KTVU broadcast this image of Daniel Jordan Dewitt Daniel Jordan DeWitt, who was charged with the Feb. 18 Berkeley hills murder of Peter Cukor, is not mentally competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Thursday. Two doctors examined DeWitt and both concluded the 23-year old did not understand the charges filed against him nor could […]
Peter Cukor
Posted inCrime & Safety
Berkeley City orders investigation into Police Chief
Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan: BPA calling for investigation This story was rewritten at 2:50 pm for the purposes of clarity. The City of Berkeley has ordered an investigation into Police Chief Michael Meehan following his decision to send an officer to a reporter’s home at 12:45 am on March 9 asking him to make […]
Posted inCity
Spotlight on city manager’s response to Chief Meehan
Christine Daniel, Berkeley’s interim city manager Christine Daniel, Berkeley’s interim city manager While eyes across the country are focused on Berkeley’s City Hall to see how it responds to Police Chief Michael Meehan’s attempts to get a reporter to change his story, the eyes at City Hall are all focused on Interim City Manager Christine […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Few comments on Chief Meehan before Council session
Public comments preceding a closed session of the Berkeley City Council Monday night were limited. Photo courtesy City of Berkeley Expectations that many members of the Berkeley community would turn up at the public comment part of a closed session of the City Council Monday night to express their views on the recent incident concerning Berkeley Police Chief […]
Posted inCity, Crime & Safety
Questions remain about Berkeley police chief’s actions
Chief Michael Meehan, and Officer Byron White at community meeting on Cukor incident. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Update 2:10 pm: Statement from Berkeley Police Association added below. A contrite Berkeley police chief spent Saturday afternoon fielding calls from the media to explain why he ordered a sergeant to go the house of a reporter at 12:45 […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
At 12:45 a.m., police chief demands reporter make changes
A reporter interviews Chief Michael Meehan before Thursday’s community meeting on the murder of Peter Cukor. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel A reporter interviews Chief Michael Meehan before Thursday’s community meeting on the murder of Peter Cukor. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Update 2:30 pm. City officials respond to incident: Statement from Interim City Manager Christine Daniel: I take […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Community gathers after murder, quizzes Berkeley police
A large group attended a meeting Thursday night to discuss police response to the Feb. 18 murder of Peter Cukor. Photos: Frances Dinkelspiel An estimated 150-200 people turned out on Thursday evening to Northbrae Community Church on The Alameda in north Berkeley to ask the Berkeley Police Department about their response to the Feb. 18 […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Live coverage: Berkeley community meeting after murder
[View the story “March 8 Berkeley community meeting in wake of Peter Cukor homicide” on Storify]
Posted inCrime
Berkeley shows big decline in violent and property crime
A BPD crime analysis map shows unsecured homes and businesses and unlocked autos which were objects of crime in the first two months of this year. The department hopes sharing such information reduces “crimes of opportunity”. Total crime was down in Berkeley last year by 14%, a result that councilmembers hailed as “great news” when […]
Posted inCity, Crime & Safety
Police: We responded properly to Cukor’s murder
The home where Peter Cukor lived, off Park Hills in Berkeley, is largely concealed behind foliage and a wall. Photos: Tracey Taylor Berkeley police have reviewed the agency’s actions on the night Peter Cukor was murdered and do not believe they took any missteps, Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan said Thursday. But media reports have […]
Posted inCrime
Councilwoman calls meeting after Berkeley murder
Park Gate, scene of the Feb. 18 murder of Peter Cukor Councilmember Susan Wengraf (District 6) has called a town hall meeting to discuss public safety in the wake of the Feb. 18 murder of Peter Cukor outside his home in north Berkeley. Police Chief Michael Meehan and City Manager Christine Daniel will both be […]
Posted inCrime
Murder trial delayed for psychological assessment
Daniel DeWitt, charged with felony murder and use of a deadly weapon. Photo: KTVU Judge Sandra Bean yesterday delayed the trial of homicide suspect Daniel Jordan DeWitt so that two doctors could assess him for mental competence under section 1368 of the California Penal Code. On Wednesday, DeWitt was charged with felony murder and use […]