Authoritative news about public safety and politics in Berkeley, California. Founder: Emilie Raguso, 2017 SPJ NorCal journalist of the year.
A man police say broke into his ex-girlfriend's apartment in the middle of the night, attacked her and her roommate and took their phones has been arrested.
Berkeley police: Ex-boyfriend jailed after knife attackBerkeley police tracked down Israel Pierson in Dublin and arrested him 10 hours after the crime, according to booking records.www.berkeleyscanner.comDon't miss today's deep dive from Kate Darby Rauch, a tribute to Berkeley violence prevention guru Todd Walker. He would have been 65 today. "Todd has kept a lot of people alive," said Senon Nails, a Live Free life coach who worked with him.
Todd Walker's legacy lives on in Berkeley's fight against violence"Todd has kept a lot of people alive," said Senon Nails, a Live Free life coach who worked with Walker. He would have been 65 today.www.berkeleyscanner.comEDITORIAL: In recent weeks, a key resource for tracking local arrests has gone away, making it that much harder to report on police activity and public safety in Alameda County. Here's what happened.
Sheriff's office cuts daily arrest log, citing scam: EditorialAnother decades-old public resource for tracking police activity has been quietly retired, at least for now.www.berkeleyscanner.comWATCH: A lithium ion battery caught fire at a North Berkeley home Sunday, quickly spreading to a towering palm tree nearby, according to early reports.
Firefighters douse burning palm tree after battery fire: VideoReaders who saw the dramatic sight on Milvia Street shared photos and videos with The Scanner.www.berkeleyscanner.comTwo women were taken to the hospital Sunday after crashing into a building on Shattuck Avenue, likely taking out a tree, authorities report.
Driver strikes tree, hits downtown Berkeley buildingThe incident took place at 12:35 p.m. on Shattuck Avenue and Bancroft Way, just south of the old Regal UA movie theater.www.berkeleyscanner.comSCOOP: The Berkeley Animal Shelter will reopen to the public Saturday, July 25, after a seven-week closure by an arson fire.
Berkeley Animal Shelter reopens Saturday, weeks after arson fire"We are still not back to normal, and being open will look a little different than what we are used to," the city told volunteers Friday.www.berkeleyscanner.comA man was stabbed by his son after an argument Friday morning at their North Berkeley home, authorities report. Police identified the weapon as a screwdriver and said the man is expected to recover.
Berkeley police: Father stabbed with screwdriver; son arrestedThe victim called 911 himself and met officers outside his home on Lincoln Street, police said.www.berkeleyscanner.comA car crash in South Berkeley knocked a cyclist unconscious Friday and sent him to the local trauma hospital, according to early reports.
Berkeley car crash sends cyclist, 66, to hospitalPolice blocked southbound traffic on Sacramento Street at Oregon Street, and northbound traffic at Julia Street, for the investigation.www.berkeleyscanner.comA walk in Berkeley's Aquatic Park turned violent Wednesday when police say a homeless man used a skillet and tree branch to attack pedestrians.
Berkeley police: Park debris dispute leads to skillet attackA Scanner reader who saw five police cruisers arrive with their lights on asked for details. Police arrested Shawn Strength.www.berkeleyscanner.comA Vallejo man has been charged with sexually assaulting a Berkeley High student after police say he used Instagram to arrange a meeting to give her marijuana.
Police: Man raped Berkeley High student after marijuana meetupPolice say Uriel Alegre Rangel was known to sell marijuana and went by the handles "bayareasupplierrrr" and "stackdollaaa" online.www.berkeleyscanner.comA driver who ran into a power pole, then fled the scene, knocked out electricity to more than a thousand PG&E customers in West Berkeley on Tuesday, according to police and community reports.
Berkeley power out, road closures after hit-and-run crashThere are closures on Sixth Street, between University Avenue and Allston Way, and on Addison Street from Fifth Street to Sixth Street.www.berkeleyscanner.comWeeks after he was attacked and robbed while leaving work on College Avenue, Roman Becerra is still struggling to eat and speak.
Berkeley father recovering after brutal College Avenue attack"It's pretty hard to see my dad go through this," said Axel Becerra, 26, on Monday. "He was injured really badly."www.berkeleyscanner.comBerkeley police arrested three boys — ages 13, 14 and 15 — who chased a man down and attacked him during a robbery Sunday evening, authorities report.
3 teenage boys arrested after violent street robberyThe boys — ages 13, 14 and 15 — jumped the man and stomped him when he was on the ground, police said.www.berkeleyscanner.comThree mini-mart armed robbery suspects are in custody Friday after police tracked them down using Flock cameras, authorities report.
Berkeley police arrest mini-mart armed robbery suspectsAn "alert community member" witnessed the armed robbery at the Stop & Shop Mini Mart on San Pablo Avenue, police said.www.berkeleyscanner.comUPDATE: An individual arrested by federal agents last week in Berkeley has been identified as a 30-year-old Moroccan man who overstayed his visa, an ICE spokesperson told The Scanner today.
ICE detainee in Berkeley ID'd as 30-year-old Moroccan manHe is "currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.www.berkeleyscanner.comAn individual arrested by federal agents last week in Berkeley has been identified as a 30-year-old Moroccan man who overstayed his visa, an ICE spokesperson told The Scanner today.
ICE detainee in Berkeley ID'd as 30-year-old Moroccan manHe is "currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.www.berkeleyscanner.comA homeless man police say followed a woman into her downtown Berkeley apartment building before sexually assaulting her is set for arraignment Thursday. Suspect Sean Johnson kept pressing elevator buttons to prolong the terrifying encounter, BPD said.
Police: Man trapped woman in elevator during sexual assaultSuspect Sean Johnson kept pressing elevator buttons to prolong the terrifying encounter, Berkeley police said.www.berkeleyscanner.comEXCLUSIVE: Federal agents detained a man in Berkeley last week amid a "civil immigration enforcement operation" led by ICE, The Scanner has learned. It appears to have been Berkeley's first confirmed public ICE detention.
ICE operation sees man detained in BerkeleyThe operation on Woolsey Street appears to have been Berkeley's first confirmed public ICE detention.www.berkeleyscanner.comHe died on the UC Berkeley campus in April. For months, Terry Nash's family didn't know what had happened. Now they're sharing his story — and asking people to remember the humanity behind the headlines. Reporting by freelancer Vicente Vera.
He died on the UC Berkeley campus. But who was he?The family of Terrence Walker Nash Sr. only learned recently that he had been found deceased on the UC Berkeley campus in April.www.berkeleyscanner.comOn a recent Monday morning, an 87-year-old woman was home alone in the Elmwood neighborhood when two men kicked in her front door.
Berkeley hot prowl burglary reported at Elmwood homeThe burglars, who wore masks, "were aware of the woman's presence" and walked past her during the break-in, police said.www.berkeleyscanner.com