By Pittsburg Police Department

One call for service leads to much, much more.

Back in January, Officer Mejia made contact with a woman during an enforcement stop. At that time, she was in possession of multiple firearms and drugs for sale. Over the past few months, officers continued to work the case, conducting hours of investigation. It became clear the woman was heavily involved in the sale of drugs and guns.

On Thursday, June 10, 2021, the Pittsburg Police Department Vice Team, along with additional patrol officers, served the search warrant at the woman’s Oakley house. As you can see in the photos, officers found a little of everything including a half-pound of methamphetamines, cocaine, a ghost handgun, parts of an assault rifle, over $3,000 in cash, and even illegal fireworks.

In addition, officers searched a car belonging to man at the house and found two more illegal ghost guns and drugs for sale.

Both were arrested, the cash seized, and the two of them will be sending the weekend at the county jail.

#ppd #pittsburg #onecallatatime #alloffthestreet

 

By Brentwood Police Department

On Thursday, June 10, 2021 at around 5:31 p.m., Brentwood officers responded to the southwest parking lot of the Streets of Brentwood, located at 2501 Sand Creek Road to investigate a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, preliminary information revealed two shooters associated with two separate vehicles exchanged gunfire. During the exchange of gunfire, a 21-year-old, male, Brentwood resident sustained what appeared to be non-life threatening gunshot wounds and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment.

The two vehicles involved were described as a silver-colored sedan (associated with the person shot) and a black colored sedan with no direction of travel. The suspects associated with the dark colored sedan were described as light-skinned, black or Hispanic males.

Investigative information strongly suggests this was not a random act of violence and there is no threat to public safety. A firearm was recovered from the scene and the motive is unknown, pending further investigation.

No additional information is being released at this time.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Ruth Talley at 925-809-7911

By Oakley Police Department

On Sunday, May 30th at around 5:45 a.m. armed male suspects entered a business in the area of Laurel and Empire and robbed the store of lottery tickets and cigarettes. Officers were able to identify a suspect vehicle and possibly one of the male suspects. They have been tied into other similar robberies in the area.

On Monday, May 31st at around noon, Oakley Police officers responded to a neighboring city that had stopped the suspect vehicle. The driver was arrested on unrelated charges and the vehicle was impounded as evidence.

The investigation is ongoing and the Oakley Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify one of the suspects, pictured here.

 

Was outside apartment of his child’s mother

By Pittsburg Police Department

The Pittsburg Police Department can now release the name of the man involved in last Thursday’s officer involved shooting as 31-year-old Patrick Watkins. In addition, pursuant to Pittsburg Police policy, are releasing officers’ body worn camera footage of the incident in an effort to foster transparency and trust with our community. (See video WARNING: contains graphic images and language) (See related article)

Updated Incident Summary:

Late Thursday evening, May 20, 2021, Pittsburg Police Officers were called to an apartment complex in the 2300 block of Loveridge Road regarding Watkins holding a handgun, banging on the front door of the apartment of his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child. When officers arrived, they contacted Watkins as he was seated on a stairway leading to the second-floor apartment. Officers asked Watkins to walk down the stairs and speak with them, but he ignored their commands and began walking back up the stairs away from the officers. Officers followed Watkins up the stairs and continued to ask him to stop and not walk away.

As Watkins reached the top of the stairs, officers observed he was in possession of a handgun in his right hand. Officers directed Watkins to get on the ground and drop the handgun. Watkins turned towards the officers and pointed the handgun directly at them. Officer Odell then used his service weapon, striking Watkins in the upper torso, and causing Watkins immediately to fall to the ground, still holding the handgun in his right hand. After Officer Odell used his service weapon, he (Officer Odell) dropped down onto the stairway. As Officer Simpson approached the top of the stairway, he observed Watkins still pointing the handgun at officers. Officer Simpson then used his service weapon. Officers moved to a safe location at the bottom of the stairway.

Following the shooting, officers continued speaking with Watkins, asking him to drop the handgun so they could provide him with medical attention. Watkins did not respond. After nearly 40 minutes of attempting to get Watkins to put down the handgun, officers used ballistic shields to safely walk up to Watkins and take the handgun from his right hand. Officers then started life saving measures with paramedics. Unfortunately, Watkins died at the scene due to his injuries.

A Walther .22 Caliber handgun was recovered from Watkins’s right hand. While the handgun Watkins had in his possession was found to be unloaded, there was a live round for the handgun located next to him.

The officers involved in the incident are members of the Pittsburg Police Department Patrol Team and identified as Officer John Odell and Office r Greg Simpson. Officer Odell has been a Pittsburg Police Officer for two and a half years and Officer Simpson has been a Pittsburg Police Officer for over five years.

The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Incident Protocol has been enacted and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office will be completing an independent investigation into this incident. The Pittsburg Police Department’s independent outside investigator is also conducting an independent investigation of the incident pursuant to department policy. This is still an active investigation.

 

By Brentwood Police Department

In November 2020, the Brentwood Police Department initiated an investigation where Cory Baugh, male, 38 years old, (pictured) from Angels Camp was accused of sexually assaulting both male and female minors several years ago, while Baugh was a resident of Brentwood. Baugh reportedly befriended the victims between 2011 and 2015.

On 05/10/21, Baugh was arrested on an outstanding warrant associated with this investigation for multiple felony sex crimes involving minors. Baugh was subsequently booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

Based on information revealed during the investigation, it is believed there may be more victims that have yet to come forward.

The Brentwood Police Department is requesting anyone with information or potential victims to contact Detective Ruth Talley at 925-809-7793.

21 arrests, 20 cars towed from Antioch sideshow

Antioch police, councilman share photos, warn participants, spectators they’re “subject to up to 90 days in county jail and fines up to $1,000. Several license plates were obtained… as…vehicles fled the scene…will be followed up on, warrants will be written, and…towed for 30 days.”

By Sergeant Rob Green #3639, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Saturday, May 22, 2021, over 150 cars converged into several areas in Contra Costa County and engaged in several side shows. The vehicles eventually took over the intersection of West 10th Street and Auto Center Drive. There were several vehicles doing donuts in the intersection and the parking lot of Arco Gas Station near the gas pumps.

There were over 100 vehicles and close to 200 spectators in this intersection, several blocking the path of patrol vehicles. The spectators set off fireworks and at times threw fireworks at patrol vehicles and pointed high powered lasers at officers. Mutual aid was requested and several officers from Brentwood, Pittsburg and the Sheriff’s Office responded to assist in dispersing the crowd. Several vehicles continued to drive recklessly, and a vehicle nearly ran over an officer who was on foot. APD officers were able to stop a group of the vehicles with the help of the allied agencies. 20 subjects were issued citations and 21 vehicles were placed on 30-day tows from this scene.

The remaining group of vehicles entered the City of Brentwood where the vehicles took over the intersection of Lone Tree Way and HWY 4. Several vehicles made it into the City of Oakley and at approximately 1:09 AM, Oakley PD officers had bottles thrown at them from occupants from a vehicle that fled back into Antioch. Antioch Officers located a vehicle that matched the description, and a traffic stop was attempted. The vehicle fled from officers at a high rate of speed onto Hillcrest Avenue where it lost control and crashed. The driver of that vehicle fled on foot and was caught by officers a short distance later. The subject was arrested for an outstanding warrant and his vehicle was towed for 30-days.

At approximately 1:32 AM, more than 50 vehicles took over the intersection of Buchanan Road and Somersville Road and started another side show. Officers responded to the area; however, the group continued the side show despite the presence of law enforcement. After several minutes, the vehicles eventually dispersed in several different directions. At approximately 2:32 AM, APD officers responded into the City of Pittsburg to assist PPD with a large side show that resulted in several shots being fired by subjects in the side show.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or Detective Bledsoe at (925) 779-6884. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Antioch Police Department – May 23, 2021 – As many of you have seen by now through social media or other news media outlets, there was a large-scale side show in East Contra Costa County that touched the cities of Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley, and Brentwood for several hours Saturday night, May 22. While we were able to head off several of the participants before anything could get started, eventually the crowd was able to overtake the intersection of Auto Center Drive and W. 10th Street with several hundred vehicles and spectators. Mutual aid was requested due to the large numbers involved, and eventually officers from the Pittsburg Police, Brentwood Police and Sheriff’s Office responded and we were able to disperse the crowd. Over the course of the next several hours, other smaller side shows popped up in Antioch and surrounding cities until the early morning hours.

These events have become more prevalent in recent months in our city and present many problems aside from the noise and traffic violations. They not only put the participants at risk of death or injury, but also the public should they get caught amid one of these intersections that have been taken over. These events also create traffic issues for police and medical responses to true emergency calls as well, and the Antioch Police Department has taken a zero-tolerance response to such activity. During Saturday night’s events alone, 20 citations were issued, and 21 vehicles were towed and stored for 30 days for those in attendance who were able to be stopped. So everyone is aware, participating in these events, including being a spectator or helping block intersections so these events may continue is subject to up to 90 days in county jail and fines up to $1000. Additionally, whether you are actively participating or spectating, your vehicle will be towed and stored at your expense for 30 days. These costs will run into the thousands of dollars and may also lead to a driver’s license suspension.

For those of you that believe you got out of town last night before being stopped by the police, be aware that this may be true for some, but not all of you. Several license plates were obtained last night as dozens of vehicles fled the scene. These vehicles will be followed up on, warrants will be written, and those vehicles will also be towed for 30 days.

To summarize the events from last night, these events will not be tolerated in the City of Antioch, and all participants and spectators will be met with all enforcement action allowed under the California Vehicle Code. Thank you to all the agencies that responded to our mutual aid request and helped us in our efforts to keep Antioch safe. It is greatly appreciated.

Councilman Comments, Posts Photos of Damage

District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica was the only Antioch council member to post anything about the sideshows, one of which occurred in District one, on his official Facebook page. On Sunday, he wrote, “I went out today and visited some of the locations from the recent side shows. I very BIG thank you to the APD Sgt. and crew that took a zero tolerance stance on this, having more than 20 cars towed on 30 day impounds, more than 20 citations and warrants coming for more cars also to be impounded for 30 days. We cannot tolerate this in our community. This is unsafe and is a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. GREAT JOB APD! Also thank you to the allied agencies that came into our community to help.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.