This overview of recent crime in Berkeley is based on reports to the Berkeley Police unless otherwise noted. Share photos, videos and tips by emailing crime@berkeleyside.com or on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t assume someone else will alert us. We rely on readers to help us stay informed.
SNAPSHOT From April 21-27, there were reports of seven robberies, nine burglaries, 13 assaults or batteries, five weapon-involved calls and one sexual assault, according to CrimeMapping.com and other BPD data. There were also 19 stolen vehicles, 12 disturbances and 28 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. One assault was reported on CrimeMapping to the University of California Police Department (UCPD); we’ve filled out the blotter with tidbits from the UCPD crime log. Arrested or charged individuals are presumed innocent. Find our April 21-27 round-up below.
Recent public safety news
A 20-year-old UC Berkeley student reported at 2:39 a.m. April 29 being the victim of extortion via the internet, UCPD said.
Someone stole a $2,000 Zeiss microscope lens from Hildebrande Hall. It was reported to UCPD on May 5 at 1:32 p.m.
BPD announced that its jail booking and arrest logs are now available to the public via the city of Berkeley’s open data portal. The portal, which went live about a year ago, makes various city data accessible to the public for analysis. (Read more about the portal in past Berkeleyside coverage.) BPD says “This open data portal will offer greater transparency by allowing members of the community the ability to look at both arrest and booking data over a 30 day period. Read the full Nixle alert.
The week in review: April 21-27
Thursday, April 21
There was a disturbance at 8 a.m. in the 2500 block of Sacramento Street.
A female student reported being the victim of “battery via coffee” at about 10 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building on campus. A man in his 60s wearing brown clothing was reported to be the culprit. No further information was provided. (This item first appeared in a prior blotter for timeliness.)
A vehicle was stolen at 11 a.m. at Addison and Acton streets.
Someone reportedly brandished a weapon at 4:15 p.m. at Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way. Police arrested a 22-year-old transient man in connection with a knife but he is no longer in custody and charges do not appear to have been filed.
Three high-school-aged students were arrested after fights broke out among youth in downtown Berkeley, authorities said. Read more on Berkeleyside.
Help improve the blotter: Send Berkeleyside neighborhood crime news.
UCPD appears to have been doing some proactive patrols at People’s Park between about 6:50 and 8 p.m. Two officers handled a handful of calls involving marijuana, smoking violations, disturbing the peace, an open container and a welfare check. The officers spoke to about six men and one woman at the park about various violations but no arrests were made. On a side note, an hour or so later, at 9:20 p.m., one of those officers handled a suspicious circumstance at Wurster Hall “regarding the display of an art project.” (This item appeared in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
There was a commercial burglary at 8:33 p.m. in the 600 block of Cedar Street.
Friday, April 22
There were two disturbance calls, both at 12:01 a.m. in the 1900 block of Center Street.
There were two robberies, at 3:20 a.m. in the 2100 block of Fourth Street, and at 8 p.m. in the 2100 block of Shattuck Avenue.
There were two calls involving weapons, at 8:18 a.m. in the 1800 block of University Avenue, and at 8:33 p.m. at Hearst Avenue and Milvia Street. Police arrested Samuel Phillips, 40, in connection with the incident on University; he was reportedly found with a knife. Phillips remains in custody, and is being held without bail on suspicion of burglary. He is scheduled for a hearing to be appointed an attorney Wednesday, according to online records from the Alameda County sheriff’s office. Police arrested a 64-year-old man with a leaded cane in connection with the other incident, but he is no longer in custody and charges do not appear to have been filed.
Five vehicles were stolen: at 2 p.m. in the 1400 block of Catherine Drive; at 2:16 p.m. in the 3100 block of Mabel Street; at 2:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Seventh Street; at 8 p.m. in the 1700 block of Carleton Street; and at 10 p.m. in the 2100 block of Carleton.
UCPD responded to Bancroft and Telegraph at 2:10 p.m. for a 41-year-old man who was “yelling at people.” No further info.
Police arrested three men after an investigation into a series of robberies that saw armed, masked perpetrators holding up a total of 23 restaurants in the Bay Area, nine of which were in Berkeley. Read more on Berkeleyside.
A thief stole a tan 1998 Honda Civic from the North Berkeley station, according to the BART Police. The theft happened between 12:50 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Saturday, April 23
There was a second-response call at 12:17 a.m. in the 2400 block of Warring Street.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 8 a.m. in the 1100 block of Francisco Street, and at 11:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Parker Street.
There was a felony assault or battery at 9 a.m. in the 1800 block of Hearst Avenue.
There was a home burglary at 10:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Harmon Street.
UCPD cited a man and woman near Moffitt Library at 5:15 p.m. for “possession of nitrous oxide with intent to inhale.”
There was a disturbance at 8:07 p.m. in the 2800 block of Eighth Street.
Sunday, April 24
BFD took an 18-year-old male UC Berkeley student by ambulance to Alta Bates because he showed signs of “alcohol related illness.” They picked him up at Unit-1 Putnam at 2:25 a.m.
There were two robberies, at 12:19 a.m. in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue, and at 9:55 p.m. in the 2100 block of Grant Street.
There were two home burglaries, at 6 p.m. in the 1300 block of Stannage Avenue, and at 9:05 p.m. in the 600 block of Addison Street.
A vehicle was stolen at 10 p.m. in the 2000 block of Fourth.
Monday, April 25
UCPD responded at 12:17 a.m. to the Moffitt Library men’s bathroom after a 25-year-old male student reported a “hate incident involving vandalism.” The case is under investigation. (This item appeared in last week’s blotter for timeliness.)
There was a robbery at 12:55 a.m. in the 2000 block of Addison. Police arrested Kaidi Clutchette, 37, on suspicion of robbery and parole violation. Clutchette has been arrested repeatedly in Berkeley. He is now being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail.
Six vehicles were stolen: at 9 a.m. in the 2200 block of Parker Street; at 9:56 a.m. in the 2900 block of Telegraph Avenue; at 5 p.m. in the 2300 block of Curtis Street; at 7 p.m. in the 2600 block of Le Conte Avenue; at 7:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of Ward Street; and at 7:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Vine Street.
At noon a 27-year-old man lost a quadcopter somewhere over the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory property, UCPD reports.
At 2:45 p.m. there was a mandated report at the Tang Center of a sexual assault, UCPD reported. (No further info.)
There was a call involving a gun or other weapon at 3:10 p.m. at Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way. Police arrested three people: Rashad Albert, 23, Deon Albert-Morgan, 19, and a woman arrested on a misdemeanor who is no longer in custody. The men are being held in connection with possession of a firearm and are scheduled to be sentenced June 2.
A 58-year-old UCB employee reported a “suspicious circumstance regarding an email” at the Valley Life Sciences Building at 3:42 p.m., reports UCPD. The case is under investigation.
There were two disturbance calls, at 5:54 p.m. in the 1100 block of Virginia Street, and at 9:12 p.m. in the 1700 block of Oregon Street.
A 41-year-old man at University Village in Albany reported possible child abuse there at about 6:15 p.m. Child Protective Services was notified. The case is under investigation, UCPD reports.
Tuesday, April 26
Three vehicles were stolen: at 6 a.m. in the 1500 block of Woolsey Street; at 8 p.m. in the 2900 block of Linden Avenue; and at 8 p.m. in the 2700 block of Piedmont Avenue.
There were three home burglaries: at 7:30 a.m. in the 600 block of Addison; at 8:59 p.m. in the 2100 block of Channing Way; and at 10 p.m. in the 2400 block of Parker.
There was a report at 7:55 a.m. at University Village, 1040 Jackson St., regarding possible child neglect, reported UCPD.
A 51-year-old man reportedly stole something worth $3.50 from King Pin Donuts, 2521 Durant Ave. at 8:30 a.m. A warrant was to be sought, UCPD reported, for trespassing and petty theft.
There were four disturbance calls: at 9:47 a.m. in the 2500 block of Telegraph Avenue; at 3 p.m. in the 1700 block of University Avenue; at 5:22 p.m. in the 1900 block of Russell Street; and at 9:03 p.m. in the 1500 block of Allston Way.
Approximately 30 residents of an apartment building on the corner of Shattuck Avenue and Delaware Street in Berkeley were displaced following a fire and subsequent water damage, according to authorities. BFD says the rough value of the damage caused by the fire and burst water pipe is $100,000. Read more on Berkeleyside.
There was a call involving a gun at 9:48 p.m. in the 1300 block of University. Police arrested Keith Wallace, 37, on suspicion of firearm possession by a felon. He is no longer in custody but is scheduled for a hearing Thursday involving a motion to have some property returned.
Wednesday, April 27
There was a disturbance call at 1:02 a.m. in the 1300 block of Bancroft Way.
There was a commercial burglary at 7 a.m. in the 1800 block of Fourth.
There were two robberies, at 7:54 a.m. at Franklin and Cedar streets, and at 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Allston.
Police responded to Willard Park, at 2530 Derby St., at about 10 a.m. for what was reported to have been an assault with a baseball bat. It turned out to have been a “Battery via head-butt between two homeless guys,” said BPD. “One needed stitches.” There was some indication from community members on the scene that a “difference of opinion” prompted the argument.
There was a misdemeanor sexual assault at 11:09 a.m. in the 2600 block of Durant Avenue.
UCPD was called for a suspicious person with a knife in the lot behind 2400 Durant.
A vehicle was stolen at 6:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of McKinley Avenue.
There was a home burglary at 9 p.m. in the 1800 block of Acton Street.
Berkeley public safety data resources
- The Berkeley Police Department incident log on CrimeMapping and CrimeView Community
- The UCPD crime log, also posted in brief on CrimeMapping, and UCPD crime alerts
- Local Crime News lists arrests of Berkeley residents (not by agency); BPD’s arrest log and booking log (new as of April 2016)
- Nixle public safety alerts, by email and text, from BPD and UCPD
- The Berkeley Police Department’s “calls for service” heat map
- BPD on Twitter: Chief Meehan, spokesman Sgt. Frankel, Officer Byron White
- See what the Berkeley Safe Neighborhoods Committee (BSNC) is up to
- Learn about what info BPD can release to the public
- Find your area coordinator to ask about neighborhood issues (but don’t forget to tip Berkeleyside, too!)
Please note: These items represent a sampling of calls; incidents that took place during a range of time are listed unless otherwise noted by the beginning of that time period. 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.
Related:
Man takes plea after beating 2 with bat at Berkeley frat (05.09.16)
Guilty verdicts in Berkeley-Oakland death penalty case (05.06.16)
9 robberies in 2 days, video of restaurant robbery, armored van grant, fall from frat roof (05.06.16)
Man held to answer in Berkeley murder, carjacking case (05.04.16)
Attorneys spar over evidence in death penalty case (05.04.16)
Police offer $10K reward in Grizzly Peak murder case (05.03.16)
Prosecutor: ‘Alaysha saw her killer’ and he saw her (05.03.16)
Emerson Elementary student finds gun, takes it to school (05.02.16)
Man charged after lewd acts with 5-year-old in Berkeley (05.02.16)
Jaywalkers beware, flyaway drone damage, pilfered postage stamps, found ammo, more (04.29.16)
UC Berkeley student arrested after fraternity rape report (04.29.16)
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