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 June 9-15, there were reports of five robberies, 23 burglaries, 17 assaults or batteries, one weapon-involved call and three sexual assaults, according to CrimeMapping.com. There were also 15 stolen vehicles, 14 disturbances and 34 auto break-ins or thefts from vehicles reported. A vehicle theft and two vandalism incidents, among other crimes, were 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 the June 9-15 round-up below several more recent items.
Recent public safety news
STOLEN CAR IN AQUATIC PARK The Berkeley Police Department put out a Nixle alert at about 2:20 p.m. Friday after an officer saw an occupied stolen Acura near North Aquatic Park, Lt. Kevin Schofield of BPD reports. The driver and passenger fled from the car. Police searched for them around Bancroft Way and Aquatic Park, but were unable to find the duo. During the search, police asked the public to stay out of the area. Police spent about 10 minutes looking before calling off the search around 2:30 p.m., according to a second Nixle alert released at that time.
SMOKING ON BART, RESISTING ARREST Police responded to the downtown Berkeley station Friday, July 1, for a woman who was “smoking on a train and creating a disturbance” at about 10:35 p.m., the BART PD reported. When the BART officer arrived, the woman refused to get off the train and physically resisted the officer, authorities said. The officer used force to get the woman off the train and take her to Santa Rita Jail. BART said that, during the booking process, the woman “kicked a female OPD Officer who was assisting in searching her. A charge of assaulting an Officer was added. The suspect was also transported for a psychological exam.” She remains in custody and is scheduled for arraignment today, July 6, on the misdemeanor violations.
BIKES STOLEN AT NORTH BERKELEY BART The BART Police got three reports of stolen bikes at the North Berkeley BART station last Thursday and Friday. All of the bikes were locked. A Trek Hybrid bike valued at $500 was stolen between 7:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. It had been locked to the bike racks with a Kryptonite lock. A Cannondale hybrid also locked to the bike racks, worth $430, was stolen between 10 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. It had been secured with a Kryptonite U-lock. A brown Lemond 12-speed road bike, locked with a cable lock at 6:30 p.m. Thursday was no longer there Friday at 9 p.m. The lock was gone, too.
CHP “EXPLORER” OPEN HOUSE The California Highway Patrol is hosting an open house Thursday, July 7, for young adults, age 15-20, who are interested in learning more about the CHP Explorer program. (Parents and guardians are also invited.) According to a notice about the event, “Explorers will have the opportunity to go through a modified training program similar to what officers go through at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento and can participate in competitions against other Explorer Posts around the United States.” Explorer program activities include ride-alongs with officers, helping with DUI checkpoints, competitions with other Explorers and medical training. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA and “in good standing with their school/work/family.” No drug or alcohol use, and no felony arrests or convictions. To RSVP or find out more, call 510-450-3821 and ask to speak to an “Explorer Advisor.” The Open House will take place at the CHP office at 3601 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland.
AFTER STABBING 2, MAN GETS 3 YEARS A Berkeley man reported to have stabbed two people in March was sentenced Friday to three years in prison, according to Bay City News. Police had said previously the March 22 attack was unprovoked. BCN reported that Chaix had been convicted last September of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury; he was on probation at the time of the stabbing. Police recommended attempted murder charges but the Alameda County district attorney’s office charged Chaix with assault with a deadly weapon. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Delucchi sentenced Chaix on Friday to three years in prison after he had recently pleaded no contest, BCN reported.
The week in review: June 9-15
Thursday, June 9
There was a commercial burglary at 3:38 a.m. in the 3200 block of College Avenue.
There were two home burglaries, at 8 a.m. in the 2700 block of Mathews Street, and at 9:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Virginia Street.
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There was a robbery at 1:10 p.m. at Haste Street and Telegraph Avenue.
PG&E and the Berkeley Fire Department responded to Durant Avenue, between Telegraph Avenue and Bowditch Street, for a gas leak. Residents were evacuated and the area was closed to all pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Berkeleyside alerted the community about the problem on Facebook. Authorities used the Nixle notification system.
A vehicle was stolen at 7:30 p.m. in the 2800 block of Forest Avenue.
Friday, June 10
Two vehicles were stolen, at 12:45 a.m. in the 800 block of Jones Street, and at 6 p.m. in the 2600 block of Channing Way.
There were two disturbance calls, at 12:50 a.m. in the 1600 block of Harmon Street, and at noon in the 2200 block of Milvia Street.
There were two felony sexual assaults, at 3 a.m. in the 1500 block of Prince Street, and at 3 p.m. in the 2600 block of Durant Avenue.
There were two commercial burglaries, at 3:37 a.m. in the 1100 block of Second Street, and at 5 p.m. in the 700 block of Hearst Avenue.
A BART officer was dispatched to conduct a welfare check on a man at the downtown Berkeley station at about 7:15 a.m. The man was found to have a $30,000 warrant for battery and a $7,500 warrant for vandalism. He was taken to Berkeley City Jail for the warrants.
There was a home burglary at 10:30 a.m. in the 2100 block of Kittredge Street.
There was a robbery at 1:45 p.m. in the 2600 block of Telegraph Avenue.
There were two felony assaults or batteries, at 3:50 p.m. in the 2200 block of Durant, and at 9:55 p.m. in the 1800 block of University Avenue.
Saturday, June 11
There was a commercial burglary at midnight in the 2300 block of Sixth Street.
There was a home burglary at 6:08 a.m. in the 1700 block of Oxford Street.
There was an arson call at 7:03 a.m. at California and Woolsey streets.
There were three disturbance calls: at 11 a.m. in the 100 block of Seawall Drive; at 5 p.m. in the 2100 block of Center Street; and at 11:15 p.m. in the 2600 block of Hillegass Avenue.
There was a robbery at 2:10 p.m. in the 2300 block of Shattuck Avenue. Police arrested 39-year-old Anthony Ellis on suspicion of robbery and other violations, according to Alameda County sheriff’s office records online. He remains in custody in connection with narcotics charges and is scheduled to be sentenced July 22.
Three vehicles were stolen: at 8:20 p.m. at Pardee and Ninth streets; at 9:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Prospect Street; and at 11 p.m. in the 2100 block of McGee Avenue.
Sunday, June 12
There was a misdemeanor sexual assault at 2 a.m. in the 2400 block of Prospect Street.
There were three vehicles stolen: at 9:30 a.m. in the 600 block of Vincente Avenue; at 8 p.m. in the 1900 block of San Antonio Avenue; and at 10:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Delaware Street.
Someone brandished a weapon at 12:40 p.m. in the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
There were three home burglaries: at 3 p.m. in the 500 block of Colusa Avenue; at 4:30 p.m. in the 2900 block of Dwight Way; and at 4:53 p.m. in the 1900 block of Marin Avenue.
A man took multiple pairs of sunglasses from a vendor at the Ashby BART flea market, then pushed the vendor to the ground and fled, the BART Police reported. The robbery happened at about 3:10 p.m. The man took the sunglasses without paying and tried to leave the booth. The vendor tried to stop him but was shoved to the ground. Authorities said the vendor was not, however, injured during the encounter. Police searched the area but could not find the robber, who was described as a black man with short black hair, 40 years old and 180-200 pounds, who was wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts. (This item appeared on an earlier blotter for timeliness.)
A security guard at the Ashby BART flea market reported a man creating a disturbance at about 4:30 p.m., BART PD said. Officers responded, detained the man and found him to be wanted on a $5,000 warrant for public intoxication. He was arrested and booked for the warrant, according to the BART Police.
Monday, June 13
Three vehicles were stolen: at 7:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Hopkins Street; at 9:25 a.m. in the 2000 block of Channing Way; and at 3:30 p.m. at McGee Avenue and Oregon Street.
There were four disturbance calls: at 8:11 a.m. in the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue; at 9:42 a.m. in the 1800 block of University; at 10:10 a.m. in the 1600 block of Arch Street; and at 3 p.m. in the 2100 block of Sixth Street.
There were three home burglaries: at 10 a.m. in the 1100 block of Derby Street; at 1 p.m. in the 2900 block of Fulton Street; and at 3 p.m. in the 1800 block of Curtis Street. Police arrested Marcus Hill, 24, in connection with the incident on Derby. He is no longer in custody, having posted bond for $75,000, and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Aug. 18, according to sheriff’s office records.
There was a robbery at 11:45 p.m. in the 1500 block of Prince Street.
Tuesday, June 14
There was a robbery at 12:01 a.m. in the 1700 block of Prince Street.
There were four home burglaries: at 12:05 a.m. in the 1500 block of Russell Street; at 10 a.m. in the 1500 block of Juanita Way; at 10 a.m. in the 1800 block of Blake Street; and at 12:30 p.m. in the 600 block of Spruce Street.
There was a disturbance call at 1:24 a.m. in the 2800 block of College Avenue.
A vehicle was stolen at 6 p.m. at McGee Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Police arrested 38-year-old Ashton Crabtree on suspicion of grand theft (over $950) in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue. He is no longer in custody but is scheduled to be sentenced July 28 at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in downtown Oakland, according to sheriff’s office records.
Wednesday, June 15
There were four disturbance calls: at 3 a.m. in the 2100 block of Kittredge Street; at 1:29 p.m. in the 2000 block of Shattuck Avenue; at 3 p.m. in the 2000 block of Center Street; and at 3 p.m. in the 500 block of Colusa Avenue.
There were four home burglaries: at 3 a.m. in the 2900 block of Dwight Way; at 9:20 a.m. in the 2000 block of Hearst Avenue; at 3 p.m. in the 2000 block of Francisco Street; and at 6:50 p.m. in the 1800 block of Curtis Street.
UCPD got a report of a vehicle stolen from University Village in Albany at 11:12 a.m.
Two vehicles were stolen, at 5 p.m. in the 2500 block of Dana Street, and at 10 p.m. in the 300 block of Rugby Avenue.
There was a commercial burglary at 5:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of Fourth 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
- Listen to the police scanner online
- 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 arrested outside Berkeley Whole Foods after brandishing knife, resisting arrest (07.05.16)
UC Berkeley student among those killed in Bangladesh terrorist attack (07.02.16)
Thief punches 94-year-old ranger at home, steals coin given to her by Obama (06.30.16)
BFD responds to vegetation fire in the hills (06.30.16)
Anonymous email threatens students after Sacramento rally tied to local teacher (06.27.16)
Male assaulted by group on Grizzly Peak Boulevard (06.26.16)
Berkeley police search area after report of man with rifle; no one found (06.26.16)
Hundreds hold vigil in Berkeley to remember Efe Ustenci (06.25.16)
Armed men rob trio on Grizzly Peak Boulevard (06.25.16)
Fundraiser, vigil planned for drowned Berkeley student (06.24.16)
Fire at former Sliderbar in downtown Berkeley (06.23.16)
Recent Berkeley High grad, 17, dies in drowning (06.23.16)
Berkeley man charged after rape attempt, death threats (06.22.16)
Car crash follows Senior Streak, confiscated swords, water rescue drill, stolen golf carts (06.22.16)
License plate readers will help parking; some express concern about privacy issues (06.22.16)
Man taken to Highland after fall into moving vehicle (06.21.16)
2 stabbed, 1 sought after dispute at Berkeley park (06.20.16)
Crime log: People’s Park rape, community fair, bank robber sentenced for murder, more (06.17.16)
Large truck overturns in Berkeley Hills; driver extricated (06.16.16)
$50,000 reward offered by FBI to find ‘prolific’ rapist, killer (06.16.16)
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