Caltrans employees towed the five FEMA trailers to the City of Antioch’s maintenance faciliyt on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2019.

Expected to be located in Fitzuren Road lot; will serve as residence for eight months

Inside one of the trailers.

By Allen Payton

Five of the state’s 100 FEMA trailers left over from the Camp Fire, were delivered to Antioch on Saturday, as part of the governor’s response to the homeless crisis in California. They will be used as temporary, transitional housing for homeless residents in the city to move them out of encampments, provide better access to services, and ultimately into permanent housing. (See related article)

Mayor Sean Wright and all four Antioch City Council members were in attendance for the arrival of the trailers at the city’s maintenance yard, as well as City Manager Ron Bernal, Lavonna Martin, the Director of Health, Housing and Homeless Services for Contra Costa County, a representative of Senator Steve Glazer’s office, and Jo Bruno a homeless resident in Antioch. They each took turns looking inside the three of the trailers.

Each trailer can house between six and eight people.

Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts and Councilman Lamar Thorpe tour the inside of one of the trailers.

Who will occupy the trailers and where they will be located have been the main questions from Antioch residents. In addition, officials in attendance were asked when they will be occupied.

According to Antioch Councilman Lama Thorpe, who was one of the two members of the council’s ad hoc committee on homeless encampments, “the state has criteria for who gets to live in the trailers. Today marks the beginning of the timeline. Plus, the property needs to be found. I think the state’s focus is for those currently living in encampments.”

Asked if they would go to families with children who are currently living in cars, Martin responded, “we have individuals sleeping outside without any protection. It’s very difficult to provide services to them when they’re moving around. Families with children aren’t typically outside sleeping without protections.”

“Many encampment dwellers have already been living together for a number of years. That’s their family of choice,” she continued. “How do we work with them to help them into permanent housing?”

An employee from the city’s maintenance department shows the outside sink, refrigerator and stove.

“Right now, we are working to push out a request for qualifications for a non-profit organization to be a provider of services. Our CORE teams are already out in the community identifying individuals living outside,” Martin shared. “The governor has not mentioned a timeline. It’s no longer an eight-month program. These are now being supplied to the cities so we can work with them as long as it takes to move them into their permanent residence. Then that opens it up for another encampment.”

Asked where the trailers will be located, City Manager Ron Bernal responded, “we will be going through the planning commission and city council approval process for the location. This is for emergency housing for homeless. The property on Fitzuren Road is in the process of being transferred from the county to the city. It’s our primary location we’re considering. It has electricity there, it has sewer and water close by, it has gravel down. The fire department has determined it can serve that location.”

The planning commission is expected to vote on a recommendation at one of their meetings, this month and then the council will make the final decision in April, Bernal explained.

The five trailers currently located in the city’s maintenance yard.

In the City of Antioch’s effort to reduce homelessness, city officials applied to the Governor’s Office to be selected for five FEMA trailers that can be used to support homeless individuals and families. The City was selected to receive all five of the total 100 trailers the state is distributing. (See related article).

The trailers are part of Governor Newsom’s efforts to combat the homeless crisis in the state. They will be managed by a non-profit homeless service provider to be selected by competitive bid through the county. The five Antioch will be receiving can each provide emergency housing for three to four  people.

Contra Costa Health Services’ Division of Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) will work with those who will temporarily call the trailers home. H3 integrates housing and homeless services within the health system and coordinates housing and homeless services across county government and in the community. As the administrator for the homeless Continuum of Care, H3 works with key partners such as the nonprofit homeless and housing services providers, law enforcement and cities to develop innovative and community-specific strategies to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Where the trailers will be located in Antioch has yet to be decided.

The trailers will be delivered at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 at the City of Antioch Maintenance Yard, at 1201 W. 4th Street.

By Sergeant Matthew Harger #3305, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at approximately 5:25 pm, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to Oakley Road and Willow Avenue regarding a solo motorcycle collision. Upon arriving on scene Antioch Police Officers located the 44-year-old male motorcycle driver down in the roadway suffering from major injuries. American Medical Response Ambulance and Contra Costa Consolidated Fire Department personnel were on scene administering first aid until the driver was transported by helicopter to a local hospital. The motorcycle driver is currently in critical condition with life threatening injuries.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the collision investigation.

The preliminary investigation appears to indicate the motorcycle driver lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the ground. There were no other vehicles involved in this collision.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Traffic Officer Padilla at (925) 779-6900 ext. 85319 or bpadilla@ci.antioch.ca.us.

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

Photo by KTVU Fox2 News.

By Sergeant Matthew Harger #3305, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at approximately 6:45 pm, Antioch Police Department Officers were dispatched to Lone Tree Way just east of Deer Valley Road regarding a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arriving on scene Antioch Police Officers located the 11-year-old male in the roadway suffering from major injuries and he was eventually pronounced deceased at the scene by Contra Costa Consolidated Fire Department personnel.

Another victim was transported to the hospital with minor injuries according to post on Twitter by the Con Fire Public Information Officer.

Antioch Police Traffic Investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. The involved driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be involved at this time.

The preliminary investigation appears to indicate the victim was crossing Lone Tree Way outside of a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a passing vehicle.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Traffic Officer Johnsen at (925) 779-6900 ext. 84265 or ejohnsen@ci.antioch.ca.us.

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

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Discovered during investigation of but unrelated to lock down incident

By Lieutenant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Watch Commander Community Policing Bureau

On Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at approximately 10:18 am, Antioch High School staff members made the Antioch Police Department aware of information provided by a student concerning three individuals on campus possibly armed with weapons. The school was placed on lockdown by school staff and the Antioch Police Department assisted the school in attempting to locate the individuals. (See related article).

The information provided by the student could not be substantiated and the lockdown was later lifted once the school was determined to be safe. An unloaded pistol magazine was located on a student during an unrelated incident that occurred while officers were on campus. The student was detained and placed under arrest for possessing a firearm magazine on school grounds.

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.

By Allen Payton

The following was posted on the Antioch High School Facebook page late Thursday morning, Feb. 27:

“Good morning,

This is Antioch High School with an important safety announcement. A short time ago, a student reported that he saw a possible weapon on campus. As a precaution the school has been placed on lockdown and police are on campus. We will update you when the lockdown is lifted.

Thank you!”

Then, at about 12:40 p.m. the following was posted:

“THE LATEST NEWS!

This is Antioch High School with an update on this morning’s incident. The lockdown at Antioch High School has been lifted and all students are safe. Earlier this morning, a student reported that he saw a weapon on campus. The school immediately initiated lockdown procedures and notified police. APD did a thorough search of the campus and no weapons were located. However, a student was found to have an empty magazine clip that he reported he had shown to other students.

Thank you for patience as we work to make our school as safe as possible for all students.

Thank you!”

In response, Antioch School Board Trustee said “I am asking (Superintendent) Stephanie (Anello) to fill the School Resource Officer vacancy and meet with the CDE (California Department of Education) Director of School Emergency Planning and Safety. This is unbelievable these incidents keep occurring.”

One possible additional case of a county hospital staff member

By Allen Payton

Many residents of Antioch and East County have had questions about the coronavirus. The Herald asked Will Harper, Acting Communications Director for Contra Costa Health Services to provide answers to of them.

First, it’s been said that one of the nurses at the county hospital has contracted the virus and there are now four cases in the county.

“I’m only aware of three cases that were in the county, two of which have been transferred out of our jurisdiction, Contra Costa County,” Harper responded. “Now we only have one at a hospital in the county. I am not aware of any cases that originated in Contra Costa.”

Asked if that patient was at Kaiser Deer Valley, he replied “I wouldn’t identify the hospital where the remaining patient is located.”

“We have had no healthcare workers including nurses that have tested positive for coronavirus,” said Dr. Samir Shah, Chief Medical Officer of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. “The individual (county hospital staff member) we’re referring to developed upper respiratory symptoms within 24 hours of working with a potential patient with coronavirus. We’ve asked the individual to stay home in self-quarantine for the next 14 days. We are following the CDC guidelines. The tests were sent out earlier this week and our history with the CDC is that we’re getting back results within five to eight days.”

“They’re expanding their abilities to do testing, locally,” he explained. “So, in the near future we’re hoping to have access to testing closer to home for quicker turnaround. There will be an increase in the number of tests being requested from local hospitals.”

“Currently the CDC is determining which tests they will allow to happen based on their protocols and guidelines,” Dr. Shah said. “We can request the test, but they decide whether they’re going to run the test or not. We do this in conjunction with public health and the County Health Officer, Dr. Chris Farnitano.”

Asked why U.C. Davis Medical Center officials issued an announcement about the patient at their hospital and the public in Contra Costa County isn’t being informed which hospitals the patients are located, Harper said the health public information officers in the Bay Area all agreed it would be best for patient confidentiality to not provide that information.

“U.C. Davis executive leadership sent out very detailed information about the patient with coronavirus and hospital staff. It took local hospitals by surprise because we’ve been following strict communication guidelines avoiding individual patient disclosure details,” said Dr. Shah. “Public health controls what information can be offered up.”

Coronavirus. Image by CDC

“From a public reporting standpoint, it’s typically our policy to conform to patient privacy and not disclose patient care information to the public,” he stated. “However, given the level of interest and anxiety in the community, we are reconsidering how we are able to disclose information in a confidential manner that both meets the privacy requirements for the individual while still informing the public. Talking to you, today is part of that change.”

Finally, residents said they had heard there are U.S. Marshals at the county hospital to prevent staff from speaking about the patients with coronavirus there and that the hospital has been fined $250,000 because it had happened, previously.

Since it’s a federal matter, Harper suggested contacting Scott Pauley, the Public Information Officer for the Centers for Disease Control.

When reached for comment, Pauley replied, “No. That has nothing to do with the Marshals’ presence there. They are there to enforce the federal quarantine.”

“When a patient is in federal quarantine process, the Marshals enforce that isolation order to monitor the patient to make sure they don’t leave the hospital,” he said. “This is all part of the federal quarantine orders issued when they returned to the United States.”

“These individuals came from the Diamond Princess cruise ship,” Pauley added.

“I believe we had one U.S. Marshal around the clock, when the patient was here,” Dr. Shah shared.

The Good News

“The good news is that the individual that was brought here from Travis did well, was sent home and no longer requires any more hospital intervention,” he stated.

“While, this is a new virus and we’re still learning more every day, the international experience is that 80% of people who develop symptoms of this don’t require any hospitalization,” Dr. Shah added.

Antioch Police Officer Crandell with shoplifting suspect and the recovered items he allegedly stole. Photos by APD.

By Antioch Police Department

Officer Crandell was on an unrelated traffic stop at JCPenney when a man walked out of the store with $500 in stolen merchandise. The security alarm started going off at the store and the loss prevention officer flagged down Officer Crandell to tell her that the man was stealing. She was able to quickly apprehend the thief and recovered all of the stolen merchandise.

There has been an increase in shoplifting in this shopping center in recent weeks and our officers are doing extra patrols to combat it. Loss prevention is also doing an excellent job reporting thefts and obtaining suspect information. We are working closely with them to prevent theft and apprehend those responsible.