This overview of recent crime in Berkeley is based on reports to the Berkeley Police unless otherwise noted. Please don’t hesitate to share photos, videos or tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at tips@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook or Twitter; let us know if you prefer to be anonymous. Don’t assume someone else will alert us — we value your eyes and ears, and you may be the only one to get in touch.
From Feb. 5-11, there were reports of three robberies, 23 burglaries, 18 assaults or batteries, no weapon-involved calls and no sexual assaults, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also 18 stolen vehicles, 23 disturbances and 25 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. Significant incidents from the University of California Police Department (UCPD) included two assaults and a stolen vehicle. These numbers are subject to change. Click the links for the latest numbers. The following items represent a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate.
Thursday, Feb. 5
There were two home burglaries, at 11 a.m. in the 1000 block of University Avenue, and at 9 p.m. in the 1300 block of Bonita Avenue.
There were two disturbances, at 1:20 p.m. at Telegraph Avenue and Oregon Street, and at 5:23 p.m. in the 2700 block of Hillegass Avenue.
Police arrested 31-year-old Quincy Mason on a warrant for vehicle theft and other violations. He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail and was scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Feb. 19. He is ineligible for bail because he was already under law enforcement supervision. Police also arrested Vanessa Rascon, 35, in connection with the same case. She remains in custody with a bail of $200,000 and was set for a pre-trial hearing Thursday, Feb. 19. She has been charged with vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, forgery and identity theft, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department.
There were four vehicles stolen: at 4:40 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the 2000 block of Dwight Way; at 9 p.m. in the 1400 block of Dwight; and at 9 p.m. in the 2100 block of Spaulding Avenue.
There was a commercial burglary at 7:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of Oxford Street.
There were two felony assaults or batteries, at 8:49 p.m. in the 2200 block of Bonar Street, and at 11 p.m. in the 2900 block of King Street. Regarding the Bonar Street incident, the Berkeley Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls of possible gunshots in the area of Bancroft Way and Bonar. There were no injuries reported but someone shot through a window of an apartment. Read more on Berkeleyside.
Police arrested a 56-year-old man shortly before midnight on suspicion of attempted homicide in what appears to have been an incident of domestic violence. The incident took place in the 2900 block of King Street in South Berkeley, between Russell Street and Ashby Avenue. Read more on Berkeleyside.
Friday, Feb. 6
There was a commercial burglary at 12:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Durant Avenue.
There were three disturbance calls: at 12:40 a.m. in the 2000 block of Woolsey Street; at 2:26 p.m. in the 700 block of University Avenue; and at 3:36 p.m. in the 1700 block of Rose Street.
There were two armed robberies, at 1:35 a.m. in the 2800 block of College Avenue, and at 10:45 a.m. in the 2700 block of College. Police arrested two men they say confessed to both robberies — as well as a third one at an El Cerrito fast food shop — over a period of about 10 hours Friday. Read more on Berkeleyside.
There were three vehicles stolen: at 2 a.m. in the 1100 block of Carleton Street; at 2 p.m. in the 2200 block of Blake Street; and at 9:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of Dwight Way.
UCPD arrested Toby Kessler, 29, on suspicion of criminal threats, a felony, and two misdemeanors at 8:45 a.m. Location information was not available. Kessler remains in custody and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing March 2, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department.
There were three home burglaries: at 1 p.m. in the 1500 block of Russell Street; at 1:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of McGee Avenue; and at 4:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of Merced Street..
Saturday, Feb. 7
A vehicle was stolen at midnight at Addison and 10th streets.
There were four home burglaries: at 10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Josephine Street; at 11:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Milvia Street; at noon in the 900 block of Camelia Street; and at 2:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of Edith Street.
There were two disturbance calls — at 5:20 p.m. in the 1700 block of Alcatraz Avenue, and at 7:22 p.m. in the 1900 block of Sixth Street — and two “second response” calls, both at 11:48 p.m. in the 2200 block of Parker Street.
Just after 6 p.m., Berkeley officers were dispatched to an injury collision near Russell Street and Claremont Avenue. According to Officer Jennifer Coats, Berkeley Police spokeswoman, “It was reported the collision occurred between a vehicle and a motorcycle. The motorcyclist was traveling west on Russell Street and it appears the vehicle was traveling east on Russell Street and turned left into the motorcyclist’s path causing the collision. The motorcyclist complained of pain, but declined to be transported to the hospital. The other driver was not injured.”
There was a robbery at 9:52 p.m. in the 3300 block of California Street.
There was a felony assault or battery at 10:43 p.m. in the 2700 block of Bancroft Way.
Sunday, Feb. 8
There was a home burglary at midnight in the 2200 block of Ward Street.
There was a second response call at 1:44 a.m. in the 1900 block of Milvia.
There was a vehicle stolen at 3:15 a.m. at Fifth Street and Allston Way.
There were two disturbance calls, at 7:45 a.m. in the 2700 block of California Street, and at 5:10 p.m. in the 2500 block of Telegraph Avenue.
There was a commercial burglary at 4:37 p.m. in the 1900 block of Ashby Avenue. Police arrested Brittney Noble, 28, on suspicion of second-degree burglary and committing a felony while on bail. She is no longer in custody.
Monday, Feb. 9
There were four disturbance calls: at 8 a.m. in the 3000 block of Colby Street; at 8:27 a.m. in the 1800 block of Rose Street; at 9 a.m. in the 2900 block of Claremont Avenue; and at noon at Ashby and San Pablo avenues.
There were three home burglaries: at 8:15 a.m. in the 1700 block of Virginia Street; at 7:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Curtis Street; and at 11 p.m. in the 1700 block of Woolsey Street.
There was a commercial burglary at 7:04 p.m. in the 2900 block of College Avenue.
UCPD received a report about the theft of a white 1995 four-door Honda Civic from the Lower Hearst parking structure, at Hearst and Scenic avenues. Berkeley police reported that two other vehicles also were stolen, at 8 p.m. in the 1000 block of Cedar Street, and at 10 p.m. in the 2400 block of Blake Street.
There was a felony assault or battery at 10 p.m. in the 1800 block of Shattuck Avenue.
Tuesday, Feb. 10
There were three home burglaries: at 12:01 a.m. in the 2700 block of College Avenue; at 10:15 a.m. in the 1600 block of Bancroft Way; and at 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Cornell Avenue.
There were three disturbance calls — at 12:40 a.m. in the 1900 block of San Pablo; at 9:43 a.m. in the 2700 block of College; and at 4:43 p.m. in the 2400 block of Jefferson Avenue — and a second response call, at 12:46 a.m. in the 2700 block of Dwight.
At about 10:40 a.m., police responded to the David Brower Center, at 2150 Allston Way, for a report of a suspicious letter. Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said by email that, during the investigation, police learned the letter possibly contained “a powder-like substance.” The Berkeley Fire Department responded to assist as well. Authorities ultimately determined the substance was narcotics. Coats said the letter had been mailed to a company that does not work out of the Brower Center. “The narcotics were removed from the premises and booked into BPD’s Property Room,” said Coats. “We are still looking into this matter, the investigation continues.”
There was a felony assault or battery at 10:55 a.m. at Milvia and Center streets.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 7 p.m. in the 2900 block of Ellsworth Street, and at 8 p.m. in the 1400 block of Oregon Street.
There was a commercial burglary at 7 p.m. in the 2800 block of Telegraph Avenue.
UCPD arrested 28-year-old David Jimenez, spelled elsewhere as Jiminez, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in Unit 2, at 2650 Haste St., at 10:14 p.m. The weapon was identified as a skateboard. He was booked into Berkeley Jail. Jiminez remains in custody with a bail of $30,000 at Santa Rita Jail and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Feb. 25.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
There were three disturbance calls: at 6:25 a.m. in the 2300 block of Ninth Street; at 9:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of Hillegass Avenue; and at 4:16 p.m. in the 2000 block of Addison Street. In the last incident, an attempt to arrest an agitated man drew at least 10 officers to Shattuck Avenue and Addison Street, according to authorities. Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said police were initially called for a report of a man who was “ranting, and appeared extremely agitated.” Officers tried to speak with the man, Coats said, but he “became agitated and took a fighting posture towards the officers.” Officers tried to detain him and he became “physically combative … and resisted their attempts to take him safely into custody.” Watch a video of the incident and read more about the case on Berkeleyside.
Five vehicles were stolen: at 9:20 a.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive; at 5 p.m. in the 200 block of Marina Boulevard; at 8 p.m. in the 1800 block of Sonoma Avenue; at 8:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Hearst Avenue; and at 10 p.m. in the 1500 block of Eighth Street.
Two homes were burglarized, at 10 a.m. in the 2200 block of Roosevelt Avenue, and at 10:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of Ashby. According to Officer Jennifer Coats, Berkeley Police spokeswoman, officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a home on Ashby: “The caller reported two subjects entering the property. As officers arrived they observed the subjects attempting to flee the area. Officers pursued the subjects and were able to detain them.” Police arrested a 15-year-old San Leandro boy as well as Omari White, 18, of Berkeley on suspicion of second-degree burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The juvenile’s name was not released due to privacy laws protecting minors. (Berkeleyside first reported this incident on Facebook on Feb. 11.)
Police arrested Jon Baker, 24, at 11 a.m. on a warrant for second-degree burglary in connection with a 2014 case. Baker remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $50,000, and was scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Thursday, Feb. 19.
A BART officer responded to the Ashby BART station at about 3:25 p.m. for a report of a battery suspect seen on a train. Prior to the arrival of police, the man was shouting at and threatening other passengers. When the man saw the officer, he became resistive, police said. He attempted to evade police by walking from one BART car to another. He ultimately was taken into custody after a brief physical struggle, according to police. His name was not released but he was booked on suspicion of resisting arrest. The victim of the battery did not want to file a complaint, according to a police statement. (Berkeleyside first reported this incident on Twitter.)
UCPD arrested Nicholas Rossi, 22, at 3:31 p.m. in the 600 block of Kinkead Way in Albany on suspicion of domestic violence with corporal injury and destroying a phone to prevent the summons of emergency services. Rossi was taken to Santa Rita Jail. He is no longer in custody.
Other recent incidents
Police arrested three teenagers after a strong-arm robbery and car crash at UC Berkeley on Friday, Feb. 13. According to a statement released by UCPD, there was a robbery at 11:50 p.m. at Milvia and Haste streets. The female victim was walking when two males forcibly took her property. They were seen getting into a white pickup truck. About 10 minutes later, Berkeley police officers saw a white truck speeding the wrong way down Dana Street. The driver crashed in the Dwinelle parking lot, hitting several barriers and a bench. The occupants fled but they were spotted by a UCPD security officer near University Drive. Police detained the trio, and identified them as 18-year-old Bryan Escobedo, 19-year-old Alejandro Martinez-Vega and a 17-year-old boy whose name was not released due to privacy laws protecting minors. Neither man appears to be in custody any longer, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department’s online records system.
See the Berkeley Police Department’s crime reports on CrimeMapping.com. See the list of calls to UC Police at Berkeley, which are also posted in brief on CrimeMapping. See also Local Crime News’ regularly published list of arrests of Berkeley residents. Other sources of information on crime in Berkeley include the Police Department’s CrimeView Community and CrimeMapping.com. The Berkeley Police Department also posts “calls for service” spreadsheets — containing more data — online for those who would like to see more. New reports may be added to CrimeMapping in an unpredictable manner, so numbers may increase in the days after this report. This post does not reflect every call. See recent Berkeley crime blotters here.
Related:
UC Berkeley student charged after alleged sexual assault on fraternity brother (02.19.15)
Update: Missing man found safe in Oakland (02.17.15)
Police link Berkeley felon to 6 gas station robberies (02.17.15)
Cluster of police arrest resistant homeless man (video) (02.13.15)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, 1/29-2/4 (02.12.15)
Berkeley City Council limits police tear gas use, for now (02.11.15)
Pair arrested in Berkeley after armed robbery spree (02.10.15)
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