On Thursday, a 21-page document featuring the Antioch Police Department text messages that featured racist and incentive remarks was posted online.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Thursday morning they had not yet released the redacted document to the media and the public, and that whatever was released was likely done so after the judges decision to release the text messages to the defense attorneys’–who likely released the document as an exclusive to the San Jose Mercury News.
- 8:36 am Thursday ” We did get your PRA request (along with others), so we know we have less than 10 days to respond. I’m hopeful that by Friday/tomorrow we’ll have an update ready for the press and public.” — Ted Asregadoo Public Information Officer to the District Attorney
- 11:30 am Thursday- Asregadoo had no idea who released and published the text messages and was headed into a meeting to discuss this.
The text messages were discovered after sworn law enforcement members of the CCCDAO and the FBI found text communications between sworn law enforcement members of the Antioch Police Department that we believe may have violated the Racial Justice Act.
To read the 21-pages of text messages: Click Here
DA Statement Statement on the Release of Redacted Investigative Report
Martinez, California — The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is aware an investigative report detailing texts and images sent and received by certain members of the Antioch Police Department has been obtained and distributed beyond the parties of a criminal case.
The court ordered the release of the investigative report on April 7, 2023, to defense attorneys representing clients in a felony criminal case. The court also advised caution in the distribution of the contents of the report. The District Attorney’s Office agrees with the court advisory in the distribution and publication of this document as it contains explicit words and images that are hurtful, offensive, and inflammatory.
The DA’s Office has received multiple media requests for access to the 21-page investigative report concerning racial, homophobic, and derogatory text communications; a report that contained information that overlapped with a charged felony criminal case.
In light of those requests, and the recent distribution of the report, the District Attorney’s Office is releasing a redacted investigative report that balances public interest with the sensitive nature of what is contained in the report.
To view or download the redacted report: Click Here
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. This report does not include every derogatory text message retrieved during our review of the above listed cellular telephones. This is an ongoing state and federal criminal investigation which may lead additional disclosures. This report also documents potential dishonesty, perjury, abuse of authority, and the
violation of individuals civil rights.
Antioch Police Officers sending communications include:
- Sgt. Josh Evans
- Sgt. Rick Hoffman
- Officer – Jonathan Adams
- Officer – Morteza Amiri
- Officer – Scott Duggar
- Detective Robert Gerber
- Detective Aaron Hughes
- Officer Brayton Milner
- Officer Calvin Prieto
- Officer John Ramirez
- Officer Andrea Rodreiquez
- Officer Eric Rombough
- Officer Kyle Smith
- Officer Devon Wegner
Brentwood Police Officer
- Officer Lindzie Laughridge
Timeline of Texts
- 09/23/2019: Morteza Amiri; Eric Rombough; Rick Hoffman; Daniel Harris; Detective Robert Gerber; John Cox; Jonathan Adams; Kyle Smith; Jake Ewart; Sgt. Stenger; Ryan McDonald; Sgt. Josh Evans; Joseph Magana; Casey Brogdon; Sgt. Jimmy Wisecarver; Tom Lenderman; Aaron Hughes; Adrian Gonzalez; Matthew Nutt; Brock Marcotte; Scott Duggar; Timothy Manly Williams; and Sgt. Loren Bledsoe.
- 10/05/2019
- 11/22/2019
- 12/05/2019
- 04/24/2020
- 04/29/2020
- 04/30/2020
- 05/04/2020
- 05/05/2020
- 05/06/2020
- 05/27/2020
- 06/08/2020 – at 9:27 a.m., Officer Ramirez text to APD Officers, “ I’ll buy someone a prime rib dinner at House of prim rib to 40 that mfr (Thorpe) during the protest today.” This is a reference to the potential use of a .40mm less lethal launcher being utilized on current Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe. The following APD Officers received the above listed text message: Sgt.’s Josh Evans, James Wisecarver, Rick Hoffman, Loren Bledsoe, and James Stenger; Detective Robert Gerber; APD Officers John Cox, Jonathan Adams, Kyle Smith, Jacob Ewart, Ryan McDonald, Joseph Magana, Eric Rombough, Daniel Harris, Casey Brogdon, Tom Lenderman, Aaron Hughes, Adrian Gonzalez, Matthew Nutt, Brock Marcotte, Scott Duggar, and Timothy Manly Williams.
- 06/10/2020
- 06/14/2020
- 06/22/2020
- 07/02/2020
- 07/20/2020
- 08/22/2020 – APD Officer Amiri to APD Officer Wenger, “If Pitt didn’t have all those body cams and that was us…we would have fucked him up more. He didn’t get what he deserved.” This is a reference to the arrest of Jamari Allen in Pittsburg, California, who was taken into custody by use of APD Officer Amiri’s police k-9.
- At 12:36 p.m., APD Officer Wenger responds, “I agree. That’s why I don’t like body cams.”
- 09/04/2020
- 09/09/2020
- 10/06/2020
- 10/22/2020
- 11/11/2020 – APD Officer Brock Marcotte text APD Officers Rombough, Timothy Manly Williams, Scott Duggar, and Rick Hoffman, “I’m on my way in now, what’re you guy up to? APD Officer Rombough replies, “ Violating civil rights.
- 12/07/2020
- 12/27/2020 – APD Officer Amiri text BPD Officer Laughridge, “It’s commonly used around the pd tbh (reference to the N word).” BPD Laughridge text, “Yeaaa but given the times I wouldn’t say that out loud.” APD Officer Amiri responds, “even in group messages with supervisors and IA Sgt’s matter of fact it was said just today in our group thread with multiple supervisors in it.
- 01/13/2021 – PD Officer Morteza Amiri sends information regarding an article where cellular telephones were seized from 100 Oakland Police Officers. The article details the investigation is involving sexist and racist comments made on a now deleted Instagram account. The following APD Officers received the text message: Sgt’s James Stenger, Rick Hoffman, Jimmy Wisecarver, Trevor Fortner, and Josh Evans; Detective Robert Gerber; APD Officers Brayton Milner, Jacob Ewart, Scott Duggar, Arturo Becerra, John Ramirez, Brock Marcotte, Randall Gragg, Odom, Adrian Gonzalez, Tom Lenderman, Johnathan Adams, and Timothy Manly Williams
- 02/11/2021,
- 02/19/2021
- 02/23/2021
- 03/25/2021
- 03/31/2021
- 04/16/2021
- 05/29/2021
- 06/07/2021
- 06/21/2021
- 06/30/2021
- 08/05/2021
- 09/10/2021
- 11/22/2021
- 01/05/2022
- 01/24/2022
On 04/27/2022, APD Captain Trevor Schnitzius emailed CCCDAO Sr. Inspector Wallace all citations issued by APD Officers Rodriguez and Prieto from 09/09/2020 thru 10/08/2020 to determine if there was a disparity in the race, ethnicity, or national origin of the individuals who were cited after the statement they made on 09/09/2020. Listed below are the results
Per APD Officer Amiri, he texted the following statistics for his k-9 deployments from December 2018 – December 2021. He stated he had 471 deployments, 400 arrests, 369 give-ups, and 28 confirmed bites. Law enforcement personnel have been able to confirm that 19 of the 28 dog bites were suffered by African Americans.
Previous Stories:
- April 9: Mayor Calls For Audit After Antioch Officers Sent Racists Text
- April 7: Becton Issues Statement on Disclosure of Racist Texts in Felony Case
- March 31: Antioch POA and Attorney Mike Rains Respond to Antioch Mayor
- March 30: Antioch Police Chief Issues Open Letter to Community
- March 30: Antioch Mayor Holds Press Conference on New Police Investigation
5 comments
Appears screening Psych evaluation of potential Police officers needs to be more rigorous than confirming candidate is breathing.
My blood is boiling. I’m sick to my stomach and disappointed. If I heard correctly, Bledsoe is still working? If so they need to go. Scum.
Also!! Who the hell released this information to the Bay Area News group before the public?! No wonder the attorney of the day deflected my question when I asked them this morning. My goodness.
I didn’t even get through it all but saw enough to know that these people are not fit for any public service position and most certainly not the charge of public safety. They’re dirty and need to be relieved of their positions ASAP. Hateful criminals.
Way to go Antioch PD and shame on Dr. Wolf in Napa for passing them on the psych evaluation on some of these sickos and wackos.
Officer Amiri, page 7: “Since we don’t have video I sometimes just say people gave me a full confession when they didn’t. Gets filed easier.”
Needs to be fired and charged with falsification of a police report, etc.. Crimes have been committed and the confession is right there.You want to be be a dirty cop, you need to burn.
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