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.
February 28:
Traffic Enforcement Stop leads to Drug Arrest #12-10941
City of Berkeley Police Department Drug Task Force Officers (DTF) stopped a car for a vehicle code violation on Baker Street just south of Alcatraz Avenue on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Officers contacted the driver of the car and conducted a records check which revealed that he was on Federal Probation for a narcotics offense. The driver told the officers that he had marijuana in the car. Officers conducted a probable cause search of him and his car and found 5 ounces of marijuana, a digital scale, and over $5,000 in cash. He also had pieces of mail from the I.R.S. that were not addressed to him. Officers suspected that the suspect was involved in some sort of tax return refund fraud which would be investigated further. The 29-year Oakland man was arrested and was booked into the BPD Jail for H&S 11359 – Possession For Sales, H&S 11360 Sales of Marijuana and 530.5 PC – Identity Theft.
DUI Arrest –Addison and 5th Streets -#2012-10876
A 43-year old Berkeley driving a Ford Ranger was stopped by a BPD officer for failing to stop at a stop sign on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 2:05 a.m. The patrol officer pulled the car over at Addison and Fifth Streets. When the officer talked to the driver, the officer immediately noted that this driver displayed objective symptoms of impairment that included bloodshot eyes, flushed face, thick/deliberate speech and a strong odor that the officer associated with an alcoholic beverage. The driver failed to successfully complete several Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) and, in a breath test, the driver blew over the legal limit on a Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) device. Based on the officer’s observations of the man driving, objective symptoms of impairment, his performance of the FSTs and PAS results, the BPD officer arrested the driver for violation of VC 23152(a) – Driving Under the Influence and booked him into the BPD Jail.
Robbery, 2300 Block of College Avenue, #12-09867
BPD has recently advised UCPD of two robberies that occurred on February 23, 2012. The first robbery, a strong arm, occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. on the 2300 block of College. The victim, a 30-year old female, was walking alone when she was approached by a male suspect who robbed her of her purse. The victim was not injured during the encounter. BPD searched the area but was unable to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as: A Black male in his 20s, with a slim to medium build, a dark complexion, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and jeans.
Robbery, 2300 Block of Dwight Way, #12-10079
At approximately 8:20 p.m. a robbery occurred on the 2300 block of Dwight Way. The 19-year old male victim was walking when he was approached from behind by a male suspect on a bicycle who robbed him of his cell phone. The victim was not injured during the incident. BPD searched the area but was unable to locate the suspect. The suspect is described as: A Black male, 17 to 21 years of age, 5’10” in height, with a medium build wearing dark clothing.
February 29th:
Brandishing a Gun Arrest – 2400 block of Prince Street – #2012-11208
On Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at about 8:40 p.m., BPD got a 911 call from a Berkeley man who reported that his roommate pointed a gun to his head. The victim roommate fled the house and called BPD. Many BPD officers responded and got a statement from the victim a few blocks from his home. A BPD officer called into the home and spoke to the suspect on his cell phone. The BPD officer ordered him out of the home. The suspect, a man in his 50s, complied and came outside. Officers conducted a safety sweep of the premise for additional victims/suspects and found none. In plain sight, BPD officers saw semi-automatic pistol on a bed in one of the bedrooms. The suspect signed a consent form for a search and officers were able to seize the gun as evidence. The victim signed a private person’s arrest (aka citizen’s arrest) for brandishing. The suspect was arrested and booked into the BPD jail for violation of 417(a)(2) PC.
Attempted Residential Burglary – 2400 block of College Avenue – #2012-11056
On Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at about 1:34 a.m., a 20 year old Berkeley woman called BPD 911 to report hearing footsteps on the roof of her apartment which is on the top floor of her apartment complex in the 2400 block of College Avenue. As she awaited police and listened on, she heard an unknown suspect jump onto her balcony and attempt to open her bedroom door. The suspect fled before the BPD officers arrived. Officers did area checks inside and outside the apartment building and neighborhood but did not locate any suspicious individuals. The victim was able to provide a very vague description of the suspect – an unknown race/gender suspect with a dark hoodie. The BPD beat officer documented the incident it as an attempted burglary.
Counterfeit Bill Passed/Fraud – 2400 block of Ashby Avenue – #2012 – 11141
On Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at about 2:10 p.m., the assistant manager of the gift shop inside Alta Bates Hospital called regarding a crime report. A BPD officer responded and learned that the employee was counting the proceeds from the shop register and noted a counterfeit $20 bill in among the other money. When she felt it, she told the officer, she “knew it was fake” and that, upon further investigation, she observed that the bill did not have the trademark watermark that is supposed to show when held up to the light. The officer documented the PC476 case and seized the bill as evidence.
Snapshots of what your BPD officers are doing:
- Between Monday, February 27, 2012 at 6:30 a.m. and Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:47 a.m., BPD officers responded, investigated and documented 11 stolen vehicles throughout the city.
- Between Monday, February 27, 2012 at 10:34 a.m. and Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:56 p.m., BPD officers detained 27 suspicious individuals throughout the city. The individuals are identified, run on computer systems for wants, warrants, parole, probation, missing person and restraining order statuses. Several stops led to arrests.
- Between Monday, February 27, 2012 at 1:11 a.m. and Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11:47 a.m, BPD responded, investigated and documented 11 non injury hit and run vehicle collisions.