restaurant moo-ving into town, Hawthorne and his team are inviting the community to show off their cow spots at the restaurant on opening day for one free entrée*!

Whether it’s a full cow suit or a simple cow-spotted accessory, Guests of all ages are encouraged to join the fun. The celebration takes place on opening day, offering the community a chance to celebrate the iconic Chick-fil-A Cows seen in TV commercials and on billboards. Guests dressed in cow attire can redeem the offer of one free entrée inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru.

Located at 5705 Lone Tree Way, Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering dine-in, drive-thru and carry-out.

Locally Owned and Operated
• “Chick-fil-A holds a special place in my family’s heart, and I am forever grateful to my father-in-law for introducing me to the brand – it has truly changed my life,” said Hawthorne. As we open our doors in Antioch, my goal is to make a meaningful impact by bringing our community together through service and care. I look forward to mentoring future generations while serving great food with genuine hospitality.”

Evan started his journey with Chick-fil-A as a Team Member at his father-in-law’s restaurant in Fremont, California and advanced to General Manager. Today, he is thrilled to become the local Owner-Operator of the first Chick-fil-A in Antioch – a dream nearly eight years in the making.

Caring for the Antioch Community
Hawthorne is committed to giving back to the Antioch community by:
• Recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the Antioch area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year.
• Participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits, helping to create over 35 million meals nationwide to date.
• Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts of Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, a Feeding America partner food bank, in honor of the new restaurant.

For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on Instagram. For more on Chick-fil-A’s high-quality menu options, click here.

*Guests who dress in cow attire on opening day can redeem the offer of one free entrée inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru. Breakfast offer options are a Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit, Egg White Grill or 4-ct Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis® . Lunch/dinner offer options are Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, 8-ct Grilled Nuggets and a 5-ct Nugget Kid’s Meal for kids. The offer is limited to one per person in cow attire, per day, while supplies last. Customizations are not available for this offer and no purchase is necessary. See the restaurant for more details.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc. 
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by local Owner-Operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.  

Chick-fil-A opened its first restaurant in the UK in early 2025 with the goal of launching five locations across the UK within the next two years. The first Singapore restaurant is set to open in late 2025, marking the brand’s entry into Asia. 

Chick-fil-A local Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at  www.chick-fil-a.com  and @ChickfilANews. 
 

 

For Most Impact and Lifetime Achievement, respectively

By Antioch Chamber of Commerce

During the annual Gala on Friday, March 28, 2025, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce honored Deer Valley High School Vice Principal Mike Green as the 2024 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Most Impact and former Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock with the 2024 Antioch Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement award. The event was held at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center.

2024 Citizen of the Year for Most Impact – Mike Green

Mike is the kind of volunteer every community dreams of – dedicated, selfless and endlessly giving. His commitment to service extends both locally and internationally, having traveled alongside his father to Mexico and Zambia to assist with dental work for those in need. A natural leader from a young age, Mike achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at just 12 years old and has since continued his scouting journey as a Scoutmaster, tirelessly fundraising and mentoring young scouts.

Beyond scouting, Mike has devoted his career to shaping young minds, serving as an elementary school principal and now as the Vice Principal at Deer Valley High School. His passion for helping students reach their full potential extends to the athletic field, where he previously coached track at Deer Valley. His impact in Antioch runs deep – serving on the boards of Delta Advocacy, the Leo Fontana Foundation, and the Rotary Club of the Delta, where he has championed initiatives supporting low-income families, youth, and seniors.

Mike’s generosity does not stop there. He founded the Home Team program, which provides minor home repairs for local seniors, ensuring they can live safely and comfortably. His heart for service is also evident in the kitchen, where he volunteers as a sous chef, preparing meals for community dinners benefiting causes such as the Elderly Wish Foundation and Special Needs Christmas events. The list of Mike’s contributions could go on and on, but one thing is clear—his impact is profound, and his dedication to Antioch is unmatched. He is truly an incredible, selfless, and exemplary member of our community.

2024 Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement – Former Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock

Lori is the true definition of a servant leader, dedicating countless hours to understanding and uplifting her community. Her passion and commitment have driven numerous initiatives that have positively impacted Antioch and beyond.

From coaching youth sports to organizing fundraising efforts, Lori has always prioritized the well-being of children and families. She played a pivotal role in coordinating the first Women’s March in Antioch, raising awareness for women’s rights in East County. She also initiated the Veterans Banner Program, a heartfelt tribute that honors local veterans by displaying their images along the city’s main streets.

As a dedicated board member of PAL (Police Activities League), Lori works tirelessly to support fundraising efforts for youth programs, ensuring that children have access to positive activities and opportunities. Additionally, she serves as the Chair of the Elderly Wish Foundation, granting seniors their final wishes and bringing joy to their lives in their most precious moments. Lori’s impact extends even further as she was instrumental in the opening of Antioch’s Family Justice Center, providing essential resources and support for individuals and families in need.

Her efforts have not only strengthened community programs but have also inspired countless individuals to take action and give back. Whether advocating for women’s rights, honoring veterans, supporting youth, or fulfilling the wishes of seniors, Lori’s selfless contributions have touched lives in profound ways. Her lifelong commitment to service and advocacy is a testament to her character, making her a truly deserving recipient of this award.

3 males, 1 female fled in stolen vehicle; police helicopter, Antioch & Pittsburg PD, CCC Sheriff’s Office assist

See 4/1/25 Update: Suspects identified; all four are from Antioch, one was arrested for similar charges in December and January

By Allen D. Payton

According to Pleasant Hill Police Lt. Jason Kleven, on Thursday, March 27, 2025, “The Pleasant Hill Police Department responded to a report of a possible robbery in progress at the 7-Eleven store parking lot located at 601 Patterson Blvd. Two delivery truck drivers were making a scheduled delivery when several suspects stole multiple cartons of cigarettes from the truck’s cargo area. No weapons or injuries were reported during the theft.

The suspects fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. Pleasant Hill Police Detectives later located the vehicle traveling on Highway 4 near Concord. With the help of a police helicopter, the vehicle led authorities to the city of Antioch, where the vehicle stopped near Fremont Elementary School. Four suspects then fled on foot from the vehicle.

With the support of Antioch Police, Pittsburg Police, the Sheriff’s Office, and the helicopter, officers set up a perimeter. All four adult suspects were apprehended and arrested.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are asking anyone with information that may assist in the investigation to contact the Pleasant Hill Police Investigations Bureau at (925) 288-4630.

According to a press release by Lt. Joe Njoroge of the Antioch Police Field Services Bureau, “At approximately 2:57 p.m., APD Dispatch received a report about a suspect vehicle involved in a previous incident in Pleasant Hill. APD was requested to assist in locating the vehicle, which was quickly found in the area.

While driving near the intersection of F Street and W. 13th, the suspect vehicle collided with a fence. The suspects then fled the scene on foot. Pleasant Hill PD arrived shortly after, and with the assistance of the Contra Costa Office of the Sheriff and APD, all suspects were apprehended.”

Njoroge later said the four suspects included three males and one female.

3/28/25 10:45 AM UPDATE: In response to a question from an eyewitness who claimed another person was also arrested, the lieutenant said, “A fifth person was detained but he was not associated so, he was released on scene.”

Antioch Police issued a Community Alert on Facebook Thursday afternoon that they were “working in the area of Antioch Middle School and the surrounding area of F Street from W. 13th to W. 18th. Expect heavy police presence in the area. If you see anything suspicious, please call 911 or (925) 778-2441 immediately.”

Later APD provided an update, writing, “We have now cleared the area. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. There is no danger to the community, and the subjects we were looking for have been arrested. Stay safe, and as always, report any suspicious activity to 911 or (925) 778-2441.

4/1/25 UPDATE: According to Pleasant Hill Police, the four suspects were 20-year-old Robert Lee Crawford (born 12/9/04), a six-foot tall, 165-pound Black male from Antioch, 19-year-old Robert Samule Garcia-Scrape of Antioch (born 7/22/05), a five-foot, 11-inch tall, 200-pound White male with blond hair, 21-year-old Jailen Emani Scales of Antioch (born 2/3/04), a six-foot tall, 200-pound Black male and 24-year-old Marieilacqua Bartholomew, a five-foot, one-inch tall, 130-pound Black female, also from Antioch.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Crawford is being held in the West County Detention Center on no bail; Garcia-Scrape is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on no bail and his next court appearance is on April 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 03, Superior Court, Mt. Diablo; and Scales is also being held in the West County Detention Center on no bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, Scales was arrested last year, on Dec. 6th by San Francisco Police for burglary, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, carrying a loaded firearm on a person or in a vehicle while in a public place, receiving or concealing stolen property, and resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer. He was arrested again on Jan. 15, this year by Fremont PD for robbery, carrying a loaded firearm and with intent to commit a felony, carrying a concealed weapon with a large capacity magazine, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, and elder or dependent adult abuse.

No additional information could be found through online searches for Bartholomew. However, according to Pleasant Hill Police Lt. Jason Kleven, she is also still in custody.

Majority of parcel that’s remained vacant for 20 years finally being developed, just not as originally envisioned

By Allen D. Payton

Starting their regular session an unusual 55 minutes late, the Antioch City Council met on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and approved the new Lone Tree Retail Project on an unusual 3-2 split vote with Councilmembers Don Freitas and Monica Wilson joining in opposition.

The meeting began with a closed-door meeting at 6:00 p.m. before the regular session began at 7:55 p.m.

“We had a closed session before this. So, here we are ready to go,” Mayor Ron Bernal explained for the delay.

Acting City Attorney Derek Cole reported out from Closed Session saying, the Council met to discuss three items. The first was an employee evaluation. No reportable action. Second was conference with real property negotiators on the Sycamore Square police substation. The council gave direction to its negotiators. No reportable action. Third, was a “Qui Tam” including several agencies. No reportable action was taken, he stated.

Lone Tree Retail Project Approved on Split Vote
The Lone Tree Retail project on three parcels totaling 3.22 acres next to the In-Shape Fitness health club at 4099 Lone Tree Way, is part of an 18-acre Master Planned Development, named Antioch Town Center, that had previously been approved in 2004, when Freitas was Mayor, for fitness, grocery and hard and soft retail uses. The health club was built in 2007, but the rest of the site has remained undeveloped.

Following council discussion with both Freitas and Wilson expressing their concerns that the project didn’t fit with what they had envisioned for the site, the Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to approve the project.

According to the City staff report, the new project consists of three buildings: a car wash, fast casual restaurant (aka Quick Service Restaurant or QSR), and combination, fast casual restaurant and retail building, along with associated site improvements Tenants with signed leases include Mister Car Wash, Habit Burger & Grill, Chipotle and to be determined retail. It will also include an adjacent multi-family residential project on the nine acres behind the project.

A representative of the project applicant, Architecture Plus, Inc. of Modesto, Paul Rothbard, former CEO and owner of In-Shape Health Clubs, said the larger restaurants suggested by members of the public won’t work at that location as those types of restaurants want freeway visibility.

At the March 11th meeting, he said they also had spoken with multiple grocery stores, but none were interested.

“The rear nine acres are in contract with a developer, a local, Central Valley, to build a residential complex,” Rothbard said. “They’re ready to go…in Q3 of this year.” His father and partner on the project, Morton, was also in attendance at the meeting.

The son said they’re hoping to be under construction with the retail project by this August and have it completed by next July.

Rothbard also mentioned that the Chipotle will have a drive-through for picking up orders made on the app.

The Council then heard opposition from three members of the community during their March 11th meeting, with the main concerns being the fast food uses, no grocery store and no affordable housing included in the adjacent multi-family residential development.

Brian Heron of Fresno-based Commercial Retail Associates, who has been working on the property with the Rothbards since 2005, responded to those concerns, saying, “Under the previous PD..7,000 square-foot, sit down, in-house restaurants were suggested. Back then, we had agreed to get those 7,000 square-foot restaurants. Since COVID, it’s a whole new world. By and large those are obsolete concepts and…not willing to come to this location. And we have tried…many and many a time.”

The brands are “in demand in your community,” he added.

“We have tried getting all the grocers,” Heron continued. “We’ve spoken to Sprouts…to Nugget…from big to small. We went from Food 4 Less, down. We’ve tried Amazon. There isn’t a grocer for this site. We went into the next phase of that development, anchor…in 2008, 2009. The market shifted. Once again, change.”

During Council discussion, Freitas spoke first saying he was “very surprised”, “disappointed” and “very, very saddened.”

“We had a very, very grandiose view of this particular development…and I embraced it,” he continued. “I’m conflicted…because the world has changed, and we all are aware of that.”
Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha asked, “Are we really in a position that we can turn away business and revenue?”

District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker then said, “What the opponents are saying is ‘we don’t want this, bring us something else.’ But this is not our property. We’re talking to the actual owners who are trying to develop it because they lost money on it for 20 years for not being able to get a project completed.”

But then she switched things up and said, “My recommendation was to sell it to someone who wanted to develop more housing.”

Mayor Ron Bernal spoke next saying, “I was also surprised, not at the uses, but the way they’re oriented.” He asked if staff if there was an attempt to place the drive-through on the back side of the building. When you’re looking at 30 cars sitting up there with marginal landscaping, that’s a whole different looking project to me.

City of Antioch Associate Planner Nathan Tinclair responded saying, “One of the things we have to look at on this parcel is it’s already partially developed. There’s already this main entrance drive with the main, kind of circle with the access points to the adjacent parcels.”

He then shared his concerns with the project being presented to council “with a couple days’ notice to look at it on really tiny sets of plans” as well as landscaping, since “Lone Tree is lower and the pads, higher.”

At Freitas’ urging, the council voted 5-0 to continue the item until their meeting last night, March 25th.

A noise study was completed to confirm that noise generated by the new project does not create a significant impact, in excess of the noise levels permitted in the City of Antioch General Plan.

According to Tinclair, the Planning Commission at their February 19, 2025 meeting, with two members (Robert Martin and Christian Hills) absent and one vacancy, voted 4-0 to approve the Addendum to the Adopted Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. All four members, Chair Kevin Riley, Vice-Chair Seth Webber, and Commissioners Jennifer Perez and Cortney Jones, voted in favor.

The IS/MND was approved by the City Council in 2005. But the motion to adopt the Final Development Plan, Use Permit and Design Review failed on a 3-1 vote, with Webber voting no, as motions require four “yes” votes to pass.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, the Council majority of Bernal, Rocha and Torres-Walker approved all four requirements for development of the project, while Freitas and Wilson voted “No”.

Plus, new Animal Control Officer; brings total sworn to 84

By Antioch Police Department

Meet our newest APD Team Members!

Please join us in welcoming four new lateral officers and our newest Animal Control Officer to the Antioch Police Department family! They were administered their oaths of office during a ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Officer Tanner Andrade
Tanner grew up in Brentwood and now lives there with his wife, Lauren, and their three daughters. He enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his two German Shepherds, Xena and Eleanor. Tanner joins us after serving over two years with San Bruno PD. Fun Fact: Tanner is an avid video game player!

Officer Rhondon Pollard
Rhondon was raised in Stockton and is a proud Bear Creek High graduate. After nine years in the Army National Guard, he followed his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer, serving two years with Oakland PD. Rhondon is excited to bring his experience to APD. Fun Fact: Rhondon loves going out for ramen with his wife.

Officer Jake Merrill
Jake was born in Stockton and graduated from Escalon High School in 2007. He earned his associate and bachelor’s degrees before serving in the military and working for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. Fun Fact: Jake enjoys spearfishing in Big Sur and scuba diving in Monterey.

Officer Richard Siemietkowski
Rich, a US Marine Corps veteran, has extensive law enforcement experience, including time with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Veterans Affairs Police. Most recently, he worked as a full-time police instructor. In his downtime, Rich loves camping with his family and supporting his daughter’s horse competitions. Fun Fact: Rich enjoys rebuilding classic cars and training in Jiu Jitsu.

Animal Control Officer Danika (Dani) Anderson
Dani grew up in Stockton and recently relocated to Antioch. She has over 10 years of experience in the veterinary field, dedicating her life to advocating for animals. Dani enjoys baking, spending time with her two daughters and husband, and watching history documentaries. Fun Fact: Dani once won an axe-throwing battle!

We’re excited to have each of them on board. Welcome to the APD family!

According to Lt. Michael Mellone, there are now 84 sworn officers on the police force “and more coming. We’re projecting six more in the next month.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.