A knife-wielding man in crisis who repeatedly threatened to commit “suicide by cop” eventually agreed to be taken into custody for a medical evaluation after a standoff Wednesday.
Crisis Intervention Team
Posted inCrime & Safety
After water rescue in Berkeley, man taken for welfare check
First responders rescued a man in crisis from the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, then got him to the hospital for a welfare check and medical evaluation, authorities report.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Police use negotiators, de-escalation to end West Berkeley standoff
A five-hour standoff last week ended with a woman being taken to the hospital for medical evaluation after several disturbances at her West Berkeley home, police said.
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Police disarm suicidal prowler with knife after standoff
Police activity on Dohr and Russell on Tuesday morning: The scene as of about 10:45 a.m. Photo: Kester Allen A 50-year-old Berkeley man who threatened to kill himself as he held a knife to his throat surrendered to officers early Tuesday morning after about six hours with a police negotiator, authorities said. The standoff began in the […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Man who threatened family and Berkeley police surrenders after a three-hour standoff
A man who threatened to harm his mother and brother surrendered to police Monday after a three-hour standoff. He lived in the 1500 block of Prince St. Berkeley police spent three hours Monday negotiating with a man who had locked himself in his family’s apartment in the 1500 block of Prince Street after threatening to […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley police emphasize ‘culture of de-escalation’
Berkeley police practice de-escalation skills during a drill in the old Pyramid brewery. (The helmets they are wearing are safety gear due to the type of rounds used in the drill.) Here, officers respond to an armed bank robbery scenario. Photo: Emilie Raguso Two officers pull up to a house in Berkeley. There’s yelling coming […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Man arrested outside Berkeley Whole Foods after brandishing knife, resisting arrest
Police took a man into custody Tuesday outside Whole Foods on Gilman Street (file photo). Photo: Emilie Raguso Police took a man into custody Tuesday outside Whole Foods on Gilman Street (file photo). Photo: Emilie Raguso At least two Berkeley Police officers are seeking medical care after being injured during the arrest outside a West Berkeley grocery store of a […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Teen surrenders after baseball bat attack, police standoff
The Grove Park baseball diamond backstop. Image: Google Maps A 17-year-old male with a baseball bat who authorities say attacked another male, causing potentially life-threatening injuries, then climbed on top of the Grove Park baseball field backstop, ultimately surrendered to officers who focused on talking him down Friday afternoon. At about 12:10 p.m., according to scanner traffic reviewed […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley police chief says Tasers would help his officers
Berkeley Police Chief Meehan Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan told the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday night he believes his officers should be granted the option to carry Tasers, which are not currently allowed under city policy. It was the first time Meehan has taken a stand on the issue in a high-profile public forum, though he said he had made similar comments […]
Posted inCommunity, Crime & Safety
Update: Man comes down from sculpture after 5.5 hours
A man climbed onto a Berkeley bear sculpture Saturday and refused to come down. Photo: William Newton A man climbed onto a Berkeley bear sculpture Saturday and refused to come down. Photo: William Newton Note: An update about this incident appears toward the bottom of this article. A military veteran reportedly having a mental health crisis climbed on top of the […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety
Mental health calls #1 drain on Berkeley police resources
Thirty-five percent of calls to the Berkeley Police Department are for people who are having a mental health crisis. Here, police officers restrained a man who was later taken for a mental health evaluation as two mental health workers (left), try to calm him down. Photo: Emilie Raguso Responding to people with mental health issues […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Violent crime dropped 25% in Berkeley in 2014
Berkeley’s annual crime report is coming up Tuesday night. See the staff report. Image: Berkeley Police Department Police officials will give the Berkeley City Council a broad overview of 2014 crime trends Tuesday night, showing significant reductions in the city’s most serious incidents. Last year saw a 25% reduction in violent crimes, and a 5% […]
