By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at approximately 9:36 PM, Antioch police officers were called to St. Christopher Court for a subject who had been shot. When police arrived, they located a 57-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began providing first aid and called for Contra Costa Fire Department and ambulance paramedics.

The victim was transported to a local area trauma center where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Detectives from the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene. During the preliminary investigation officers learned that the shooting happened in the roadway, at the 3400 block of Rio Grande Drive, after some sort of confrontation between the victim and an unknown suspect. Afterwards, the victim fled to St. Christopher Court where the police were called.

Currently, the investigation is still active and evidence is being collected.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gonzalez at 925-779-6923, or the Antioch Police Department nonemergency line at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Photos by Antioch Police.

By Sgt. Rick Smith, Antioch Police Field Services – Patrol

On August 31, 2019 multiple agencies gathered at the Antioch Police Department to conduct a Pro-active Detail to prevent “Sideshow Activity” and other reckless driving at multiple locations in East Contra Costa County. This was in response to a previous large scale “sideshow” event that occurred on August 23, 2019 and spanned multiple cities and locations in Eastern Contra Costa County.

The Multi-Agency Team consisting of over 20 Officers and Deputies gathered to brief and prepare for the event. A zero-tolerance approach was to be taken and several target locations were identified. In addition to Antioch PD, officers and deputies from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, CHP, Brentwood PD, Pittsburg PD, and Oakley PD all participated. Air support was provided by the Sheriff’s Office, CHP, and

During that event, dozens of vehicles and hundreds of spectators took over city streets, intersections, and various freeway locations. Due to all of these participating Agencies in this portion of the county working together and taking an aggressive approach with zero tolerance enforcement to details of this type, the incident on August 23rd was the first incident to occur in over a year. Several prior enforcement details in the past with the same zero tolerance approach, resulted in numerous citations issued, vehicles referred to the State Referee program for illegal modifications and drivers arrested on various types of charges, have prevented these types of reckless “sideshows” from occurring.

Later in the evening, approximately 75-100 vehicles, with almost twice that in attendees and spectators, began to assemble in the northeast parking lot of the Somersville Town Center Mall located in Antioch. Officers began to monitor this group in preparation of a repeat “sideshow” from the previous week.

After a short time, the participants began to filter out of the parking lot in large groups. Contra Costa County Helicopter Star 1 and CHP Airplane Air 31, along with a UAV from the Antioch Police Department were overhead monitoring this event. As large groups began to leave the location, Officers followed them on both eastbound and westbound Highway 4 prevent any reckless type driving. Both Star 1 and Air 31 assisted by each following as the groups entered the freeway. APD’s UAV remained at the Mall to maintain visual of the remaining cars.

One of the drivers chose to drive recklessly as he was leaving and did a series of “donuts” with his vehicle. Officers were able to quickly make an enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver and impounded his vehicle for 30-days.

The western group of participants left the county and were later identified as participants related to the enforcement action in the city of Oakland that occurred the same evening. Officers from this detail are providing information as needed to assist in their efforts and investigation.

A large group that left from the mall entered a private Commercial Warehouse lot off of Wilbur Avenue in the City of Antioch. This group proceeded to hold a “Sideshow” with several vehicles driving recklessly and several others observing. All Officers converged on the area and were able to detain all participants and spectators. Several vehicles were captured on video performing reckless driving acts by CHP Air 31. CHP Helicopter H30 arrived on scene to assist a short time later. All of the participants were subsequently arrested and later released on citations. This resulted in over 71 arrests. All vehicles identified to be involved in this event were towed and stored. This resulted in over 25 vehicles towed and stored. This included the vehicles captured performing dangerous driving maneuvers. These particular vehicles were towed and stored with 30-day holds and the drivers arrested for their reckless actions.

Through the cooperation of all involved agencies, these type of enforcement details will continue to occur within Contra Costa County. The intention is to deter these types of dangerous events from occurring and hopefully prevent any serious incidents which could result in the loss of life.

Anyone with information is asked to call 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.

Suspect Kiaira Kellie Fluker. Photo by Milpitas PD.

Two other suspects still unknown, at large

By Detective Kevin Jackson #273, Milpitas Police Department

On August 2, 2019 at about 8:32 p.m. officers responded to a report of a theft at Big 5 Sporting Goods, located at 757 East Calaveras Boulevard, where three suspects stole $7,000 worth of merchandise. The suspects were last seen leaving the area in a grey 4-door Nissan Altima in an unknown direction.

Milpitas Police Detectives have been working this case diligently and obtained security camera footage of the suspects from Big 5 Sporting Goods, which helped identify Kiaira Kellie Fluker as one of the suspects. Fluker was identified as a suspect in other sporting goods store thefts in Daly City, Napa, Redwood City, Sacramento, Sunnyvale, and Walnut Creek. Detectives learned Fluker had a $50,000 Ramey arrest warrant for grand theft from the Sacramento Police Department.

On August 28, 2019, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Detectives from the Special Investigations Unit located and arrested Fluker at her residence, in Antioch, CA, and transported her back to Milpitas. Fluker was interviewed and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for commercial burglary, grand theft, organized retail theft, and the warrant. At this time, the other two suspects are still unknown and remain at large.

If you have any information regarding the incident at Big 5 Sporting Goods, please call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400. Additionally, the information can be given anonymously by calling the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500 or via the Milpitas Police Department Website at: http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip

Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors District 5 Map.

Gus Kramer from the County Assessor’s webpage.

By Daniel Borsuk

Legally and politically embattled Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer is “seriously planning” to run for the District 5 seat of the Contra County Board of Supervisors, a seat held by 20-year veteran Federal Glover of Pittsburg, the Contra Costa Herald has learned.

District 5 includes portions of Antioch north of Highway 4.

Miffed earlier this month when the board of supervisors decided to not award him a 1.96 percent cost-of-living increase that would have raised  his annual salary from $208,013  to $212,086, based on findings of an average salary study Contra Costa County Administrator David Tawa had compiled of nine other counties of elected officials holding the offices of assessor, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder, and treasurer-tax collector. (See related article)

“I am planning to file for the district five seat,” said Kramer. “I will file in March.”

At the early August board of supervisors meeting, Twa instructed supervisors to not award the assessor a cost-of-living increase by stating, “Currently the Assessor is 1.96 percent below the Average of the nine Bay Area comparable counties. A salary adjustment for the Assessor will be considered at a later date, once other issues in the Department have been resolved.”

Federal Glover from his Facebook page.

Kramer was re-elected to another four-year term of office in last November’s election, so he says he has nothing to lose in running for a supervisorial seat, he told The Herald.

Without going into detail, Kramer did not address the ongoing legal challenges he faces chiefly the Superior Court proceedings on allegations of “willful or corrupt” misconduct in office involving county employees.

The county assessor, who resides in Martinez, but grew up and attended and graduated from former Pacifica High School in Bay Point, said he has no problem running against veteran supervisor Glover.

“I want to reveal what is really going on during those closed door sessions.  There are many unanswered questions about the legality of those closed sessions,” Kramer said.

In the meantime, Glover told the Herald he plans to run for a sixth four-year term.

“I plan to run for re-election in 2020,” Glover said. “I have worked hard for the constituents of District 5. I will run on my strong record.”

Glover would not comment on Kramer’s prospective candidacy.

“I don’t want to read anything into it at this time,” he said.

First increase in 14 years, will go into effect after next election

By Allen Payton

At their Tuesday, August 27, 2019 meeting the Antioch City Council voted 4-1 to increase salaries for council members by 70% from $941.20 to $1,600.04 per month, the maximum allowed by state law. The increase will go into effect on January 1, 2021 after the next election.

According to the staff report, “the salaries for the Antioch City Council Members were last increased in 2006” and “on September 12, 2006, the salary for a Council Member was set at $941.20 per month.”

“Applying the allowed five percent increase for fourteen years (on a simple, non-compounded basis) to the $941.20 amount effective January 1, 2007, state law would permit an increase to $1,600.04 per month effective January 1, 2021.”

Council member salaries in Concord, the largest city in the county, is currently $1,352 per month, according to City Attorney Thomas Smith.

It will become operative when the next council is seated. The council has to wait until the next election, according to state statute, he explained.

Council member salaries are based on city population.

No member of the public spoke on the item.

Council Member Lamar Thorpe made a motion to approve the increase.

“We spoke about this before so, I’m ready to move forward,” he said.

Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts seconded the motion.

“I appreciate the fact that it’s been 13 years since this council has had a raise. I’d like to see us fully staffed in the police department…in the 120’s, and we’re talking about the unhoused, tonight,” Council Member Lori Ogorchock stated. “I think the money can go somewhere else.”

“It will be a roll call vote, since it’s an ordinance,” City Clerk Arne Simonsen stated.

Council Member Lori Ogorchock was the only one to vote no and the motion to approve the pay raised passed 4-1.

By CHP-Contra Costa

Monday morning, Aug. 26, 2019 at approximately 8:00 am, we responded to a collision on Highway 4 westbound, near Loveridge Road. Upon arrival, we located a motorcycle rider who had rear-ended a Toyota Camry and was ejected off of his motorcycle, as a result of that collision.

Unfortunately, following that collision, the rider was struck by a big rig and sustained fatal injuries. Both the driver of the big rig and the Toyota are cooperating with our investigation. Multiple lanes were closed until approximately 10:00 am, but the roadway is now fully open. Identification of the motorcycle rider will be made through the Contra Costa Coroner’s Office.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sunday morning at about 2:18 a.m., Delta Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to Indian Slough for a missing person detail. Two men were fishing on an inflatable raft at Indian Slough when the raft apparently had a malfunction. One of the men swam to shore, but the other person was unaccounted for.

A CHP helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard and Contra Costa Fire Protection District arrived on scene with boats and aerial support, however, the missing man was not located

Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit later arrived on scene and took over the investigation and search. Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441.

By CHP-Contra Costa

This morning, at approximately 8:50 am, we responded to a collision on Balfour Road near American Way. Upon arrival, we located three vehicles which had been involved in a collision. Our investigation so far has revealed the following information:

The driver of a Nissan Altima was driving eastbound on Balfour, west of American Avenue behind a Mini Cooper. The driver of the Nissan attempted to pass the Mini Cooper over double solid yellow lines, but while attempting to overtake it, clipped the Mini Cooper and struck a white minivan head on, which was going westbound on Balfour.

The driver of the Nissan was pronounced deceased on scene, the driver of the Toyota minivan was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, and the driver of the Mini Cooper was unharmed. At this time (10:30 am), Balfour remains closed as we complete our investigation and clear the scene. We do not have an estimated time to re-open the roadway. We are still investigating whether drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in this collision.