Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Antioch Police After Racist Texts and Targeting

Civil rights attorney John Burris has filed a federal lawsuit against several members of the Antioch Police Department and a former chief.

The lawsuit follows the release of two sets of text messages (a 21-page document & 14-page document) which include racist and offensive text messages between officers between 2019-2022—14 officers were named in the document, however, as many as 45-officers were within the text threads.

These text messages were discovered while the FBI and Contra Costa County District Attorney were investigating into the actions of “moral turpitude” over the past year.

The plaintiffs are:

• Trent Allen (arrested for attempted murder)
• Shagoofa Khan (arrested for burning a blue lives matter flag at a protest)
• Adam Carpenter (arrested for possession of a firearm, charges dropped — 10 traffic stops since)
• Joshua Butler (allegedly discharging a firearm, no weapon found. 10 traffic stops)
• Diego Savala / Guadelupe Savala (Dove Ct Standoff & Shooting)
• See Lawsuit  Antioch Police lawsuit Burris et al 4-19-23

The lawsuit names:

• Steven Ford (Police Chief)
• Tammany Brooks (former Police Chief)
• Tony Morefield (interim Police Chief/police captain
• Josh Evans
• Eric Rombough
• Amiri Morteza
• Scott Duggar
• John Ramirez
• Timothy Manly Williams
• City of Antioch

Editors note: Chief Ford was hired in April of 2022 as interim police chief and was not made permanent until October 2022. The last text message revealed in the reports was January 24, 2022.

The lawsuit comes after Reps. Mark DeSaulnier and John Garamendi are requesting the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the Antioch Police Department (APD) in Antioch, California following extremely troubling reports of racist, homophobic, and illegal conduct by law enforcement officers, demonstrating a pattern of unconstitutional discrimination, use of force, and violations of the constitutional rights of Antioch citizens.

Within the 25-page lawsuit filed, here is what is being alleged:

• ” Over a period of at least four years, the City of Antioch Police Department regularly referred to its citizens as “niggers,” “niggas,” “monkeys,” “gorillas,” “faggots,” “water buffalos,” “cunts,” “pussies,” “fat bitches,” and more. Officers celebrated the violent targeting of Black community members (“we just ran down a monkey”; “I’m only stopping them cuz they black [sic]”; “I’ll bury that nigger in my fields”; “I can’t wait to forty all of them”). Furthermore, officers admitted to serious acts of lying and falsification (“we’ll just say he refused to comply”; “I sometimes just say people gave me a full confession when they didn’t. gets filed easier [sic]”). Appallingly, at least 45 officers participated in or were aware of this misconduct and did nothing.
• Officers engaged in vile derogatory speech, physical mistreatment of community members, and violations of individual civil rights

Plaintiff TRENT ALLEN (“ALLEN”) has been and is a resident of California and a United States Citizen. He brings this action on his own behalf. ALLEN was brutally beaten by Defendant Officer ERIC ROMBOUGH on March 30, 2021. ROMBOUGH bragged about his conduct, stating in text messages that he gave ALLEN “6 muzzle thumps” and that he tried to “kick [ALLEN’S] head over the fence.” ROMBOUGH also stated “I tried to knock him unconscious” and referred to ALLEN as “faggot” and “nigger” multiple times. Mr. ALLEN remains in-custody, having been incarcerated since his arrest on March, 30, 2021.

Plaintiff SHAGOOFA KHAN (“KHAN”) has been and is a resident of California and a United States Citizen. She brings this action on her own behalf. KHAN was arrested maliciously and without provocation or cause by CITY OF ANTIOCH police officers in January 2021. KHAN was the subject of racist and misogynistic text messages sent by Defendant Officer JOSH EVANS to multiple CITY OF ANTIOCH officers on September 4, 2020, in which he described her as an “Arabian Knight’s [sic] ‘cum dump.’”

Plaintiff ADAM CARPENTER (“CARPENTER”) has been and is a resident of California and a United States Citizen. He brings this action on his own behalf. CARPENTER was arrested maliciously and without provocation or cause on November 3, 2020 by multiple CITY OF ANTIOCH police officers, including ERIC ROMBOUGH, SCOTT DUGGAR, MORTEZA AMIRI, and TIMOTHY MANLY WILLIAMS. From January 2020 up until the date of his arrest, these officers conducted nearly ten traffic stops on Mr. CARPENTER. Concurrent with CARPENTER’s arrest, Defendant officers sent numerous text messages about Black people, calling them “gorillas,” “niggers,” “monkeys,” and using other targeted slurs to refer to subjects (i.e.: “faggot,” “pussies,” “cunt,” “fat bitch”).

Plaintiff DIEGO SAVALA (“SAVALA”) has been and is a resident of California and a United States Citizen. He brings this action on his own behalf and as successor-in-interest to his father, Decedent GUADALUPE SAVALA. GUADALUPE SAVALA was 57 years old when Defendants ERIC ROMBOUGH and SCOTT DUGGAR shot and killed him at his home in Antioch, California. GUADALUPE SAVALA was unarmed at the time Defendants shot him 19 times. The Defendant officers who shot and killed GUADALUPE SAVALA are implicated in this text message scandal. GUADALUPE SAVALA died unmarried, intestate and with one child.

Plaintiff JOSHUA BUTLER (“BUTLER”) has been and is a resident of California and a United States Citizen. He brings this action on his own behalf. BUTLER was arrested in maliciously and without provocation or cause in February 2022. Multiple Antioch Police Department officers, including JOSH EVANS, arrested BUTLER in Antioch, CA for allegedly discharging a firearm, despite never finding a weapon. Since the date of the arrest, officers have conducted nearly ten traffic stops on Mr. BUTLER, each time verbally accosting him with racist obscenities. None of these traffic stops have resulted in additional arrests. Concurrent with BUTLER’s arrest, officers, including JOSH EVANS, sent numerous text messages about Black people, calling them “gorillas,” “niggers,” “monkeys,” and using other targeted slurs to refer to subjects (i.e.: “faggot,” “pussies,” “cunt,” “fat bitch”)

Defendant CITY OF ANTIOCH (“CITY”) is an incorporated public entity duly authorized and existing as such in and under the laws of the State of California; and at all times herein mentioned, Defendant City has possessed the power and authority to adopt policies and prescribe rules, regulations and practices affecting the operation of the CITY OF ANTIOCH Police Department and its tactics, methods, practices, customs and usage. At all relevant times, Defendant CITY was the employer of Defendant OFFICERS, individually and as peace officers.

Defendant CITY POLICE CHIEF TAMMANY BROOKS (“BROOKS”), at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as the Chief of Police for the CITY, from May 2017 through October 2021, and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as the Chief of Police for the CITY. Plaintiffs allege Defendant BROOKS was aware of the openly racist conduct of the police officers he employed, their use of excessive force as set forth herein, the widespread acceptance within the Antioch Police Department of Unconstitutional actions by Antioch police officers as set forth in the instant Complaint, and failed to take any remedial measures, and tolerated, encouraged and ratified the repeated and widespread pattern and practice of Unconstitutional actions by Defendant CITY OF ANTIOCH police officers as set forth herein.

Defendant CITY INTERIM POLICE CHIEF TONY MOREFIELD (“MOREFIELD”), at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as the Interim Chief of Police for the CITY, from October 2021 through May 2022, and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as the Interim Chief of Police for the CITY. Plaintiffs allege Defendant MOREFIELD was aware of the openly racist conduct of the police officers he employed, their use of excessive force as set forth herein, the widespread acceptance within the Antioch Police Department of Unconstitutional actions by Antioch police officers as set forth in the instant Complaint, and failed to take any remedial measures, and tolerated, encouraged and ratified the repeated and widespread pattern and practice of Unconstitutional actions by Defendant CITY OF ANTIOCH police officers as set forth herein

Defendant CITY POLICE CHIEF STEVEN FORD (“FORD”), at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as the Chief of Police for the CITY, from May 2022 through present, and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as the Chief of Police for the CITY. Plaintiffs allege Defendant FORD was aware of the openly racist conduct of the police officers he employed, their use of excessive force as set forth herein, the widespread acceptance within the Antioch Police Department of Unconstitutional actions by Antioch police officers as set forth in the instant Complaint, and failed to take any remedial measures, and tolerated, encouraged and ratified the repeated and widespread pattern and practice of Unconstitutional actions by Defendant CITY OF ANTIOCH police officers as set forth herein

Defendant SERGEANT JOSH EVANS (“EVANS”) at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as a SERGEANT of the CITY and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as a SERGEANT of the CITY. JOSH EVANS sent racist and misogynistic text messages about Plaintiff KHAN, calling her an “Arabian Knight’s [sic] ‘cum dump.’” On another occasion, EVANS sent text messages about an unknown subject, detailing plans to “smash in and bite him, 40mm him, and call him a cunt.” EVANS referred to Black people as “niggers” numerous times, and in discussing an unknown subject, he once stated: “I’m going to bury that nigger in my fields.”

Defendant OFFICER ERIC ROMBOUGH (“ROMBOUGH”) at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as an OFFICER of the CITY and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as an OFFICER of the CITY. ROMBOUGH was involved in the arrests of all Plaintiffs and specifically used excessive force and violence on ALLEN and GUADALUPE SAVALA. ROMBOUGH is also a key participant in the District Attorney’s investigation into the discriminatory text messages sent among Antioch Police Department officers and sergeants. ROMBOUGH proudly stated that he gave ALLEN “6 muzzle thumps” and tried to “kick his head over the fence.” ROMBOUGH also stated “I tried to knock him unconscious” and referred to ALLEN as a “faggot” and “nigger” multiple times. On other occasions, ROMBOUGH boasted about “violating civil rights” and “only stopping [people] cuz they black [sic].”

Defendant OFFICER MORTEZA AMIRI (“AMIRI”) at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as an OFFICER of the CITY and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as an OFFICER of the CITY. AMIRI was involved in the arrests of Plaintiffs. AMIRI is also a key participant in the District Attorney’s investigation into the discriminatory text messages sent among Antioch Police Department officers and sergeants. AMIRI sent texts to other Antioch officers in which he referred to Black people as “gorillas” and “pussies.” He also admitted to serious offenses of falsification, claiming: “I sometimes just say people gave me a full confession when they didn’t. gets filed easier [sic].”

Defendant OFFICER SCOTT DUGGAR (“DUGGAR”) at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as an OFFICER of the CITY and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as an OFFICER of the CITY. DUGGAR was involved in the arrests of Plaintiffs CARPENTER and ALLEN. DUGGAR is also a key participant in the District Attorney’s investigation into the discriminatory text messages sent among Antioch Police Department officers and sergeants. DUGGAR sent text messages to other Antioch officers in which he referred to Black people as “niggas.”

Defendant OFFICER JOHN RAMIREZ (“RAMIREZ”) at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as an OFFICER of the CITY and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as an OFFICER of the CITY. RAMIREZ is implicated in the District Attorney’s investigation into the discriminatory text messages sent among Antioch Police Department officers and sergeants. RAMIREZ sent texts to other Antioch officers in which he expressed a desire to “40 that mfr (Thorpe) during the protest today [sic].” This is a reference to the potential use of a .40mm less lethal launcher being utilized on current Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe. RAMIREZ also sent numerous text messages in which he called Black people “niggas” and “niggers.”

Defendant OFFICER TIMOTHY MANLY WILLIAMS (“MANLY WILLIAMS”) at all times mentioned herein, was employed by Defendant CITY as an OFFICER of the CITY and was acting within the course and scope of that employment. He is being sued individually and in his official capacity as an OFFICER of the CITY. MANLY WILLIAMS was involved in the arrest of Plaintiffs. MANLY WILLIAMS is implicated in the District Attorney’s investigation into the discriminatory text messages sent among Antioch Police Department officers and sergeants. MANLY WILLIAMS sent text messages in which he joked about TRENT ALLEN being beaten by ROMBOUGH and asked, “is he dead?”

The plaintiffs are seeking general damages, special damages including but not limited to, past, present and/or future wage loss, income and support, medical expenses and other special damages in a sum to be determined according to proof; For punitive damages and exemplary damages in amounts to be determined according to proof as to Defendants EVANS, ROMBOUGH, AMIRI, DUGGAR, RAMIREZ, MANLY WILLIAMS, and DOES 1-100