Until I know more, I think its irresponsible for me to say anything, said attorney Michael Rains, who represents Antioch police officers. In the other court file, Amiri is not mentioned, but his police dog, K9 Purcy, is identified as biting a man during a physical altercation. In another incident, one officer referred to George Floyd, the Black man murdered by Minneapolis Police Department officers in May 2020, as a gorilla. With 11 officers under investigation, it is by far the largest criminal probe of law enforcement in Contra Costa County in a decade. Because of the deeply disturbing content targeting the Black and Hispanic community, Maier decided the officers were not entitled to anonymity under the state evidence code. The mayor said efforts were ramping up to get a new permanent police chief and city manager in place soon. Taylor Swift concert breaks Levis Stadium curfew, Thought it was gone? ANTIOCH, Calif. (KGO) -- A new 128-page report put out by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office reveals more racist texts sent by Antioch police officers involved in the. these messages have shattered his trust for them altogether. Antioch claims subpoenaed officers have industrial injuries to avoid testifying about racism, alleged crimes Thorpe yelled at the speaker, who was defending the police department and accused the mayor of misconduct. Crime and Public Safety | Harriette Cole: I thanked her for the gift -- then I found out it wasn't a gift, How to renew a California drivers license if youre over 70: a roundup of tips. When I ran for mayor, I did so knowing that I was inheriting years of insufficient oversight of the police department at all levels of government, Thorpe said. Civil rights attorneys and critical observers of Antioch police were not surprised by the existence of the FBI investigation. Multiple law enforcement sources told that news organization that officers from Pittsburg and Antioch allegedly recruited a woman to take online college courses and pass tests in their names. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Rombough, who joined Antioch police in 2017, is one of four officers who shot and killed 57-year Guadalupe Zavala during a seven-hour standoff last January. In 2000, Antioch was 65 percent white. The mayor also said that in a recent meeting with the Antioch Police Officers Association, it became clear that officers need stable and steadfast leadership.. The Antioch Police Department declined to comment for this story. The names include the president of Antiochs police union, as well as five officers already under investigation by the FBI for alleged crimes. "And we are taking immediate steps to rebuild trust and improve transparency with our community.". Antioch mayor blasts police union attorney over accusations Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. Ill buy someone a prime rib if they take that *bleep* Mayor Thorpe out, with a whatever type of weapon, read the message. And frankly that was enough because its just very angering to be compared to animals," Thorpe said. Follow him on Twitter @freddy_brewster, Offers from FOX Television stations and our advertisers. They are two of the 11 officers under federal investigation a group that includes eight officers from Antioch and three from Pittsburg according to multiple sources. The situation quickly escalated, as Gattis resisted the officers, who shocked him with Tasers, deployed Purcy to bite and apprehend him, and struck him with their fists and flashlights. Dear Abby: I wasted five years on a man, and I want to start dating efficiently, Harriette Cole: His new girlfriend ruined a trip I was looking forward to, Review: Taylor Swift triumphs on Night 1 of Eras Tour at Levi's Stadium. For over two years, this group of police officers have allegedly shared racist memes and jokes in their messages between one another. But if this process reveals any criminal wrongdoing, the sooner we can root out officers that should not be wearing the badge, the better for our city as we work toward building relationships built on trust with our community, he said. The Antioch Police Officers' Association is a non-profit organization that partners with our local community in order to build relationships, serve and protect, as well as give back to the community we love and share. Crime and Public Safety | Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. The revelation of a federal grand jury probe comes after federal and state prosecutors dismissed cases that relied on the testimony of Amiri, Rombough and other officers. "I am very, very bothered by what I am seeing, and hearing. In releasing the names, Judge Clare Maier urged caution, saying the content of the messages was so offensive it could incite further hate or racial animus., But, she said, information about the texts and the identities of the officers involved doesnt deserve protection under the California evidence code. Clark said the investigation with the two East Bay departments will have a ripple effect. A county judge has released the names of 17 Antioch, Ca. This news organization reached out to Rains to seek comment from Amiri and did not receive a response. Let's go!' Instead, command-level staff praised his work in sending in Purcy during the April 2020 car stop, concluding it was within policy. COVID is on the rise again in Florida, Taylor Swift concertgoers cause Swift quake with 2.3 magnitude, 800 great white sharks have visited Cape Cod in recent years: The Cape is among the larger white shark hotspots worldwide, $2M wedding nightmare in Aspen due to audio malfunction, lawsuit says, Ridiculous: So-called Snake Burglar admits to 54 felonies, walks out of jail, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. March 26, 2022 / 2:45 AM That number com. In an emergency dial 911! This is proof-positive what people who have been watching Antioch already knew that it is full of officers who do not deserve to wear the badge, civil rights attorney Adante Pointer said Friday. According to. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Istanbul police wrongfully detained activists and mistreated them and their lawyers around a July 20, 2023 commemoration of an Islamic State (ISIS) suicide bombing in the southeastern Turkish town . COVID is on the rise again in Florida, Taylor Swift concertgoers cause Swift quake with 2.3 magnitude, 800 great white sharks have visited Cape Cod in recent years: The Cape is among the larger white shark hotspots worldwide, $2M wedding nightmare in Aspen due to audio malfunction, lawsuit says, Ridiculous: So-called Snake Burglar admits to 54 felonies, walks out of jail, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. No further details about the offenses were available. That number comprises. As always, this is an ongoing investigation and we want to respect that process, but I understand the frustration of wanting answers to these issues, he said, noting the eight officers represent nearly 15% of the citys 57 patrol officers and about 10% of the total police force. Last Friday, a Contra Costa County judge released the names of 17 officers, or about 20% of the entire police department, who were put on leave for the alleged racist text messages. Beyond the federal investigation, the text messaging scandal could have an impact on past cases involving the officers implicated in the text messaging scandal. CBS News Bay Area: Free 24/7 News CBS . The heavily redacted joint report also details numerous incidents of potential civil rights violations, abuse of authority, and perjury and concludes that these incidents "may have violated the Racial Justice Act.". "Those are people who truly need our support. This could have been an (officer involved shooting). In a public statement following the story, Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford said that since this issue was brought to the department's attention, his agency has "fully cooperated" with the joint FBI-DA investigation. He says more can be done as the investigation continues. Im already good at racial profiling: New batch of Antioch cops texts show how much racism and policing intertwined All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Thorpe has continually called for the officers involved, which is up to 40 percent of the entire police department, to be fired. Of the officers Maier named, five Devon Wenger, Eric Rombough, Andrea Rodriguez, Calvin Prieto and Morteza Amiri already have been placed on leave amid the FBI investigation. Some of the texts even demonstrate how officers used racial profiling while out on patrol. "We also want the Antioch Police Officer Association disbanded, as the president of the Antioch Police Officers Association, Rick Hoffman, is a main factor in these text messages.". place on Friday and was reported by the East Bay Times. Thorpe called for an outside audit of the internal affairs process stemming back six years. A county judge has released the names of 17 Antioch, Ca. On Aug. 22, 2020 another officer lamented the fact that APD had body cameras when they helped in the arrest of a suspect in neighboring Pittsburg. In 2019, Hoffman was praised for graduating from a leadership development program. Antioch's mayor on Monday said that eight of 57 officers in the police department are under investigation by the FBI and county prosecutors. Antioch mayor blasts police union attorney over accusations For the Delta-adjacent city of roughly 100,000, racial tension has bubbled barely below the surface for years as gentrification in the western Bay Area uprooted people from San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond and into the deep East Bay. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. From 2008 to 2021, Antioch police officers were involved in 22 shootings, according to police records. Nice work by all involved, an internal department memo said. SEE ALSO: 'You want to go? "Back in November of 2009, I was out with my friends at local bar. "This report documents some of the derogatory, homophobic and sexually explicit language and photographs shared by members of the Antioch Police Department that demonstrates their racial bias and animus towards African Americans and other people of color in the community," the report states. The FBI which is investigating alleged fraud, bribery, drug distribution and civil rights violations related to the use of force found the messages after agents served search warrants on a number of officers homes and showed up at the police department to seize phones and other personal items. "I was looking up, and Officer Rick Hoffman was standing above me and that's when he looked right at me, and he said, 'This is what you get when you f**k with the cops, you f****t!' He says the FBI's investigation is all the evidence that is needed. This time around, officers are suspected of using cocaine and steroids, cheating on tests or misrepresenting their own training, and assaulting people, among other offenses, according to multiple law enforcement sources. "We understand the importance of ensuring our policies, procedures, and practices. On Thursday, Thorpe told KTVU he did not read the report because it was too triggering. The mayor of Antioch on Thursday said "several" more officers have been put on leave as a result of information from an ongoing investigation. The jury is also investigating uses of force involving Antioch police Officer Eric Rombough, a patrol cop who was one of four officers who shot and killed 55-year-old Guadalupe Zavala during an armed standoff in December 2021. At a March 30 news conference, Thorpe said several police officers have been placed on administrative leave due to policy violations. The teen, like others bitten by Purcy, required surgery, needing stitches or staples to sew up wounds. The Antioch Police Department has eight of its officers currently under investigation by federal and county prosecutors, Mayor Lamar Thorpe announced Monday. Aug 24, 2022 Updated Aug 24, 2022 0 Eight Antioch police officers about 10 percent of the force are being investigated by county and federal prosecutors, Mayor Lamar Thorpe said on Monday. Some of the most egregious text messages include multiple uses of the n-word, photos of gorillas in reference to Black people, admissions of racist beliefs and detailed incidents of potential police dishonesty and civil rights violations. Thats a real big problem for a DAs office trying to prosecute cases using these officers testimony. RELATED: Antioch mayor announces more officers placed on leave after investigation into police dept. Related Articles He was unable to say how much longer it will go on, noting that such matters take time. A neighbor filmed the interaction, which was used his is lawsuit against the department. Crime and Public Safety | In March, the two agencies announced they were investigating an unknown number of officers for "crimes of moral turpitude," which can mean almost any crime involving dishonesty or depravity. But I am also very encouraged because, this organization as we speak, is on the road to recovery," said Ford. "While Antioch has worked hard to become one of the Bay Area's most racially diverse cities, this will undoubtedly leave an embarrassing stain on our community," Thorpe said in a video statement this past Saturday. Its no wonder why the public has lost faith in law enforcement and why we see Black and Brown people overrepresented in the criminal justice system when the people administering it are racist, Pointer said. Lets go!" Ive had my eye on Antioch for a long time. ANTIOCH, Calif. (KGO) -- Antioch's mayor announced Thursday that an ongoing investigation into the city's Police Department has led to additional officers placed on leave. Gattis suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, spinal cord injury, and chest wall trauma, according to a lawsuit he filed, naming Amiri, Rombough, and two other officers as defendants. But he did not disclose why. Judge names 17 East Bay cops who allegedly sent, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Judge names 17 Antioch cops who allegedly sent racist text messages, memes, Antioch mayor blasts police union attorney over accusations, Antioch officers claimed to be too injured to testify about racist texts, but were actually at pool parties, driving tractors, attorney claims, Antioch police Chief Steven Ford to step down, Antioch claims subpoenaed officers have industrial injuries to avoid testifying about racism, alleged crimes, Im already good at racial profiling: New batch of Antioch cops texts show how much racism and policing intertwined, | East Contra Costa County editor/reporter. During an April 2020 traffic stop, Amiri deployed his dog to jump through the drivers side window of a Chevy Trailblazer to bite the arm of a man suspected of stealing the vehicle. All Rights Reserved. Those text messages were released to the public defenders on Monday. April 14, 2023 4:59 PM PT. But no publicly available information has linked either man directly to the criminal probe, and interim Antioch Police Chief Steve Ford has previously refused to comment about whether Rombough or Amiri were among the officers placed on leave as part of that investigation. Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe issued the following statement Friday evening: "Since I assumed the Office of Mayor, a little over a year ago, I have been committed to reforming the Antioch Police Department. Sources told NBC Bay Area Friday that the FBI interviewed a number of officers and cell phones were confiscated Wednesday. Exclusive: FBI criminal investigation of 2 East, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Exclusive: FBI criminal investigation of Antioch, Pittsburg cops grows; grand jury convening, Antioch mayor blasts police union attorney over accusations, Antioch officers claimed to be too injured to testify about racist texts, but were actually at pool parties, driving tractors, attorney claims, Antioch police Chief Steven Ford to step down, Antioch claims subpoenaed officers have industrial injuries to avoid testifying about racism, alleged crimes, Im already good at racial profiling: New batch of Antioch cops texts show how much racism and policing intertwined. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Attitudes toward police have changed drastically, too. Mayor says eight Antioch police officers on, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Mayor says eight Antioch police officers on leave in investigation of alleged crimes of moral turpitude, Antioch mayor blasts police union attorney over accusations, Antioch officers claimed to be too injured to testify about racist texts, but were actually at pool parties, driving tractors, attorney claims, Antioch police Chief Steven Ford to step down, Antioch claims subpoenaed officers have industrial injuries to avoid testifying about racism, alleged crimes, Im already good at racial profiling: New batch of Antioch cops texts show how much racism and policing intertwined, | East Contra Costa County editor/reporter. Charges filed after elderly woman kicked to ground in San Francisco, New images from aftermath of wild SF crash, Suspected duo goes on animal killing spree inside pet store: 'This one will make you angry', Former Fairfield pastor admits to 1975 killing of 8-year-old girl, Bronny James, son of LeBron James, rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest at USC. They kind of prolonged their stay at the door, and really wouldn't leave. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office announced Friday an ongoing criminal investigation by them and the FBI related to "crimes of moral turpitude" involving Antioch and Pittsburg police officers. A redacted version has not yet been released to the public. I shouted out to my neighbors that this officer was harassing us!". Like the previous two D.A. Mayor Thorpe says he spoke to Chief Ford over the weekend. In July 2021, the city of Antioch released a biographical video about Amiri in which he talks about how a school resource officer inspired him to return to high school and ultimately become a policeman. However, following the composed, formal message to the public, Thorpe let those cops have it at the council meeting Tuesday night. - A joint investigation conducted by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office released a report on Thursday detailing dozens of incidents of racist, homophobic, sexist and. The existence of the text messages became known last month as a result of an ongoing federal probe into Antioch and Pittsburg police officers, but Fridays developments made clear just how many officers are involved in both scandals plaguing APD. ", "I agree," Wenger responded. "See all the riots in LA?" Frank Sterling is an Antioch resident and community activist with the group Reimagine Antioch. In regard to the investigation, Thorpe said he couldnt reveal much. How safe is your neighborhood? The texts were uncovered in an ongoing FBI investigation into the police department. Amiri and other officers claimed they feared for their lives. The Antioch Police Department is already under scrutiny. "Theyre pretty horrible and theyre sickening," said civil rights Attorney John Burris. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Bay Area police officers are under investigation for obtaining fraudulent college degrees, the Bay Area News Group reports. As I have full confidence in the many men and women working for the Antioch Police Department, who are still coming to work, every day, day in and day out, who are not involved in anything. It will be up to the courts to decide whether the officers texts justify dismissing charges against the people they were investigating. police officers accused of some dirty business including but not exclusive to sharing messages riddled with racial slurs. Police Department Tel: (925) 779-6900. Sterling says officers dragged him out of his house and attacked him. "The officers started to say they smelled marijuana in the house. Following the statement by the DA's office, Pittsburg Police released their own statement, saying that three current officers were under investigation. But multiple law enforcement sources have said the charges pertain to alleged involvement with cocaine and steroids, and that federal authorities are also reviewing fatal use-of-force incidents committed by some of the officers. And he is currently president of the Antioch Police Officers Association, or APOA. When the bars closed, we came home. 1:24. U.S. While calling the alleged police crimes extremely disturbing, Ford added that they do not represent the organization as a whole. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dear Abby: Would it be awkward to invite her to my wedding dinner? reports, the texts contain racist language, homophobic slurs and racist tropes against Muslims and Jews.
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