A woman says she was attacked by transients Friday afternoon after a transient camp was legally cleaned up and the Antioch Police Department did not respond.
The incident occurred just before 4:00 pm Friday in the parking lot of Heritage Baptist Academy on Heidorn Ranch Road in Antioch. She says she and her two kids, ages 15 and 13, were attacked because the transients arrived in the area and found that it had been cleaned up. She says the two men were angry after a city cleanup and charged at them.
“My daughter was in the car already and my son was on the other side of a gate he was unlocking when a man was so angry at the camp being cleaned up ran into our parking lot and attacked us,” said the victim. “The back window of my car was smashed in by him as he attempted to hurt us. My son ran for safety and I was able to speed off with my daughter and call 9-1-1.”
This incident left her vehicle damaged and her family traumatized but says she or her children were not injured.
She says as of 9:20 pm Friday, nearly 5-hours after the incident, the Antioch Police had not responded for a report. She has photographs of the man and is now scared to be at her place of employment. She was told by dispatch Antioch Police had a “rough day” and working multiple calls.
While she is sympathetic and understands staffing levels and higher response times, it still doesn’t help her feel any less “terrified” by what happened to her. She plans to go to the next city council meeting to speak on the issue.
“I never provoked them or spoken to them. I’m scared for my own kids and our school families. What else can we do?” stated the woman.
The Antioch Police Department has not responded to confirm the incident or lack of response or what other calls were ongoing that prevented officers from responding.
Tidbits:
With ongoing investigations, the Antioch Police Department has a number of police officers on administrative leave where active patrol officers are anywhere from 27-32 officers depending on who is providing the number–it was also shared this week that interim police chief Joseph Vigil was ordered by city hall to place yet another officer on administrative leave, thus further reducing the number of patrol officers.
On Aug 6, Antioch City Councilmember Mike Barbanica requested the City of Antioch begin looking to the California Highway Patrol and Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office to assist the Antioch Police Department.
Barbanica also has requested the city look at hiring retired police officers to address vacancies. He suggests hiring retired police officers to provide temporary coverage for certain non-sworn duties within the Police Department. However, for the second meeting in a row, the item has been delayed and not yet discussed.
Back in February, Antioch Police Take 4 Hours to Respond to Hillcrest Taphouse Burglary Call which made Bay Area news… the suspects were later arrested.
9 comments
Get rid of the mayor and untie the hands of the police department so they can work to restore public safety. Thorpe has made it clear that he’s pro criminal and pro “community” which means he protects people who routinely come in contact with police for breaking the law. Law abiding citizens like this woman are not a priority for him.
Everyone should drive Wilbur Ave. and turn onto A st. To see what this councils tireless work has accomplished. It’s disgusting, these 5 members are useless and should move on now, don’t wait for election time, just go.
ThatWells Fargo parking lot is lost to transients at 18th and A.
Property values are dumping like the sewage from the 20 rvs on Wilbur Ave.
No Tax revenue for our council to waste on fixing up Sycamore Dr.
You all can get authority to hire a Police Chief but not able to install 1 stop sign on James Donlon Blvd.
I bet there is more to that story….Let’s not fuel Barbanica’s desire to call in agencies who are severely under staffed to help.
They will show up if there is an injury or death.
Citizens of Antioch YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!
It won’t be getting any better lady. Don’t blame the cops, blame their “boss”.
remember this story when you see them begging for your money—– stay classy Antioch.
I know how you feel. I have been chased around my car and they have tried breaking into my place of employment while I’m there early morning hours. When the police come they said that they know the person I’m dealing with isn’t playing with a full deck and just kept asking them to leave the property not caring if I was at risk of injury. We need something done it’s terrible we have to clean up needles and human waste on a regular bases. I will certainly be at the next city meeting.
I’ve lived here since 1998. I also worked in Richmond for 15 years. My point is when you have a terrible Council and a Mayor that is only serving their own self interest, you are going to have a City with a high crime rate and a place where good cops will never come to work here. The current interim Chief came from Richmond and knows how to implement programs to reduce crime. Let’s remember that the Mayor brought in his own Chief (somehow HR allowed that to occur) and thats when the department fell apart. Forget about the fact we are a laughing stock to the rest of the county. Worry about the fact we aren’t safe. The Mayor DOES NOT CARE. I worked with council people like him in Richmond and their individual agendas are all that concern them.
If you’re a criminal, Antioch is the place to go.
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