Contra Costa Farms proposed site map.

Coordinator will earn $50 to $60 per hour up to $120,000 per year

By Allen Payton

At their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10th, the Antioch City Council will consider approving a fourth marijuana business in the city. The Contra Costa Farms LLC plans include “cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and a dispensary with delivery” at 3400 Wilbur Avenue, according to the city staff report. Contra Costa Farms ACC 09-19

In total, the business proposes to build four, two-story buildings for a total of 211,800 square feet of space. The largest part of the business will be the indoor growing operation. They plan to use up to 13 vehicles for delivery and will also sell vape pens, rolling papers, pipes and grinders.

In their presentation, which can be viewed, in the staff report, Contra Costa Farms claims they will make “Real Contributions to City of Antioch First Responders: 0.5% of Gross Sales pledged to the City of Antioch’s First Responders which will grow to ~$1,000,000 per year” and “0.5% of Gross Sales pledged to Antioch Public Schools which will grow to ~$1,000,000 per year.”

Unhoused Resident Coordinator

In addition, the council will consider creating and filling the position of a part-time Unhoused Resident Coordinator, using the council’s new term for homeless people in Antioch, at $50 to $60 per hour with a cost not to exceed $120,000 per year. Unhoused Resident Coordinator ACC091019

To view the entire council meeting agenda, click here.

During reconstruction of the council chambers, the council meetings are currently held at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way, beginning at 7:00 p.m. or it can be viewed livestream on the City’s website at https://www.antiochca.gov/.

Victim was 57-year-old Oakland man; dispute began at Pittsburg gas station

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

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, at approximately 9:20 PM, an argument between several subjects started in the east driveway of the Chevron Gas Station located at 1235 California Avenue in Pittsburg. The argument appears to be over a road rage incident. The road rage incident continued into Antioch where Oakland resident, 57-year-old Raul Garcia, was shot and killed in the 3400 Block of Rio Grande Drive. (See related article).

The Antioch Police Department is asking anyone who saw the argument at the Chevron Gas Station in Pittsburg or the shooting in Antioch to come forward with any information they may have regarding this case.

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.

Three teens arrested on Monday for Sunday night carjacking. Photos by APD.

By Antioch Police

Last night, an Antioch resident was accosted by two subjects in the 1100 block of James Donlon Blvd. and her vehicle was taken at gun point. The suspects fled in the vehicle, and despite officers’ best efforts, the vehicle and suspects were not located.

This afternoon, citizens reported a vehicle collision on Golf Course Road and Frederickson Lane. The vehicle had apparently crashed into a light pole and several subjects fled on foot on to Mt. Hamilton Drive, towards Dallas Ranch Middle School. Officers were able to get into the area quickly and detain two 14-year-old and one 15-year-old male juvenile. Witnesses to today’s collision identified all three subjects as being in the vehicle, and further investigation lead to one of the males being identified as being involved in last night’s carjacking incident.

All three subjects were arrested and later sent to the Juvenile Hall on carjacking, probation violations and other charges related to both incidents. We were fortunately able to also recover some of the victim’s property, and none of this would’ve been possible without the help of the citizens that called us and stepped forward to help us identify those involved. Thank you, Antioch!

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.