Brentwood Mayor: “If He Showed Up at My House, He Probably Wouldn’t Have Gone to Another House”

On Tuesday, Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor replied to a resident who had concerns over a homeless man who showed up on the doorstep of a neighbor’s home with a machete. The mayor replied saying that if the showed up at his home, he would not have gone to another home.

Taylor was referring to comments made by a resident who was referring to Adam Ortega, a man who was arrested twice in one week in mid-April—the first he was seen on video with a machete on the door step on a home, and the second time he had multiple weapons. He was taken to County Jail by Brentwood Police only to be quickly released.

He was released due to the Judicial Council of California Emergency Bail Schedule which was set to $0 bail.

The exchange came after resident Katharine Morgan spoke during public comments of the City Council Meeting regarding impact the homeless population is having including the increase of encampments, trash and personal feces along the trails. She stated she wanted assurance that taxpaying citizens safety and security is a priority by the police and city council.

“I’d to ask that you put a plan into action to combat our homeless issues. Brentwood sends a message constantly to the homeless and the mentally ill community that committing a crime is okay, we do not make arrests, we rarely cite panhandlers and we allow loitering at liquor stores through all hours of the night,” stated Morgan. “This homeless issue causes break ins, home burglaries and an immense amount of random bike, package, and other thefts in the community that residents of Brentwood are left to pay for out of our own pocket.”

She argued that the taxpayers are paying for all kinds of services, but it’s not going to the number one issue which was the homeless issue.

“I’d like to ask all of you how you sleep at night because my neighborhood which you have heard about, the machete homeless man, which is Adam Ortega, a longtime resident of Brentwood, is homeless and mentally ill and nothing will ever be done with him,” stated Morgan. “The family he hurt is on my street, that family does not sleep at night. That family sleeps with rarity of hours, they have high anxiety levels and they are constantly scared.”

Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor

Showing a picture of Ortega, she challenged the city council.

“If this man was at your front door, Mr. Taylor, would you and your family sleep well?” asked Morgan while saying she understood they were doing all they could but would like this to be something they focus on.

Mayor Taylor responded by saying the police department took this man to jail twice and within hours he beat their officers back to Brentwood.

“This is beyond the scope of my staff and our police officers. We are taking notes on everything you say because we are going to trying to do the best we can and handle this within our guidelines but when the nobody does anything, your right, if the gentlemen showed up at my house, he probably wouldn’t have gone to another house,” stated Taylor. “Just thought I’d say that but not make any insinuations, but we do understand.”

Taylor continued.

“I guess you have to kill somebody, and then you will probably get sent home too,” stated Taylor in reference to $0 bail.

Last week, the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office issued a statement on the immediate release of Ortega after being arrested and released for a second time in several days.

Because of the Judicial Council of California’s mandatory emergency rule of zero bail for misdemeanors and non-violent/non-serious felonies, both of the alleged offenses committed by Ortega were zero bail. He was later cite released.

“I like most California Sheriffs believe the Judicial Council’s decision to implement $0 bail for a wide range of criminal offenses was irresponsible, unnecessary and an overreaction,” said Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston. “ A state-wide solution to local issues is almost never good policy – that is certainly the case here. People who commit offenses against others should be held accountable, COVID-19 or not.”