On Saturday, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe confirmed in a video that he was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for a DUI. CHP later released a statement confirming the incident just before 11:00 am.
Per California Highway Patrol:
Mayor Thorpe released the following statement in a video Saturday morning:
Good Morning Antioch,
I wanted to come before you today because I wanted to share some personal news with you. Last night, after having dinner with a friend, I was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol and cited for driving under the influence. For that I take full responsibility.
Under the advice of counsel, I am limited in what I can share with you. But I felt it was important to be open and direct with you.
Although I never felt inhibited by the drink I had with my dinner and I am deeply sorry for the lapse in judgment and I hope you can forgive me.
Being your mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life and I am sorry if I have embarrassed you in any way. You have my full commitment that I will grow and learn from this moment and will continue to work diligently for the residents of Antioch.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
According to Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica, he said he spoke with CHP law enforcement where a standard DUI arrest was made and he was cited and released. He offered no other details. He also called for Mayor Lamar Thorpe to resign.
Thorpe is facing a recall effort and are in the process of collecting 9,511 signatures (15% of the total registration). The deadline for signatures to be collected and submitted is May 11, 2022.
Last week, it was announced that the Los Medanos Healthcare District was dissolved and Thorpe was set to lose his $150k a year executive director job. The move comes after the the California Supreme Court denied an appeal by the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District (District), which resulted in the dissolution of the District effective yesterday afternoon. The court decision does not affect the operation of the Pittsburg Health Center, which is operated by the Contra Costa County Health Services department and remains open with no changes to regular, ongoing services for patient care.
Antioch Councilwoman has August Court Date
Thorpe isn’t the only one in legal trouble, councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker is due in court on August 8 after she was charged a misdemeanor for her role in a shooting incident in front of her home where she interfered with a police investigation. Walker has been charged with One Count of Resist, Obstruct, Delay of a Peace Officer or EMT. The District Attorney’s Office ultimately filed the case and set a court date.
The incident prompted Torres-Walker to resign as chair of the Antioch Police Oversight Committee.
According to the complaint:
COUNT 1 – RESIST, OBSTRUCT, DELAY OF PEACE OFFICER OR EMT
The undersigned states, on information and belief, that Tamisha Torres Walker, Defendant, did commit a Misdemeanor, a violation of PC148(a)(1), Resist, Obstruct, Delay Of Peace Officer Or EMT, committed as follows:
On or about October 3, 2021, in the County of Contra Costa, State of California, the crime of Resist, Obstruct, Delay Of Peace Officer Or EMT in violation of PC148(a)(1), a Misdemeanor, was committed in that TAMISHA TORRES WALKER did willfully and unlawfully resist, delay and obstruct Officer Desiderio who was then and there a peace officer attempting to and discharging the duty of his/her office and employment.
Complainant requests that the Defendant[s] be dealt with according to the law. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated: November 9, 2021, at Martinez, California
DIANA BECTON
District Attorney
