On Saturday, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe confirmed in a video that he was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for a DUI. CHP later released a statement confirming the incident just before 11:00 am.
Per California Highway Patrol:
Mayor Thorpe released the following statement in a video Saturday morning:
Good Morning Antioch,
I wanted to come before you today because I wanted to share some personal news with you. Last night, after having dinner with a friend, I was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol and cited for driving under the influence. For that I take full responsibility.
Under the advice of counsel, I am limited in what I can share with you. But I felt it was important to be open and direct with you.
Although I never felt inhibited by the drink I had with my dinner and I am deeply sorry for the lapse in judgment and I hope you can forgive me.
Being your mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life and I am sorry if I have embarrassed you in any way. You have my full commitment that I will grow and learn from this moment and will continue to work diligently for the residents of Antioch.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
According to Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica, he said he spoke with CHP law enforcement where a standard DUI arrest was made and he was cited and released. He offered no other details. He also called for Mayor Lamar Thorpe to resign.
Thorpe is facing a recall effort and are in the process of collecting 9,511 signatures (15% of the total registration). The deadline for signatures to be collected and submitted is May 11, 2022.
Last week, it was announced that the Los Medanos Healthcare District was dissolved and Thorpe was set to lose his $150k a year executive director job. The move comes after the the California Supreme Court denied an appeal by the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District (District), which resulted in the dissolution of the District effective yesterday afternoon. The court decision does not affect the operation of the Pittsburg Health Center, which is operated by the Contra Costa County Health Services department and remains open with no changes to regular, ongoing services for patient care.
Antioch Councilwoman has August Court Date
Thorpe isn’t the only one in legal trouble, councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker is due in court on August 8 after she was charged a misdemeanor for her role in a shooting incident in front of her home where she interfered with a police investigation. Walker has been charged with One Count of Resist, Obstruct, Delay of a Peace Officer or EMT. The District Attorney’s Office ultimately filed the case and set a court date.
The incident prompted Torres-Walker to resign as chair of the Antioch Police Oversight Committee.
According to the complaint:
COUNT 1 – RESIST, OBSTRUCT, DELAY OF PEACE OFFICER OR EMT
The undersigned states, on information and belief, that Tamisha Torres Walker, Defendant, did commit a Misdemeanor, a violation of PC148(a)(1), Resist, Obstruct, Delay Of Peace Officer Or EMT, committed as follows:
On or about October 3, 2021, in the County of Contra Costa, State of California, the crime of Resist, Obstruct, Delay Of Peace Officer Or EMT in violation of PC148(a)(1), a Misdemeanor, was committed in that TAMISHA TORRES WALKER did willfully and unlawfully resist, delay and obstruct Officer Desiderio who was then and there a peace officer attempting to and discharging the duty of his/her office and employment.
Complainant requests that the Defendant[s] be dealt with according to the law. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated: November 9, 2021, at Martinez, California
DIANA BECTON
District Attorney
25 comments
This is the best news ever !!!! Great job CHP!!
The DUI does not bother me as much as his testimony does. Although a DUI is not a good thing, the fact is that it’s not necessarily a blemish on his character. What bothers me is the Jedi Mind trick that he wants us to believe he only had one drink. Anyone accused of being drunk always goes to the “oh, I only had one drink” excuse. Does he really expect us to believe this, because if that’s a lie then his character is in question……..again!
“one drink with dinner” You were arrested at 1:15am
“…Although I never felt inhibited by the drink I had with my dinner and I am deeply sorry for the lapse in judgment and I hope you can forgive me.”
THE drink? Seriously?
The general rule of thumb is it takes about three drinks an hour for a woman to reach a .08 BAC and it takes about four drinks an hour for men, but, these are general guidelines based upon the weight of the person drinking.
Here comes the pile on. I agree with Mr. Barbanica, but we should allow Mr. Thorpe some dignity and allow the man to gracefully resign and take care of himself. Let’s try to restrain ourselves and show that we can be dignified
Time for Torres-Walker and Lamar Thorpe to resign. We don’t want a criminal mayor and city council. And why was Thorpe a director of a health care district, is he a doctor? I don’t think so.
13% of the population 100% of the problem
Taking responsibility isn’t ‘splaining about your “one drink over dinner”, then you’re still over the limit at 1am. Give me a break . Typical libtard.
Criminals in charge of the prison , good luck and good riddance.
no surprise there, we have a house of elected criminals… sorry for now does not fit the crime. I guess had he been someone else they would have had to spend overnight, it is amazing how the elite get away with this crap.
Mayor thorpe is such a joke and embarrassment to the great city of Antioch the dude needs to resign and take trashmisha with him, she needs to resign and they need to get the hell out of Antioch they’re not wanted or welcomed here
We sure can pick ’em, can’t we?! The voters of Antioch should be embarrassed.
I bet 80% of you simpletons making comments voted for Biden,
That’s a dumbass comment, but it’s obvious you support the clown of a mayor!! Talk about simpleton look in the mirror!!
Antioch needs a complete reboot of its city council. The downplaying of the DUI is pathetic. Mike Barbanica coming out with a statement that he spoke to CHP is pathetic. Torres Walker having a court date is pathetic. I just do not get how a community can stand behind and continue to let this happen? At some point Antioch needs to right this 20 year sinking ship.
Well said !!!
100%
Doesn’t it seem strange that Mike Barbanica spoke with the CHP amid the process of a recall? Sounds like someone got paid off and if Lamar Thorpe would’ve been any other race but Black they would’ve drove him home. It’s amazing how someone can fan the flames of a insurrection get impeached twice and a small town Black mayor is all in the news without the BAC being said what it was nonsense SOME white Americans are just as bad as Putin
Well, I concur, but I’m in that 13%😂
I try to stay off this site because these comments are so full of venom I choose not to partake. However, your comment stated exactly what I was thinking as I scrolled down the feed and it provoked me to let you know that I concurred with your expressed sentiments. Have a great day!
What Mr Thorpe did was wrong, and against the law…..what I find disturbing is that some people are pulling race into this whole thing……Some people are really out of touch if they think Thorpe was handled any differently because of the color of his skin…..on both sides….people believing he was released while still intoxicated because of black privilege, or that he was arrested because he is a person of color……DUI is such a hot potato for cops that there is no way they would let ANYONE off with just a ride home…
One and done for Thorpe. Adios!
Its so sad that some people in Antioch are showing there true colors. Instead of showing unity and compassion. You are ready to condemn (a man first, Mayor second. ) for a mistake, that all humans can say we done something and ask for forgiveness.
Get off your high horse and bigot mentality. We all need to learn to work, live and learn together.
Hi Mr Lamar you are a human being.and we all make mistakes nobody.is perfect No reason to criticize. see when you in that light it easy for people to Judge cause .to be.honest it people waiting for something to happen to remove you don’t sweat it or be embarrassed pick yourself up .you talk to months ago with me an you had good ideas promise to give kids job you said youwill help me find a place. because the renting issues nobody want help disabled section 8 vocher holder because the area I seen you work to clean up Antioch its not gonna be over one mistake doesn’t mean you got a problem oralcoholic we learn better this way you don’t have to be on a high horse. Keep it real with people put big a expecting on your name but you just human don’t give up.i don t want no fake white woman or man coming judge cause Antioch family suffering and we can’t find home I beer dealing with Racist behavior.so everybody need to check the way they do things to and help each other stop thinking they could do better cause they already working to move black out of Antioch no trying to rent to us. I respect it happen I sorry. Blaming we everybody for other behavior Lamar you was the only one listen to me keep trying don give up
Driving under the influence is against the law. Drunk driving kills people, destroys life. You don’t get arrested for being under the limit. It does not matter who you are.
@inurdreams…actuall the person with the attitude and who is always perched on his high horse is da mayor. He is held to a higher standard because he is the mayor.
@D.T.45, no way that any mayor gets driven home in the bay area for a dui. With body cameras and such that will not happen. and now DUIs are racist? Come on…
People with flawed logic and bias will turn to the race card when commenting. The FACTS are that Mr. Thorpe was arrested for DUI. He publicly told his audience that he only had ONE DRINK. When his blood alcohol level gets announced, he will either be vindicated or proven to be a liar. These are the facts so lets stick to the facts and leave race out of the conversation.
My opinion is that based on the facts, I am concerned that the Mayor of Antioch got caught telling a lie. I would prefer to be wrong given that the City of Antioch has enough problems.
Comments are closed.