Berkeley police detained a man after he was allegedly involved in an assault using a hammer Tuesday afternoon at around 4 p.m. in Berkeley’s Southside neighborhood.
Because the suspect fled from the original scene, officers set up a perimeter that stretched from Telegraph Avenue between Stuart and Oregon streets to Regent Street, according to police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats.
Willard Middle School on Stuart Street was put on lockdown for a short time during the incident.
Police received a 911 call at 3:44 p.m. reporting an assault with a hammer near Telegraph and Stuart.
Both the victim and the suspect were male, according to Coats, who said the victim refused medical help.
“The possible suspect fled into the block. Officers were able to talk him out of the block and detained him,” she said.
Police kept the public informed about the incident as it unfolded using its Nixle online alert system. At 4:02 p.m. it sent out an alert that advised people to avoid the Telegraph and Oregon area. It also suggested community members remain inside their homes or businesses until further notice. Sixteen minutes later, at 4:18 p.m., it sent out a second Nixle alert that said police had detained the possible suspect and that the perimeter was being released.
Find out more about Nixle and sign up to receive BPD alerts via text and/or email to stay informed about public safety issues in Berkeley.
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