Cases of Community Interest 
Every month, there are 200-300 crimes (UCR Part 1 crimes) occurring in the City of Berkeley. Below are some of those cases that have occurred over the past few days that involve weapons, violence or incidents that people have asked us about.
Information about those arrested (juveniles excluded) can be found by visiting the City’s Open Data Portal using the associated case number:
https://data.cityofberkeley.info/Public-Safety/Berkeley-PD-Log-Jail-Bookings/7ykt-c32j
Armed Robbery
On August 6th at 11:50 pm, a 29-year-old Oakland woman was walking in the area of California Street and Alcatraz Avenue when two suspects approached her. One of the suspects pointed a handgun at the woman and then robbed her of her purse and jewelry. The suspects were last seen leaving the area in a dark colored sedan. Witnesses described one of the suspects as a Black male, in his mid-20’s, 5’9” tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans (armed with a handgun).
Case 2019-00043321
Armed Robbery
On August 7th at 12:55 am, a 23-year-old Berkeley woman was walking on the 2300 block of Dwight Way when two suspects ran up behind her. One of the suspects grabbed her backpack and ripped it away from her shoulders while the other suspect reached in her pockets and took her cell phone. Holding a handgun, one of the suspects demanded the rest of her property. When the woman screamed for help, the suspects ran from the area. Witnesses described one of the suspects as a Black male, in his 20’s, 5’8” tall, wearing a black sweatshirt and pants. Witnesses described the other suspect as a Black male, in his 20’s, wearing a gray hooded top (armed with a handgun).
Case 2019-00043324
Armed Robbery
On August 9th at 9:58 pm, an unknown suspect robbed Berkeley Gas & Smog (3000 Shattuck Avenue). Armed with a handgun, the suspect took cash from the register and was last seen leaving southbound on Shattuck Avenue. Witnesses described the suspect as an unknown race man, 40-60 years old, about 5’8” to 5’10” tall, heavy or large build, wearing a mask, red hooded sweatshirt and black pants (armed with a handgun).
Case 2019-00043996
Shooting
On August 9th at 10:45 pm, officers responded to the 2500 block of Regent Street after receiving multiple calls about gunfire in the area. When officers arrived, they found bullet casings in the roadway along with a vehicle that had several bullet holes in it. No injuries were reported in this incident.
If you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact BPD’s Homicide Unit at (510) 981-5741.
Case 2019-00044005
Gun Found During Vehicle Stop
On August 10th at 12:33 am, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the area of Telegraph Avenue and Parker Street. When the officer contacted the driver, the officer spotted an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle. When the officer searched the vehicle, the officer found a loaded handgun in the passenger area. The officer consequently arrested the driver (a 32-year-old Berkeley woman) and passenger (a 34-year-old Oakland woman) for carrying a loaded, concealed and unregistered firearm.
Case 2019-00044016
Suspect found with a Gun after domestic violence incident
On August 10th at 10:06 am, officers responded to a business on the 2000 block of Parker Street after receiving a report that a man was threatening his dating partner with a gun. After searching for the suspect, officers located the suspect nearby. When officers searched the suspect, they found a handgun in his waistband along with a large quantity of ecstasy pills. The suspect (a 28-year-old Oakland man) was arrested on suspicion of criminal threats, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of controlled substances for sale.
Case 2019-00044082
Armed Robbery
On August 11th at 2:23 am, an 18-year-old man and woman were walking on the 2500 block of Blake Street when two suspects approached them. At gunpoint, one of the suspects pushed the man to the ground and took the man’s cell phone from his pockets. The other suspect grabbed the cell phone from the woman’s hands and went through her pockets. Before leaving, the suspect pushed the woman in the bushes. Witnesses described the suspects as two Black males, in their 30’s, 5’10” to 6’2’ tall, wearing dark clothing (one of them armed with a handgun). The suspects were last seen leaving in an older gray minivan.
Case 2019-00044259
Suspect Arrested for attempted Robbery
On August 13th at 7:52 pm, a 26-year old Oakland woman was sitting on a bench inside of the Amtrak station holding onto her suitcase, which was on the ground next to her. While there, a suspect ran up to the woman and tried to pull the suitcase from her. When the woman screamed for help, the suspect ran away.
Shortly thereafter, officers located the suspect a few blocks away. The suspect (a 31-year-old man, address unknown) was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery, violation of probation and violation of parole.
Case 2019-00044832
Suspect arrested after a series of attacks in the Downtown & South Campus area
On August 14th at 11:44 am, a 20-year-old Tracy woman was seated inside Paris Baguette (2150 Shattuck Ave) studying on her laptop when the suspect sat down at her table. When the suspect reached towards her cell phone that was table, the woman quickly collected her phone and laptop. The suspect then stood-up, cocked his arm back and punched the woman’s face. The man then cocked his arm back, punched the woman’s face again and then ran off. (Case 2019-00044957)
At 1:19 pm, a 36-year-old Oakland man was walking in the area of Center Street and Shattuck Ave along with some co-workers when the suspect ran up behind the man and punched him in the ear. (Case 2019-00044982)
At 1:36 pm, a 33-year-old woman was working inside Café Mezzo (2422 Telegraph) when the suspect came inside the store demanding water. After giving the suspect the water, the store asked the suspect to leave and he refused. When the employee tried to use her phone to call the police, the suspect knocked the phone out of her hand. When the woman tried to pick-up her phone, the suspect stomped on her hand. Before leaving the store, the suspect punched the woman.
Shortly thereafter, officers located the suspect on the corner of Telegraph Avenue/Dwight Way.
After speaking with several witnesses, officers arrested the suspect (a 39-year-old man, address unknown) on suspicion of attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, failure to register as a sex offender, violation of a court ordered stay-away as well as an outstanding parole warrant.
If you have any additional information about these incidents, please contact BPD’s Homicide Unit at (510) 981-5741.
Case 2019-00044986
Man arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon
On August 15th at 11:07 am, a man was smoking in front of a business on the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue. When an employee asked the man to move along, the man refused. The employee took a photo of the man and returned inside the store. When the man attempted to follow the employee inside the store, the store’s security guard told the man he could not enter. The man then grabbed a wood 7’ pole with a hook and attacked the security guard—bruising the guard’s hands, forearms and face. When the guard retreated back inside the store, the man ran away.
Shortly thereafter, officers located the suspect (a 33-year-old man, address unknown) a few blocks away—where he was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and violation of probation.
Inside Berkeley Jail, the suspect injured a Community Service Officer and a Reserve Officer after head-butting them. Because of this, the suspect was also arrested on suspicion of battery on emergency personnel.
Case 2019-00045180 & 2019-00045614
Two men arrested for Grand Theft
After a series of recent thefts from North Face Outlet, a patrol officer parked outside of the store on the afternoon of August 15th. Shortly after 1 pm, the officer spotted a man running out of the store carrying a bunch of jackets (followed by a second suspect leaving in a different direction). Although the suspects tried to run away from the officers, the suspects (two men, age 26 and age 52, address unknown) were eventually captured and arrested for grand theft and resisting arrest.
Case 2019-00045216
Armed Robbery
On August 15th at 11:35 pm, a 22-year-old Berkeley man was walking in the area of Derby Street and Regent Street when he was approached by two suspects. While one of the suspects grabbed the man from behind (covering his mouth), the other suspect pulled-off the man’s backpack (containing his laptop). The first suspect then punched the man’s face (knocking him to the ground) and pointed a handgun at him. The suspects took the man’s cell phone and ran away.
Witnesses described one of the suspects as a Black male, 18-22 years old, 5’10” tall, wearing a gray hooded top and armed with a handgun.
Case 2019-00045356
Laptop Theft
On August 16th at 9:29 pm, a 21-year-old man and a 53-year-old man were seated (separately) in the outdoor patio of Café Strada (2300 College Avenue) using their laptops when two suspects entered the patio area. While one of suspects grabbed one victim’s laptops, the other suspect grabbed the other victim’s laptop. Both suspects then ran to silver vehicle that was waiting on Bancroft Way.
Suspect #1: Black male, 5’5” tall, skinny build, wearing a black hooded jacket and gray pants.
Suspect #2: Black male, 20-25 years old, shorter than the suspect #1, with a thin build, short beard, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.
Case 2019-00045539
Gunfire on the 2500 block of Durant Avenue
On August 18th at 1:40 am, an officer was in the area of the 2500 block of Durant Avenue when he heard gunfire coming from an off-street parking lot near Bowditch Street. When the officer entered the parking lot, he found seven intoxicated men in the parking lot along with several bullet casings on the ground. After detaining the seven men, officers located an abandoned handgun in the parking lot as well as damage to a nearby building from the gunfire. No injuries were reported in this incident.
This case remains under investigation. If anyone has any information about this crime, please contact BPD’s Homicide Unit at (510) 981-5741.
Case 2019-00045800
Robbery
On August 18th at about 6 pm, a 36-year-old Richmond was returning to his vehicle that was parked in the area of Adeline Avenue and Essex Street. Just as the man was about to get inside his vehicle, a suspect approached him from behind and demanded his money. The suspect punched the man and held him against the vehicle while a second suspect searched through the vehicle for something to steal. When the suspect did not find anything to take from the vehicle, they searched the man’s pockets and took his cell phone and cash.
Witnesses described both suspect as Black men, 30-35 years old, 5’6” tall, with medium builds—one of the suspects wearing a black tank top and black pants.
Case 2019-00045861
Person injured near Channing Way and Telegraph Avenue
On August 20th at 1:56 am, officers were flagged-down about an injured man on the steps of 2425 Channing Way. When officers located the man, they discovered him unconscious with injuries to his head. The man (approximately 40-50 years old) was transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact BPD’s Homicide Unit at (510) 981-5741.
Case 2019-00046174
Address/Location
Berkeley Police Department
2100 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 510-981-5900