Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Woman charged in Berkeley teen sex trafficking case

Image via Facebook An Oakland woman is set to appear in court this week to face charges in a teen sex trafficking investigation that began at Berkeley High School. Trinice Suwanabart, 23, was arrested in November after police linked her to the case earlier this year. According to court papers, Berkeley High School Resource Officer Ethell Wilson began looking […]

Posted inCrime & Safety, Schools

Police report mistakes, challenges in Berkeley protests

Berkeley police used teargas to break up protests Saturday night and Sunday morning. Photo: Pete Rosos Berkeley police officers used 50 tear gas grenades and “blast rounds” to clear Telegraph Avenue during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in December, but police officials declined to say Wednesday night whether that had been excessive. The June 10 […]

Posted inCommunity, Crime & Safety, Schools

Police, BHS prepare for more ‘havoc’ downtown Friday

Police used cameras to record people crowded around Berkeley High School on Friday, May 9, after fights were reported. Photo: Siciliana Trevino After several weeks of increasing youth activity, which erupted into violence in downtown Berkeley last week, police have reorganized their staffing and plan a highly visible presence downtown to keep the peace Friday. Last […]

Posted inCommunity, Crime, Crime & Safety

Berkeley Police beats could get much bigger

The city is looking at this 11-beat alternative map for Berkeley Police, along with two other options. Adjustments will continue to be made over the next month in response to public feedback, officials say. Graphic: Matrix Consulting Group A handful of community members got a preview Tuesday night of three possible alternatives for a new Berkeley Police […]

Posted inCommunity

Gang violence, drug use, graffiti spark renewed push to clean up West Berkeley park

City workers have been cutting back and clearing out brush as part of an attempt to clean up Strawberry Creek Park. Photo: Emilie Raguso Stepped up police patrols, trimmed-back bushes and increased efforts to clean up graffiti around Strawberry Creek Park are among a slew of recent steps by the city following two troubling incidents in March, […]

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Update: 2 teens shot on Harmon Street in Berkeley

Image: Google Maps Update, March 25, 6:10 p.m. The Berkeley Police report that, contrary to earlier information, one of the shooting victims was not arrested by the Oakland Police Department. “No arrest was made after all, [it was] possibly an old warrant,” said Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats, via email. Update, March 25, 10:50 a.m. Berkeley […]

Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety

Berkeley Police investigate drive-by shooting on Harmon

A vehicle was struck during a drive-by shooting in the 1500 block of Harmon Street over the weekend. Image: Google Maps Police responded to a drive-by shooting in South Berkeley over the weekend, authorities said Sunday night. Saturday at approximately 11:45 p.m., the Berkeley Police Department dispatch center received “numerous 911 calls” reporting that shots […]