Investigative work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the behavior of law enforcement officers in a Northern California precinct has resulted in a series of indictments. The probe, initiated one and a half years ago, scrutinized the officers’ use of force, examined their text messages, and considered complaints lodged by local residents.
On a specific Friday (18th of August), the US Attorney’s Office located in the Northern District of California made an announcement. It stated that a federal grand jury in San Francisco had returned four indictments. These charges were against ten individuals—both current and former officers and employees of the Antioch and Pittsburg precincts.
The Charges
The Antioch officers—Morteza Amiri, Eric Rombough, and Devon Wenger—were each slapped with several charges. These included conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, and the destruction/falsification of records related to federal investigations.
Their alleged misconduct involved discussions about their plans to employ excessive force against citizens. They also unnecessarily deployed K-9s, and other violent actions that were labeled “less lethal”. The indictment, in its 29 pages, also revealed that they shared photos of injured suspects via text. These images were accompanied by messages such as “Yeah buddy, good boy pursy” and “F**k that turd.”
Previous Reports
Earlier in May, REVOLT reported that over a dozen Antioch officers were identified in the FBI’s probe. This investigation was looking into a series of racist texts that dated back to 2019. The messages were described as abhorrent and reprehensible. They depicted an “entrenched culture of hatred, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and violence” within the department. Later in that month, a civil lawsuit was filed against the precinct. This was done on the behalf of five residents and a relative of a man who was fatally shot by an officer.
Mayor’s Response
The Mayor of Antioch, Lamar Thorpe, took to a press conference to discuss the grand jury’s decisions. “To those that have accused me and others of being anti-police for seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department, today’s arrests are demonstrative of the issues that have plagued the Antioch Police Department for decades,” Thorpe said, as reported by NBC Bay Area.
Other Indictments
Amiri is also one of five officers implicated in a college fund fraud indictment. This includes charges for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Wegner is one of two named in a steroid distribution indictment. This includes conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, and destruction, alteration, and falsification of records in federal investigations. A fourth obstruction indictment lists one officer, Timothy Manly Williams, along with deprivation of rights, obstruction of official proceedings, and the alteration, and falsification of records in federal investigations.
