This is a partial list of recent crimes in Berkeley based on information from the Berkeley Police Department and the UC Berkeley Police Department.
See also BPD’s weekly calls for service and the San Francisco Chronicle’s regularly published list of arrests in Berkeley. For other sources of information on crime in Berkeley see Community CrimeView and Crimemapping.com.
January 30th:
Drunk in Public Arrest – 1800 Block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way – #2012-5525
On Monday, January 30, 2012 at about 11:51 p.m., a female community member called to report someone knocking on her door in the 1800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and creating a disturbance. BPD officers responded and found a man, later identified as a 30-year-old Berkeley resident. The handling officer immediately noted that the man displayed objective signs of alcohol beverage intoxication, including bloodshot watery eyes, unstable gait, slurred speech, flushed face, and had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. The officer determined based on these factors that the subject could not care for his own welfare. BPD arrested the subject for violation of PC647(F) – Drunk in Public with a request that the Jail staff give him a citation and release him when he is sober.
Residential Burglary – 1500 block of Blake Street – #2012-5507
On Monday, January 30, 2012 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. three unidentified male teens suspects cut and removed a screen and entered a home in the 1500 block of Blake Street. The screen was covering an open and unlocked window that the three could crawl through. The group stole a laptop and an X-Box before they were apparently scared away by a neighbor. The BPD case officer did a neighborhood canvas and found a witness who said that he saw them all run eastbound on Parker Street and then lost sight of them. He believed they were in their late teens or early 20s wearing all dark clothing. The BPD CSI processed the home for evidence.
Auto Burglary Via Window Smash – 2800 block of Claremont Avenue -#2012-5432
On Monday, January 30, 2012 at about 12:45 p.m., a Grass Valley man parked his rental car, a 2012 Ford Escape, in the 2800 block of Claremont Avenue. When he returned to the car at approximately 1:45 p.m., he saw that the right rear hatch window was smashed and three bags had been stolen from the interior of the car. The bags contained misc. men’s clothing, a smartphone, cash and assorted items.
Vandalism – 1700 Block of Rose Street – #2012-5379
Between Friday, January 27, 2012 at about 4:30 p.m. and Monday, January 30, 2012 at 8:00 a.m., an unknown suspect or suspects used a large rock to break a west side classroom window of the Edible School Yard Building at the school in the 1700 block of Rose Street. The rock was thrown through the window, smashing the window and damaging the metal louvers covering the window.
January 31st:
Bike Stop Leads to Drug Related Arrest – 8th Street & Bancroft Way – #2012-5691
On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at about 11:25 p.m., a BPD patrol officer noticed a cyclist riding on the sidewalk on San Pablo Avenue, a violation of BMC 14.68.130. When the officer tried to detain the man on the bike, he dashed off and evaded the officer. The officer found the cyclist again at 8th Street and Bancroft Way and detained him. A records check revealed he was on probation with a full search clause as a condition of his probation. During the officer’s search, the officer found a meth pipe. The BPD arrested the 46-year-old Concord resident and booked him into the BPD jail for violations of H&S 11364 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, PC 148(a) – Resisting or obstructing an Officer and PC 1203.2- Probation Violation.
Probation Stop Leads to Drunk in Public and Probation Violation Arrest – San Pablo Avenue & Haskell Street – #2012-5593
BPD Drug Task Force (DTF) officers were patrolling the area of San Pablo And Haskell Street on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at about 1:38 p.m. They spotted a subject that they knew was on active probation who was stumbling as he walked. As soon as the DTF officer began talking with him, the subject became belligerent and began swearing at the officers. The DTF officer noted that the subject displayed objective symptoms of alcoholic beverage intoxication including slurred speech, unsteadiness on his feet, bloodshot eyes and a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and body. This is subject is a problematic individual particularly when intoxicated thus the DTF officer arrested the 47 year old Berkeley man and booked him into the BPD jail for violations of PC647(F) – Drunk in Public and PC 1203.2 – Probation Violation.
Community Caller Regarding Prowler Leads to Arrest – 1700 block of Lincoln Street – #2012-5556
On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at about 8:55 a.m., a community member called to report a possible prowler in the 1700 block of Lincoln Street. BPD officers responded and detained a 47-year-old Oakland man who matched the description provided in the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way. A records check of the detainee revealed that he was active to probation with a search clause. BPD officers conducted a probation search of the man and the belongings he had with him. The officer found a pipe used to smoke crack or cocaine base, assorted bicycle parts, as well as tools that can be used for disassembling bikes. During a detention interview, the detainee admitted to trespassing onto a property in the 1700 block of Lincoln Street and touching a bicycle that was locked/secured on the property. Due to this statement, and the bicycle parts and tools that he had in his possession, the officer arrested the suspect for violation of PC466 – Possession of Burglary Tools, H&S 11364(a) HS – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and PC1203.2 – Probation violation. The officer booked him into the BPD Jail.
February 1:
Identity Theft/Fraud – 2000 Delaware Street -#2012-5724
On Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at about 9:30 a.m., a 75-year=old Berkeley woman called from the 2000 block of Delaware Street regarding fraud. The BPD officer learned that the woman had received a past due bill from Banana Republic for $300. The account was in her name but she had never opened such an account. The victim called Banana Republic and advised them of the fraudulent account. The BPD officer provided guidance and crime prevention regarding fraud and identity theft matters.
Armed Commercial Robbery and Assault with Deadly Weapon- 3000 block of Sacramento Street -#2012-5849
On Wednesday February 1, 2012 at about 10:12 p.m., three male suspects wearing black ski masks and all dark clothing entered a liquor/food store in the 3000 block of Sacramento Street and demanded cash. Suspect # 1 demanded the4 cash from the register. Suspect #2 demanded to know where there was more money and Suspect #3 struck the clerk in the head with a gun causing a visible injury. All three suspects fled westbound on foot on Prince Street with a small amount of cash. Numerous officers did area checks but did not locate the suspects. The clerk was assessed and treated by Berkeley Fire Department (BFD) paramedics at the scene, but the victim refused transport to a hospital.
Grand Theft From Vehicle – Marin Avenue & Colusa Avenue – #2012-5803
On Wednesday, January 1, 2012, an El Sobrante woman parked her car at about 8:00 a.m. at Marin & Colusa Avenues. When she returned to her 1997 Toyota 4Runner and went to drive it at about 5:27 p.m., she noticed that it was making a loud noise. She then discovered that a suspect or suspects had stolen her catalytic convertor from under the vehicle.
February 2
Cyclist Evades Sergeant but Suspect Arrested soon after – 2500 Block of San Pablo Avenue – #2012-5893
On Thursday, February 2, 2012 at about 8:23 a.m., a BPD Patrol Sergeant was on patrol when he noticed a male riding a cruiser bike with a child trailer. The male cyclist was riding slowly west on the 1100 block of Carleton Street, peering up driveways. His behavior was consistent with someone who may be casing for burglary, not to mention that the male matched the description of a male on a crime bulletin who had been breaking into garages. As the Sergeant moved to detain the suspect and call for a cover officer, the cyclist rode north in the southbound lanes of San Pablo Avenue in violation of CVC §21650.1 [Bicycle Operated on Roadway, ride in same direction as vehicles] and CVC §21651(b) [Divided Highways, operate vehicle to right of dividing section]. The cyclist refused to stop and actively fled on the bicycle and foot to evade detention. Officer finally detained him in the 1100 block of Blake Street. A records check revealed that he was a Parolee at Large (PAL) and had a warrant for such. During a search incident to his arrest, BPD officers found a flashlight, and in the trailer, there were miscellaneous tools that met the criteria as burglary tools as a result of the 51-year-old’s arrest history. A BPD officer eventually booked him into Santa Rita County Jail for Violations of PC 466- Possession of Burglary Tools, PC148(a)- Resisting and obstructing a Police Officer and the Parole warrant.
Disturbance turns to Drunk in Public Arrest – 1200 block of Berkeley Way -#2012-5887
On Thursday, February 2, 2012 at about 3:57 a.m., a woman community member called to report a disturbance involving her boyfriend outside her door who was drunk and creating a disturbance. BPD officers responded and contacted a male in front of a home in the 1200 block of Berkeley Way. The woman did not want the boyfriend there. The handling officer noted that the male displayed objective symptoms of alcoholic beverage intoxication and spontaneously told the officers that he had recently “chugged ½ pint of E&J brandy. The officers escorted him to a nearby hotel but due to his obvious intoxicated state, the hotel clerk refused him a room. Due to his level of intoxication and the fact he could not care for his own welfare, the BPD officer booked him into the BPOD Jail for violation of PC 647(F) – Drunk in Public.
BPD Snap Shots:
- Between Monday, January 30, 2012 and Thursday, February 2, 2012 at about 3:12 p.m. members of BPD managed 21 calls for service for perceived abandoned vehicles.
- Between Monday, January 30, 2012 and Thursday, February 2, 2012 at about 3:26 p.m. members of BPD made 29 pedestrian stops of individuals throughout the City of Berkeley.
- Between Monday, January 30, 2012 and Thursday, February 2, 2012 at about 4:16 p.m. members of BPD responded to 46 calls for service regarding disturbances including arguments, noise complaints, drumming, music and yelling. (just to name a few types of disturbances) throughout the City of Berkeley.
