Ex-Antioch cop, charged with violent civil rights violations, ‘confined to a wheelchair’ with serious injuries

Because of the injuries he is now allowed to attend his criminal court hearings remotely.

ANTIOCH — Morteza Amiri, the ex-Antioch officer charged with police violence and college-degree fraud, is now confined to a wheelchair after suffering serious injuries in a fall, his lawyer wrote in recent court filings.

Amiri, an Antioch resident, fell from a ladder and broke his knee on Jan. 12. He also suffered a dislocated shoulder, his attorney wrote.

Amiri is charged with federal offenses in two separate cases filed last year. In one, he is accused along with two other officers of conspiring to violate civil rights through dog bites and the use of less-lethal launchers. In another, he is accused of joining several other Antioch and Pittsburg cops in a scheme to fraudulently receive educational incentive pay bumps by cheating on college tests.

As an Antioch cop, Amiri was a K9 officer whose dog, Purcy, was responsible for biting dozens of people. The FBI and Contra Costa District Attorney started investigating Amiri in early 2022 based on a tip about the alleged degree fraud scandal.

After the criminal investigation began, and while Amiri was on leave, he reported suffering an injury while walking Purcy and applied for medical leave. As a result, Antioch police commanders seized Purcy and relocated him, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

Because of Amiri’s new injuries, he has been allowed to appear remotely for hearings in his criminal cases. His lawyer wrote that he has “very limited mobility” and has to use a wheelchair to get around.

Amiri has also been implicated in a scandal involving racist, homophobic and sexist communications. A report by the Contra Costa DA’s office says he sent colleagues numerous racist texts, including uses of racist slurs.