A $500 donation by Antioch City Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker to District Attorney Diana Becton is now in question as the timing of that donation is suspicious in nature.
Some are claiming the donation was quid pro quo to the District Attorneys Office in order to reduce charges on the son of Antioch City Councilwoman Torres-Walker.
Currently, a case is pending involving Torres-Walker’s son where on Dec. 29, 2020, Antioch Police attempted to stop multiple people on dirt bikes and quads who were recklessly driving on city streets within the city of Antioch. Ultimately, one of the drivers was pulled over in the 1900 block of A Street, that turned out to be Walkers son.
The younger son, a juvenile, was released into Walkers custody while her older son returned to the scene and was identified as one of the drivers of the off-road vehicle.
After an investigation, the Antioch Police Department filed felony charges.
According to Diana Becton for District Attorney 2022 California Form 460, Walker made the $500 donation on March 23, 2021.
On that same day, Simon O’Connell, Senior Deputy District Attorney, filed the complaint for Walker’s son on the incident where Yomani Mapp was to be given misdemeanor charges.
According to sources close to the case, the case involving Mapp warranted felonious conduct and should have been filed as a felony.
Another source confirmed the case came over as a felony file from the Antioch Police Department to the District Attorney’s Office and anyone who reviewed it would have filed it as a felony in most circumstances. A drafted felony complaint was even created, but was ultimately pulled by a higher ranking official within the District Attorneys Office where the case was changed from a felony to misdemeanor with no explanation provided.
Here is a copy of what was filed by the District Attorney’s Office:
COUNT 1 – EVADING OFFICER
The undersigned states, on information and belief, that Yomani Mapp, Defendant, did commit a Misdemeanor, a violation of VC2800.1(a), Evading Officer, committed as follows:
On or about December 29, 2020, in the City of Antioch, County of Contra Costa, State of California, the crime of Evading Officer in violation of VC2800.1(a), a Misdemeanor, was committed in that YOMANI MAPP did willfully and unlawfully, while operating a motor vehicle and with the intent to evade, flee and otherwise attempt to elude a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while all of the following conditions existed: the peace officer’s motor vehicle exhibited at least one lighted red lamp visible from the front and the defendant, YOMANI MAPP either saw or reasonably should have seen the lamp, the peace officer’s motor vehicle was sounding its siren as was reasonably necessary, the peace officer’s motor vehicle was distinctively marked, the peace officer’s motor vehicle was operated by a peace officer.
Complainant requests that the Defendant[s] be dealt with according to the law.
Dated: March 23, 2021, at Martinez, California
DIANA BECTON
District Attorney
Simon O’Connell
Senior Deputy District Attorney
SO/sd
According to Scott Alonso, spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office, he provided a timeline of the prosecution. He also claims there was never a “draft felony complaint” against Mr. Mapp.
- Antioch Police submitted for filing review a felony charge against Mr. Mapp for an alleged violation of VC 2800.4. This request came to the District Attorneys Office on January 7.
- The District Attorneys Office made the decision to file a case against Mr. Mapp on March 11. The case was formally filed on March 24. The misdemeanor complaint is an alleged violation of VC 2800.1(a) evading officer.
- The complaint shows a date of March 23, but the case was recorded by the court on March 24.
“Given the totality of the circumstances, including the length and duration of the incident, our Office believed a misdemeanor charge was appropriate in this case. Since this remains an active criminal case we have no further comment about the filing of this case,” said Alonso.
The incident involving her children promoted Torres-Walker to go on social media where she held a profanity-laced Facebook Live video for 9-minutss where she verbally attacked the Antioch Police Department while calling out officers by name and repeatedly stating “Do you know who I am”. The video was since removed.
The Antioch Police Department has issued an investigation into the incident between Walker and Officers and those results have yet to be released.
On March 3, the Antioch Police officers Association, through their attorney, issued a Statement on the investigation and the actions of Torres-Walker.
Walker did donate $500 back on 12/8 2017 to Diana Becton, but it appears no other donations have been made prior to this recent March 23, 2021 donation. Meanwhile, on September 28, 2020, District Attorney Becton donated $200 to the Tamisha Walker for Antioch City Council District 1 campaign.
4:50 pm UPDATE
Tamisha Torres-Walker issued the following response when asked about the donation:
“As an actively engaged community member and voting resident of Contra Costa County. I have supported and contributed to many campaigns of candidates who I support NOT only with the honor of my VOTE but by helping them with their candidacy to get elected. As many voting residents do whether, they are elected officials or not.
It’s truly a shame that the East County Today editor continues to create false narratives on women of color in this County. While attempting to weave inaccurate conclusions and connections on non-relating topics to sensationalize my personal family matters that are being dealt with as resident in the Justice System outside my elected capacity or campaign donations.
However, I do feel what’s more newsworthy is reporting on how white privilege of men in Contra Costa County working together in various levels to excuse, ignore real unethical and criminal behave such as current felon elections chief who got to keep pension, while serving sentence in Hawaii.” said Torres-Walker.
