As previously reported, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at approximately 10:21 p.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls reporting shots fired in the area of D and W. 19th Streets. When officers arrived on scene, they located four victims suffering from gunshot wounds. All were men. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victims at the scene. Two victims died at the scene.
On Friday, September 26, 2025, Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs for the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, identified the two deceased men as Julio Castaneda, age 33, out of Oakley and Thomas Vega Espinoza, age 42, whose city of residence is unknown
They were initially reported as ages 23 and 37 years old.
Lt. Bill Whitaker confirmed the ages provided by Lee saying, “Those ages are correct. We didn’t have them 100 percent identified, initially. We got a bad name from a family member, and it wasn’t actually the right person.”
“Both were innocent victims and not even the intended targets,” he added.
The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit, responded to take over the investigation. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
Additional inquiries, tips, or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email at jcox@antiochca.gov.
DA Diana Becton in Feb. 2025. Source: CCCDA’s Office
On September 18th, 2025, a federal jury in Oakland, CA found a former Antioch police officer guilty of conspiracy against rights, marking another step toward accountability in a painful chapter for Antioch and Pittsburg. (See related article)
This case is part of a broader investigation that began in 2021 into misconduct by several officers entrusted to protect the public, including actions that fall under the broad category of crimes involving moral turpitude.
When a law is broken—especially by those sworn to enforce it—it is not just a legal violation, but an offense against the entire community. That is why in every criminal case, the District Attorney represents The People of the State of California. The harm caused by these individuals was felt by the public at large, and it is our duty and responsibility to pursue justice on behalf of all those affected.
I am grateful to our federal partners, our state and local investigators, and prosecutors who worked tirelessly on these cases on behalf of the residents of Antioch and Pittsburg. Thanks to these combined efforts, both cities have begun to rebuild trust and take meaningful steps toward restoring integrity in their public institutions. These efforts are crucial to ensuring safer, more just communities for all. Our office remains firmly committed to that mission.
Following the crash of the suspects’ car, Orey Douglas was arrested, and a gun was recovered on August 4, 2024. Photos: Brentwood PD
28-year-old Orey Douglas of Antioch and 38-year-old Sam Gray of Oakley
Douglas has a history of arrests since 2014 for murder, corporal injury, assault, sex with a minor, vehicle theft, false imprisonment, more
By Brentwood Police Department
On August 4th, 2024, Brentwood officers responded to an armed robbery that occurred at 50 Sand Creek Road. The victim reported being robbed at gunpoint by two suspects, identified as 28-year-old Orey Azniam Douglas of Antioch and 38-year-old Sam Donte Gray of Oakley (formerly of Concord – born 11-10-85). After both suspects were identified they were placed under arrest and charges were filed.
As previously reported, they robbed Los Mexicanos Market, Douglas was arrested that night and Gray remained at large until he was arrested on August 8, 2024. Douglas was charged with second-degree robbery and three firearms-related charges.
On March 3, 2025, the suspectswere found guilty of armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, along with numerous firearm charges and enhancements.
As of early this month, Gray will serve a 13-year prison sentence and Douglas will serve a 7-year prison sentence.
According to localcrimenews.com, the six-feet, three-inch tall, 215-pound Douglas is Black and has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by multiple agencies including police departments in Antioch, Hayward, Fremont, BART, Oakland, San Jose, Vacaville, as well as Sheriff’s Departments in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties, and Contra Costa CHP. Charges include murder, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, assault with any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, multiple gun crimes, sex with a minor and unlawfully causing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act by force, carjacking, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, false imprisonment, threatening a witness, evading police and resisting arrest.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the five-feet, nine-inch tall, 217-pound Gray is Black and was held in the Martinez Detention Facility on $140,0000 bail.
According to localcrimenews.com, he was arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, assault with a firearm on a person, felony parole violation and addict in possession of a firearm. Gray was previously arrested on Sept. 8, 2023, by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department on order for a person’s removal from prison to appear in court.
This case was a collaborative effort with our officers, Detectives, along with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. We are pleased this investigation has resulted in sentencing, and we commend the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in bringing this case forward.
Former Antioch Police Officer Devon Wenger was found guilty by a jury on September 18, 2025. Herald file photo
Devon Wenger could face 10 years in prison
Previously convicted on steroid, obstruction charges, claims innocence, is a whistleblower being framed, suing APD
One of 10 Antioch, Pittsburg cops investigated by DA, FBI
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND – A federal jury, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, convicted former Antioch police officer Devon Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights. The jury’s verdict follows a seven-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.
Wenger, 33, was previously employed as a police officer with the Antioch Police Department. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Wenger conspired with other Antioch Police Department officers to use unreasonable force to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch, California.
“Public trust must be at the forefront of the duty to protect. By using unnecessary and unreasonable force under the guise of law enforcement, Wenger betrayed the community he was entrusted to protect. Officers who hold themselves above the law and dishonor their oath of office will be held to account. The people of Antioch deserve no less,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Today’s conviction makes clear that when an officer violates the civil rights of those he was sworn to protect, it will not be overlooked or excused. This marks the second time a jury has held Devon Wenger accountable, and it reflects the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice in every instance where authority is abused. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who betray the public’s trust face consequences,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.
According to the evidence at trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, communicated with each other and others about using and intending to use excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch. The uses of excessive force included deployment of a 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.
The jury convicted Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241. The court dismissed a second count that charged Wenger with deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
Previously, Wenger claimed one incident of excessive use of force in which a 40mm less lethal round was deployed was under direct order of his superior officer.
Previously Convicted on Steroid, Obstruction Charges, Claims Innocence, is a Whistleblower Being Framed, Suing APD
As previously reported, Wenger was convicted in May of conspiracy to distribute steroids and obstruction of justice following a jury trial in April 2025. However, following that conviction the former Antioch officer said, “Despite what the government is falsely boasting nationwide about me 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.”
He also provided further explanation of the steroid charges.
Regarding the obstruction of justice charge, Wenger said, “Additionally, the government falsely claimed I deleted contacts and Venmo contacts from my phone, yet that is not true. These contacts and Venmo contacts remain in my phone to this day. They never left. Now, my phone was backed up to iCloud the night before the phone seizure and the government could have searched my iCloud and seen that I never deleted anything from my phone, yet they did not even though they seized everybody else’s iCloud. This is because they are pushing a false narrative.”
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 been 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.
He shared copies of both his Motion of Acquittal and for a New Trial, and lawsuit against the Antioch Police Department and former Antioch Police Lieutenant Powell Meads, who was Wenger’s superior officer. The complaint claims retaliation, discrimination, hostile workplace harassment, failure to prevent harassment, discrimination or retaliation, and requests damages and a trial.
In addition, in a November 2024 interview, Wenger and his then-attorney Nicole Castronovo argued evidence used against Wenger was unlawfully obtained, undermining his right to a fair trial. Castronovo further alleged prosecutors improperly withheld key exculpatory information from the defense.
They further claimed, in testimony given on October 25, 2024, Larry J. Wallace, Senior Inspector with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, admitted he illegally mishandled sensitive data and failed to seal private information during his involvement in the FBI investigation of the Antioch Police Department in 2021. The mishandling of that evidence resulted in the unauthorized use of Wenger’s personal communications and violated his legal right to privacy. It also violated the stringent rules of CalECPA (California Electronic Communications Privacy Act).
Remanded to Custody Awaiting Dec. 2 Sentencing
The Court ordered Wenger remanded to custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
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.
One of 10 Antioch, Pittsburg Cops Prosecuted, Convicted Part of DA, FBI Investigations
These civil rights charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple 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:
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
Obstruction23-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, status conference 10/7/25
Steroid Distribution23-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, status conference 10/7/25
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
Convicted at trial 4/30/25, sentencing pending
Civil Rights23-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, status conference 10/7/25
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)
Devon Wenger
Convicted at trial 9/18/25, sentencing 12/2/25
Steroid Distribution24-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
UPDATE: All males: 33- and 42-year-old homicide victims, 36-year-old in stable condition, 15-year-old in critical condition
By Lt. William Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
On September 18, 2025, at approximately 10:21 p.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls reporting shots fired in the area of D Street and W. 19th Street. When officers arrived on scene, they located four victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victims at the scene. Two victims died at scene, 23- and 37-year-old men, and two victims were transported to area hospitals. One victim (36-year-old male) is in stable condition, and the other victim (15-year-old male) is in critical condition.
9/26/25 UPDATE: According to Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs for the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, the two deceased were identified as Julio Castaneda, age 33, out of Oakley and Thomas Vega Espinoza, age 42, whose city of residence is unknown. They were initially reported as ages 23 and 37 years old.
Antioch Police Lt. Bill Whitaker confirmed the ages provided by Lee saying, “Those ages are correct. We didn’t have them 100 percent identified, initially.”
The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit, responded to take over the investigation. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
Additional inquiries, tips, or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email at jcox@antiochca.gov.
There have now been five homicides and 13 shootings in the city this year.
47-year-old Silvio Roberto Belini Jr. knows 44-year-old Brentwood victim; released from hospital with serious injuries
By Lt. Bill Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
On Friday, September 5, 2025, at approximately 1:29 PM, Antioch Police Dispatch received multiple reports of a shooting in the 3500 block of Lone Tree Way. Upon arrival, officers located a 44-year-old female victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was stabilized at the scene by paramedics before she was transported to an area hospital for treatment. She is currently in stable condition and is expected to survive. (See related article)
On Wednesday, September 17, Antioch Police Department detectives arrested the suspect, 47-year-old Silvio Roberto Belini, Jr. of Brentwood, without incident for this shooting. Antioch Police detectives also executed a search warrant at an undisclosed address in Brentwood in connection with this shooting. Evidence from the home was collected.
Asked about the victim, Lt. Whitaker said, “She had surgery and was discharged from the hospital about a week later. She still has serious injuries.”
Asked if the two know each other and if it was a marital issue, he said, “They do know each other but we’re not releasing any other information. It’s still under investigation.”
This information is made available by the Investigation Bureau. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Becerra at (925) 779-6937 or Antioch Police Dispatch at (925) 778-2441. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.
No additional information about Belini could be found in online search. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
The Antioch City Council settled a complaint by former Police Chief Steve Ford following an investigation that cleared his name of false allegations earlier this year. Herald file photo
Months after investigation completed; Council pays out $190K to Steve Ford who sought more than $500K to settle complaint over email sent by estranged-wife 15 months after he left department and released by then-Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe
Ford saw leak as political retaliation for endorsing Bernal for mayorand costing him permanent chief position
“The main thing for me was to clear my name. None of this was true.” – Steve Ford
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on August 12, 2025, the Antioch City Council voted unanimously in closed session, to settle a complaint by former Police Chief Steve Ford over leaked information from his estranged wife alleging misconduct with a City staffer. It includes $190,000 and a public apology through the local media that reported on the matter last year, including the East Bay Times, which broke the story, and the Antioch Herald.
According to the Dec. 5, 2024, report by the Herald, “An email from Ford’s estranged wife, Julia, who is pursuing a divorce, was sent to District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker about the allegations, who in turn informed City Manager Bessie Scott who then began an investigative process. It was confirmed…that the email…was sent by Scott only to Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe after he asked her to put in writing details about the matter.”
According to the settlement, on Feb. 18, 2025, “the City issued a private memorandum to Ford confirming the investigation had concluded and that the allegations were unfounded.” But the City did not inform the media clearing Ford’s name until after he filed a complaint in April and it was settled in late August.
Feb. 18, 2025, memo from Chief Joe Vigil to Steve Ford included in complaint that the allegations were “Unfounded”. Redacted by Antioch Herald.
Complaint
According to the complaint, “Mr. Ford was subjected to an internal investigation by the City of Antioch in November 2024, based solely on an unverified accusation from his estranged spouse. On November 27, 2024, City Manager Scott summarized the unsubstantiated allegation in a confidential email sent only to then-Mayor Thorpe. That email was leaked to the press, causing widespread public damage to Mr. Ford’s reputation. The City’s negligent or intentional failure to secure confidential personnel information, as required by Penal Code § 832.7, directly caused the unauthorized disclosure, and its refusal to publicly retract the allegations amplified the reputational damage. This breach of the City’s statutory duty to safeguard personnel records directly enabled the harmful disclosure.
“At no time prior to the media leak did the City of Antioch notify Mr. Ford that he was under investigation or that such allegations had been made. He was not provided an opportunity to respond or to participate in the process. Indeed, Mr. Ford first learned of the allegations—and the City’s internal investigation—only after they had been disclosed through the media.
“Further, Mr. Ford was not provided with a copy of the investigation findings until after the undersigned attorney contacted the City to address the publication of false and defamatory information. Only then, on February 18, 2025, did the City issue a written memorandum confirming that its internal investigation had concluded and that the allegations against Mr. Ford were unfounded. However, this communication was preceded by inconsistent representations by the City. On February 12, 2025, the undersigned attorney contacted the interim City Attorney, seeking confirmation that no internal investigation was pending, noting that Mr. Ford had received no notice, was never interviewed, and had been separated from the City for over one year. After receiving no response, a follow-up message was sent on February 19. On February 24, the interim City Attorney replied that an investigation was ‘open and pending,’ documentation of which is available upon request. Mr. Ford did not receive the February 18 letter, which confirmed the investigation was closed with a finding of ‘Unfounded,’ until February 27, 2025. The City’s inconsistent communications, including falsely stating on February 24, 2025, that the investigation was ‘open and pending’ after it had concluded, demonstrate bad faith and aggravated harm to Mr. Ford. This bad faith and the City’s negligent or intentional disclosure of confidential information form a pattern of misconduct that aggravated Mr. Ford’s injuries.
“Despite privately acknowledging the allegations were unfounded, the City’s failure to publicly retract the accusations perpetuated the damage to Mr. Ford’s professional standing.
“Shortly thereafter, Mr. Ford was informed that he had not been selected as Antioch Police Chief, despite reaching the final interview stage. Mr. Ford had publicly supported then-candidate Ron Bernal, who defeated Mayor Thorpe in the November 2024 election, raising serious concerns that the City’s conduct and failure to repair the public damage were motivated, at least in part, by political retaliation. Discovery will clarify whether former Mayor Thorpe or other officials were aware of Mr. Ford’s endorsement and acted with retaliatory intent.”
Ford alleged the following legal violations:
Defamation (Libel per se)
False Light.
Invasion of Privacy (Public Disclosure of Private Facts).
Breach of Confidentiality (Penal Code § 832.7). This breach of the City’s statutory duty to safeguard personnel records directly enabled the harmful disclosure.
Violation of Peace Officer Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBRA) (Gov. Code §§ 3300 et seq.). The City violated Gov. Code §§ 3304 and 3305 by failing to notify Mr. Ford of the investigation, denying him an opportunity to respond, and improperly disclosing personnel information. These POBRA protections apply to Mr. Ford, to the extent applicable, as a former officer, given the investigation’s impact on his personnel record and reputation.
Political Retaliation (California Constitution, Art. I §§ 2, 3).
Violation of California Labor Code §§1101 & 1102.
Failure to Hire in Retaliation.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (NIED).
Declaratory and Injunctive Relief.
He also claimed the following injury and damages:
Severe reputational harm in the law enforcement and broader community
Loss of past and future employment opportunities
Emotional distress, humiliation, and mental anguish
Economic damages, including lost wages, future income, and attorneys’ fees
Continuing harm to career prospects, public image, and professional standing
Specifically, the complaint alleged, “The amount of damages is currently unliquidated but exceeds $500,000. This includes general and special damages, such as lost wages from the Antioch Police Chief position, emotional distress damages from public humiliation, attorneys’ fees, and statutory penalties where permitted, subject to proof at trial.”
The complaint also included copies of the articles published by the Times and Antioch Herald as supporting documentation.
Ford Sought Relief in Four Ways:
Monetary damages (economic and non-economic);
A public retraction and apology, published in the Antioch Herald, Times Herald, and East Bay Times and on the City’s official website, acknowledging that the allegations were unfounded and that Mr. Ford committed no misconduct;
Injunctive relief prohibiting future disclosures of protected personnel records; and
About the complaint and settlement Cole wrote in a Memorandum to the City Council included in the agenda for their meeting on September 9, 2025, “On April 28, Ford filed a complaint against the City through his attorney…This Memorandum supplements the City Council’s report-out from the above item considered at its regular meeting on August 12, 2025. The matter then identified as an anticipated litigation item-significant exposure to litigation related to a government claim filed by former Police Chief Steven Ford. Following the report out on that evening, the City—acting under direction the City Council provided during the closed session—executed a settlement with former Chief Ford. The written settlement agreement is now available as a public record.
“The settlement was approved by motion made during the August 12, 2025, closed session. The motion was: to resolve the government claim filed by former Police Chief Steven Ford, subject to the preparation and execution of a written settlement agreement prepared and approved by the Interim City Attorney. Motion by Councilmember Freitas, second by Councilmember Torrres-Walker, with unanimous approval (all 5 members present voted ‘Yes’).”
However, on Aug 12, Interim City Attorney Derek Cole, while reporting out from the Council’s Closed Session, merely said, “the council provided direction to counsel. No reportable action was taken.”
Asked why the council’s vote wasn’t reportable Cole explained, “The action taken in closed session on August 12 was not then reportable because the other side had not yet accepted the settlement. At the time of that closed session, we did not know if Chief Ford would agree on the same terms as the Council had authorized. He later did accept on those terms and his counsel and I reduced those to the written settlement agreement you now have. Once that was executed, there was no further executory action on either side’s part, so we made the updated report-out at the last meeting.”
The settlement was signed by representatives of both parties on August 25 and 26.
Source: City of Antioch
Public Apology by City
The City issued the following “Statement…Regarding Settlement of Government Claim Filed by Former Police Chief Steven Ford
August 27, 2025
“In November 2024, the City of Antioch initiated an internal investigation involving former Police Chief Steven Ford. The City received an email alleging Chief Ford, while employed with the City, had an inappropriate relationship with an unnamed subordinate. The investigation, which concluded in February 2025, determined this allegation was unfounded.
“The City acknowledges that shortly after the investigation began, the investigation’s existence and the subject of investigation were inappropriately revealed to the Press – before Chief Ford was made aware. This breach of confidentiality resulted in damaging media coverage about Chief Ford beginning on or about December 3, 2024
“The City acknowledges the investigation’s existence should not have been revealed to the Press. Chief Ford had a right to expect any unverified allegation about him would be investigated confidentially. Under California law, investigations regarding peace officers may only be revealed publicly when allegations are sustained. In this matter, the allegation against Chief Ford was found not true.
“The City expresses its appreciation for his previous service as Antioch Police Chief. It wishes Chief Ford the best for his future law enforcement career.”
When reached for comment about his complaint and settlement with the City, Ford said, “The main thing for me was to clear my name. That was important to me. The monetary compensation, I’m appreciative of. Because my name was tarnished by a lie forwarded in an email. It was my estranged wife who sent the email with some information that has been proven categorically untrue.”
“I was wondering why my ex would do that 16 months after I had left the Antioch Police Department,” he continued. “The City of Antioch acknowledged it was untrue. So, after 34 years building what I believe is a strong reputation there had never been anything like this. None of this was true.”
Asked why he didn’t sue Hernandez-Thorpe for sending it out to the media, Ford said, “That’s certainly an option. But my main goal was to clear my name.”
Asked why the City didn’t make the results of the investigation public in February he said, “They did not make that known in a timely fashion. I didn’t know an investigation had begun. I found out on December 3 there was an investigation, in the paper like everyone else.”
“That’s the ultimate violation of my Constitutional rights to due process,” the former police chief stated.
“This was for a divorce she filed for,” Ford explained. “It would be one thing if I had filed. But the slander campaign was outrageous by my estranged wife and Lamar.”
Asked why didn’t he or his attorney didn’t release the findings in February, Ford said, “I had no knowledge of my name being cleared as of Feb. 18th. They didn’t inform me of any disposition. I learned of that after the fact. That’s when I prompted my attorney to find out the disposition. Then we determined if I wanted to file the complaint which we did, in April.”
Asked for a copy of the investigation report, he said, “I was informed that’s something that has to be worked out between Cole and my attorney.”
City Attorney Cole was asked why the results of the investigation weren’t provided to the media when it was completed to clear Ford’s name at that point rather than wait for him to file and the City to settle his complaint and for a copy of the report. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
The suspect’s Lexus was towed from the Antioch Marina boat launch parking lot and a gun seized following a sideshow on Sunday night, September 7, 2025. Photos: Antioch PD
Driver from Morgan Hill, passenger from Oakland
By Antioch Police Department
Sunday night, Sept. 7, 2025, the Antioch Police Department received multiple calls about a sideshow at the Antioch Marina and when officers arrived, they saw a Lexus doing donuts in the boat launch parking lot.
According to Lt. Joe Njoroge, around 11:25 pm officers overheard the screeching of tires coming from the vicinity of the marina. The driver and passenger tried to exit quickly, but Officers Tryner and Drace looked inside the car and spotted something they shouldn’t have had, a gun.
The driver, Jose Martinez, 31-year-old out of Morgan Hill was arrested for VC 23103 – Reckless Driving. The passenger, Brian Gallegos Avina, 27-year-old male out of Oakland was arrested for: PC 25850(c)(6) – possession of a handgun when not the registered owner; PC 32310(a) – receiving a large-capacity magazine; PC 25850(a) – carrying a loaded firearm on a person or in a vehicle while in any public place; and PC 25400(a)(2) – carrying a concealed upon a person any pistol, revolver or other firearm.
The Lexus got a one-way tow out of the marina.
Thank you for working with us and reporting problems when you see them.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of today, Thursday, September 10th, Avina is out of custody with no charges filed. No additional information from online searches could be found about Martinez.
