Following complaint from one grant recipient’s leader, mayor challenges panel’s decision; opens rift with City Manager who finds matter “concerning…alarming”; City Attorney issues opinion

“…none of the proposers are entitled to any City funds and every group was given the opportunity to be heard and was equally assessed in determining the awards.”   – City Manager Bessie Scott

Celebrate Antioch Foundation has history of working with, receiving funds from City for community events; was not going to receive funds, but Torres-Walker secured a small amount

Misinterpretations of language in Request for Proposals

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, the Antioch City Council will again reconsider Citywide Economic Development Initiative grants totaling $60,000 to three community organizations awarded in September. The matter has become controversial with Mayor Ron Bernal challenging the decision during the Council’s Nov. 20th meeting. two council members were absent and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker left the dais during discussion of the agenda item to prevent a vote. (See 1:59:38 mark of video)

According to the City staff report for item #1 on Tuesday’s agenda, “The Mayor instructed the City Manager to bring for discussion the 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Citywide Economic Development and associated Grants which were awarded on September 12, 2025, outside of the 90-Day City Council Request List.”

The RFP states that the goal was “to award up to three (3) grants of $20,000 each to the best projects” to help with the City’s economic development efforts. Instead, after a panel, consisting of Torres-Walker, City Manager Bessie Scott, then-Assistant City Manager Brad Helfenberger, then-Interim Community and Economic Development Director David Storer, Public Information Officer Jaden Baird and then-Economic Development Program Manager Bret Sweet, reviewed the proposals, they chose to allocate two grants in the amount of $27,500 each and one in the amount of $5,000. The first two were awarded to Delta Business Group, to support the efforts by the newly organized Downtown Antioch Association of business owners, and Prison From-The-Inside-Out. The smaller grant was awarded to Celebrate Antioch Foundation because the Review Panel determined their proposal “did not align fully with the parameters of the RFP.”

Purpose of Grants

The RFP solicited qualified organizations, nonprofits and business support entities to implement projects that aim to achieve at least two or more of the following outcomes:

• Increased Economic Activity – Boost foot traffic, sales, or commercial occupancy rates in key corridors.

• Business Retention or Expansion – Provide support or services that result in business stabilization, retention, or physical/operational growth.

• Entrepreneurial Development – Foster new business creation, especially among underserved populations or within underutilized areas.

• Commercial Corridor Revitalization – Visibly enhance underperforming areas (e.g., vacant storefront activations, façade improvements, pop-ups).

• Job Creation or Workforce Upskilling – Generate new employment opportunities or improve job readiness among residents.

• Community Engagement – Increase stakeholder participation, visibility of small businesses, or community pride in economic corridors.

Grant Awards

The process included a Blind Review with a group discussion at the end. According to the staff report, the Review Panel chose to issue the following grants for their proposed efforts:

• Celebrate Antioch Foundation– $5,000to perform Antioch Farmers’ Market promotion and signature event promotion. Although this proposal did not align fully with the parameters of the RFP, the organization was awarded an amount due to their services being complimentary to city services such as the farmers’ market.

• Delta Business Group– $27,500to work with the Downtown Antioch Association to build city-wide business-centered digital infrastructure development, city-wide and downtown capacity building, community building, collaboration and transition planning.

• Prison From-The-Inside-Out– $27,500to perform commercial corridor revitalization, city-wide community engagement, workforce development and job creation, and workforce upskilling.

Celebrate Antioch Foundation Leader Appeals Smaller Grant

But former Antioch Councilwoman Joy Motts, who is president of Celebrate Antioch Foundation (CAF), was not satisfied with the amount of her organization’s grant and shared her concerns with Bernal. He in turn chose to bring it to the City Council for a decision that could override the allocations by the Review Panel. The matter was first placed on the Nov. 20th meeting agenda for discussion and a possible decision. That’s when things turned controversial.

CAF has a history of working with and receiving funds from the City for the multiple, annual community events they’ve organized, mostly in downtown Rivertown including annual July 4th Celebration. They worked together on this past Saturday’s Holiday Delites Celebration. CAF’s largest project with the City was the year-long Sesquicentennial Celebration with multiple events in 2022. This year, the group added the Farmer’s Market on Sundays, for which their grant application was focused.

According to a report by City Finance Director Dawn Merchant, CAF received $95,000 in City funds for the Sesquicentennial events, including a $25,000 Administration Fee, and $50,000 for the 2022 July 4th event. (For full disclosure, this reporter named and helped form CAF).

City Attorney Gets Involved

Before the meeting, the City Attorney’s Office reviewed the RFP, along with emails from Motts and all attachments included in the agenda packet. According to Scott’s staff report, in the opinion of Interim City Attorney Derek Cole, “there is no legal issue with the way the City handled this RFP” which “clearly outlines the scope of the services being sought and the amount of the award does not exceed the amount authorized” of $60,000.

Furthermore, Scott states, “none of the proposers are entitled to any City funds and everygroup was given the opportunity to be heard and was equally assessed in determining the awards.”

City Manager Finds Mayor’s Challenge “Concerning…Alarming”, Claims it Diminishes Her Authority, Independence

Scott’s staff report further addressed the mayor’s challenge of the panel’s decision writing, “The City Manager finds it concerning and alarming that members of the City Council would request to diminish her legal and longstanding authority to award routine contracts and grants regardless of value, even if it is within her signing authority amounts. At no time in the past was this authority questioned of prior City Managers, including when the Mayor himself was the City Manager.”

Bernal served as Antioch City Manager from 2017-21. (See related articles here and here)

To further support her position, Scott cited the Report of the 2023-2024 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury entitled “Challenges Facing the City of Antioch” claiming Bernal’s challenge of her and the Review Panel’s decisions on the grants were undermining her ability to operate with independence. (See related article)

Scott wrote, “Within the Findings (of the Grand Jury Report), it is stated that a new City Manager’s success will depend, in part, on the Mayor and City Council creating an environment that while maintaining the oversight required by city ordinances, enables the City Manager to operate with independence, as also mandated by city ordinances.”

The City of Antioch has a Council-Manager form of government in which the council members are policy makers and hire a professional city manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The only other staff member the Council hires is the City Attorney.

“The actions described in this Staff Report reflect a departure from the governance structure mandated by the Antioch Municipal Code, as well as the essential duties and functions as outlined in the City Manager’s job description, and they pose significant operational, legal, and ethical risks,” Scott’s staff report states. “Continued encroachment on administrative authority undermines organizational stability and exposes the City to liability.”

She also claims Bernal’s challenge of the grant decisions is delaying the City’s economic development efforts.

“Too, non-adherence to established protocols has caused a significant delay in the carrying out of the 2025 Citywide Economic Development Initiative Grant Awards, as we push for, and desperately are in need of, economic development initiatives across the city,” Scott wrote. “Ensuring a well-functioning government requires that both the City Council and the City Manager operate within their defined roles and collaborate together with a shared goal of moving the city forward.”

Misinterpretations of Language in RFP

During public comments, Motts pointed out that Scott’s staff report incorrectly quotes that, “the RFP states that the goal was to award three groups up to $20,000” because it actually reads on page 4, “This RFP aims to award up to three (3) grants of $20,000 each.”

Yet, Motts was also incorrect in stating, “the RFP is clear that the City will award $60,000 in $20,000 grants to up to three projects. It does not say up to $20,000 and it does not say the grants will be changed to fit a project application.”

“Why would you manipulate the intent of the RFP?” she asked, directing her question to Scott.

However, the word “will” is not included and by using the word “aims” the language in the RFP allowed the panel to award all of the $60,000 allocated for the program to just one group or split the total among two organizations. They didn’t have to award funds to all three and the panel didn’t plan to according to Torres-Walker.

Concerns Politics Involved but Torres-Walker’s Efforts Result in Funds for CAF

Some residents are concerned that politics may be involved in the panel’s decision, since Motts ran unsuccessfully for city council placing second against Torres-Walker in 2020 and 2022, when the difference between the two was just four votes following a recount, and is expected to run against the incumbent councilwoman again, next year. But it was actually Torres-Walker who argued in favor of the $5,000 grant to CAF.

During council discussion of the item on Nov. 20th, Torres-Walker said, “I’m the only panelist who gave Celebrate Antioch a high score because they have been in the community and doing a lot of work in downtown…when others on the panel were considering completely denying the group’s proposal.”

“The proposal was not innovative. But I really appreciated the Farmer’s Market,” the councilwoman continued. “After hours of deliberating and actually only choosing two applicants – we did not choose a third applicant –  Celebrate Antioch’s proposal was not going to be funded. I made a proposal…through the City Manager to staff that we at least consider a small grant to support the efforts of the Farmer’s Market, which was new and innovative to the City of Antioch,” Torres-Walker explained. “Staff deliberated and agreed with my proposal and moved forward as such.”

Options for Council

The council members can choose to approve the Review Panel’s grant awards by voting for the resolution included with the agenda item, choose different grant amounts for each of the three groups, or scrap the entire program.

See Staff Report for Agenda Item #1 including the three proposals and complete Council Agenda.

Meeting Details

The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall located at 200 H Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. It can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube Channel, on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

Will have “the original menu…same feel, same ambiance. New bathrooms. More dining. More parking. New kitchen.” – Joe Martinez

New co-owner has history of buying, improving historic Antioch buildings

By Allen D. Payton

A post on the Mac’s Old House Facebook page on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, shared some good news for diners in Antioch and East County community.

It reads, “As most of you’ve heard…we have some exciting news. The legacy of Mac’s Old House will live on!

Mac’s has officially been purchased by Joe Martinez and Ron Harrison. We’re thrilled to share that their goal is to preserve Mac’s as much as possible, with some much-needed updates along the way. They’re aiming for a June 2026 reopening—exactly one year after closing!

As many of you know, the building needs major improvements, including bringing everything up to 2025 code. This is no small task, and we’re incredibly grateful that the new owners are committed to taking it on while honoring the history of the building.

When Mac converted his home into a bar on St. Patrick’s Day in 1956, and later a restaurant, none of us could have imagined how special this place would become. Gary Noe didn’t purchase the restaurant until 1983, and only then did the menu change into what everyone knows and loves today. Mac’s has needed a tune-up for quite some time and we’re all very excited to see the renovations and improvements (including expansion and more takeout options!!!)

Former head chef and manager Rick Cook will be lending his support and passing along all of Mac’s classic recipes.

We always did our best to keep prices as low as possible, and we know the new team is striving for that as well.

We all want the legacy of Mac’s to live on and be as successful as it can be. We’re looking forward to the future and cannot wait to see what 2026 has in store!!”

Martinez Offers Details

When reached for comment, Martinez offered additional details.

“I’ve been eyeballing this property. It’s iconic. It’s been in business for 42 years,” he stated. “I knew it was going to be a lot of work but a good investment for Mac’s Old House and the Antioch community.”

Asked about the menu he said, “We’re going to have the same menu.”

“Rick is going to go there and help with the recipes, show them how to cook the food to make sure we get everything right,” Martinez continued. “We have Sherry who runs Mel’s Diner in Antioch, she’s going to run it, basically. I told her the original menu, the original recipe. She can add a few things.”

About the improvements Martinez said, “We’re going to gut the whole thing. But it’s going to have the columns, the same feel, same ambiance. New bathrooms. More dining. More parking. New kitchen. It’s a substantial investment.”

“We want people to walk in and go ‘wow,” he stated.

A few new aspects will also be added.

“We’ll have a place on the side for DoorDash and we’re going to take credit cards,” Martinez added.

“It closed on the 22nd of June. So, I’m hoping to open a year-and-a-day after that. We might be ready a bit earlier,” he shared. “We’ll start with a soft opening.

“A couple of waitresses said they want to come back, one maybe part-time,” Martinez said.

History of Antioch Building Renovations

Martinez already has a history of buying and renovating buildings in Antioch, including five in downtown Rivertown.

The first one was the yellow painted “J. Ross building at the corner of G and W. 3rd Streets,” he shared. (That was the location of the first office for this reporter’s first newspaper, the Antioch Press).

Second was “the building where Blue’s Club was and Smash Burgers is located now” on the corner of W. 2nd and I Streets.

Third was “the old pool hall, the red brick building” on W. 2nd Street next to Smash Burgers.

Fourth was “the old Masonic Hall where the Antioch Armory is located, now” at the corner of W. 3rd and H Streets across from City Hall.

Then, he “bought and renovated the Casino Building” in Waldie Plaza, near the railroad tracks and river.

He likes to do mixed use with business below and apartments above, Martinez shared

“I’ve been downtown for 26 years, now,” he added.

Regarding the current renovations at Mac’s, Martinez said, “We have people driving by and they’ll honk and wave. We have people stopping by and sharing their stories, like one couple who said they got engaged there. It’s great.”

“It’s going to be nice. We’re excited,” he concluded.

Mac’s Old House is located at 3100 E. 18th Street in Antioch.

Attacker used “improvised weapon”, held on $530,000 bail

Sister organizes GoFundMe to pay for “proper services”

By Lt. William Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

According to a press release issued by Antioch Police Lt. William Whitaker today, “On December 4, 2025, the victim of the November 18 attack, 59-year-old Frank Troia, died from the injuries he sustained. The charges initially filed against the suspect, 34-year-old Brandon Rowlett, will be amended to murder (187 PC).”

As previously reported, on November 18, 2025, at approximately 2:46 a.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls of a subject down on the roadway at Lone Tree Way and W. Tregallas Road. When officers arrived on scene, they located the victim who appeared to have been involved in a physical altercation. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victim at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

On November 19, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, located and arrested Rowlett.

“He passed late last night,” Whitaker stated.

Asked if Troia was struck with a pipe, he said, “We found the improvised weapon used. It’s crucial evidence to the case. But we’re not going to release that information at this time.”

As previously reported, the sister of Troia has organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to pay for “proper services” for her brother.

Additional inquiries, tips, or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Arturo Becerra at (925) 779-6937 or by email at abecerra@antiochca.gov.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, four-inch tall, 162-pound Rowlett is Hispanic, and now being held on $530,000 bail in the West County Detention Facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 9 at 1:30 p.m. in Martinez Superior Court.

“Those are illegal, bro” – APD Officer Yega

“I didn’t know” – suspect

By Antioch Police Department

Imitation may be the greatest form of flattery… but impersonating the police is a crime.

This weekend, Officer Yega and his K9 partner Loki were traveling on A Street when they spotted a red pickup truck equipped with police-style lights pulling cars over.

The self-appointed “officer” was a bit shocked when the real police showed up, and he immediately pulled over. When questioned, the driver claimed he bought the lights on TikTok and didn’t know he wasn’t allowed to pull people over.

“Because a guy cut me off,” he added.

“That’s illegal, bro,” Yega told him.

“I didn’t know,” the driver responded.

The driver was arrested, booked into jail, and the truck was towed away. TikTok cops will not be tolerated in Antioch. (See incident video)

UPDATE: Later, Antioch Police Communications Manager Stacey Malsom issued the following press release about the arrest:

On December 1, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., an Antioch Police officer observed a red Ford F-150 pickup truck on A Street displaying flashing red and blue lights, causing other vehicles to pull over. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver.

Following an investigation, the driver was arrested for impersonating a peace officer, and the vehicle was impounded. The unlawful use of emergency lights creates a serious risk to public safety, and the Antioch Police Department takes these violations seriously.

If you believe you were a victim of this incident or have additional information, please contact Officer J. Yega at JYega@antiochca.gov.

On a serious note:

If you’re ever unsure whether you’re being stopped by a real police officer, you can always call 9-1-1. A dispatcher will confirm the officer’s identity and ensure your safety.

If you believe you’ve had an encounter with the red pickup truck or the suspect involved in this incident, please call (925) 778-2441 and let us know.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Ready, set, glow!

By Allen D. Payton

The most wonderful time of the year is here as ABC’s hit decorating competition series, “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” returns for its 13th season. The Disney House of Antioch’s own Vistalli Family will be competing as one of the 2025 Contenders.

According to ABC and Wikipedia, “The Great Christmas Light Fight” is a popular American reality competition show where families showcase their elaborate Christmas light displays for a chance to win the weekly episode’s $50,000 grand prize and Light Fight trophy.

The show first aired on December 9, 2013, on ABC. Each episode features four families competing to create the most impressive Christmas light displays. The displays are judged based on three criteria: use of lights, overall design and Christmas spirit.

Each display is first individually featured, then the judge or judges review the display and its specific details. Once all contestants have been reviewed, a winner is chosen, and the judges return to the winner to congratulate them.

The show is hosted by lifestyle expert Carter Oosterhouse and interior designer Taniya Nayak, who assess the creativity and effort put into each display.

Kristen Vistalli said, “We’re so excited to be on the show. The experience was amazing. They film a whole year in advance so the family can prepare.”

“They filmed last Nov. 1st and 2nd,” said Gary. “They were at our home from 2:00 p.m. until midnight for two days. They had a crew, here, of about a dozen. They had a big boom rig and also used a drone.”

“To see how a television is produced is really cool,” Kristen said.

“We haven’t seen any of it, yet,” she added..

The Antioch Disney House will be featured on the episode airing December 11 at 10:00 p.m. on ABC.

See the Lights Now

You can drive by now and see the lights, now. They’re on every night from Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 11:00 p.m. The Disney House is located at 3732 Colonial Court in Antioch.

Fundraiser & Toy Drive with Antioch Police Dec. 6

Reminder about this Saturday’s fundraiser with the Antioch Police Department from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Stop by with new unwrapped toy, with emphasis on teens, also gift cards, warm winter clothing or donations by Venmo. (See related article)

Devon Wenger claims he was framed, retaliated against as a whistleblower, suing police department; posts animated video on Instagram, shares two articles to offer his side of the story

By Michele Lo, PIO, U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Former Antioch police officer Devon Christopher Wenger was sentenced today to seven-and-a-half years in federal prison for conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch through the use of unreasonable force, conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids, and obstructing justice.  Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence. 

Wenger, 33, formerly of Oakley, California, was indicted in two separate cases.  In April 2025, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Wenger on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of obstruction of justice.  In September 2025, following a seven-day trial, a jury convicted Wenger of conspiracy against rights.  Wenger was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals in September 2025 and has remained in federal custody since then.

“Devon Wenger and his co-conspirators believed the badges they wore gave them a license to break the law. They were wrong. Today, the court held Mr. Wenger accountable for his betrayal of the public trust placed in him,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.

“Devon Wenger’s sentencing marks another significant step in a multi-year effort to uncover and confront corruption within the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments.  His conviction, along with the earlier convictions in this case, underscores that no one is above the law.  The FBI and our partners are committed to holding those who violate the civil rights of others and betray the public’s trust accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at the September 2025 trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, conspired with each other and others about using excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch.  The uses and intended uses of excessive force included deployment of a police K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence.  The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system.  Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents.

Wenger, Amiri, and or Rombough engaged in numerous communications in furtherance of the conspiracy, including an April 2019 communication in which Wenger sent a photo and booking information for a suspect to Amiri and Rombough and requested that they “[p]lease find this guy[] and f— him in the a–.”  Rombough responded “Deal,” and Amiri responded “ill bite em.” 

Later in 2019, Wenger broke the arm of a young female shoplifting suspect, then pushed her sister to the ground, handcuffed the sister, picked the sister up and grabbed her neck, and smashed the sister’s face into the side of the patrol car, as captured on video.  However, Wenger wrote in his police report that as he was escorting the sister to a patrol car, she attempted to pull away from him and that as a result of her actions she “subsequently fell onto the side of the patrol vehicle.” 

In August 2020, after Amiri deployed his K9 to apprehend a suspect in Pittsburg, California, with Wenger, he wrote to Wenger “if pitt didn’t have all those body cams and that was us… we would have f—ed him up more. he didn’t get what he deserved.”  Wenger responded, “I agree.  That’s why I don’t like body cams.”  The next night, Wenger wrote to Amiri, “We need to get into something tonight bro!!  Lets go 3 nights in a row dog bite!!!”  Amiri and Wenger exchanged additional messages and bloodied photographs after engaging with another suspect that night, and following Amiri’s deployment of his K9 to bite a suspect in a homeless encampment the subsequent evening.  At the end of the week, Amiri wrote to Wenger, “let’s f— some people up next work week,” to which Wenger agreed. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at the April 2025 trial, in February 2022, Wenger set up the sale of anabolic steroids, a Schedule III controlled substance, between Daniel Harris, who was at the time also an Antioch Police Department officer, and a third individual.  Law enforcement officials seized the package of anabolic steroids destined for Harris before they arrived, although Wenger continued to communicate with Harris about supplying the third individual with anabolic steroids, including offering to give this individual some of Wenger’s own while they waited for the delayed package.

On March 23, 2022, at 8:03 a.m., the FBI began calling and sending text messages to Wenger telling him that they were outside of his residence with a warrant.  It was not until 9:00 a.m. that Wenger appeared for the FBI to seize Wenger’s cellular phone. Later forensic examination of that device showed that specific entries related to the anabolic steroid distribution conspiracy had been deleted.

In addition to the prison term, Judge White also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release.  A hearing to determine the amounts of restitution owed to victims is scheduled for January 27, 2026.

The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney.

Wenger Claims He Was Framed, Retaliated Against as a Whistleblower

As previously reported by the Herald, following his conviction in April this year, the former Antioch officer shared, “I never have had anything to do with steroids. Never took them, never possessed them, and sure as heck never conspired to distribute them. I took PEPTIDES, gonadorelin to be specific. It’s legal and NOT a steroid. I took the peptides to recover from COVID, COVID almost killed me and had me in a hospital bed and left my body in shambles. I still feel the effects of it to this day and will never fully recover. The FBI even seized gonadorelin and numerous other peptides failed to disclose that.”

Further, he claimed earlier this year he’s a whistleblower being framed.

“I am innocent. I am a whistleblower facing a whistleblower retaliation prosecution to silence me. I am being framed on fabricated and tampered evidence. Yes, the FBI and the US Attorneys on this case have fabricated and tampered with evidence, in addition to misrepresenting evidence and even lying to the court, and the public. They have…gone so far as to manipulate and suppress the documents that prove this (including exculpatory evidence) in the metadata data of their own discovery documents in order to push their false narrative. The truth will surface. That’s all I can say.”

“In addition to this we have filed a civil lawsuit against APD which outlines everything they put me through which led to these bogus charges against me,” Wenger added.

(See related articles here and here)

Two-Part Report Series Supports Wenger’s Claims

In addition, a two-part series, by The Current Report, provides additional details from Wenger’s perspective which claims he “exposed misconduct inside his department in 2021.” The articles include several court and legal documents to support the former officer’s claims. See Part 1 entitled, “The Digital Frame-Up: How the FBI and Contra Costa DA Turned a Police Whistleblower into a Federal Target” and Part 2 entitled, “The Retaliation of Officer Devon Wenger: Inside Antioch PD’s Cross-Agency Cover-Up – The ‘Good Ole Boy Club’ Part 2.”

Posts Instagram Videos, Tags Federal Officials

Wenger posted videos on Instagram, including an animated video using an account entitled, “Thepolicewhistleblower” on August 7, 2025, explaining his claims against the Antioch PD, Contra Costa DA’s Office and the FBI. The account description reads, “I am a police whistleblower facing a retaliatory prosecution for upholding my oath and standing up against both federal and local LEO corruption in CA.”

In the post Wenger wrote, “This is the unfortunate reality of what happens to police officers who break the ‘blue wall of silence’ and blow the whistle on corruption. I upheld my oath and did what was right, and now I am being retaliated against, silenced, and framed by the same system I once defended with my life. I WILL NOT STOP until the TRUTH is exposed. Rest assured, the truth always comes to light, and I will NEVER compromise my integrity nor my oath, not even in the face of impossible odds. I WILL NEVER QUIT.”

Three weeks later he tagged several federal officials including President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and posted the following:

“So, are you guys going to look into this or are you going to allow your low level FBI agents work with local police to fabricate evidence against a police whistleblower? I don’t know how many times I have reached out to each of you with no answer nor even an acknowledgment. This is a horrific constitutional violation and as severe deprivation of rights against a police whistleblower. I upheld my oath and stood up to corruption, it has cost me everything and now I’m deprived of my whistleblower protections rights and my very constitutional rights this country was founded on. Get it together and stop covering for criminals hiding behind badges in your organization.”

On a different Instagram account, which can no longer be located, Wenger posted a video of himself and linked to the two articles by The Current Report.

Charges Part of Broader Investigation of Antioch, Pittsburg Police

The charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple federal charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud.  The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:

Case Name and Number	Statute(s)	Defendant (Bold: multiple case numbers)	Status
Fraud 23-cr-00264	18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)	Patrick Berhan	Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24
		Morteza Amiri	Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25
		Amanda Theodosy a/k/a Nash	Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24
		Samantha Peterson	Sentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24
		Ernesto Mejia-Orozco	Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24
		Brauli Jalapa Rodriguez	Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24
Obstruction 23-cr-00267	18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)	Timothy Manly Williams	Pleaded guilty 11/28/23, sentencing set for 1/13/2026
Steroid Distribution 23-cr-00268	21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)	Daniel Harris	Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026
	21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids); 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)	Devon Wenger	Sentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025
Civil Rights 23-cr-00269	18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)	Morteza Amiri	Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/25
	18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)	Eric Rombough	Pleaded guilty 1/14/25, sentencing set for 1/13/2026
	18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)	Devon Wenger	Sentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025
Steroid Distribution 24-cr-00157	21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)	Patrick Berhan	Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24
Bank fraud 24-cr-00502	18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)	Daniel Harris	Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026

Further Information: Case Nos. 23-cr-0268 JSW; 23-cr-0269 JSW

Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Asked to form Ad Hoc Committee; at least $16 million spent since 2021 so far

By Allen D. Payton

During a special meeting at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, the Antioch City Council will consider a plan to reduce homelessness and policy guidelines for homeless services. The meeting was scheduled on Nov. 20, but the agenda was not provided to the public until Monday, Dec. 1.

The one agenda is labeled a “City Council Priority Setting Discussion” on the “Plan for the Department of Public Safety and Community Resources to Reduce Homelessness and Increase Access to Critical Resources for Unhoused Residents,” by Focus Strategies, completed in December 2023.

The plan was a result of the Council adopting the “Policy Guidelines for the City’s Approach to Unhoused Resident Services” in 2021.

According to the City staff report on the item, “The Policy Guidelines of 2021 outlined three strategies that the City would use to prioritize to achieve this goal:

1. Address the immediate and public health needs of unhoused Antioch residents;

2. Invest in interim housing and services solutions designed to facilitate the transition into permanent housing; and

3. Increase permanent housing and linkages to permanent housing.

The City Manager (Bessie Scott) has recently restructured the housing investments approach for the City, to include the creation of a dedicated Housing Services Division, and she has bolstered regional relationships with external partners to address policy interventions as well as possibilities for increasing service provisions, in addition to identifying funding opportunities in the area of housing services and housing opportunities for all.”

Scott is asking for direction from the Council on forming an Ad Hoc Committee for this purpose.

UPDATE: Asked how much has been spent to help the homeless in Antioch, including ARPA COVID-relief funds, Monserrat Cabral, Director of the Department of Public Safety and Community Resources responded, “Since 2021 with ARPA (federal) and ERF (Encampment Resolution Funds from the State of California), I’d say a little over $16 million. The $16 million is also only what I can see from my department and when the Unhoused Resident Coordinator was hired as part-time in 2021 from the City Manager’s office, there might be other expenses from Public Works or Antioch Police Departments, but I would confirm with City Manager Scott.”

Asked why the meeting is being held at Noon when most residents can’t attend Mayor Ron Bernal responded, “It was the only time we could get the City Council and facilitator together before the last City Council meeting (of the year) on 12/9.”

The meeting starts at Noon at the Antioch Water Park – Multi Use Room, 4701 Lone Tree Way. It may be televised on the City’s website and/or the City’s YouTube channel but that information is not provided on the agenda.

See the amended meeting agenda with Plan and Policy Guidelines.

To bring holiday hope and find loving “furever” homes for shelter pets

300+ shelters nationwide reduce adoption fees

By Cat Cottle, Acting Animal Services Manager / Animal Services Supervisor, Antioch Police Department

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is bringing holiday hope to homeless pets across the country with its Empty the Shelters® – Holiday Hope reduced-fee adoption event, taking place until December 15th, 2025.

Antioch Animal Services will participate in the nationwide event to help deserving shelter pets find loving homes. During this time, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees to make adoption more affordable this holiday season.
Finding love at the corner of W. 2nd & L Streets:

• Antioch Animal Services will participate December 2–15 at 300 L Street, Antioch, CA, offering $0 adoption fees for all adoptable pets.

• Visit 24petconnect.com/AntiochAdoptablePets for adoptable pets.
• All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before going to their new homes
• No appointments are necessary
• We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm

“This year has placed enormous pressure on shelters across the country, as more families face financial hardship and housing changes that force them to surrender beloved pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “If you’re considering adding a pet to your family, adoption has so many benefits. Shelters have desirable pets of every size and age—many who have lived in homes, are house-trained, already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ready to become part of your family—all for a fraction of the cost of buying from a breeder or pet store. Our Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope event is a chance for all of us to end the year by giving shelter pets what they deserve most—a loving home.”

We have had great success during these events in the past and we hope that this event will find “furever” homes for many of our adoptable pets.  

Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event and has helped more than 374,000 pets find homes across the U.S. and Canada since its inception in 2016. Sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation, the program works with hundreds of animal welfare organizations to reduce adoption fees and make pet adoption accessible to more families.All pets available through participating shelters are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Each shelter determines its own adoption process—prospective adopters are encouraged to contact shelters directly for details.

About BISSELL Pet Foundation:

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501©(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 6,025 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc. where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.