Police have detained one man after he reportedly challenged officers to a confrontation in South Berkeley on Friday morning.
Berkeley Police Officer Ethell Wilson, a department spokesman, said a man dialed 911 at 8:50 a.m. asking for police to come to his location in the 1600 block of Woolsey Street.
“The caller asked the BPD Dispatcher to send the police and bring their guns, and made statements that nothing was going to stop him,” said Wilson by email. “A distraught female’s voice could be heard in the background crying asking him to stop.”
Dispatchers also heard what sounded like it may have been a struggle between the individuals, as well as yelling.
Officers immediately responded to Woolsey, between California and King streets, and secured the area, given what Wilson described as “the potential hostage situation.”
(A neighborhood resident initially alerted Berkeleyside to the incident, after seeing “Cops everywhere, guns, camo,” and asked for help to determine what was going on.)
A police Special Response Team negotiator was able to call the woman, who was inside the house, on her cellphone, Wilson said.
She initially told the negotiator the man was asleep. Police told her to come outside to meet with officers on the scene.
“Moments later, both occupants inside the residence came to the door,” said Wilson.
They followed police instructions and officers detained the man without further incident.
No one was injured during the encounter.
The home was secured and an investigation is ongoing, Wilson said. No further information was available, as officers continue to work on the case.
Read more Berkeley crime news.
Related:
Police serve search warrants, make arrests in Berkeley (03.06.15)
Police find empty house after reported hostage call (02.21.15)
Always on call: Inside the Berkeley Police dispatch center (09.24.14)
Update: Berkeley standoff over; man surrenders (08.06.14)
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