By Lieutenant D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

At approximately 2:07 PM on Friday, April 7, 2017, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the Antioch Community Federal Credit Union located at 301 G Street on the report of a robbery. The suspect fled the scene on a bicycle just prior to the arrival of officers. Nobody was injured during the robbery and the take was cash.

The suspect was described by witnesses as being a black male adult wearing dark clothing. The suspect is pictured in the three attached photographs.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective McManus with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6940. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Following are the Antioch Police Department calls for service highlights as published in Acting City Manager Ron Bernal’s Weekly Report dated March 31, 2017 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Calls for Service Summary:

The data is based upon unaudited CAD/RMS data at time of report generation.

• 3/29/17 at 10:31 am, officers were dispatched to the 2800 block of Sunset Ln. on a report of an occupied stolen Nissan Altima. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located the vehicle occupied with 35 year old Carlos Morales in the driver’s seat along with 28 year old Ashlie Tappin and 28 year old Ryan Sullivan in the passenger seats. All the occupants were detained without incident. Tappin and Sullivan were later released on scene and Morales was sent to County Jail on auto theft charges.
• 3/29/17 at 9:02 am, the Community Engagement Team assisted Antioch Code Enforcement with subjects trespassing on private property. Upon the officers’ arrival, they contacted 40 year old Peter King and 36 year old Richelle Becker who were inside a vehicle on the property. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a fraudulent driver’s license. The name on the fake CDL was, in fact, a real person who had been the victim of identity theft. The officers also located receipts and documents that showed King and Becker had used a credit card in the victim’s name and made charges on the card for several thousand dollars. Upon further search of the car, the officers located an ID card cutter, laminator, laminator sheets, and a lap top computer. Both King and Becker were transported to County Jail on identity theft related charges.
• 3/28/17 at 8:36 pm, an officer was conducting an interview in the 600 block of Wilbur Ave. when 29 year old Emannuel Easter walked up to the person being interviewed and made inappropriate comments. Easter was not related to the case being investigated and continually delayed and disrupted the officer’s investigation with his belligerent behavior. Easter was placed under arrest for obstructing an officer’s investigation. During a search of his person, a concealed fixed blade knife was located in his pants pocket. Easter was arrested and transported to County Jail for obstruction and possessing a dirk or dagger.
• 3/28/17 at 3:15 pm, an officer recognized 30 year old Blain Oksanen and 29 year old Ashley Hammond in a vehicle at W. 7th St. and A St. The officer knew Oksanen and Hammond were responsible for a residential burglary that occurred on 3/26/17 at a residence on Lipton St. Oksanen and Hammond admitted to being at the residence and were placed under arrest. They were both sent to County Jail.
• 3/28/17 at 12:33 am, officers were dispatched to an auto burglary on Oso Grande Way. The victim interrupted 39 year old Victor Ayala burglarizing his vehicle of hand tools. Ayala fled on foot dropping his cell phone. Ayala’s cell phone was how officers were able to identify him. Officers went to Ayala’s residence and conducted a probation search. Ayala was arrested without incident and sent to County Jail for auto burglary and violation of probation.
• 3/27/17 at 10:31 am, officers responded to Bridgehead Café located on E. 18th St. on a report of a subject that appeared to be passed out and slumped over in a gray Dodge Ram truck with no plates. Upon the officers’ arrival, they contacted 27 year old Brett Kroh who first gave a false name to the officers. Upon learning Kroh’s true name, it was discovered Kroh had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for auto theft. In addition to the warrant, Kroh showed to be on probation for vehicle theft. During a search of Kroh’s person, the officers located suspected methamphetamine and heroin. Officers also located gloves, window punches, and devices used to break auto glass. Upon checking the VIN on the Dodge pickup, the officers discovered the truck was a reported stolen vehicle out of Concord. Kroh was booked into County Jail on the outstanding warrant, auto theft, possession of burglary tools, narcotic violations and violation of probation.
• 3/26/17 at 11:02 am, the victim called the police to report he located his stolen Honda Civic parked on Prewett Ranch Dr. and Mesa Ridge Dr. The victim watched his vehicle from down the street and waited for police to arrive. While waiting, 24 year old William Millard got into the driver’s seat, as 20 year old Phillip Morris and 39 year old Robert Williams got into the passenger seats. Millard then drove away as the victim followed at a distance. The victim provided updates to the officers who were able stop the vehicle in Deer Valley Plaza. All three occupants were detained without incident. Officers located numerous shaved keys within the vehicle. Millard was later transported to County Jail where he was booked on charges of auto theft and possession of burglary tools. Morris and Williams were released from the scene.
• 3/26/17 at 10:58 am, an officer on routine patrol attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop on 27 year old Juan Herrera for vehicle code violations. Herrera failed to yield and fled from the officer. Herrera ran the red signal light on G St. at Fitzuren Rd. and collided into a motorist in the middle of the intersection. Herrera’s vehicle became disabled and he attempted to flee on foot. The officer was able to contact Herrera and arrested him without further incident. Herrera was on active CDC parole for assault with a firearm. Herrera was medically cleared and later booked into County Jail for evading and violation of parole.
• 3/25/17 at 9:53 am, the manager of Skippolinis on Fitzuren Rd. arrived to work and found 25 year old Chad Salas attempting to break into the restaurant. The manager called police and gave a good description of Salas. Officers located Salas a few miles away and he was positively identified by the manager. Salas was placed under arrest and sent to County Jail for burglary.
• 3/23/17 at 9:37 pm, officers were dispatched to the Dairy Queen, on E.18th St. for a traffic accident. Upon arrival, officers found that two vehicles were involved in a major collision. 26 year old Megan Meyer was intoxicated and her vehicle struck the 17 year old victim’s vehicle. A passenger in the victim vehicle sustained a serious injury to her leg and a two month old dog that was in the vehicle died. The injured passenger was transported to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries. Meyer was uncooperative and belligerent. She was arrested after a brief struggle with officers. Meyer was sent to County Jail for felony DUI after being medically cleared.
• 3/23/17 at 3:30 pm, an officer recognized 47 year old James Glittens panhandling on the Hwy 4 off-ramp at Auto Center Dr. Glittens has a history of chronic panhandling. Glittens was placed under arrest for his likelihood to continue. The officer also located suspected heroin in Glittens’ pocket after a search incident to arrest. Glittens was sent to County Jail for panhandling and possession of narcotics.

Washington, DC — Today, Friday, April 7, 2017 Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-11) made the following statement on the U.S. Airstrikes in Syria.

“The atrocities carried out by the Russian-backed regime of President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria on its own innocent men, women, and children are uncivilized and unconscionable. Over the past six years, nearly ten million Syrian civilians have been displaced and driven from their homes, and almost four hundred thousand Syrians have lost their lives. The latest use of chemical weapons on its citizens by the Assad regime demands action by the international community.

The ability of the United States Administration to respond to these attacks is hindered by the relationship between President Trump and the Russian government, which has compromised his moral authority. These rash airstrikes alone are not sufficient to combat the war crimes perpetrated by the Assad regime. President Trump must provide a clear and rational strategy that will not only aid Syrian citizens, but also keep safe the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces. This strategy must include consulting with Congress and seeking an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), as required by the Constitution.”

Questions were sent to DeSaulnier asking what other actions he would suggest President Trump take in response to Al-Assad’s attacks on his own people and if they should include more U.S. ground troops in Syria. Please check back for his response.

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Discovery Bay) led his colleagues today, Friday, April 7, 2017 in passing Senate Bill 1 and Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 with the required two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate. SB 1 now heads to the Governor for his approval and ACA 5 will head to the voters for their approval.

“Our roads are terrible, costing each person at least $760 in repairs, and the state was really just putting a Band-aid on a broken bone,” he said. “After two years of discussions and negotiations, passing SB 1 today is a testament to efforts to build a remarkable and diverse coalition to improve our transportation system that truly benefits everyone.”

SB 1 will resolve the long-term shortfall in transportation funding by provide new funding to make necessary road safety improvements and repair local streets, freeways, bridges, and overpasses. New revenues will generate on average $5 billion per year to improve efficiencies and effectiveness of transportation maintenance throughout the state. Roughly $3 billion annually will be allocated to fix roads, half of which will be directly allocated for local needs. The remaining $2 billion is split among other transportation-related programs.

Revenue sources for SB 1 include a 12 cent per gallon gas excise tax, ending the annual Board of Equalization adjustment, a 20 cent diesel excise tax, a 4% diesel sales tax increase, a per vehicle transportation improvement fee of no more than $50 for 87% of vehicles, a $100 fee on zero emissions vehicles, and $100 million gained in Caltrans efficiencies.

To ensure that these new revenues are allocated as intended, Frazier authored Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5. ACA 5 locks up transportation-related revenues from vehicle fees for use only for transportation maintenance and improvements, and prohibits use toward paying principal and interest on state transportation general obligation bonds.

An after-hours question was sent to his staff asking if Frazier had first considered reprioritizing existing state spending before pursuing tax increases. Please check back later for his response.

Cites failure to ensure reliable transit & ineffective use of funds

Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) who represents Antioch and most of Contra Costa County in the California State Senate, issued the following statement today, regarding his vote against SB-1, the transportation funding bill which included a 12 cents per gallon gas tax increase, as well as increases to the Vehicle License Fee. He was the only Democrat in the Senate and only one of two in the entire legislature to vote no.

“I want to thank Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, Sen. Jim Beall and Gov. Jerry Brown for their hard work in addressing the problem of crumbling roads and aging transportation systems.

My constituents are particularly dependent on good roads and highways and reliable transit systems, so I agree we need additional transportation investments.

But this transportation package did not have the support of my district, for good reasons. Even after a multi-million dollar lobbying effort supporting the $52 billion bill, sentiment in my district ran two-to-one opposing these new gas taxes and car registration fees.

My constituents have told me loud and clear that they want any new taxes to be spent more wisely and effectively. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to spend billions of dollars on an unpopular High Speed Rail system that backers claim might be completed by 2029 when it could go for transportation improvements today.

Beyond the issues of setting better spending priorities and taxes, I also believed this bill could have been improved. We need to be more forward thinking, where we recognize the role technology can play in allowing us to use our roads and highways more efficiently.

And we need a plan that provides commuters with the confidence and assurance that reliable transit will be there for them every day of the year.

This bill also failed to ensure that any new transportation funding given to local transportation agencies be used only for the purposes intended and not diverted to other uses.

I was also concerned about last-minute amendments to this bill that the environmental community and air quality regulators say will unwisely limit our ability to control diesel pollution from trucks. These changes have never been fully vetted and deserve more scrutiny.

I look forward to continued discussions with the governor in which we take into account the need to modernize our approach to transportation in an efficient and reliable manner.”

The bill passed both the State Senate and Assembly and awaits the signature of Governor Brown. To learn more about the bill, click here.

By Allen Payton

It’s been a clean sweep of leadership inside City Hall, since the November election. First, on Election Night then-City Manager Steve Duran announced a tentative retirement date set for August 15, of this year. Then Chief of Police Allan Cantando announced on March 8 he would be retiring the first week of April. Then, the following Tuesday, the City Council voted 3-2 to terminate Duran’s contract.

That’s in addition to the election of new Mayor Sean Wright and Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe. Now, today, city staff issued the following brief press release:

“Michael Vigilia City Attorney has announced that he will be leaving the City of Antioch.

The City of Antioch would like to thank Michael Vigilia for his service to the City.  While with the City of Antioch, Michael Vigilia served as legal advisor for the City departments.  His expertise on a wide range of legal issues will be missed.

The City of Antioch wishes him well in his future endeavors.”

Asked if it is effective immediately, Mayor Sean Wright simply replied “May 15, 45 days.”

Administrative Services Director Nickie Mastay offered additional information, stating, “Mr. Vigilia put in a 45 day notice on March 31, 2017.”

No reason was given for the resignation. Asked why and if Vigilia was forced out, Wright responded, “Surprised all of us.”

Vigilia has been in the position for a little more than a year, having been hired March 8, 2016. (See related article). Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful prior to publication.

On March 28, the City Council on a 4-0 vote hired then-Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Ron Bernal as City Manager for one year. Captain Tammany Brooks is the Acting Chief of Police. Bernal will have the opportunity to either hire him or someone else to be Cantando’s successor.

The City Council, which only hires the city manager and city attorney will have the opportunity to hire Vigilia’s replacement, as well.

By Jesus Cano

With the Bay Valley Athletic League opening up their competition soon, the Antioch High and Deer Valley High varsity baseball teams look to make their presence known.

Antioch High Preview

Carlos Gonzalez is under the helm for the Panthers, and looks to improve upon their last season with consistent play. They just two games under .500 last season.

“If we are consistent we will be successful but inconsistency has been a problem in the last couple years,” the skipper said. “I also think the seniors need to pick up the slack and show leadership.”

According to Gonzalez, their pitching is the forte of the team, stating players RJ Mcdowell, Josh Cordova, Josh Mcevoy, and Koby Williams light up the rotation.

Gonzalez highlights Cordova to be his ace on the mound, stating that anytime he is on the mound he gives this team a good chance to win.

The rest of the starting pitchers also produce offensively according to Gonzalez. Saying that McDowell provides great speed and a consistent bat.

Brayden Huckaby is another player that stands out, as he is described to be an anchor at third base along with contributing offensively.

Antioch will open up their season on the road against Freedom on April 18th at 4:30 pm.

Deer Valley High Preview

The Wolverines ended at an even 11-11 record. The new campaign offers a fresh start to everyone, but an even mint one to new head coach Burt Roberts.

“It’s an incredible opportunity,” Roberts said. “The powers put me in a great position.”

One of the Roberts’ top goal is to land a seed in the NCS playoffs. He notes that there are some top leaders on his team. Justin Tamelier is described to be dual talented as he is batting over .475 and pitched a complete game along with a no hitter.

Kyle Norman plays leadoff for their, and Roberts refers to him as a “spark plug” at the top of the line up, and knows how to start the offense.

José Domínguez is a transfer student coming from Antioch High School. He had a stellar season as he batted for a .327 average and 9 RBIs.

Deer Valley will be hosting Liberty for the league opener on April 18th at 4 pm.

By Corporal Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On April 3, 2017 at approximately 8:38 PM, Antioch Police dispatch received calls regarding a vehicle collision involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Buchanan Road and Buchanan Crossings. A 46-year-old female Antioch resident was crossing Buchanan Road at the intersection of Buchanan Crossings against a red signal light when she was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on Buchanan Rd. The female was transported to an area hospital for major injuries to her lower extremities and is expected to survive. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and was cooperative with the investigation. Alcohol or drug intoxication did not appear to be a factor in the collision.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line (925) 779-6874. If you have information regarding this case you may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.