This overview of recent crime in Berkeley is based on reports to the Berkeley Police unless otherwise noted. Please share photos, videos and tips, about breaking news or neighborhood safety issues, via email at crime@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook or Twitter; let us know if you prefer anonymity. Don’t assume someone else will alert us — you may be the only one to get in touch. We want to know about issues of concern and rely on readers to help us stay informed.
From Nov. 5-11, there were reports of five robberies, 20 burglaries, 10 assaults or batteries, one weapon-involved call and one sexual assault, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also 11 stolen vehicles, 12 disturbances and 22 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. A robbery, a sex crime and a weapons call were reported by the University of California Police Department (UCPD). Click the links for the latest numbers. The following items represent a sampling of calls, and times may be approximate; incidents that took place during a range of time are listed unless otherwise noted by the beginning of that time period.
Thursday, Nov. 5
Three vehicles were stolen: at 1:45 a.m. in the 900 block of University Avenue; at 2 a.m. at Sixth and Harrison streets; and at 7 p.m. at Seventh Street. and Allston Way.
There was a disturbance at 7 a.m. in the 1500 block of Bancroft Way.
There were three home burglaries: at 8:45 a.m. in the 2700 block of Regent Street; at 12:15 p.m. in the 1400 block of Ordway Street; and at 1:52 p.m. in the 1200 block of Rose Street.
In the Regent Street incident, police responded at about 9:32 a.m., for a report of a “hot prowl” burglary, which had been interrupted by a resident coming home, said Officer Byron White, a Berkeley Police spokesman. The suspect was described as a black man in his 40s wearing dark clothing, and carrying a television and a guitar. Officers responding to the area noticed a blue sedan driven by a man with a similar description, whose trunk was hanging open, eastbound on Derby Street. The officer tried to pull the man over, but he sped off southbound on College Avenue. One witness told Berkeleyside the driver “drove straight at bus, jumped curb, plowed through yards!” Officers lost sight of the vehicle after Ashby Avenue. The case remains under investigation.
During a large rally and march by Berkeley High students in response to a racist statement found at the library, there were multiple reports of phone thefts downtown, community members told Berkeleyside. The crowd was estimated to include more than 700 students and the event was described as well-organized, focused and peaceful. However, police later confirmed that one Cal student was walking near Shattuck and Allston when an unidentified suspect approached her from behind and stole her iPhone from her hand. The suspect was last seen fleeing down into the BART station, said BPD. A female BHS student also had her phone stolen from her hand by a fellow student, according to a report from a BHS mom who said she heard of “up to 10 phones” stolen on walkout day. BPD Officer Stephanie Polizziani checked the calls for service that day and noticed nothing “out of the ordinary,” she told Berkeleyside. “Looks like no robberies, a few thefts, and a few grand thefts.”
UCPD cited a 43-year-old man for possession of a knife, with a blade longer than 3 inches, in People’s Park at 3:33 p.m.
There was a commercial burglary at 5 p.m. in the 3000 block of Telegraph Avenue.
Friday, Nov. 6
UCPD reported a robbery via knife at about 12:30 a.m. at the north end of Spieker Plaza, between the Zellerbach Playhouse and Haas Pavilion, north of Bancroft Way. A 25-year-old male student was walking when two men approached him. One displayed a knife and demanded the student’s property. He complied and the robbers ran from the area. Police were unable to find them. They were both described as black, 25-30 years old, tall with medium builds and dark complexions. They were both wearing black beanie caps and black hooded sweatshirts and jeans. The man with the knife appeared to be about 6 feet tall, and his accomplice looked about 5 feet 9 inches tall. (This item first appeared in an earlier blotter for timeliness.)
There was a robbery at 2:15 a.m. at University and Ninth Street.
There were two disturbance calls, at 6 a.m. in the 3000 block of Bateman Street, and at 11:20 p.m. in the 2800 block of College Avenue.
There was a home burglary at noon in the 1000 block of Cragmont Avenue.
There was a commercial burglary at 6 p.m. in the 1500 block of Le Roy Avenue.
There was a felony assault or battery at 7:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of Haste Street.
There was a second-response call at 10:59 p.m. in the 2700 block of Haste.
A vehicle was stolen at 11 p.m. in the 1200 block of Hopkins Street.
Saturday, Nov. 7
Police responded at about 1:40 a.m. to multiple calls of loud reports: from the 3000 block of Shattuck Avenue, Stuart and California streets, the 3000 block of Deakin Street, and Prince and Fulton streets. Officers searched the area and did not find anything, said Officer White.
There were two disturbance calls, at 3:35 a.m. in the 2500 block of Dwight Way, and at 4:01 a.m. in the 1800 block of Bonita Avenue.
There was a home burglary at 1:50 p.m. in the 300 block of Canyon Road.
There was a call involving firearms at 3:27 p.m. in the 2200 block of Bonar Street. Police arrested two men on suspicion of firearm-related violations during a music video shoot. Read more on Berkeleyside.
There was a commercial burglary at 5 p.m. in the 2500 block of Durant Avenue.
BPD responded at about 5:25 p.m. to a traffic collision involving three vehicles on Fulton Street and Bancroft Way. Said Officer White: One driver failed to stop for the southbound red light on Fulton and broadsided a vehicle that had been westbound on Bancroft. The driver, due to inertia, then hit a vehicle parked on the south side of Bancroft below Fulton Street. Injuries were listed as minor, including complaints of pain, White said.
There was a felony assault or battery at 7:55 p.m. in the 3000 block of Dohr Street.
Sunday, Nov. 8
There were two home burglaries, at 1:41 a.m. in the 1200 block of Blake Street, and at 5 a.m. in the 2300 block of Parker Street.
There was a felony sexual assault at 5:25 a.m. in the 2000 block of Center Street. Police arrested Andris Jackson, 28, on suspicion of assault to commit mayhem. He has been charged and is being held on a bail of $100,000 at Santa Rita Jail. He was scheduled to enter a plea Friday, Nov. 20. Berkeleyside has requested additional information from authorities.
Said Officer White, shortly after publication: Officers responded to 2050 Center St. on a report of a woman screaming. At the scene, officers learned that she was sitting in an alcove in front of the Berkeley City College when the suspect came over to her. “Without notice, the suspect attacked the victim — throwing her to the ground and trying to remove her clothing.” When she yelled for help, two passers-by came over and scared the suspect away. They continued to chase the suspect east on Center Street toward the downtown BART station. BART police officers who happened to be at the station quickly took custody of the suspect, and turned him over to BPD.
There was a commercial burglary at 5:32 a.m. in the 2400 block of Durant Avenue.
There was a robbery at 9:15 a.m. in the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue.
There was a crash at 11:47 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Ashby involving a Toyota Prius and a pedestrian who was injured, with a possible broken leg. No further information was immediately available from BPD, said Officer White.
There was a disturbance call at 2:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of University.
Three vehicles were stolen: at 4 p.m. in the 600 block of Gilman Street; at 6 p.m. in the 2200 block of Oregon Street; and at 10:45 p.m. in the 2300 block of Piedmont Avenue.
UCPD responded at 4:35 p.m. to the 1000 block of Sixth Street, in Albany’s University Village, for a report of a sex crime, which is under investigation. No further information was provided.
Monday, Nov. 9
Two vehicles were stolen, at 4 a.m. in the 3200 block of Claremont Avenue, and at 8 p.m. on Stuart Street (no block listed).
There were two home burglaries, at 7:45 a.m. in the 2100 block of Emerson Street, and at 8 p.m. in the 1700 block of 10th Street.
There was a robbery at 10:53 a.m. in the 1000 block of University.
There was a commercial burglary at 12:08 p.m. in the 1600 block of University.
There were three disturbance calls: at 2:04 p.m. in the 2400 block of Stuart; at 3 p.m. in the 300 block of Northampton Avenue; and at 4:15 p.m. at 10th and Allston Way.
UCPD arrested two people after an incident at about 9 p.m. at Center and Oxford streets in downtown Berkeley. Police arrested 19-year-old Sade Sweetwyne on suspicion of resisting arrest and attempting to escape from an officer, and 27-year-old Rory Williams on suspicion of resisting arrest, possession of a blunt force weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon and probation violation. They were taken to Berkeley Jail for booking.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
There were two home burglaries, at 1 a.m. in the 2400 block of Prospect Street, and at 7:15 a.m. in the 3200 block of California Street.
There were two disturbance calls, at 3:38 p.m. in the 2800 block of Woolsey Street, and at 5 p.m. in the 1400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
There was a robbery at 5 p.m. at Shattuck Avenue and Center Street.
A thief stole a multicolored Bontrager brand women’s bike, valued at $500, while it was cable locked at the North Berkeley BART station between 8:20 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., said the BART Police.
There was a felony assault or battery at 10:07 p.m. in the 2200 block of Bonar.
Wednesday, Nov. 11
There was a commercial burglary at 3:03 a.m. in the 2400 block of Sacramento Street.
At about 5:50 a.m., BPD officers assisted the Berkeley Fire Department with traffic control as firefighters handled a report of smoke coming from a back stairwell of a building in the 1900 block of Alcatraz Avenue, said Officer White. The Berkeley Fire Department did not respond to a request for information about the incident.
There were three home burglaries: at 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of University; at 5:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Bancroft Way; and at 6 p.m. in the 600 block of Cragmont.
There was a robbery at 3:43 p.m. in the 1800 block of Fourth Street. It came in over the police scanner as a robbery via knife at the Apple store. No further information was immediately available.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 7 p.m. in the 2100 block of Derby Street, and at 8 p.m. at Delaware and Eighth streets.
Other notable items
UCPD announced, in a brief statement Friday, that it is investigating a sexual assault and kidnapping Thursday, Nov. 19. The victim told UCPD she was “abducted from Central Campus and driven to an unknown location where she was sexually assaulted.” Police found the victim after she was released on the morning of Nov. 20, “and are conducting an investigation.” Police said no suspect information was provided. No additional information was released, but authorities ask anyone who may know more about the incident to call the University of California Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at 510-642-0472 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 510-642-6760 at all other times. Read more on Berkeleyside.
The Alameda County district attorney’s office says it has not yet filed charges in what police said was an attempted homicide of a 16-year-old in southwest Berkeley last weekend. As of Tuesday, the victim was in critical but stable condition after being taken to the hospital with what appeared to be severe head trauma. Police arrested six teenage males: four 18- and 19-year-olds, as well as a 15- and a 17-year-old. The adults have now been released from custody. No information was available about the juveniles due to privacy laws protecting minors. DA’s office spokeswoman Teresa Drenick said Thursday that the incident remains under investigation by the Berkeley Police Department. Said Officer Byron White, police ultimately released Emauj Roos, Aaron Meredith and Caleb Williams “without complaint”: “As a result of further investigation into the case, we did not find sufficient evidence to hold three of the adult arrestees.” The other teenager, 18-year-old Berkeley High School student Danari Williams, was released after the DA’s office declined to pursue charges at this time.
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, and UCPD crime alerts. 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:
Teen in critical condition after group attack in Berkeley (11.18.15)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, 10/29-11/4 (11.16.15)
Male sustains serious head injury after fight; 6 arrested (11.15.15)
Police arrest 2 after Bonar music video shoot (11.12.15)
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