The 2021 Berkeley gunfire map
Berkeley has had at least 37 confirmed gunfire calls in 2021. Last year at this time, there had been 32.
Crime & Safety
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Top Stories
Police: Driver arrested after shooting at motorist in the Claremont district
Police have not said what may have prompted the gunfire. BPD told Berkeleyside the investigation is ongoing.
City grapples with housing crisis, fire danger as it writes rules for ADUs in hills
New state laws require swift approval for many ADU projects. Should those rules be more strict in areas facing wildfire risk?
Berkeley man charged after domestic violence stabbing on Hearst Avenue
Yarman Smith has convictions for pimping a minor and possession of child pornography that sent him to prison in 2013, according to court papers.
Charges filed after armed robbery Tuesday morning in the Berkeley Hills
The robbers jumped into a getaway car and left, but a police officer on patrol spotted them before they could escape.
First Person: I worked 36 straight hours at the Alta Bates burn center during the Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm
Thomas Appleton writes about how Alta Bates staff treated dozens of burned patients while watching the fire approach the hospital.
Policing
New police oversight board now has broader powers for misconduct inquests
In July, the city’s new Police Accountability Board kicked off, replacing the longstanding Police Review Commission, which was formed in 1973.
Berkeley looks at $7M earmark for expanded mental health services
Most of the money is for a new Specialized Care Unit that would respond instead of armed police to people in crisis.
Plans firm up to remove police from traffic stops, but it’s a long road ahead
State law does not currently allow civilian traffic enforcement, but Berkeley is working to change that.
Survey: Help shape ‘new paradigm of public safety’ in Berkeley
Now is the time to have your say about what policing in Berkeley should look like — especially if you’re not big on public meetings.
Berkeley leaders demand more data about ‘militaristic’ police equipment
Data about where police use rifles, launchers and other “controlled” equipment will now be public. Officials said it’s a matter of racial justice.
Police should track mental health, homeless calls better, new audit says
The 80-page analysis — the first known assessment of its kind — was published Thursday by city auditor Jenny Wong.
Homicide
Family still grieves after Berkeley killing: ‘We’re nowhere near healed’
A court hearing this week was the latest reminder for Diante Craig’s family of a loss that continues to feel senseless.
Defendant in Berkeley road rage killing seeks release without bail
Hosea Askew does not dispute that he shot Diante Craig, 29, last year, but his account has shifted. Askew’s attorney says it was self-defense.
Berkeley homicide suspect who fled to Mexico in 2010 is back in jail
The Border Patrol arrested Kevin Alvarado in late July and sent him back to Alameda County to face murder charges.
$30,000 reward still on offer after Berkeley man’s unsolved killing
Patrick Demarco Scott Jr. was waiting for the bus near his Berkeley home when someone shot him repeatedly, killing him. He was on his way to see his grandmother.
Shootings
Officials vow to increase police staffing, with available officers at historic low
The pledge came amid a lengthy discussion on the annual crime report, use-of-force and police stop data, traffic collision statistics and more.
Police arrest 2 gang members, seize guns linked to Addison Street shooting
Police served simultaneous search warrants early Thursday morning in Berkeley, Santa Rosa, San Pablo and Vallejo.
Officials say security cameras could help curtail gun violence in West Berkeley
Some community members say the cameras will turn Berkeley into a “surveillance city” while others say they are sick of the violence.
Crime roundup: Prolific package thefts, gunfire arrest, ghost guns, more
Arrested or charged individuals are presumed innocent. Send tips to Berkeleyside with your public safety questions.
Oakland woman, 21, charged with domestic violence shooting in Berkeley
The shooting took place Friday just before 9:40 p.m. in the 2700 block of Acton Street.
Traffic safety
‘Ride on, Grandpa John’: A tribute to the man, 81, who died biking in Berkeley
John Carothers died doing what he loved: riding his bicycle on a sunny day, enjoying a beautiful October afternoon in the Bay Area.
Man, 81, dies of apparent natural causes after solo bike crash in Berkeley
Bystanders called for help and administered CPR until first responders arrived.
Hit-and-run crash killed man found in South Berkeley median, autopsy shows
The man’s death first appeared to have been due to a medical emergency. On Wednesday, police asked for help to find the driver who hit him.
2 drivers killed during fight over freeway crash when third man struck them
Authorities said the men had gotten out of their vehicles to argue about the collision and were standing in traffic when the other driver hit them.
Berkeley police offer $50,000 reward to help find driver from fatal hit-and-run
The vehicle was a “lowered, dark-color, mid 90’s sedan, with tinted windows (possibly a Nissan Altima),” police said.
BPD traffic officer seriously injured in crash on Sacramento Street
The driver was a teenage girl with out-of-state license plates, according to preliminary information.
Fatalities
85-year-old woman who died in South Berkeley fire was joyous and candid
Ernestine Bankston was well-dressed, sharp and had a bright mind.
In brief
Woman who died in Berkeley apartment fire is identified
Ernestine Bankston, 85, was identified as the victim in the early morning fire, the coroner’s office reported.
Man struck in Berkeley crosswalk in alleged DUI crash has died, police say
“It hasn’t hit me yet,” his daughter told Berkeleyside this week. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”
Fires
Listen: Remembering the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm
To mark the fire’s 30th anniversary, we produced a 30-minute podcast looking back at the historic blaze that forever changed how the East Bay looks at wildfires.
The Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm incinerated my house 30 years ago
When Gary and I moved from Ithaca, New York, back to the Bay Area in 1990 and looked for a house, the threat of fire never crossed my mind.
A lesson in how to escape wildfire by foot in the Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association held an educational “Escape from the Hills” event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Oakland-Berkeley Hills Firestorm.
Crime trends
‘Alarming’ crime uptick brings local leaders together for Zoom town hall
“We must employ a variety of tactics to deter, intervene and investigate crimes,” West Berkeley Councilmember Terry Taplin said during Wednesday’s Zoom.
Cyclists report armed robberies of bikes while riding in the East Bay hills
“Our community needs to be made aware,” said a cyclist who asked to remain anonymous because the investigation is underway.
Police investigate robbery series that started in mid-March
Berkeley Police Chief Jen Louis said detectives have “some very promising investigative leads” and that she’s put extra officers on patrol.
Annual crime report sees shootings rise for the third straight year
The 2020 Berkeley crime report shows that shootings have risen as other crimes have dropped.
Berkeleyside interactive maps: Cyclist and pedestrian injury crashes in 2019
In recent weeks, Berkeleyside has been crunching the numbers for 11 months of injury-crash data from the Berkeley police. We’ve created interactive maps and pulled out highlights. Dive into the data.
Sex crimes
Police: Man posing as cop with gun ‘demanded a hug’ from Berkeley girl
Police are asking for the community’s help to identify the man and have released two brief videos from the incident Sept. 29.
Berkeley High alum, 19, posted stolen nude photos of underage girls online, police say
Police said Liam Burgmann also amassed more than 100 child pornography videos of youth between 3 and 12 years old.
A haunting photo led this yearbook teacher to uncover alleged sexual assaults at Berkeley High
Last March, Genevieve Mage saw a 2003 yearbook photo of her colleague Matthew Bissell inappropriately hugging a 17-year-old student. She couldn’t let it go.
Suit claims former Berkeley High teacher sexually assaulted students for years, district covered it up
Shortly before the suit was filed, a district Title IX investigation found that former chemistry teacher and football coach Matthew Bissell engaged in a years-long pattern of inappropriate behavior.
Assaults
Police: Man with knife shatters window at Bobby G’s Pizzeria, scares patrons
The man hurled two rocks, shattering the window and injuring a man’s shoulder, before he was arrested, police said.
Man charged with attempted sexual assault of UC Berkeley student
Gabriel Jordan is also facing separate rape charges from a 2019 attack in Oakland.
Berkeley crime log: Gunfire, Monterey Market carjacking attempt, more
Police are investigating an attempted carjacking outside Monterey Market, gunfire on Sacramento Street, and the violent attempted robbery of a dog during a walk on Channing Way.
Wanted man arrested after car chase; other stops net guns and drugs
Police reported several felony arrests this week and Berkeleyside also received multiple inquiries about an arrest Thursday night.
Disaster preparedness
Berkeley to Nixle users: Sign up now for AC Alert if you haven’t already
Berkeley will no longer funnel messages from AC Alert to Nixle to prevent redundant messages and confusion, the city announced.
How seniors and people with disabilities can prepare for wildfires
Issues with mobility, hearing, vision, frailty and intellectual or developmental disabilities make emergency preparedness more challenging. Preparation can help and may save lives.
East Bay park district disputes fire agency’s effort to dictate wildfire management policy
The Moraga-Orinda Fire District has cited the East Bay Regional Park District for code violations, but does it have authority to do so?
How to defend your Berkeley home from wildfire
How do you protect your property? What does the law require? What help is available? What if you rent? What do you need to know about fire insurance?
Recent stories
Armed man charged with felony threats, domestic violence after attack on woman
Police seized three shotguns and two handguns from the man’s home on University Avenue, authorities report.
Men ‘flashed’ gun at Berkeley High students Friday, then left campus
The men were “looking for a particular student,” according to an email BHS Principal Juan Raygoza sent to the school community Friday night.
Berkeley traffic stops net guns, drugs; 3 arrested
Berkeley police have confiscated more than 80 guns this year.
