Antioch California Police Department Rights Violations (2019-2022)
Overview
Several Antioch California Police Department officers sent text messages describing actual and intended use of excessive force during arrests, including the use of a K9 and deployment of a "40mm less lethal launcher".[1]
Officer Morteza Amiri texted other people the running count of bites inflicted by his K9 partner, "Purcy". Amiri took photos and videos of subjects' injuries after deployment of his K9 and shared them with people not involved with the cases.[2]
Officer Eric Rombough used his personal cell phone to take photos of subjects' injuries after deployment of his 40mm launcher and shared them with people not involved with the cases. Rombough collected the spent 40mm munitions after each deployment, and planned to create a commemorative display.[2]
The officers wrote incident reports that contained "false and misleading statements" that claimed the uses of force were necessary or justifiable. The officers did not report incidents of excessive force by the other officers.[2]
On February 12, 2019, Rombough stated that he was "gonna fuck some people up" and arrange for Amiri's K9 to "get a bite". Amiri agreed with the plan to extract "blood for blood".[2]
On April 21, 2019, Officer Devon Wenger sent a picture of a suspect and asked that they "please find this guys and fuck him in the ass". Rombough replied, "deal" and Amiri offered to "bite em".[2]
On July 24, 2019, Amiri stopped "A.A" for riding a bicycle without a light. During the apprehension of A.A., Amiri punched him multiple times and the K9 bit him in the arm. Amiri sent information and photographs of the incident to other officers. In one message, Amiri admitted to failing to report that the person accompanying him on a ride along had opened the door to release the K9.[2]
On December 19, 2019, officers attempted to stop a car that they believed contained "R.S.", a robbery suspect. The car fled, and R.S. ran into a housing complex. R.S. fell on the grass, and Amiri allowed the K9 to bite him when Amiri and another officer were within 5 feet of the suspect. Amiri sent information and photographs of the incident to other officers. Amiri texted another officer that he had "pulled [the K9's] harness which... helped with the bite". Amiri told Rombough that he felt justified in deploying the K9 on the fallen man as "you don't take us on a high speed and rob people and gun point and crash into cars during a footbail and just give up". Amiri texted that he planned to "take more gory pics" which were "for personal stuff", whereas the "cleaned up pics [were] for the case". Amiri's police report differed from the descriptions that he provided in text messages.[2]
On December 27, 2019, Amiri asked Rombough about a traffic stop where another officer encountered a suspect with a gun. Amiri said, "you and I would have broke him lol", to which Rombough replied, "Hell yeah and got bit".[2]
On February 24, 2020, Rombough asked if Amiri had run into a group of "gorillas". Amiri confirmed "a bunch of gorillas surrounding us and taunting a fight" who "were all pussies and didn't do shit" even though he "wish they did". Rombough offered to "shoot a few on Sunday" if they were partnered up.[2]
On March 21, 2020, Rombough described a bank burglar who "gave up" but said that, if Amiri had been there, "we would have gotten u a bite". Amiri expressed his frustration at not being called to the incident.[2]
On May 6, 2020, Amiri, Rombough, and other officers were attempting to arrest several individuals, including "X.B.". Amiri texted another officer that "they are planning an [X.B.] ass whooping today". During the arrest, Amiri deployed the K9 and later sent information and photographs of the incident to other officers. Amiri described the incident as "sooooo fun" and that "hopefully [the subject] dies".[2]
On August 21, 2020, Amiri, Wenger, and other officers were involved in a pursuit. Amiri deployed the K9, who bit the suspect. Amiri told Wenger that he "would have fucked him up more" except the other officers had body-worn cameras. Wenger later hoped that they could "go 3 nights in a row dog bite" and referred to a lieutenant as "faggot ass".[2]
On August 22, 2020, Amiri and Wenger stopped another suspect, pulled him from his car, and took him to the ground. Amiri sent Wenger a picture of the man's injuries.[2]
On August 23, 2020, officers from another agency chased "D.R." into a transient encampment. Amiri was called to assist and deployed the K9, who bit the man. Amiri sent information and photographs of the incident to other officers. Amiri described how he planned "how to fuck [the man] up" during the arrest and that he "did justice". Amiri described that Wenger would have enjoyed the incident as the officers from the other agency had agreed to disable their body-worn cameras. Wenger described that a subject who fled would "acquire a tax" and that the tax had been "paid properly" in this case. Amiri's police report differed from the descriptions that he provided in text messages.[2]
On August 24, 2020, Amiri send Wenger images of 8 injured suspects, describing it as "a very eventful work week" and that he wanted to "fuck some people up next work week". Wenger replied enthusiastically.[2]
On October 8, 2020, Amiri texted other officers about "M.Z.", a transient man who Amiri believed had stolen his mail, and offered to buy food for the officer who located him. Wenger replied "let's beat his fucking ass". Officers located M.Z. later that evening. Amiri arrived, shoved M.Z. against a wall, pushed his baton against M.Z.'s chest while holding "another object or weapon in his other hand", and threatened to kill M.Z. Amiri did not file a police report about the incident.[2]
On October 10, 2020, Rombough told other officers that he planned to "violate rights forty people and catch turds".[2]
On November 11, 2020, Rombough told other officers that he was out "violating civil rights".[2]
On January 25, 2021, Amiri discussed the M.Z. incident with another officer, claiming that he "tracked him down and dragged him to the back of a car to 'discuss' the matter" of his missing mail. The other officer texted as if he was being questioned in court, asking "did you ever know [Amiri] to act under color of authority". Amiri responded that "putting a pistol in someone's mouth and telling them to stop stealing isn’t illegal... it's an act of public service to prevent further victims of crimes".[2]
On February 8, 2021, Amiri told Rombough that Amiri's wife offered to buy Rombough a box of cookies if he deployed the 40mm launcher against a particular person. Rombough accepted the challenge and said that he would "40 a few people this week" and would send pictures to Amiri's wife.[2]
On February 9, 2021, Rombough and other officers were serving a search warrant. Rombough fired his 40mm launcher at "R.C.", striking him in the lower back, an area that was described as "potentially lethal" in training. Rombough sent information and photographs of the incident to other officers, which he described as "so much fun".[2]
On February 10, 2021, Rombough and other officers were involved in an incident where Rombough was not called upon to deploy his 40mm launcher. Rombough texted Amiri about his disappointment, stating that he "seriously wanted to beat [the suspect's] black ass".[2]
On several occasions in March 2021, Rombough discussed his 40mm deployments with other officers, commenting on the status of the commemorative display he was making from spent 40mm munitions.[2]
On May 5, 2021, Rombough and other officers responded to a report of transients living inside a private building. Rombough located "L.R." and deployed the 40mm launcher, striking him in the chest, an area that was described as "potentially lethal" in training. Rombough's police report differed from the descriptions that were provided by other officers.[2]
On July 27, 2021, Amiri and Rombough exchanged messages about their disappointment that body-worn cameras were being rolled out in the agency. Rombough texted, "can't wait to retire".[2]
On August 24, 2021, Rombough, Amiri, and other officers executed a search warrant. Officers located Jessie Wilson, who was wearing headphones and had not heard the officers' approach. As one officer started to secure Wilson's hands, Rombough deployed the 40mm launcher, striking Wilson from a range that he later described as "1 feet to 3 feet". Rombough's police report differed from the descriptions that were provided by other officers. The incident was captured on a body-worn camera. Later that day, Amiri texted another officer, noting that "rombough be doing some unnecessary ass 40s".[2][3]
On August 31, 2021, Rombough, Amiri, and other officers conducted a traffic stop on "S.S.". The man complied with orders to exit his vehicle, raise his hands, walk backwards towards the officers, and place his hands on his head. As one officer approached to secure S.S., Rombough deployed the 40mm launcher, striking S.S. from a range that he later described as "1 feet to 3 feet". The incident was captured on a body-worn camera.[2]
On October 26, 2021, Wenger and other officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle and located Dejon Smith. As the Smith stood by the vehicle with their hands raised, Wenger deployed the 40mm launcher, striking Smith in the chest, an area that was described as "potentially lethal" in training. The incident was captured on a body-worn camera.[2][3]
On November 26, 2021, Amiri described deploying the K9 during a robbery call, where the dog got a "throat bite" and he thought the dog was going to kill the suspect. Rombough said that it would have made "one less gorilla pro-curating (sic)" to which Amiri replied, "lmao!".[2]
In early 2022, the department temporarily suspended the K9 "Purcy" and removed Amiri from the Canine Unit.[2]
On August 16, 2023, a federal grand jury claimed that the officers "conspired and agreed together and with each other... to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate residents of Antioch" and indicted the officers for Conspiracy Against Rights and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. The officers face 10 years in prison for each charge. Amiri was also indicted for Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations and faces 20 years in prison on this charge.[2]
On August 25, 2023, the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) temporarily suspended Amiri's, Rombough's, and Wenger's certifications, citing Criminal Proceedings Pending - Egregious or Repeated Acts that Violate the Law.[4]
On May 8, 2024, Wilson and Smith filed a civil lawsuit against Wenger, Rombough, Amiri, and the city for violating their rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.[3]
Officers Involved
References
- ↑ Antioch And Pittsburg Police Officers And Employee Charged With Various Crimes Ranging From Using Excessive Force To Defrauding Their Employers, U.S. Attorney's Office, 2023-08-18
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 Indictment, U.S. District Court, 2023-08-16
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Joe Rodriguez, Antioch Police Targeted Black People With Dogs and 40mm Launchers, Suit Alleges, KQED, 2024-05-11
- ↑ Peace Officer Certification Actions, Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
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