Pinole resident twice honored as department’s Officer of the Year
Matthew Buckley. CCCSheriff
By Jimmy Lee, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Thursday, August 25, 2022, detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division arrested Matthew Buckley, a Deputy Sheriff and 15-year veteran of the department. This comes after an investigation into illegal firearms.
As part of the investigation, a search warrant was served at a residence where evidence was seized.
41-year-old Buckley of Pinole, the department’s Officer of the Year for two consecutive years, was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges:
Felony Grand theft of a firearm (two counts), receiving stolen property (two counts), felony unlicensed transfer of a firearm, felony filing a false report, destroying/concealing evidence, and possession of a controlled substance.
Buckley is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail. He is on paid administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office.
“When we were first apprised of the allegations, we immediately started an investigation,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “No one is above the law and employees of the Sheriff’s Office who violate the law will be held accountable. I am disappointed but this arrest is not a reflection of the many outstanding employees of the Sheriff’s Office.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe posted a video on his mayor’s Facebook page on Saturday, March 19, 2022, apologizing for being arrested for DUI. Screenshot
By Allen D. Payton
On June 29, 2022, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe entered pleas of not guilty to the charges of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and DUI with Blood Alcohol Content of .08% or higher, for his arrest in the early morning of March 19. A Readiness Conference has been scheduled for Sept. 29 with a trial date set for October 12 at 8:30 a.m. in the criminal division of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. (See related articles here and here)
Since in a video Thorpe posted on his official Facebook page on March 19, he admitted to “having one drink with dinner,” he was asked, via email in August why he didn’t plead guilty, accept his punishment and get this behind him for the benefit of himself and the city. He was also asked what he was hoping to accomplish by a jury trial, if he was hoping to be found not guilty and isn’t the trial just a waste of taxpayer funds and the court’s time. Thorpe did not respond.
An effort to reach Thorpe’s attorney, listed as Greg Scanlon, was unsuccessful. However, Walnut Creek-based criminal defense attorney Peter Johnson, the co-author of the California DUI Defense book, was asked why someone who admitted publicly that they had an alcoholic beverage prior to an arrest for DUI would plead not guilty and take their case to trial.
“A drink with dinner doesn’t put you under the influence,” he stated. “There’s no law against drinking and driving. He didn’t admit to the crime. They have to prove he was guilty.”
“Chemical testing for alcohol is not necessarily reliable. There are errors involved with the testing,” Johnson continued. “Just because a person blows into a machine, that’s not necessarily an accurate number. Why should somebody plead guilty or no contest if they didn’t commit a crime?”
“There are substantial problems with estimating a person’s blood alcohol level from either a blood or a breath test,” he added.
Following is the information provided to the Herald about the case: Details.Lamar Thorpe DUI Case # 01-22-00647
Thorpe, Lamar Anthony
Description Statute Level Date:
1VC23152(a)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 000214658023152(a) Misdemeanor 03/19/2022
2VC23152(b)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 000214658123152(b) Misdemeanor 03/19/2022
01-22-00647 | The People of the State of California vs. Thorpe, Lamar Anthony
Case Number:01-22-00647
Court: Criminal – Martinez-Wakefield Taylor Courthouse
File Date: 05/20/2022
Case Type: Misdemeanor
Case Status: Own Recognizance
06/29/2022 Plea
Judicial Officer :Stark, Nancy Davis
1 – VC23152(a)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 0002146580
Not Guilty
2 – VC23152(b)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 0002146581
Not Guilty
05/20/2022 Initial Complaint Filed
05/23/2022 Notice to Appear
05/23/2022 District Attorney’s Arraignment Position
06/15/2022 Miscellaneous
Comment – Documents copied and sent to, GREG SCANLON.
06/29/2022 Arraignment on Complaint
Original Type – Arraignment on Complaint
Judicial Officer – Stark, Nancy Davis
Hearing Time – 8:30 AM
Result – Held
09/28/2022 Readiness Conference
Judicial Officer – Hiramoto, Joni T
Hearing Time – 8:30 AM
10/12/2022 Misdo Jury Trial
Judicial Officer – Hiramoto, Joni T
Hearing Time – 8:30 AM
Released on bail
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
A resident of Danville has been charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography.
On August 25, 2022, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against 33-year-old Andrew Oliver Kallick. Police arrested Kallick in Danville on August 9, 2022, during the execution of a search warrant. During the search, police discovered Kallick was possessing child pornography on a laptop computer inside of his residence. At the time of his arrest, Kallick worked at an elementary school as a campus supervisor.
San Ramon Valley Unified School District officials confirmed he had been employed at John Baldwin Elementary School in Danville at the time of his arrest, but he no longer works for the district.
Kallick was released on bail after his arrest on August 9 and will be notified by the court regarding an arraignment date.
The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Danville Police Department investigated the case. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Concord, and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa County Probation Department, and Inspectors from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force.
Anyone with information about this case should contact Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-8757.
Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org or the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s website for further information.
Case information: 01-22-01379 | The People of the State of California v. Kallick, Andrew Oliver
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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“…Antioch Police officers engaged with Quinto in a manner that was lawful and objectively reasonable under the circumstances…an internal examination showed no bone fractures or damage to Quinto’s larynx and trachea…” – Contra Costa District Attorney
Quinto died in the hospital three days later not in police custody
By Allen D. Payton
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, that it had concluded there is no evidence of criminal offense by Antioch Police officers in the December 2020 death of 30-year-old Angelo Voithugo Quinto. The D.A.’s Office released a 39-page Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident (LEIFI) report as part of Contra Costa County’s protocol to investigate incidents when officers or civilians are shot or die during an encounter with law enforcement. The report is available on the District Attorney’s website and here: Angelo Quinto LEIFI Report Final
The incident occurred on December 23rd and Quinto, a 30-year-old Navy veteran, died in the hospital while not in police custody three days later on Dec. 26th.
According to the CCDA, the purpose of the report is to independently determine criminal liability in fatal incidents when law enforcement is involved. During a criminal trial, the District Attorney’s Office – which represents The People of the State of California — has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a death was not justified.
Part of the LEIFI report contains a legal analysis of the evidence in the death of Quinto. That analysis determined the Antioch Police officers engaged with Quinto in a manner that was lawful and objectively reasonable under the circumstances. Moreover, the report notes that the officers utilized reasonable force during their contact with Quinto [PC 835a(a)(3)].
The report confirms what both the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office and then-Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks said during a March 2021 press conference and is in spite of the rush to judgment by Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Councilwomen Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker, and the accusations by Quinto’s family members that the police officers caused his death. It also undermines the naming of the legislation, AB 490, entitled the Angelo Quinto Act, banning law enforcement from restraint techniques that cause asphyxia. (See related articles here)
Brooks said that officers did not kneel on his neck during the incident. In addition, he said, “according to the results of a preliminary investigation, at one point during the handcuffing, an officer did briefly – for a few seconds – have a knee across a portion of Angelo’s shoulder blade. This is a common control technique taught at CA POST approved Police Academies for prone handcuffing. At no point did any officer use a knee or any other body part to gain leverage or apply pressure to Angelo’s head, neck, or throat, which is outside our policy and training.”
Then, in August 2021, a Contra Costa Coroner’s Inquest Jury found that Quinto’s death was an accident. (See related article)
Background
The circumstances surrounding this incident were initiated with a 911 call from Angelo Quinto’s sister on December 23, 2020, at around 11:10 pm. Quinto’s sister wanted law enforcement’s help after Quinto was being erratic, physically aggressive, and harming his mother. Quinto’s mother could be heard in the background of the call saying “I can’t breathe. Stop it.” while Quinto’s sister told the 911 operator that he was strangling Mrs. Quinto.
Antioch Police officers arrived about a minute later. They were met by Quinto’s sister, who was clutching a hammer to protect herself from her brother. Officers heard a commotion coming from Quinto’s bedroom. When they entered the room, they saw Quinto’s mother struggling with him in a bearhug hold on the ground. Officers separated the two. One officer kneeled and placed one knee on Quinto’s shoulder to handcuff him while the other held onto his legs. This was the extent of force utilized by the two officers to restrain Quinto, and to prevent him from harming himself, family members, or the officers.
Police told Mrs. Quinto that her son was not under arrest. Rather, emergency responders were on their way to transport him to a hospital for any physical injuries. He would also receive a mental health evaluation while being treated at the medical facility. While one officer went to his patrol vehicle to get the needed paperwork, emergency medical crews arrived on the scene. They rolled Angelo over and noticed he was unconscious, his face was purple in color, and there was blood on the floor and his face. The officers did not strike Quinto in any way, and the autopsy revealed bite marks to Quinto’s inner cheek and tongue. Life-saving measures were administered, and Quinto was transported to a hospital in Antioch — where he died on December 26th.
An autopsy was performed on December 28th by the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death was Excited Delirium Syndrome due to drug intoxication, psychiatric conditions, physical exertion, and cardiac arrest.
A toxicology report by the Coroner’s Office showed that Angelo Quinto had the presence of caffeine, Levetriacetam (a therapeutic for adults and children with epilepsy), and Modafinil – a drug to stimulate wakefulness – in his system. The County of Santa Clara Medical Examiner-Coroner reviewed the autopsy findings and agreed with its conclusions.
The Quinto family commissioned an independent autopsy, and its findings note the cause of death was restraint asphyxiation. The private autopsy lists petechial hemorrhaging as the basis for such conclusion. An independent toxicology report also found the presence of Fentanyl in Quinto’s blood – in addition to Modafinil and Levetiracetam.
However, of critical importance to the investigation, an internal examination showed no bone fractures or damage to Quinto’s larynx and trachea. While there are conflicting medical opinions as to the cause of death, the accounts of what transpired in the bedroom are consistent among all witnesses in that no police officer applied pressure to Quinto’s neck.
After reviewing the evidence, the method of restraining Angelo Quinto by Antioch Police officers on December 23rd was objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances. Therefore, when applying the applicable law and the California District Attorney’s Uniform Crime Charging Standards, there is no evidence of a criminal offense committed by the Antioch Police officers involved in restraining Angelo Quinto.
Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office will take no further action in this case.
Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo contributed to this report.
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Founder of Studentfilmsonline.com platform brings competition to her hometown
Submissions accepted through Sept. 30
East County filmmaker Sophia Rivera is bringing the SFO Short Film Festival to her hometown at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre in historic downtown Rivertown on October 28-29, 2022.
The festival is a LIVE event dedicated to showcasing short films created by college film students, high school students, and independent filmmakers locally in the Bay Area and across the U.S. Studentfilmsonline.com was founded in 2011 by Rivera who wanted to give back to the community. Its mission is to encourage networking and motivate emerging filmmakers to create more content, as well as to promote a career in filmmaking and talent through screenings.
Genres include: Short Drama/Action/Crime/Thriller; Short Comedy/Romance; Short Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Documentary and Short Animation.
Short film category submissions include: 1) Independent Filmmaker Short Film 2) SFO Film Student Challenge Competition and 3) High School Short Film Competition
Short Film Category Award for Best Film: Independent Filmmaker Short Film Award $300, High School Short Film Competition Award $250, and SFO Film Student Challenge Competition Award $500
SFO Short Film Festival is still accepting submissions until September 30, 2022.
Films can be submitted by visiting filmfreeway.com/SFOShortFilmFestival.
If you wish to attend the event tickets are available at ElCampanilTheatre.com. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact customerservice@studentfilmsonline.com.
El Campanil is a classic theatre with food concession available. We hope you will come join us and share in this festive event.
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Escaped inmates Gerardo Ramirez-Vera and Jorge Garcia-Escamilla. Photos: CCC Sheriff
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Sunday morning, September 4, 2022, at about 11:20 AM, it was discovered that two inmates had escaped from the Marsh Creek Detention Facility (MCDF) located at 12000 Marsh Creek Road.
MCDF is a minimum-security facility that houses sentenced prisoners and those who are facing lower-level charges that would likely result in a sentence served locally.
An emergency count was conducted, and a comprehensive search of the facility and the immediate area was carried out. Law enforcement agencies in the area were notified and an alert was sent to residents in the area.
The two are identified as:
33-year-old Gerardo Ramirez-Vera of Richmond. He was sentenced on weapon, burglary, and vandalism charges. He was due to be released in the first week of January 2023.
28-year-old Jorge Garcia-Escamilla of Pittsburg. He was being held on charges that include vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of burglary tools, and drug possession. He had a future court date in three weeks.
Both men are now facing felony charges of escape from a county detention facility and face a potential state prison sentence.
The search for the two is ongoing. Anyone with information on their whereabouts or who might have seen them is asked to call Sheriff’s dispatch at (925) 646-2441.
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Brentwood SWAT at Myrtlewood Court home in Antioch. Tauane following his arrest on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Photos: BPD
Brentwood teen arrested, first; Pittsburg man arrested in Antioch last week; victim from Antioch was innocent bystander
Faatino Tauane. Photo: BPD
By Brentwood Police Department
During the course of the investigation into the deadly shooting that occurred at the 24-Hour Fitness in Brentwood on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at approximately 1:54 a.m., Brentwood Police investigators positively identified 20-year-old Pittsburg resident Faatino Arona Tauane as the second shooter in this case.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Tauane was peacefully taken into custody at a home in the 900 block of Myrtlewood Drive in Antioch. He was later booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for murder. To date, one firearm has been recovered and the vehicle Tauane used to flee the scene is now in police custody. A second firearm used in the shooting remains outstanding.
On Friday, August 26, 2022, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Tauane with one count of murder with enhancements and additional felonies.
On Thursday, August 11, 2022, the first of two suspects detained during the early stages of the investigation had been positively identified as one of the shooters who was wounded during the altercation. The suspect, a 17-year-old Brentwood resident was booked into the Contra Costa County Juvenile Detention Center for murder. His name is being withheld due to age. The second suspect was released from police custody after it was determined he was not a shooter.
The decedent has been identified as, 21-year-old Antioch resident, Cesar Arana. Our hearts go out to the family and friends impacted by his untimely death.
Arana was an innocent bystander not involved in the initial altercation. He was struck by gunfire while trying to help a person who had fallen to the ground during a physical fight outside.
Additionally, our agency would like to thank those who came forward with additional video footage and the staff at 24 Hour Fitness for their full cooperation throughout the entire investigation.
According to localcrimenews.com, Tauane was also arrested by Pittsburg Police in December 2021, for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and when not the registered owner.
Anyone with information regarding the outstanding firearm or any additional information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Greene at 925-809-7797.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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By Oakley Police Department
On August 25th, 2022, at approximately 10:40pm, Oakley PD Officers responded to a report of a Domestic Dispute in the 1800 block of Teresa Lane. The caller stated her boyfriend had a gun and had been driving around with her in the car not letting her leave. The boyfriend told her he was going to kill her and himself. Once at the residence the victim fled on foot and called police.
Officers arrived and attempted to contact the 58-year-old male. The male did not respond to officers. Officers used a drone and were able to see the subject inside the residence armed with a handgun. Officers continued to try and establish communications with the suspect, but he did not respond. Several shots were fired by the suspect inside the home.
At approximately 1:18am, the suspect fired several rounds at Oakley Officers. One Officer returned fire striking the suspect. Medical aid was provided but the suspect died on scene. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office responded along with Oakley Detectives.
According to Chief Beard “Our officers are trained to deescalate situations at every opportunity when that is a viable option. Our officers attempted to deescalate this tragic situation last night, but the suspect would not allow for our attempts to take hold. When officers are presented with such grave and dangerous situations, and when no other options work or are available, they must sometimes fall back on other critical training they receive on a regular basis. This is the training they fell back on last night to ensure there was no loss of lives of innocent victims or the officers themselves.”
This is an ongoing investigation, names and more details will be provided at a later date.
Update from Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard
I wish to address the Oakley community regarding last night’s fatal officer involved shooting on Teresa Lane. The events that transpired last night can only be described as very scary and dangerous for all involved.
To put it very mildly what happened last night was completely unnecessary.
The suspect chose to drive the direction of what played out when he could have taken several different avenues to deal with whatever angst he had going on in his life. He also could have given up upon our officers making contact with him.
Instead, the suspect elected to resort to gun violence to traumatize the initial domestic violence victim in this case and subject our officers to the difficult actions they eventually had to take, thus creating more victims. The officers involved in last night’s incident exhausted every readily available option they had in this type of scenario before taking the ultimate action they had to take.
The incident that we dealt with last night has become all too commonplace with a total of eight law enforcement officers being killed by gunfire across America in just the last month.
Every member of the Oakley Police Department is valued and appreciated. I am grateful beyond measure our department did not meet with a tragic result for us.
The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol guides the investigative steps we need to take with our officers, and we are following that prescribed protocol. We are also being proactive in taking care of all of our personnel who were involved in last night’s incident by making sure they have readily available access to a service provider who specializes in treating first responders who have been exposed to matters like the one we experienced last night.
It is my strong desire to provide the necessary and healthy resources our personnel need in order to continue having productive lives after experiencing life threatening, or very unsettling, situations. I also urge victims of domestic violence to realize they do need help and to reach out for it.
A domestic violence victim may reach out to their local police department for assistance. They may also reach out to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit at 925-957-2200. If immediate assistance is sought and a victim does not want to interact with a police department, they may reach out to the STAND! Crisis line at 1-888-215-5555. It would be inappropriate for me to comment much further on this case at this time because it is literally still an ongoing investigation.
I will however identify the suspect as Frank Anthony Correa, a 58-year-old male and resident of Oakley.
The Oakley Police Department is requesting information from anybody who may know anything about this investigation to call us at 925-625-8060 or email us at opdtips@ci.oakley.ca.us.
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Film submissions from other, local filmmakers still accepted until Sept. 5th
Jason D. Morris
Award winning filmmaker, Jason D. Morris is bringing his love for films to his hometown of Antioch with The Dark Fest on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Co-founder of the short film festival featuring genres of film noir, mystery, science fiction, horror, dark comedy and more, Morris grew up in Antioch, and as so many others who grew up here in the 80’s and 90’s, one of his best memories is watching films in the historically beautiful Stamm and El Campanil theaters. Those very experiences are ultimately what pushed him into filmmaking.
A graduate of Antioch High School and attendee of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco led to his career in film. After having produced and directed several feature films, including some in Antioch, he co-founded Resurrection Films with several other likeminded filmmakers which eventually led to the creation of The Dark Fest, after their experiences of taking their first film out on the festival circuit.
The first major production from Resurrection Films was a documentary based on Chris Carter’s (of The X-Files) television show Millennium, titled Millennium after the Millennium. Millennium starred film actor Lance Henriksen (The Right Stuff, Aliens) in one of his most enduring roles as Frank Black, an FBI profiler. Millennium paved the way for shows like Criminal Minds, Mindhunter and many others. The documentary screened in eight countries and garnered 21 awards during its festival run, including screenings at the LA Comic-Con, Monsterpalooza in Burbank and Horror Hound’s Horror Convention in Indianapolis. But festivals are expensive and far away for the average filmmaker, this can make getting your film seen expensively prohibitive.
Since Morris had already shot four films in Antioch, bringing Hollywood talent such as Academy nominated actor Eric Roberts, Ricco Ross and Henriksen to his productions, he thought “why not set up an event for other local filmmakers to have easier access to getting their films screened?” With such a creative hub of activity in Antioch and the surrounding areas many film productions go unnoticed and have little options for an audience. The Dark Fest aims to alleviate this issue for local filmmakers looking for a way to screen their films without the hefty expense of renting a theater or having to travel to far away locations. The members of Resurrection Films have hopes to continue the festival and expand it into a bigger event with more community involvement and celebration of local filmmakers.
Film Submissions
If you’re a filmmaker, submissions are still open until September 5th by visiting filmfreeway.com/thedarkfest and email info@thedarkfest.com. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please reach out at info@thedarkfest.com. As for the rest of you we hope to see you in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown on September 17 at El Campanil Theatre for a night of dark cinema.
About The Dark Fest:
Resurrection Films presents The Dark Fest, showcasing short films from the dark side of cinema with genres of film noir, mystery, science fiction, horror, dark comedy and more, as we celebrate local filmmakers from the bay area, and around the world. Join us at 5:30pm Sept. 17 at the El Campanil Theatre for musical pre-show entertainment by local musicians Matthew Gatsos on piano and Evan Morris on saxophone while enjoying concessions provided for purchase by the venue. Screening begins at 6pm and ends at 10pm.
Tickets
Tickets are $10 for Adults and $8 for Seniors & Youth.
THIS EVENT IS RATED R. NO ONE UNDER 17 WILL BE ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. To purchase tickets, visit elcampaniltheatre.com or click here.
El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W. 2nd Street.
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“I Remember ‘72” offers her perspective of what happened to cause Fastest Human, World Record Holder to be disqualified
By Allen D. Payton
Following publication of the book “Disqualified” by Pittsburg resident Eddie Hart and longtime Bay Area sports reporter Dave Newhouse about Hart’s experience leading up to and at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, his wife, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Hart has penned her own book to offer her perspective. (See related article)
In her book entitled “I Remember ’72: The Road to Munich (My Voice)” Gwen, wife of the Olympic Gold Medalist, World’s Fastest Human at the time, and World Record Holder, speaks from a woman’s point of view. After 50 years of silence, she now voices her held in feelings of what happened to her then boyfriend, now husband on the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Summer Olympics.
About The Book
It’s the perspective of a supportive girlfriend, then wife, of the life, tragedy experienced, and dignity displayed by the one-time, Fastest Man in the World and Olympic Gold Medalist Eddie Hart.
“I REMEMBER ‘72 is about perseverance, overcoming and love, which is what life is all about,” Gwen shared. “When situations arise, you’re going to need someone that cares for you, to help you to see that it can be overcome, that you can persevere. Eddie’s fortitude and the love he had from family would be the shining beacon that he would have to hold to and believe in, not letting others dictate how he should live; because Eddie was brought up to not throw stones, because one is thrown at you. He couldn’t afford to be told differently.”
“Life’s lessons are all about choices and what you choose will either help you build your character as a person or it will drag you like the wind blows trash, not having a direction. When things get rough you don’t have the luxury of re-acting but responding. That’s what I REMEMBER ‘72 is about; the man Eddie Hart who responded,” she added.
“A must read for those who appreciate a journey of faith by two who qualified because their hearts are filled with love, Gwendolyn’s My Voice has become their voice,” said Paul Cobb Publisher of the Post News Group.
“I Remember ‘72 provides yet another testimony of how love is the power and the means by which we overcome the catastrophic times in our lives,” Of LIFE and TIME author Clifton L. West III shared.
Get an autographed copy of Gwen Hart’s book and meet Eddie Hart on Saturday, August 27 at 1 p.m. at the Pittsburg Historical Society Museum located at 515 Railroad Avenue.
Book Purchase Information:
Cost: $23.00
Shp/Hld. $4.00
Payment Options:
Cash App: $ghbooks2music
By Check: Top Performance
640 Bailey Rd. #170
Pittsburg, CA 94565
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Pinole resident twice honored as department’s Officer of the Year
Matthew Buckley. CCCSheriff
By Jimmy Lee, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Thursday, August 25, 2022, detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division arrested Matthew Buckley, a Deputy Sheriff and 15-year veteran of the department. This comes after an investigation into illegal firearms.
As part of the investigation, a search warrant was served at a residence where evidence was seized.
41-year-old Buckley of Pinole, the department’s Officer of the Year for two consecutive years, was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges:
Felony Grand theft of a firearm (two counts), receiving stolen property (two counts), felony unlicensed transfer of a firearm, felony filing a false report, destroying/concealing evidence, and possession of a controlled substance.
Buckley is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail. He is on paid administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office.
“When we were first apprised of the allegations, we immediately started an investigation,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “No one is above the law and employees of the Sheriff’s Office who violate the law will be held accountable. I am disappointed but this arrest is not a reflection of the many outstanding employees of the Sheriff’s Office.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreAntioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe posted a video on his mayor’s Facebook page on Saturday, March 19, 2022, apologizing for being arrested for DUI. Screenshot
By Allen D. Payton
On June 29, 2022, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe entered pleas of not guilty to the charges of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and DUI with Blood Alcohol Content of .08% or higher, for his arrest in the early morning of March 19. A Readiness Conference has been scheduled for Sept. 29 with a trial date set for October 12 at 8:30 a.m. in the criminal division of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. (See related articles here and here)
Since in a video Thorpe posted on his official Facebook page on March 19, he admitted to “having one drink with dinner,” he was asked, via email in August why he didn’t plead guilty, accept his punishment and get this behind him for the benefit of himself and the city. He was also asked what he was hoping to accomplish by a jury trial, if he was hoping to be found not guilty and isn’t the trial just a waste of taxpayer funds and the court’s time. Thorpe did not respond.
An effort to reach Thorpe’s attorney, listed as Greg Scanlon, was unsuccessful. However, Walnut Creek-based criminal defense attorney Peter Johnson, the co-author of the California DUI Defense book, was asked why someone who admitted publicly that they had an alcoholic beverage prior to an arrest for DUI would plead not guilty and take their case to trial.
“A drink with dinner doesn’t put you under the influence,” he stated. “There’s no law against drinking and driving. He didn’t admit to the crime. They have to prove he was guilty.”
“Chemical testing for alcohol is not necessarily reliable. There are errors involved with the testing,” Johnson continued. “Just because a person blows into a machine, that’s not necessarily an accurate number. Why should somebody plead guilty or no contest if they didn’t commit a crime?”
“There are substantial problems with estimating a person’s blood alcohol level from either a blood or a breath test,” he added.
Following is the information provided to the Herald about the case: Details.Lamar Thorpe DUI Case # 01-22-00647
Thorpe, Lamar Anthony
Description Statute Level Date:
1VC23152(a)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 000214658023152(a) Misdemeanor 03/19/2022
2VC23152(b)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 000214658123152(b) Misdemeanor 03/19/2022
01-22-00647 | The People of the State of California vs. Thorpe, Lamar Anthony
Case Number:01-22-00647
Court: Criminal – Martinez-Wakefield Taylor Courthouse
File Date: 05/20/2022
Case Type: Misdemeanor
Case Status: Own Recognizance
06/29/2022 Plea
Judicial Officer :Stark, Nancy Davis
1 – VC23152(a)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 0002146580
Not Guilty
2 – VC23152(b)-M: Driving Under Influence of Alcohol 0002146581
Not Guilty
05/20/2022 Initial Complaint Filed
05/23/2022 Notice to Appear
05/23/2022 District Attorney’s Arraignment Position
06/15/2022 Miscellaneous
Comment – Documents copied and sent to, GREG SCANLON.
06/29/2022 Arraignment on Complaint
Original Type – Arraignment on Complaint
Judicial Officer – Stark, Nancy Davis
Hearing Time – 8:30 AM
Result – Held
09/28/2022 Readiness Conference
Judicial Officer – Hiramoto, Joni T
Hearing Time – 8:30 AM
10/12/2022 Misdo Jury Trial
Judicial Officer – Hiramoto, Joni T
Hearing Time – 8:30 AM
Released on bail
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
A resident of Danville has been charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography.
On August 25, 2022, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against 33-year-old Andrew Oliver Kallick. Police arrested Kallick in Danville on August 9, 2022, during the execution of a search warrant. During the search, police discovered Kallick was possessing child pornography on a laptop computer inside of his residence. At the time of his arrest, Kallick worked at an elementary school as a campus supervisor.
San Ramon Valley Unified School District officials confirmed he had been employed at John Baldwin Elementary School in Danville at the time of his arrest, but he no longer works for the district.
Kallick was released on bail after his arrest on August 9 and will be notified by the court regarding an arraignment date.
The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Danville Police Department investigated the case. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Concord, and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa County Probation Department, and Inspectors from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force.
Anyone with information about this case should contact Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-8757.
Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org or the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s website for further information.
Case information: 01-22-01379 | The People of the State of California v. Kallick, Andrew Oliver
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More“…Antioch Police officers engaged with Quinto in a manner that was lawful and objectively reasonable under the circumstances…an internal examination showed no bone fractures or damage to Quinto’s larynx and trachea…” – Contra Costa District Attorney
Quinto died in the hospital three days later not in police custody
By Allen D. Payton
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, that it had concluded there is no evidence of criminal offense by Antioch Police officers in the December 2020 death of 30-year-old Angelo Voithugo Quinto. The D.A.’s Office released a 39-page Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident (LEIFI) report as part of Contra Costa County’s protocol to investigate incidents when officers or civilians are shot or die during an encounter with law enforcement. The report is available on the District Attorney’s website and here: Angelo Quinto LEIFI Report Final
The incident occurred on December 23rd and Quinto, a 30-year-old Navy veteran, died in the hospital while not in police custody three days later on Dec. 26th.
According to the CCDA, the purpose of the report is to independently determine criminal liability in fatal incidents when law enforcement is involved. During a criminal trial, the District Attorney’s Office – which represents The People of the State of California — has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a death was not justified.
Part of the LEIFI report contains a legal analysis of the evidence in the death of Quinto. That analysis determined the Antioch Police officers engaged with Quinto in a manner that was lawful and objectively reasonable under the circumstances. Moreover, the report notes that the officers utilized reasonable force during their contact with Quinto [PC 835a(a)(3)].
The report confirms what both the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office and then-Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks said during a March 2021 press conference and is in spite of the rush to judgment by Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Councilwomen Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker, and the accusations by Quinto’s family members that the police officers caused his death. It also undermines the naming of the legislation, AB 490, entitled the Angelo Quinto Act, banning law enforcement from restraint techniques that cause asphyxia. (See related articles here)
Brooks said that officers did not kneel on his neck during the incident. In addition, he said, “according to the results of a preliminary investigation, at one point during the handcuffing, an officer did briefly – for a few seconds – have a knee across a portion of Angelo’s shoulder blade. This is a common control technique taught at CA POST approved Police Academies for prone handcuffing. At no point did any officer use a knee or any other body part to gain leverage or apply pressure to Angelo’s head, neck, or throat, which is outside our policy and training.”
Then, in August 2021, a Contra Costa Coroner’s Inquest Jury found that Quinto’s death was an accident. (See related article)
Background
The circumstances surrounding this incident were initiated with a 911 call from Angelo Quinto’s sister on December 23, 2020, at around 11:10 pm. Quinto’s sister wanted law enforcement’s help after Quinto was being erratic, physically aggressive, and harming his mother. Quinto’s mother could be heard in the background of the call saying “I can’t breathe. Stop it.” while Quinto’s sister told the 911 operator that he was strangling Mrs. Quinto.
Antioch Police officers arrived about a minute later. They were met by Quinto’s sister, who was clutching a hammer to protect herself from her brother. Officers heard a commotion coming from Quinto’s bedroom. When they entered the room, they saw Quinto’s mother struggling with him in a bearhug hold on the ground. Officers separated the two. One officer kneeled and placed one knee on Quinto’s shoulder to handcuff him while the other held onto his legs. This was the extent of force utilized by the two officers to restrain Quinto, and to prevent him from harming himself, family members, or the officers.
Police told Mrs. Quinto that her son was not under arrest. Rather, emergency responders were on their way to transport him to a hospital for any physical injuries. He would also receive a mental health evaluation while being treated at the medical facility. While one officer went to his patrol vehicle to get the needed paperwork, emergency medical crews arrived on the scene. They rolled Angelo over and noticed he was unconscious, his face was purple in color, and there was blood on the floor and his face. The officers did not strike Quinto in any way, and the autopsy revealed bite marks to Quinto’s inner cheek and tongue. Life-saving measures were administered, and Quinto was transported to a hospital in Antioch — where he died on December 26th.
An autopsy was performed on December 28th by the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death was Excited Delirium Syndrome due to drug intoxication, psychiatric conditions, physical exertion, and cardiac arrest.
A toxicology report by the Coroner’s Office showed that Angelo Quinto had the presence of caffeine, Levetriacetam (a therapeutic for adults and children with epilepsy), and Modafinil – a drug to stimulate wakefulness – in his system. The County of Santa Clara Medical Examiner-Coroner reviewed the autopsy findings and agreed with its conclusions.
The Quinto family commissioned an independent autopsy, and its findings note the cause of death was restraint asphyxiation. The private autopsy lists petechial hemorrhaging as the basis for such conclusion. An independent toxicology report also found the presence of Fentanyl in Quinto’s blood – in addition to Modafinil and Levetiracetam.
However, of critical importance to the investigation, an internal examination showed no bone fractures or damage to Quinto’s larynx and trachea. While there are conflicting medical opinions as to the cause of death, the accounts of what transpired in the bedroom are consistent among all witnesses in that no police officer applied pressure to Quinto’s neck.
After reviewing the evidence, the method of restraining Angelo Quinto by Antioch Police officers on December 23rd was objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances. Therefore, when applying the applicable law and the California District Attorney’s Uniform Crime Charging Standards, there is no evidence of a criminal offense committed by the Antioch Police officers involved in restraining Angelo Quinto.
Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office will take no further action in this case.
Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo contributed to this report.
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Founder of Studentfilmsonline.com platform brings competition to her hometown
Submissions accepted through Sept. 30
East County filmmaker Sophia Rivera is bringing the SFO Short Film Festival to her hometown at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre in historic downtown Rivertown on October 28-29, 2022.
The festival is a LIVE event dedicated to showcasing short films created by college film students, high school students, and independent filmmakers locally in the Bay Area and across the U.S. Studentfilmsonline.com was founded in 2011 by Rivera who wanted to give back to the community. Its mission is to encourage networking and motivate emerging filmmakers to create more content, as well as to promote a career in filmmaking and talent through screenings.
Genres include: Short Drama/Action/Crime/Thriller; Short Comedy/Romance; Short Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Documentary and Short Animation.
Short film category submissions include: 1) Independent Filmmaker Short Film 2) SFO Film Student Challenge Competition and 3) High School Short Film Competition
Short Film Category Award for Best Film: Independent Filmmaker Short Film Award $300, High School Short Film Competition Award $250, and SFO Film Student Challenge Competition Award $500
SFO Short Film Festival is still accepting submissions until September 30, 2022.
Films can be submitted by visiting filmfreeway.com/SFOShortFilmFestival.
If you wish to attend the event tickets are available at ElCampanilTheatre.com. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact customerservice@studentfilmsonline.com.
El Campanil is a classic theatre with food concession available. We hope you will come join us and share in this festive event.
Read MoreEscaped inmates Gerardo Ramirez-Vera and Jorge Garcia-Escamilla. Photos: CCC Sheriff
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Sunday morning, September 4, 2022, at about 11:20 AM, it was discovered that two inmates had escaped from the Marsh Creek Detention Facility (MCDF) located at 12000 Marsh Creek Road.
MCDF is a minimum-security facility that houses sentenced prisoners and those who are facing lower-level charges that would likely result in a sentence served locally.
An emergency count was conducted, and a comprehensive search of the facility and the immediate area was carried out. Law enforcement agencies in the area were notified and an alert was sent to residents in the area.
The two are identified as:
33-year-old Gerardo Ramirez-Vera of Richmond. He was sentenced on weapon, burglary, and vandalism charges. He was due to be released in the first week of January 2023.
28-year-old Jorge Garcia-Escamilla of Pittsburg. He was being held on charges that include vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of burglary tools, and drug possession. He had a future court date in three weeks.
Both men are now facing felony charges of escape from a county detention facility and face a potential state prison sentence.
The search for the two is ongoing. Anyone with information on their whereabouts or who might have seen them is asked to call Sheriff’s dispatch at (925) 646-2441.
Read MoreBrentwood SWAT at Myrtlewood Court home in Antioch. Tauane following his arrest on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Photos: BPD
Brentwood teen arrested, first; Pittsburg man arrested in Antioch last week; victim from Antioch was innocent bystander
Faatino Tauane. Photo: BPD
By Brentwood Police Department
During the course of the investigation into the deadly shooting that occurred at the 24-Hour Fitness in Brentwood on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at approximately 1:54 a.m., Brentwood Police investigators positively identified 20-year-old Pittsburg resident Faatino Arona Tauane as the second shooter in this case.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Tauane was peacefully taken into custody at a home in the 900 block of Myrtlewood Drive in Antioch. He was later booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for murder. To date, one firearm has been recovered and the vehicle Tauane used to flee the scene is now in police custody. A second firearm used in the shooting remains outstanding.
On Friday, August 26, 2022, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Tauane with one count of murder with enhancements and additional felonies.
On Thursday, August 11, 2022, the first of two suspects detained during the early stages of the investigation had been positively identified as one of the shooters who was wounded during the altercation. The suspect, a 17-year-old Brentwood resident was booked into the Contra Costa County Juvenile Detention Center for murder. His name is being withheld due to age. The second suspect was released from police custody after it was determined he was not a shooter.
The decedent has been identified as, 21-year-old Antioch resident, Cesar Arana. Our hearts go out to the family and friends impacted by his untimely death.
Arana was an innocent bystander not involved in the initial altercation. He was struck by gunfire while trying to help a person who had fallen to the ground during a physical fight outside.
Additionally, our agency would like to thank those who came forward with additional video footage and the staff at 24 Hour Fitness for their full cooperation throughout the entire investigation.
According to localcrimenews.com, Tauane was also arrested by Pittsburg Police in December 2021, for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and when not the registered owner.
Anyone with information regarding the outstanding firearm or any additional information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Greene at 925-809-7797.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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By Oakley Police Department
On August 25th, 2022, at approximately 10:40pm, Oakley PD Officers responded to a report of a Domestic Dispute in the 1800 block of Teresa Lane. The caller stated her boyfriend had a gun and had been driving around with her in the car not letting her leave. The boyfriend told her he was going to kill her and himself. Once at the residence the victim fled on foot and called police.
Officers arrived and attempted to contact the 58-year-old male. The male did not respond to officers. Officers used a drone and were able to see the subject inside the residence armed with a handgun. Officers continued to try and establish communications with the suspect, but he did not respond. Several shots were fired by the suspect inside the home.
At approximately 1:18am, the suspect fired several rounds at Oakley Officers. One Officer returned fire striking the suspect. Medical aid was provided but the suspect died on scene. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office responded along with Oakley Detectives.
According to Chief Beard “Our officers are trained to deescalate situations at every opportunity when that is a viable option. Our officers attempted to deescalate this tragic situation last night, but the suspect would not allow for our attempts to take hold. When officers are presented with such grave and dangerous situations, and when no other options work or are available, they must sometimes fall back on other critical training they receive on a regular basis. This is the training they fell back on last night to ensure there was no loss of lives of innocent victims or the officers themselves.”
This is an ongoing investigation, names and more details will be provided at a later date.
Update from Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard
I wish to address the Oakley community regarding last night’s fatal officer involved shooting on Teresa Lane. The events that transpired last night can only be described as very scary and dangerous for all involved.
To put it very mildly what happened last night was completely unnecessary.
The suspect chose to drive the direction of what played out when he could have taken several different avenues to deal with whatever angst he had going on in his life. He also could have given up upon our officers making contact with him.
Instead, the suspect elected to resort to gun violence to traumatize the initial domestic violence victim in this case and subject our officers to the difficult actions they eventually had to take, thus creating more victims. The officers involved in last night’s incident exhausted every readily available option they had in this type of scenario before taking the ultimate action they had to take.
The incident that we dealt with last night has become all too commonplace with a total of eight law enforcement officers being killed by gunfire across America in just the last month.
Every member of the Oakley Police Department is valued and appreciated. I am grateful beyond measure our department did not meet with a tragic result for us.
The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol guides the investigative steps we need to take with our officers, and we are following that prescribed protocol. We are also being proactive in taking care of all of our personnel who were involved in last night’s incident by making sure they have readily available access to a service provider who specializes in treating first responders who have been exposed to matters like the one we experienced last night.
It is my strong desire to provide the necessary and healthy resources our personnel need in order to continue having productive lives after experiencing life threatening, or very unsettling, situations. I also urge victims of domestic violence to realize they do need help and to reach out for it.
A domestic violence victim may reach out to their local police department for assistance. They may also reach out to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit at 925-957-2200. If immediate assistance is sought and a victim does not want to interact with a police department, they may reach out to the STAND! Crisis line at 1-888-215-5555. It would be inappropriate for me to comment much further on this case at this time because it is literally still an ongoing investigation.
I will however identify the suspect as Frank Anthony Correa, a 58-year-old male and resident of Oakley.
The Oakley Police Department is requesting information from anybody who may know anything about this investigation to call us at 925-625-8060 or email us at opdtips@ci.oakley.ca.us.
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Film submissions from other, local filmmakers still accepted until Sept. 5th
Jason D. Morris
Award winning filmmaker, Jason D. Morris is bringing his love for films to his hometown of Antioch with The Dark Fest on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Co-founder of the short film festival featuring genres of film noir, mystery, science fiction, horror, dark comedy and more, Morris grew up in Antioch, and as so many others who grew up here in the 80’s and 90’s, one of his best memories is watching films in the historically beautiful Stamm and El Campanil theaters. Those very experiences are ultimately what pushed him into filmmaking.
A graduate of Antioch High School and attendee of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco led to his career in film. After having produced and directed several feature films, including some in Antioch, he co-founded Resurrection Films with several other likeminded filmmakers which eventually led to the creation of The Dark Fest, after their experiences of taking their first film out on the festival circuit.
The first major production from Resurrection Films was a documentary based on Chris Carter’s (of The X-Files) television show Millennium, titled Millennium after the Millennium. Millennium starred film actor Lance Henriksen (The Right Stuff, Aliens) in one of his most enduring roles as Frank Black, an FBI profiler. Millennium paved the way for shows like Criminal Minds, Mindhunter and many others. The documentary screened in eight countries and garnered 21 awards during its festival run, including screenings at the LA Comic-Con, Monsterpalooza in Burbank and Horror Hound’s Horror Convention in Indianapolis. But festivals are expensive and far away for the average filmmaker, this can make getting your film seen expensively prohibitive.
Since Morris had already shot four films in Antioch, bringing Hollywood talent such as Academy nominated actor Eric Roberts, Ricco Ross and Henriksen to his productions, he thought “why not set up an event for other local filmmakers to have easier access to getting their films screened?” With such a creative hub of activity in Antioch and the surrounding areas many film productions go unnoticed and have little options for an audience. The Dark Fest aims to alleviate this issue for local filmmakers looking for a way to screen their films without the hefty expense of renting a theater or having to travel to far away locations. The members of Resurrection Films have hopes to continue the festival and expand it into a bigger event with more community involvement and celebration of local filmmakers.
Film Submissions
If you’re a filmmaker, submissions are still open until September 5th by visiting filmfreeway.com/thedarkfest and email info@thedarkfest.com. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please reach out at info@thedarkfest.com. As for the rest of you we hope to see you in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown on September 17 at El Campanil Theatre for a night of dark cinema.
About The Dark Fest:
Resurrection Films presents The Dark Fest, showcasing short films from the dark side of cinema with genres of film noir, mystery, science fiction, horror, dark comedy and more, as we celebrate local filmmakers from the bay area, and around the world. Join us at 5:30pm Sept. 17 at the El Campanil Theatre for musical pre-show entertainment by local musicians Matthew Gatsos on piano and Evan Morris on saxophone while enjoying concessions provided for purchase by the venue. Screening begins at 6pm and ends at 10pm.
Tickets
Tickets are $10 for Adults and $8 for Seniors & Youth.
THIS EVENT IS RATED R. NO ONE UNDER 17 WILL BE ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. To purchase tickets, visit elcampaniltheatre.com or click here.
El Campanil Theatre is located at 602 W. 2nd Street.
Read More“I Remember ‘72” offers her perspective of what happened to cause Fastest Human, World Record Holder to be disqualified
By Allen D. Payton
Following publication of the book “Disqualified” by Pittsburg resident Eddie Hart and longtime Bay Area sports reporter Dave Newhouse about Hart’s experience leading up to and at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, his wife, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Hart has penned her own book to offer her perspective. (See related article)
In her book entitled “I Remember ’72: The Road to Munich (My Voice)” Gwen, wife of the Olympic Gold Medalist, World’s Fastest Human at the time, and World Record Holder, speaks from a woman’s point of view. After 50 years of silence, she now voices her held in feelings of what happened to her then boyfriend, now husband on the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Summer Olympics.
About The Book
It’s the perspective of a supportive girlfriend, then wife, of the life, tragedy experienced, and dignity displayed by the one-time, Fastest Man in the World and Olympic Gold Medalist Eddie Hart.
“I REMEMBER ‘72 is about perseverance, overcoming and love, which is what life is all about,” Gwen shared. “When situations arise, you’re going to need someone that cares for you, to help you to see that it can be overcome, that you can persevere. Eddie’s fortitude and the love he had from family would be the shining beacon that he would have to hold to and believe in, not letting others dictate how he should live; because Eddie was brought up to not throw stones, because one is thrown at you. He couldn’t afford to be told differently.”
“Life’s lessons are all about choices and what you choose will either help you build your character as a person or it will drag you like the wind blows trash, not having a direction. When things get rough you don’t have the luxury of re-acting but responding. That’s what I REMEMBER ‘72 is about; the man Eddie Hart who responded,” she added.
“A must read for those who appreciate a journey of faith by two who qualified because their hearts are filled with love, Gwendolyn’s My Voice has become their voice,” said Paul Cobb Publisher of the Post News Group.
“I Remember ‘72 provides yet another testimony of how love is the power and the means by which we overcome the catastrophic times in our lives,” Of LIFE and TIME author Clifton L. West III shared.
Get an autographed copy of Gwen Hart’s book and meet Eddie Hart on Saturday, August 27 at 1 p.m. at the Pittsburg Historical Society Museum located at 515 Railroad Avenue.
Book Purchase Information:
Cost: $23.00
Shp/Hld. $4.00
Payment Options:
Cash App: $ghbooks2music
By Check: Top Performance
640 Bailey Rd. #170
Pittsburg, CA 94565
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