By Antioch Police Department

We are looking for the public’s help in locating 78-year-old Clarence Smith who suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Mr. Smith is 6’ tall, 150 lbs. with gray hair and blue eyes. Mr. Smith was last seen wearing black pants and a gray sweater leaving his Antioch residence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

County surveillance cameras recorded his vehicle in the area of Stone Valley Road and Danville Blvd in the City of Alamo at approximately 5:35 am today (10/2/19). The vehicle is a silver 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe CA license 4ZKH349. See attached photo.

Mr. Smith and his vehicle have yet to be located. A silver alert via CHP has been issued. If you locate Mr. Smith or the vehicle, please immediately call 9-1-1 or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch at 925-778-2441.

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations Bureau)

On Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, at approximately 3:09 PM, Antioch police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of E 16th Street for a male who had been shot. Officers arrived on scene and found a 45-year-old male on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Officers located a nearby residence where the shooting occurred. 33-year-old Arnulfo Coronado was contacted at the residence and evidence was located that indicated Coronado was the suspect in the shooting. A large amount of heroin and methamphetamine was located on Coronado’s person when he was searched. A semi-automatic firearm was also recovered at the scene. Coronado was arrested and booked into the county jail in Martinez, with bail set at one-million-dollars.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Smith at (925) 779-6876, or 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 Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit (Investigations Bureau)

On Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at 5:02 PM, Antioch Patrol Officers responded to the 1900 block of Alpha Way for a report of a male who had been stabbed. (See related article).

It was determined through the investigation of this case that the victim, 61-year-old Antioch resident, Tony Cotton, and the suspect, 28-year-old Antioch resident, Pedro Mares, recently met and were hanging out at the suspect’s house together. Without provocation the suspect attacked the victim with a knife, stabbing the victim three times.

The victim fled the attack by jumping out of a second story window. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Mares is currently in custody at the county jail in Martinez with a $1 million bail. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

No further information will be released regarding this case at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Bledsoe at (925) 779-6884, or 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.

Included an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales

By Allen Payton

On Saturday, Markstein Sales Company of Antioch celebrated their 100th anniversary with a big party for 500 of their employees, customers, friends and local government, fire and safety officials.  It included an appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale team and featured multiple tasting stations with decorated themes, plus a variety of food vendors.

Laura Markstein, the fourth-generation owner of the beer distributor, presided over the event and thanked all those who helped the company achieve success and its longevity.

Markstein was founded in 1919 with a horse, a wagon and six cases of beer just before the 13 years of prohibition hit. The company made it through that challenge, as well as many others, and Markstein Sales Co. now delivers over 4 million cases of world-class beers to 1,500 retailers in the Bay Area.  The company employs more than 160 people in the East Bay, supports numerous not-profit organizations and serves as a great example of success for a woman-led company in a typically male-dominated industry.

Laura acknowledged her father, Bob, who was also in attendance and joined him for a ride on the beer wagon pulled by the Clydesdale team.

The company relocated to Antioch 11 years ago, as pointed out by Mayor Sean Wright during his presentation to Laura.

“Antioch truly benefited 11 years ago when Markstein chose to expand,” he said. “Laura, congratulations on 100 years and thank so much for what you do for our community.”

The company is regularly listed as one of the top woman-owned businesses in the Bay Area. The company’s offices are located at 1645 Drive In Way in Antioch. For more information visit www.marksteinsalescompany.com.

See more photos on the Herald Facebook page.

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit Investigations Bureau

On Friday, Sept. 27, 2029 at 5:02 PM, Antioch Patrol Officers responded to the 1900 block of Alpha Way for a report of a male who had been stabbed. Officers arrived on scene and found a 61-year-old male suffering from several stab wounds to his torso. The male was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. According to a neighbor the man was airlifted from the parking lot on the north side of E. 18th Street, across from Wienerschnitzel.

A 28-year-old male was contacted at the scene and it was determined he was the person who committed the stabbing. The 28-year-old male was arrested and transported to the county jail after being interviewed regarding this incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Bledsoe at (925) 779-6884, or 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.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Violent Crimes Unit, Investigations Bureau

This morning, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at approximately 7:30 AM, 91-year-old Antioch resident George Pack, missing since early Saturday morning, was located alive by the San Francisco Police Department. (See related article).

Mr. Pack, who suffers from dementia, was located on foot in the SOMA District of San Francisco. Mr. Pack was taken to a local hospital for observation as a precautionary measure and is in stable condition at this time.

Mr. Pack’s vehicle is still outstanding – a red 1994 Nissan Pathfinder, CA license 3HLV677. If anyone locates Mr. Pack’s vehicle, they are encouraged to call their local law enforcement.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gragg at 925-779-6887, 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.

Last seen in Clayton, early Saturday morning

By Lieutenant Joe Donleavy #6011, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, at 1:15 AM, Antioch Police Officers took a missing person report after George Pack failed to return home (3037 Butternut Street) after visiting a friend in another part of Antioch. Mr. Pack was last seen wearing a green short sleeve polo shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. He is possibly driving his red 1994 Nissan Pathfinder (CA license 3HLV677). The vehicle has a 49er spare tire cover on the back. The vehicle was last seen on Marsh Creek Road near Diablo Parkway in Clayton early on the morning of Sept. 21, 2019.

Mr. Pack suffers from dementia. A Silver Alert has been issued in this case. If you see Mr. Pack, please immediately call 911 or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch at 925-778-2441 or you may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Bobbi Mauler, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

A Contra Costa County Grand Jury has indicted 23-year-old Brentwood resident, Marco Salazar and 37-year-old Sacramento resident, Joseph Malfitano, a former Antioch resident, for the attempted murder of an inmate at the Martinez Detention Facility. Salazar and Malfitano were also indicted on enhancements for committing that offense for the benefit of a criminal street gang and causing great bodily injury to the victim. Additionally, they were indicted on one count of street terrorism as they were found to actively participate in the gang.

On May 4, 2019, the defendants were involved in a gang related stabbing of a fellow inmate, Edward Nachor, in the neck, in the MDF. The attack was on behalf of the Norteño and Crazy Ass Latinos (CAL) gang. The victim survived the attack but, suffered great bodily injury.

The indictment was unsealed on Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 in Dept. 3 of the county court in Martinez for their arraignment. Bail is set at $2,160,000 for Salazar and Malfitano is being held without bail. Deputy District Attorney Max Laettner is prosecuting the case. DDA Laettner is assigned to the Community Violence Reduction Unit of the DA’s office.

Salazar was arrested in Brentwood in May 2016 for attempted murder after stabbing a man in a grocery store. (See related article). Malfitano was arrested in Antioch in January 2017 for identify theft. (See related article).

Case Information: People v. Salazar & Malfitano Docket Number 05-191623-8.