Features

Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday October 17, 2006

Butter knife bandits 

A pair of teenage bandits, one armed with a butter knife, robbed an Oakland youth at Thousand Oaks School shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, school officials told police the next day. 

 

Chemical attack, salsa style 

What’s listed on the Berkeley Police Department website as an aggravated Assault-Chemical wasn’t a case of WMD, but instead was your basic run-of-the-mill salsa attack. 

Officer Galvan said the incident took place at Via Taqueria in the 2900 block of Russell Street just before 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, when an unknown assailant hurled the hot sauce in the eyes of a 23-year-old Alameda man who was dining at the eatery. 

The saucy assailant fled in a silver compact car, possibly a Honda, while the victim was busy washing out his eyes. He declined medical aid. 

 

Bandit team 

Two robberies that occurred less than 15 minutes apart and within blocks of each other on Oct. 7 may have been perpetrated by the same team of bandits, said Officer Galvan. 

The first unsuccessful heist occurred just before 11:40 p.m. in the 2200 block of Dwight Way, when a 30-year-old Berkeley man reported he was approached by a pair of men in their 20s who made an unsuccessful attempt to force him to part with his valuables. 

The second try 18 minutes later and a block to the east proved successful when a pair of the same description, now accompanied by a third man, robbed a 23-year-old Los Angeles woman of her diamond earrings. 

 

Late report 

A 58-year-old San Pablo man told police Monday, Oct. 9, that he’d been robbed the night before on Shattuck Avenue near the corner of Prince Street. A fellow armed with a small-caliber pistol relieved him of his wallet, keys and check book, said Officer Galvan. 

 

Kick attack 

Police arrested a 27-year-old homeless man at 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, after he allegedly kicked a Berkeley woman repeatedly in the 2300 block of Blake Street. 

The suspect was booked on suspicion of aggravated assault. 

 

Hoodie hoods 

A pair of young bandits, both wearing hoodies and one packing a silver-colored pistol, robbed an Albany man of his wallet near the corner of Los Angeles Street and The Alameda just after 9 p.m. Oct. 9. 

 

Flee in SUV 

A bandit with a pony tail and driving a Ford Explorer robbed a 22-year-old Berkeley man as he was walking along Milvia Street near Allston Way Monday, Oct. 9. 

After the victim handed over a small amount of cash, the bandit sped off and was last seen heading south on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, said Officer Galvan.