In the two months since Occupy Berkeley set up camp in Civic Center Park, Berkeley police have responded to 33 calls for service to the park, 24 of which were classified as crimes. The most serious of these included an attempted rape, a stabbing, and a few assaults. Police also issued 46 citations for smoking in a public space and drinking alcohol.
At its height, there were about 70 tents pitched at the park with a population of about 150 people.
Berkeley police released this partial list of activity at the Occupy Berkeley camp.
10/23/11 11:25 p.m. – Battery
Did not wish police services
10/24/11 11:11 a.m. – Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Felony) – a Stick, Brandishing, Threats, Battery
A victim from Occupy Berkeley to safety at the Public Safety Building after a known woman suspect living in a tent there attacked and threatened him, causing lacerations to the side of his face. The suspect accused the victim of stealing her money and then attacked him. The suspect allegedly scratched his face with her fingernails, pulled out a knife and chased him, trying to stab him, and then picked up a picket sign stick and beat him. She threatened to have the victim killed by her acquaintances from Oakland. There were people in the area/likely numerous witnesses in Occupy Berkeley at the time, but nobody would cooperate with BPD officers on scene.
10/25/11 12:33 a.m. – Threats, Vandalism
10/25/11 11:22 a.m. – Mental Health Related
10/15/11 9:27 p.m. – Battery
A male victim reported that a suspect he knows punched him three times in a dispute over a mutual girlfriend. They claim no affiliation with the Occupy Berkeley protest. The suspect had fled prior to BPD arrival.
10/30/11 12:30 p.m. – Battery
A victim came to the Public Safety Building (PSB) to report a battery in Civic Center Park by unknown suspect. Both the suspect and victim were gone when BPD officers arrived. No further leads.
11/1/11 12:00 p.m. – Suspicious Circumstance
11/3/11 10:48 a.m. – Animal Bite
11/15/11 8:11 p.m. – Suspicious Circumstance (regarding a dispute)
11/26/11 1:37 a.m. – Lewd Conduct, False Imprisonment, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
A male suspect, a camper at Occupy Berkeley entered a woman’s tent (uninvited) at the Occupy Berkeley gathering and began masturbating in front of the victim while preventing her from leaving. Incident to the suspect’s arrest, the BPD Officer found that the suspect had a dagger in his possession.
11/27/11 6:01 p.m. – Brandishing a Firearm, Battery 7
The victim, a camper at Occupy Berkeley reported his tent had been torn down and urinated on earlier in the day. Someone in the camp pointed out the individual who was responsible to the victim and the victim confronted him about the incident. The victim told the suspect to leave the park. The suspect pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim. The suspect’s friends surrounded the victim and one of them struck him over the head several times with a blunt object causing an injury to his head.
11/30/11 5:46 p.m. – Theft, Possession of an Unlawful Weapon 8 (Initial Crime did not occur in the Park, but suspect fled and sought hiding in Occupy Berkeley)
A suspect stole a bottle of alcohol from Trader Joe’s at University Avenue and MLK Jr. Way. The suspect fled from store security into Occupy Berkeley and disappeared. A witness said that the suspect was armed with a machete, but there was no report of him brandishing the weapon.
12/01/11 10:45 p.m. – Advice
12/02/11 8:01 a.m. – Battery
12/02/11 2:04 p.m. – Animal Bite
12/03/11 8:22 p.m. – Battery
BPD Officers responded to a report of a fight in progress in the area of Occupy Berkeley. When BPD officers arrived, the individuals were still fighting, but separated and one party fled the scene. The other party declined any police service. Many people witnessed the fight, but no one chose to cooperate with the BPD officers regarding the incident.
12/03/11 9:42 a.m. – Battery
Nobody in Occupy Berkeley chose to assist BPD and no witnesses were located or came forward. The victim left before the investigation was complete and refused to cooperate any further.
12/04/11 10:58 a.m. – Resisting Arrest, Probation Violation, Foot Chase 12
A suspect was spotted by a BPD officer in the Occupy Berkeley gathering and matched the description of a suspect from a battery the day prior (12/03/11 0822). (see above) When the BPD officer attempted to stop him, the suspect fled on foot. The officer detained him after a brief foot chase. The BPD officer arrested the suspect for the previous battery as well as resisting arrest and a probation violation.
12/04/11 8:20 p.m. – Disturbance
12/05/11 4:32 p.m. – Assault with a Deadly Weapon, (Felonies) Battery, Criminal Threats
Victim was accosted by the Suspect in Civic Center Park (they have had ongoing problems). Suspect “sucker-punched‟ the victim, knocking him to the ground, began making threats, and subsequently began strangling the victim until he could not breathe. Bystanders pulled the suspect off the victim. The suspect then attacked the victim again, striking him in the head. BPD arrested the suspect, a 58 year old Berkeley man. The victim had a scratch to his throat, pain in and around his throat that made it difficult to swallow, a large bump on his forehead and complained of pain to his jaw.
12/06/11 9:55 p.m. – Suspicious Circumstance
Officers responded to a report of a ‘brawl’ with approximately 30 subjects yelling at each other and dogs barking. Upon arrival officers saw several individuals involved in a verbal dispute. Subjects inside the camp began chanting “f*#k the police”. The disturbance apparently stemmed from an earlier fight between a man and a naked woman, where the man dragged the naked woman out of his tent and slammed her on the ground (though she apparently left unhurt). The man and woman involved were not located.
12/06/11 10:30 p.m. – Alcohol Offense, Resisting Arrest, Parole Violation (Felony)
An anonymous person called BPD to report a fight at the corner of Shattuck and Kittredge. In process of checking for the involved parties, the suspect was spotted as a possible suspect by BPD officers. When officers attempted to detain the suspect, he attempted to spit on officers and yelled “No! I am not going to show you my f*#k‟ hands, I am with Occupy!” The suspect was clearly intoxicated. He continued to attempt to resist arrest, but was eventually taken into custody. A records check revealed that he was active to parole for robbery out of Los Angeles.
12/06/11 11:45 p.m.– Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine, Probation Violation
An unknown party called the police to report an assault via a two-by-four piece of lumber at Occupy Gathering in Civic Center Park. BPD Officers arrived and located the victim, who had a large abrasion on his forehead. The suspect was detained and positively identified. The suspect had methamphetamine in his possession and is active to probation for possession of methamphetamine.
12/07/11 5:17 p.m. – Battery
Victim, a female juvenile, reported being victim of battery in Civic Center Park. An adult male Occupy Camp member confronted the victim about something she said and when she told him to mind his own business he stated he was going to get his wife to beat her up. He then went to his tent, got his wife, and she came out and pushed the victim. Parties were separated by friends. No prosecution requested. No witnesses would corroborate either party’s statement.
12/10/11 6:56 p.m. – Possession of a Deadly Weapon, False Identification to a Police Officer, Probation Violation, Theft
Three members of Occupy Berkeley attempted to steal alcohol from Safeway. When BPD officers detained them, one of the detainees lied about his name. Once his true identity was discovered, a records check revealed that he had an outstanding warrant for possession of a controlled substance and was on probation for possession of a controlled substance and battery. When BPD searched him incident to arrest for the warrant, officer found a machete, a hammer, a gas mask and a BB gun. (replica gun that is very realistic looking)
12/14/11 12:29 a.m. – Disturbance, possible assault/battery
Officers responded to a report of 20-plus people fighting in Civic Center Park at the Occupy Berkeley Camp. Upon arrival the crowd had dispersed. No victims or suspects were located.
12/14/11 12:29 a.m. – Prostitution
Officers responding to a report of a fight at Civic Center Park were informed by an Occupy Berkeley camp resident that a teenage prostitution ring was operating out of the park. No further details were provided, investigation continues.
12/14/11 1:35 a.m.– Disturbance, possible assault/battery
Officers responded to another report of a fight in Civic Center Park. Again the crowd had dispersed, and nobody came forward to provide any further information.
12/16/11 11:30 p.m. – Possession of marijuana for sales
Officers witnessed a suspected drug deal in the Occupy Berkeley Camp. Officers arrested the suspect for possession of marijuana for sales.
12/16/11 6:30 p.m. – Battery, Criminal Threats
Two subjects in the Occupy Berkeley Camp were witnessed by officers in a physical fight. One suspect was arrested for battery and criminal threats.
12/16/11 5:55 p.m. – Violation of Court Stay-Away Order
Suspect, a well-known drug dealer who is on probation for felony possession of marijuana, was arrested in the Occupy Berkeley Camp for violation of his stay-away order.
12/17/11 11:40 a.m. – Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Callers reported a fight in the Occupy Berkeley Camp. When officers arrived, they were told a suspect had stabbed a victim. The victim had fled, but the suspect was taken into custody and a large knife was seized as evidence (see below). The victim has still not been located; however there are several independent witnesses
12/20/11 7:28 p.m. – Attempted Sexual Assault – 24
A male member of the Occupy Berkeley Camp entered the tent of a woman and attempted to force her to have sex with him. The victim fought off the suspect and fled the tent. BPD officers were patrolling the Occupy Berkeley Camp and she flagged them down for help. BPD officers arrested the suspect for the attempted rape/sexual assault, 220 PC.
