The Berkeley Unified School District has one school resource officer. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Berkeley School Board said a resounding “no” to a proposal to add a second police officer to its campus roster during a discussion earlier this month about ways to address safety and racial tension on campus. The proposal, from Superintendent Donald Evans, […]
Dave Frankel
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 inCrime, Crime & Safety
1 sent to hospital with head trauma after Berkeley fight
A fight near Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley on Saturday morning sent one person to the hospital. Photo: A citizen reporter A fight broke out in Berkeley in the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 16, sending a 20-year-old Richmond man to the hospital with head trauma, authorities said. Berkeley Police Lt. Dave Frankel said the incident […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Radio problems hamper Berkeley shooting investigation
Police investigated a double shooting at La Quinta hotel in West Berkeley on June 7. Photo: Emilie Raguso Update, June 10: The Berkeley Police Department said it was aware of the radio problems Saturday and “immediately contacted the City’s Radio Shop personnel in the Public Works Department to try to identify the cause of the problem […]
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 […]
Posted inCrime
Police arrest 2 after man brandishes gun in laundromat
Two people were arrested on Sunday March 16 after a man pulled out a gun at the Washingtown laundromat on Adeline. Photo: Tracey Taylor Police arrested two people Sunday after responding to a report of a man with a gun at the Washingtown Coin Wash laundromat at 3215 Adeline St. (at Fairview) in South Berkeley. […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Gang members arrested after hurling bottles at police
West Side Berkeley, or WSB, gang graffiti appears in a variety of places on the west side of town. This was spotted in January on Sixth Street north of Allston Way. Photo: Emilie Raguso Berkeley Police officers arrested two men after they allegedly hurled glass bottles at a police officer and shouted insults at him […]