Nine current or former police officers in Northern California have been charged with corruption and civil rights violations following a federal investigation. The charges include wire fraud, deprivation of rights, conspiracy against rights, and conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. The investigation focused on the police departments in Antioch and Pittsburg, two cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Only two of the officers face multiple indictments.
Arrest warrants were executed in California, Texas, and Hawaii, leading to the arrests of Morteza Amiri, Eric Allen Rombough, Patrick Berhan, Samantha Peterson, Brauli Rodriguez Jalapa, and Ernesto Juan Mejia-Orozco. All of them have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been released on property bonds. Eric Allen Rombough appeared in court with ripped clothing, bloody hands, and a shirt reading don’t weaken.
This federal corruption investigation stemmed from a two-year effort by authorities. The charges reflect allegations of misusing their official positions to violate citizens’ rights. The case has brought to light thousands of incendiary text messages exchanged between officers in the Antioch Police Department. The released texts contained derogatory language, racial slurs, explicit content, and even discussions of fabricating evidence and using violence against suspects. The city of Antioch now faces a federal civil rights lawsuit due to the content of these messages.
In addition to the excessive force allegations, some of the officers also face charges related to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. It is alleged that they had others complete online university courses on their behalf as part of a scheme to receive tuition reimbursement and pay raises. Furthermore, two officers have been charged with distributing anabolic steroids. Another officer faces charges for obstructing a federal investigation by using a personal cell phone to communicate with a target of an FBI wiretap in order to ensure their conversation was not recorded.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe expressed deep concern over the arrests, calling it a dark day in the city’s history. He emphasized the need for unity and stated that the actions taken are part of a long process to address the situation. The corruption charges against the police officers have raised important questions about trust and accountability within law enforcement agencies.
The news of these charges has drawn attention to issues of police misconduct and the need for greater transparency and oversight. It is anticipated that the case will be closely monitored as it unfolds, with many hoping for justice and accountability for any wrongdoing.
