Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety

Police Review Commission asks for suspension of tear gas

A line of police officers marched down Telegraph Avenue during the Dec. 6 protests. Photo: Pete Rosos After hearing the testimony of about 10 people who said they were treated unnecessarily roughly during a Dec. 6 protest, the Police Review Commission voted Wednesday to ask Berkeley city officials to restrict the use of tear gas, over-the-shoulder baton […]

Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety

2 officials demand investigation into police tear gas use in Berkeley protest Saturday

City Council members Jesse Arreguín and Kriss Worthington told a crowd of protesters Tuesday night that they want an investigation into the use of tear gas by police during Saturday night’s demonstration. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel City Council members Jesse Arreguín and Kriss Worthington told a crowd of protesters Tuesday night that they want an investigation into the […]

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City of Berkeley calls invite-only press conference just for TV news

From left: Berkeley Police Chief Mike Meehan, Mayor Tom Bates, Councilman Max Anderson, and Fire Chief Gil Dong from today’s City Hall press conference. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel From left: Berkeley Police Chief Mike Meehan, Mayor Tom Bates, Councilman Max Anderson, and Fire Chief Gil Dong from today’s City Hall press conference. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel By […]

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Council meeting canceled by protests; more demonstrations planned

Old City Hall. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting has been canceled due to capacity issues, the mayor’s office has announced, but protests are still expected to take place. The announcement came Tuesday after three nights of lengthy demonstrations throughout town about the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, and the role race […]

Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety

CHP arrests 150 protesters after they block I-80 freeway

Protesters on the pedestrian overpass of I-80 freeway at about 8 p.m. Photo: Davoud Kermaninejad The Berkeleyside team kept this live blog running continuously Dec. 8 from 5:40-10:20 p.m. See continuing, comprehensive Berkeleyside coverage of the Berkeley protests. Follow @berkeleyside on Twitter for live updates of #Berkeleyprotests. 6:20 a.m. The California Highway Patrol arrested more than 150 people […]

Posted inBusiness, City, Crime, Crime & Safety, Events

City of Berkeley told police to use restraint, avoid tear gas, on second night of protests

By Frances Dinkelspiel and Tracey Taylor The Berkeley Police Department deliberately held back from using tear gas during the protests Sunday night under orders from City Manager Christine Daniel, according to city officials. Mayor Tom Bates said Monday that he and other Berkeley City Council members had been disturbed by the aggressive tone of the demonstrations […]

Posted inCrime & Safety

Protesters take to streets of Berkeley for second night running: Violence, vandalism of local businesses, looting

A protester gives the finger to a police officer during a protest that started in Berkeley on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. Photo: Kelly Owen The Berkeleyside team kept this live blog running continuously from Dec. 7 at 6:35 p.m. through Dec. 8 at about 1:10 a.m. See continuing, comprehensive Berkeleyside coverage of the Berkeley protests. 3:48 a.m.: Officer […]