The following items represent just a sampling of calls, and were selected by the Berkeley Police Department unless otherwise noted. Click to see past narratives from police, and Berkeleyside’s most recent compilation of calls for service. See the most recent “calls for service” spreadsheet from the Berkeley Police.
April 20, Saturday: Police arrested Keith Whittaker, 46, after responding to the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way for a report of a male and female fighting. Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said, via email in response to a Berkeleyside request, that police who responded to the call spoke with Whittaker as well as a 29-year-old Berkeley woman. Coats said the man and woman, who had previously been involved in a relationship, had gotten into an “argument that escalated into a physical altercation, with the suspect striking the victim.” During the incident, police said Whittaker took money from the victim, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury when he struck her. Whittaker was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence battery, robbery, grand theft from a person, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He remains in custody in Santa Rita Jail with a hearing set for May 9, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department.
April 21, Sunday: A woman who had parked her Black 1997 Honda Accord near Haste Street and College Avenue on April 15 said she found it missing at about 10 a.m. Sunday.
April 22, Monday: Someone broke into a vehicle in the 1000 block of Oxford Street sometime before 10:35 a.m. He or she prowled the vehicle but appeared to have taken nothing.
April 23, Tuesday: A man having dinner in a restaurant in the 1700 block of University Avenue put down his bag on the floor, then left afterward without remembering to pick it up. He went back inside and discovered that the bag, which contained his laptop, was missing, and had not been turned in to restaurant staff.
April 24, Wednesday: Police arrested Cleveland Chantia Braziel in connection with a March 16 home-invasion robbery in the 2000 block of University Avenue. Police said, in response to a Berkeleyside request, that Cleveland was identified through the course of their investigation as having been responsible for the robbery, in which cash and electronics were taken. Detectives sought a warrant for Braziel’s arrest, and took him into custody in Richmond at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday. He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, robbery and home-invasion robbery. Police declined to state whether there were other suspects under investigation. According to the Alameda County sheriff’s department, Braziel remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail and is set for a sentencing hearing May 30.
A woman was walking near Adeline and Woolsey streets at about 8:30 p.m. when she heard footsteps behind her, then was shoved and fell to the ground. One person grabbed her bag as she was falling. The suspects, described as 17-year-old black girls, took the bag, which contained the victim’s wallet and other items. The girls were last seen running north on Adeline. One of the girls appeared to be 5 feet 3 inches tall, 115 pounds, and was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt. The other appeared to be 5 feet 4 inches tall, 120 pounds, and was wearing all dark clothing.
April 25, Thursday: Someone broke into a home in the 40 block of Montrose Avenue between 12:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. by smashing a window. The thief stole numerous items, including a laptop.
April 26, Friday: Police arrested 44-year-old Maieasha Scott after she reportedly assaulted a 63-year-old Berkeley woman with a knife. Police spokeswoman Coats said, in response to a request from Berkeleyside, that officers responded to the 1200 block of Ashby Avenue around 11:25 p.m. for a report of an assault. Police said Scott and the victim knew each other. During an argument, police said Scott stabbed the other woman, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Scott was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and probation violation. She no longer appeared to be in custody as of May 3, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department.
A thief who apparently entered through an unlocked window stole jewelry and other items from a home in the 2000 block of Del Norte Street sometime between 3:15 and 10:15 p.m.
April 27, Saturday: A man attempting to help a driver, in what he thought was a disabled vehicle outside his home, discovered what appeared to be a thief inside his vehicle who was trying to steal it. A man was inside his home, in the 1500 block of Campus Drive, at 6:15 a.m. when he heard noises outside. He looked out and saw a vehicle stalled in the roadway; thinking it was a motorist having problems, he went outside to see if he could help. He found his own vehicle, and a man inside it who was trying to burglarize it. The suspect got into a brown SUV and fled. Police said, after further examination, it appeared the suspect was trying to steal the vehicle. The driver was described as a heavy-set Hispanic man, age 35-40, and 5 feet 10 to 6 feet tall.
April 29, Monday: The University of California Police Department announced the arrest of an 18-year-old who reportedly tried to steal a cell phone from a 23-year-old UC student. The student was walking at 10:05 p.m. in the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue, near Allston Way, while texting on his phone. Police said a teen came up to him and grabbed the phone, then took off running. The victim chased after the teen, and a UCPD officer driving a patrol car on Shattuck saw them run out into the intersection. The officer said the teen turned around and began throwing punches at the victim, then chased the victim down into the BART station. The officer followed them into the station, found the teen on the lower train platform and arrested him. The victim sustained minor injuries during the encounter. The victim’s property was recovered and returned. Police identified the thief as 18-year-old Flavio Villegas. He remains in custody, with a bail of $50,000, and is set for a pre-trial hearing May 7 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland.
The Berkeley Police Department includes this disclaimer: “Please note that these are Calls For Police Services (CFS) only and are subject to review and reclassification. Learn more about calls for service near specific locations with CrimeView Community and crimemapping.com.”
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