Tony Hendrix

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

At 2:33 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to a domestic violence call in the 900 block of West 8th Street. When the officers arrived they were confronted

by a 56-year-old male Antioch resident armed with a firearm. Shots were fired by the police and the male was wounded.

The suspect was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery. The suspect in this case is identified as 56-year-old Tony Hendrix of Antioch.

Hendrix was formally charged on Thursday, June 30, 2016 by the Office of the District Attorney with two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Resisting Arrest. His bail was set at $373,000. On 7/1/16 he was arraigned and on 7/2/16 he was released from the hospital and booked into the Contra Costa County Jail.

No further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Vanderpool with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6988. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

A two-car eBART train undergoes testing in the middle of Highway 4 between Hillcrest Avenue and A Street/Lone Tree Way on Friday evening, July 1st. photo by Allen Payton

First of many tests over the next two years

The BART to Antioch Extension Project marked another important milestone Thursday morning, June 30th, with BART unveiling its sleek new diesel-powered trains, soon to be seen linking Pittsburg/Bay Point and Antioch down Highway 4’s median.

“We’ve been working on the arrival of BART to this part of the Bay Area for years, so it’s both thrilling and a bit surreal to finally be here aboard these amazing new vehicles,” said BART Director Joel Keller. “We couldn’t have made BART to Antioch happen without the long-term dedication of East County residents, and the commitment of the many leaders at the local, regional, state, and federal levels who came alongside us to help turn this visionary project into reality.”

The new train cars will run on separate tracks extending past the existing Pittsburg/Bay Point Station, and are a different type than those arriving in BART’s new Fleet of the Future.  This Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) was chosen to bring rail service to East County residents while remaining cost-effective; the $525 million, 10-mile extension to Antioch is 60% less expensive than conventional BART. Stations for the new service will be located along Highway 4 near the Railroad Ave. intersection in Pittsburg and the Hillcrest Ave. intersection in Antioch, with all eight new vehicles set to arrive by this December prior to a year of state-mandated testing for safety and functionality.

A two-car eBART train could be seen undergoing testing in the middle of Highway 4 heading westbound from Hillcrest Avenue, about 6:15 p.m. Friday evening, July 1st.

“This is an exciting milestone with the first testing of the train on the tracks,” Keller added in a brief interview. “We’re still shooting for a May, 2018 opening, once we get the state approvals. This is the first of many tests.”

The new train cars, rated the most environmentally friendly out of all diesel-powered trains, will be able to move an estimated 2,400 people per hour during commute times, and boast a variety of amenities including six digital signs per vehicle (with multiple language support), automated audio announcements, clear station arrival / destination signage, and modern climate control systems.  Daily ridership of the BART extension to Antioch is expected to exceed 10,100 by 2030 through the Highway 4 corridor, with an initial expected daily ridership of 5,600.

BART to Antioch is part of the nearly-complete Highway 4 Widening Project, which expands Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, and from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way in Oakley to Balfour Road in Brentwood.  The project provides greater mobility and access to multi-modal transportation, not only expanding lanes and building missing connector ramps at the State Route 160 interchange, but also providing funds for BART to Antioch.

The project has been carefully staged to keep the daily traffic of 130,000 cars moving, even as major construction and demolition work continue.

“The arrival of these new BART vehicles and the beginning of testing is a visible reminder of the progress being made to further economic growth and improve access to jobs and vital services for East County’s 250,000 residents,” said Dave Hudson, Chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. “The Highway 4 Widening and BART to Antioch projects would not have been possible without either the backing of Contra Costa voters in 2004, or the help of partner agencies. We look forward to continued public support for additional innovations and improvements on the Highway 4 corridor in the future.”

Average travel time between stations is expected to be seven minutes between Antioch and Pittsburg Stations, and three minutes between Pittsburg and Pittsburg/Bay Point Stations.  The new stations will use the same BART fare collection machines and gates used elsewhere in the BART system, with full service set to begin winter 2017/2018.

For more information visit the project page.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

A California-legal bullet button on a semiautomatic rifle. (www.gunsamerica.com)

Key part of a historic gun reform package

Sacramento – On Friday, July 1st, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Senator Steve Glazer’s legislation to ban the so-called bullet button, a key element of a historic gun reform package approved by the Legislature a day earlier.  Glazer, D-Orinda, is joint author with Sen. Isadore Hall, D-Los Angeles, on the bullet button ban, SB 880.

A bullet button assault-style rifle was used by the shooters who killed 14 people and wounded 21 in the San Bernardino terrorist attack last year.

“This isn’t about hunting or home protection,” said Sen. Glazer. “This isn’t about taking people’s guns away. I believe everyone has a right to hunt and to protect their families from harm in their home. It’s about a mechanism on assault-style rifles whose sole purpose is to allow someone to kill a lot of people quickly.

“We need to make it more difficult for a deranged person to enter a schoolyard, movie theater, or workplace with a rapid fire weapon. This measure is another small but important step in making our communities safer.”

Existing law prohibits the possession or sale of assault weapons and limits magazines to 10 rounds. But a loophole in the law – allowing guns with fixed magazines to be modified with a simple “tool”– had led to the manufacture of assault-style guns with magazines that can be easily detached – contrary to the spirit of the assault-weapon ban. The magazines are equipped with a button that can be pressed by a bullet or other tool to quickly detach the magazine. Since the magazine requires a tool, it was considered “fixed” and therefore legal.

To see the full text of the bill, visit the California Legislative Information website.

Opponents argued that the language in the bill was vague, among other things. According to the Firearms Policy Coalition website:

Senate Bill 880 (authored by Senators Hall and Glazer) attempts to subvert long-standing law regarding the definition of “detachable magazine”and “fixed magazine”. It relies on unclear, undefined language such as “without disassembly of the action” or “does not have a fixed magazine”and seeks to prohibit the purchase, inheritance, sale, transfer, transport, importation and manufacture of the most common and popular protected weapons of the modern era.

In Governor Brown’s signing message, he noted that the bullet button bill and certain others in the package “enhance public safety by tightening our existing laws in a responsible and focused manner, while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.”

“Gun makers have exploited a loophole in the law that expressly prohibits assault weapons in California,” Glazer said. “We’ve seen the horror of these weapons with mass murders. We should not allow weapons that are designed specifically for modern warfare to proliferate on our streets.”

Glazer worked as a senior staffer for Sen. President Pro Tem David Roberti in enacting a ban, in 1989, on assault weapons in California, the first state in the U.S. to do so. As mayor of Orinda, he was a charter member of the national organization, “Mayors Against Illegal Guns.”

For more information about the bullet button see the article on The Trace website by clicking here.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department and the Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney are currently investigating an Officer Involved Shooting. At 12:33 a.m. on Tuesday June 28, 2016, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to a domestic violence call in the 900 block of West 8th Street.

When the officers arrived they were confronted by a 56-year-old male Antioch resident armed with a firearm. Shots were fired by the police and the male was wounded. The suspect was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery. The suspect is in stable condition at this time. No officers were injured.

This investigation is in its early stages and no further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is encour aged to call Detective Vanderpool with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6988. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Sergeant Wisecarver, Antioch Police Special Operations Unit

On Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 4:47 p.m., the Antioch Police Department along with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District were dispatched to the 900 block of Burwood Way for the report of a large residential fire. Several homes were damaged from the fire that was rapidly spreading from house to house.

Antioch Police Officers arrived on scene and immediately started evacuating citizens in an attempt to protect them from the fire. During the course of the evacuations, the officers came in contact with Qiao Cen and Qiaohui Cen, both 24 years old, who were at one of the houses in harm’s way. It was determined that these two men were running and indoor hydroponics marijuana grow operation at the home. Qiao Cen and Qiaohui Cen were both arrested on numerous drug charges.

The Antioch Police Department Special Operation Unit was called in and took over the investigation. The detectives discovered over 700 marijuana plants growing in the home as well as more than 17 lbs of manicured marijuana buds. It was determined that the marijuana grow had nothing to do with the fire.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact Detective Magana at (925) 779-6943.

Antioch Police highlights as published in City Manager Steve Duran’s Weekly Report dated June 24, 2016 and provided by Chief of Police Allan Cantando.

Weekly Calls for Service, Case Reports and Arrest Data Summary:

Time Period: 06/16/2016 00:00:00 – 06/22/16 23:59:59

Number of Calls for Service: 1,641

Number of Case Reports: 281

Number of Arrests: 77

Felony: 33

Misdemeanor: 43

Arrests with DUI charge: 1

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

• ·On 6/23/16 at 1:40 am, security officers performed a check of the vacant Food-Maxx building at 2950 Delta Fair Boulevard. They found a door open and during an interior check located 41 year old Marlon Pitre. When the security guard attempted to detain Pitre he pushed the security guard backwards against a wall. The security guard pepper sprayed Pitre in self-defense and Pitre fled the area on foot. Responding officers located Pitre in the area. Pitre was placed under Citizen’s Arrest by the security guard for the assault and trespassing. Pitre was cite released from the scene and transported to a local hospital for the pepper-spray exposure.
• ·On 6/23/16 at 12:54 am, officers responded to the area of Mattole Road and Mt. Hamilton Drive on the report of shots fired. During an area check, multiple spent casings were found in the roadway. Nothing was found to be struck by gunfire. A car was said to have been heard speeding away after the shots.
• ·On 6/22/16 at 11:44 pm, an officer attempted a traffic stop on a truck being driven by 22 year old Jesse Loyola in the area of W. 18th Street near L Street. Loyola failed to yield to the officer and continued to drive south on L Street at the posted speed limit. Loyola entered westbound Highway 4 from L Street and still failed to yield to the officer. A pursuit was initiated and Loyola exited at Somersville Road and headed south. Loyola turned west on Delta Fair Boulevard and as he was in the 3400 block, he threw a stolen .40 caliber Glock pistol and a box of .40 cal ammunition out of his truck. Loyola turned onto School Street and stopped his truck. 20 year old Armando Amaro was a passenger in the truck and fled on foot from the truck into Turner Elementary School. Loyola was arrested as he tried to exit the truck. Amaro was later located after a search and also arrested without incident. Both subjects were sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/22/16 at 10:23 pm, officers were dispatched to a local hospital on the report of a gunshot victim arriving at the location. The victim initially told the hospital that he was shot while attending a party at an unknown location in Antioch. Officers contacted the victim and he told officers he was shot while attending a party in the city of Pittsburg. The Pittsburg police department was notified.
• ·On 6/22/16 at 4:00 pm, officers responded to the Sports Authority at 5839 Lone Tree Way on the report of a robbery. 36 year old Duane Johnson entered the Sports Authority and selected several items including a backpack. Johnson went to the restroom where he filled the backpack with store items. When Johnson attempted to leave the store, he was contacted by the store security employee. During the contact Johnson shoved the backpack into the chest of the security employee causing the security employee to fall. Johnson then fled the store with other employees in chase. An off-duty police officer was in the area and assisted in detaining Johnson. Duane Johnson was arrested for robbery and for violating the terms of his probation. Johnson was sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/22/16 at 8:37 am, officers responded to the report of an intoxicated subject who was causing a disturbance with his neighbors. 18 year old Chris Revuelta was arrested for being heavily intoxicated.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 10:17 pm, officers responded to the area of 18 W. Madill Street in search of a suspicious truck and trailer. Officers located the truck and trailer in the area. 51 year old David Shoup came outside and claimed ownership of the trailer, which was reported as stolen. Shoup was arrested without incident and sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 8:24 pm, officers responded to the Shell Gas Station at 2701 Hillcrest Avenue on the report of two subjects who appeared to be passed out in a running vehicle. When officers arrived they located the driver, 30 year old Joseph Lowery, and the passenger, 27 year old Nathan Jones, asleep in the vehicle. Lowery had a large bag of suspected methamphetamine on his lap and there was a digital scale on the center console of the vehicle. Lowery and Jones were both woken up and detained by officers. Jones had a folded piece of paper in his hand that contained suspected powder heroin which he tried to destroy prior to being detained. Lowery also had over $500 in cash. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of suspected heroin in the driver door panel and numerous plastic baggies. Both Lowery and Jones were found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and were both arrested. They were both sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 4:51 pm, officers responded to the report of a male riding his bicycle in the middle of the road, chasing cars, and throwing things around. Officers contacted 27 year old Jimmy Salgado, who was extremely intoxicated and found to be on probation. Salgado was arrested due to his intoxication level.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 4:32 pm, 53 year old Carolyn Propes was contacted near 1623 A Street. Propes was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant for assault. Propes was arrested and sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 12:14 pm, 39 year old Samuel Walls was contacted on Fulton Shipyard Road near the boat ramp after a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area. A name check revealed that Walls had several outstanding arrest warrants for DUI. Walls was arrested without incident and sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 1:41 am, a 47 year old male was driving in the area of E. 18^th Street and Blossom Drive when his vehicle drove off the roadway. The driver’s vehicle collided into a light pole, street sign, and two city owned trees. The vehicle was totaled, but there were no injuries.
• ·On 6/21/16 at 12:25 am, a 27 year old male arrived at local hospital with a large laceration to his arm. The male told officers that he was stabbed in the arm by an unknown male while walking in the area of E. 18^th Street and Woodland Drive.
• ·On 6/20/16 at 11:12 pm, an officer contacted 26 year old James Chatman in the parking lot of 924 Fitzuren Road. Chatman was found to be a parolee at large. Chatman was arrested and sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/20/16 at 10:03 pm, an officer conducted a traffic stop near Highway 4 at Hillcrest Avenue for a vehicle code violation. 22 year old, Jose Castaneda was the driver and did not have a valid license. He was also on probation for weapons violations. Castaneda was compliant and told officers that he put a gun in his wife’s purse as the traffic stop was being conducted. The gun was located and Castaneda was arrested without incident. Castenada was sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/20/16 at 9:01 pm, officers responded to the area of G Street near W. 13^th Street on a report of a physical fight. Upon arrival, officers contacted 28 year old Thomas Palmer. A computer check revealed that Palmer had an outstanding arrest warrant for theft. The arrest warrant was confirmed and Palmer was arrested. Palmer was later released with a new court appearance date.
• ·On 6/20/16 at 5:40 pm, officers responded to Gumaro’s Auto Repair at 1705 Auto Center Drive on a report of a structure fire. The fire started to the rear of the business in a small field and quickly spread to the business and two residential homes causing major damage. The Fire Department requested our assistance for traffic control. The corporation yard and VIPS were also called for assistance. The fire appears to have started in or around a storage box to the rear of the business. Fire Investigators were on scene and advised it appeared to be accidental and not arson.
• ·On 6/20/16 at 11:58 am, 50 year old Kevin Addington and the victim engaged in a verbal argument over which one was going to occupy the intersection of A St. and Hwy 4 for panhandling. Addington armed himself with softball sized rocks from the center median and threw it at the victim, striking him on the ribs causing an abrasion. The assault was witnessed by officers and after interviews; Addington was placed under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and sent to county jail.
• ·On 6/20/16 at 8:21 am, an officer was in the area of A St. and W 19^th St. when he attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration. The vehicle quickly took off from the officer and drove south bound in the north bound lanes of A St. The officer did not pursue due to the minor traffic violation. It was later determined during follow up that the vehicle was cold plated. The officer later was able to identify the driver who had outstanding felony warrants for his arrest to including a parole violation. The subject and vehicle are still outstanding.
• ·On 6/19/16 at 12:42 pm, officers responded to Amber Dr. and Cavallo Road on the report of shots fired. The reporting party called 911 reporting that someone was shooting at her nephew. When officers arrived, the reporting party had left the area, but the nephew was eventually located. He said he was at the intersection of E 18^th St. and Cavallo Rd. when an older model silver sedan pulled up next to him occupied by several males. The vehicle pulled up next to him and fired 6-8 shots at his vehicle. He was only struck by breaking glass and declined medical attention. The vehicle fled the area and was not located.
• ·On 6/19/16 at 4:48 am, 26 year old Nathan Watson was contacted dancing and running in the middle of East 18th St near Olive Dr. He was ordered to the curb, but instead began removing clothing and became verbally aggressive toward officers. Watson displayed signs of being under the influence. He began to physically resist as officers attempted to handcuff him. He was taken into custody and transported to county jail.
• ·On 6/18/16 at 5:45 pm, 40 year old Sherry Ann Russ entered the Dollar General at 20 West Tenth St. and handed a cashier a note demanding cash and threatening that she had a gun. The incident was witnessed by several employees and captured on surveillance video. The employees refused to give her any cash. Dumbfounded, Russ left the store wearing distinctive clothing and a few hours later, an officer located her standing in front of 1313 “A” St. wearing the same clothing. He attempted to speak with Russ, but she backed away while reaching into her back pocket. He quickly gained control of Russ and ordered her several times to sit down and she refused. Russ tried to pull away and removed a pair of scissors from her pocket, but the officer was able to take Russ into custody before she could do anything. Witnesses positively identified Russ as the responsible. She was booked at county jail for robbery.
• ·On 6/18/16 at 5:20 am, the victim was awakened by a subject attempting to start his van in the 2800 block of Vista Way. He confronted a subject in his van, but the subject had managed to get it started. When the victim attempted to stop the subject from driving away, he was run over. The victim suffered a minor injury to his leg. The subject fled and was not located. The van was entered into the stolen vehicle system and surrounding agencies were notified.
• ·On 6/17/16 at 10:02 pm, officers responded with CCC Fire to the 4500 block of Deer Meadow Way for a house fire. The house was fully engulfed upon arrival. CCC Fire put out the fire, but the house was a total loss. Arson investigators responded and determined the fire appeared to be arson. The arson investigators took over the investigation. The actual owner of the property is not known at this time.
• ·On 6/17 at 7:37 pm, officers were dispatched to the area of Wexler Peak Way for a report of a male passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle. CCC Fire responded to the scene and located 57 year old Calvin McKinley passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle running. CCC Fire removed the keys from the ignition and detained McKinley until APD could arrive. Upon arrival, it was determined McKinley was intoxicated and he was placed under arrest for DUI. He was transported to APD where he tested over the legal limit. McKinley was booked at APD and later transported to county jail for a sobering period.
• ·On 6/17/16 at 5:31 am, area residents called regarding a subject looking into cars near Rubye Dr. and Kean Ave. 35 year old Nicole Farner was contacted and found to have a warrant for her arrest for drug and vehicle code violations. She was booked into county jail.
• ·On 6/16/16 at 11:10 pm, officers responded to an audible alarm at Tux of Class, 43 East 18^th St. On arrival, two of the front windows were found to be damaged. An unknown subject attempted to gain entry by using a tool to break the windows at the lower left corners. There were no witnesses or video. No entry was made.
• ·On 6/16/16 at 2:42 pm, last week, Code Enforcement red tagged 1 Helmuth Lane. We’ve received numerous complaints since then of people breaking into the house illegally. Today, 50 year old Tracy Mello and 55 year old Stephen King were located inside of the house and issued citations for trespassing and warned not to return or they’d be sent to county jail the next time.
• ·On 6/16/16 at 10:02 am, an adult female approached a bank teller at the Wells Fargo Bank inside Safeway on Deer Valley Rd. and told the teller she was robbing the bank. The teller handed the female an undisclosed amount of cash and the suspect fled the scene on foot. An officer located a previous bulletin with a suspect matching the description of the Antioch suspect who had robbed a bank in San Francisco. This case is still under investigation.

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 10:15 p.m. Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Biglow Drive on the report of residents returning home and finding their relative, a 43 year old Antioch man, on the floor inside the home and suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, where he is being treated. His status at this time is critical.

Antioch Police Detectives were called to the scene and are actively working the investigation. No further information will be released at this time as we are in the early stages of the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Colley with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6922. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

On Friday night, June 24, 2016 at about 9 PM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a shooting that had just occurred on Highway 4 in the Bay Point area. Deputies were advised the victim vehicle was located at a convenience store on Willow Pass Road.

Deputies arrived and spoke to the driver and passenger. The driver said he was heading westbound on Highway 4 just before the San Marco Boulevard exit when someone shot at his car. Deputies saw evidence that the car was struck by a bullet.

The passenger, who appeared to be hit by glass fragments, was taken to a local hospital.

This shooting is being investigated by the Office of the Sheriff and California Highway Patrol.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to call the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.