By Lieutenant Don La Due, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Sept. 6, 2018 at approximately 1:19 P.M., officers of the Antioch Police Department responded to an apartment in the 2200 block of San Jose Drive on a report of a 26-year-old male on scene threatening to break into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. The victim and her six small children were inside the apartment. The children’s ages ranged from one to five years old.

The suspect forced his way into the apartment through the front door and armed himself with a large kitchen knife after tearing up the apartment. He made death threats and came outside armed with the knife to challenge officers as they approached the apartment. The suspect refused officers’ orders to drop the knife and ran back into the apartment.

Fearing for the lives of the children, the officers pursued the armed suspect into the apartment and confronted him as he tried to break into a back room. The suspect refused additional orders to drop the knife and challenged officers again. Knowing the children and their mother were hiding somewhere in the apartment, the officers took swift action to disarm the suspect and take him into custody by utilizing a Taser and deployment of a Police K9.

The suspect was taken into custody and treated at a local area hospital for minor dog bites. He was later booked into County Jail on several felony charges. None of the children, nor their mother were harmed.

If you have any information about this incident you may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Rider safety will be the focus as the BART Board of Directors holds its Thursday, September 27th meeting at 5:00 P.M. at Pittsburg City Hall. The BART board voted in August to hold a special night meeting in a suburban location to further discuss General Manager Grace Crunican’s Safety and Security Action Plan.

“The special time and location of this board meeting will give more members of the public the chance to share their thoughts about public safety directly with board members,” said BART Board President Robert Raburn. “We need their input as we take action to make BART safer.”

The meeting will include an update on BART’s proof-of-payment strategy. There will be a presentation with citation data as well as a hearing on a request to hire more community service officers to expand the program, which was launched in January. Further, the board will get an update on station infrastructure efforts to deter fare evasion. That is likely to include a discussion on whether to replace BART’s fare gates.

BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas is scheduled to present a new report from the University of North Texas on the BART Police Department. The report includes recommendations for adequate police staffing levels at BART.

The board is moving towards adopting a district surveillance policy. A final vote on this policy could come at this meeting depending on actions that take place at the September 13th meeting. BART has already made clear that any boosts to system safety will not include the implementation of facial-recognition technology.

The board could also vote on a plan to provide alternative bus service for when the system moves to a 5am start time as part of the Transbay Tube seismic retrofit project. The switch to the 5am service start is expected to happen on February 11, 2019.

We also anticipate an update on efforts to increase parking around the new BART to Antioch line.

The meeting is open to the public. The public may comment at various points throughout the meeting- including the public comment period or during specific agenda items. The agenda will be posted the Friday before the meeting at https://www.bart.gov/about/bod/meetings/2018

Because this meeting is not taking place in the BART board room, we will record it and post it on our website several days later due to the post production time needed. It will not be livestreamed.

The meeting will be held in the Pittsburg City Council Chambers, which is on the third floor of the building. The council chambers are located at 65 Civic Avenue, which is a short walk from the Pittsburg Center Station on the new BART to Antioch line. Courtesy of Tri-Delta Transit, there will be a shuttle available in the pick-up lot at the corner of Railroad Avenue and California Avenue to transport attendees between the BART station and the City Council Chambers. The shuttle will run from 4:15 pm to 11:15 pm. There will be directional signs at the Pittsburg Center BART station and the shuttle pick-up and drop-off locations. See map below:

Pittsburg City Hall shuttle route

Driving Directions:

From all points west:

Take Highway 4 eastbound toward Pittsburg/Stockton

Exit Railroad Avenue (exit 23)

Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

Turn left onto Center Drive, drive past the Justice Center and the Library

There is a parking lot in front of City Hall

Parking is free.

From Antioch/Oakley/Brentwood:

Take Highway 4 westbound toward Martinez

Exit Harbor St/Railroad Avenue (exit 23)

Turn left onto California Avenue

Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

Turn left onto Center Drive, drive past the Justice Center and the Library

There is a parking lot in front of City Hall

Parking is free.

Editor’s Note: We need to pack the room and make sure our voices are heard, by letting the full BART Board know about our concerns with safety, so that they don’t just hear from the folks who live close to and/or were able to attend their day-time meeting during the summer at the BART Headquarters in Oakland.

From Antioch Police Facebook page

Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 22, 2018 Antioch Police Officers Ramirez and Amiri were patrolling an area of San Jose Drive, when they made contact with three suspected gang members in a vehicle. During the course of their investigation, the pictured firearm was located inside of the vehicle, and it was found to have been reported stolen. All three subjects were arrested on various weapons charges and later transported to the county jail.

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

On Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 4:50 pm, Antioch Police Officers responded to a domestic dispute in the 4900 block of Star Mine Court. Officers arrived on scene and determined a 49-year-old male had assaulted and threatened a family member then barricaded himself inside the home refusing to come out. It was learned the male was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance, armed with a gun, and wanted to commit ‘suicide by cop’.

An Antioch Police Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer was on scene and after negotiating with the male for nearly two-and-a-half hours, was able to convince the male to peacefully surrender. The male came out of the house unarmed and was arrested without incident.

Residents in the area were asked to shelter in place until the incident had concluded.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident and can provided any additional information or anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

From Antioch Police Facebook page

Last night Antioch Police Officers and Contra Costa County Fire Department were dispatched to a vehicle that had driven into the water from the Fulton Shipyard boat ramp.

Officers arrived and saw the vehicle fully submerged approximately 30 yards into the water. Officers were able to get into the water and reach the submerged vehicle with the help of two local fishermen who were out on their boat.

The officers attempted to locate anyone inside the vehicle. Once the vehicle was removed from the water it was confirmed there was no one inside.

Everyone involved in the rescue attempt was a little cold but safe.

All cases to be prosecuted in Sacramento County

Martinez, Calif. – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced today, Tuesday, August 21, 2018 that Joseph DeAngelo, the 72-year-old Citrus Heights man suspected of being the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer, is charged with four felonies from the alleged attacks in Contra Costa County from 1978 to 1979. DeAngelo could face four life sentences plus ten years for his alleged crimes of kidnapping during the course of a robbery in Contra Costa County if he is convicted.

The Contra Costa D.A. announced that these cases will be prosecuted jointly by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office in Sacramento County. This joint prosecution includes cases from Sacramento, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Contra Costa Counties. An amended complaint, charging crimes from all six counties was filed today in Sacramento County Superior Court. A copy of the amended complaint is available here. (See counts 23-26 on pages 16-18)

In announcing this decision, District Attorney Diana Becton stated, “The horrific crimes committed by Joseph DeAngelo terrorized the victims and residents of Contra Costa County. For decades he evaded justice and devastated communities across California. Today, I am pleased to announce that four Contra Costa County cases are filed in Sacramento County. As we take another step today toward justice, our office will continue to support the victims and their families through this difficult time.”

DeAngelo now faces 13 felony counts of murder. Special circumstances sentencing enhancements include: multiple murders, murder during the commission of rape, robbery, and burglary, and personal use of a firearm. DeAngelo was charged today in an amended complaint with 13 felony counts of kidnapping to commit robbery with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a firearm and personal use of a knife during the commission of the offenses. He faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole.

DeAngelo is expected to appear in Sacramento County for his arraignment on Thursday, August 23rd at 1:30 p.m. in Department 61 at the Sacramento County Superior Court.

Watch the video of the press conference by the six District Attorneys on YouTube.

By Allen Payton

In a brief interview while he is out of town on vacation, Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer responded to the censure against him by the Board of Supervisors at their meeting on Tuesday, August 14 over sexual misconduct allegations. (See related article).

The conversations and text between assessor Kramer and complainants were mutual and consensual, he explained. “In fact, most were initiated and or sent by one of the complainants,” Kramer stated. “No inappropriate physical behavior was claimed at all. No touching or asking out on dates of any kind.”

It was only after the two women were not chosen in civil service competition for a supervising appraiser’s position in the Assessor’s Office in 2014, were the complaints made.

“Only then did the conversations become unwelcome,” he said.

Upon being advised of their complaint, Kramer said he stopped all communication with both of the complainants, and they were advised of all of their options.

“None were pursued,” he pointed out.

The independent investigator, hired by the county in 2018, who is a female attorney in Oakland, determined there was no sexual harassment on Kramer’s part. The investigation was not conducted until this year, over three years later, when he was facing re-election.

According to Kramer, during that same time, and at least five years prior, one of the complainants had been lobbying members of the Board of Supervisors to be appointed to the position of County Assessor, should he retire or leave office midterm.

“She didn’t want to stand for election because she did not want to spend the money on a public campaign,” Kramer stated.

He ran unopposed in the June primary and won re-election for another four years.

The Board’s action occurred when neither Board Chair John Gioia nor Kramer could attend the meeting and defend himself or offer his point of view before the vote. He is considering suing the county.

By Sergeant John Fortner #3264, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau – Violent Crimes Unit

On Sunday, August 19, 2018 at 3:28 a.m., Antioch Police dispatch received a 911 call from a citizen reporting they had been shot. The victim told police that he was in the parking lot of an apartment complex at the 2200 block of San Jose Drive.

When officers arrived at the complex they located two 19-year-old males who had been shot. Both males were in the parking lot. One male victim sustained at least one gunshot wound and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The second male also suffered from a gunshot wound but, was able to run a short distance away and hide.

Officers began first aid as fire department paramedics were called to the scene. The surviving victim was stabilized and transported to a local area hospital where he was taken into surgery. No additional victims have come forward or have been identified.

At this time, evidence suggests that the victims were together when they were shot by an unknown subject. A portion of the parking lot was designated a crime scene and cordoned off. The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau was notified and responded to the scene. This incident is currently under investigation, and evidence is being collected.

Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.