The examination of texts is part of a broader investigation into East Bay police officers by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office and the FBI.
, 44 officers — nearly half the department — received at least one of the messages under investigation. Defense attorney Mathew Martinez, who is defending Allen, told SFGATE that the texts reveal a racist culture within the Antioch Police Department, especially considering how many texts were exchanged with sergeants and other department leaders.
In the days before the arrest, for instance, officers were surveilling a group of Black people that included Pugh and Allen. At one point, Officer Eric Rombough wrote that group was “getting ice cream” and “swarming to it like Hennessy,” a type of liquor. He later wrote, “I bet it’s chicken,” and Officer Jonathan Adams replied, “Could be ribs.” Rombough then replied: “For sure watermelon and kool aid.
Officers did, indeed, use that weapon while arresting Pugh and Allen, according to the report. In texts sent after the arrests, Rombough repeatedly used homophobic slurs to refer to the two men, including on March 31, when Rombough sent a text to an unnamed person that read, “Yeah 40 deployment,” and, “Faggot got his ass whooped,” referencing Allen. The person replied: “Nice babe, another one for the mantle.
Officers also shared pictures depicting the two men in the hospital, and joked about their injuries. In one exchange, which included a picture of the hospitalized Allen, Sgt. Josh Evans asked Rombough, “You plugged him in the neck? Lol.” Rombough replied, “He ducked,” to which Evans replied, “Sounds like it’s his fault.” Rombough then wrote, “So was the 6 muzzle thumps and me trying to kick his head over the fence.
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