Features

Police Blotter

By JOHN GELUARDI
Friday April 11, 2003

Elderly woman robbed 

Police are looking for two men suspected of robbing an 85-year-old Berkeley woman of thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash. 

The woman was at her 10th Street home on Wednesday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. when two men knocked on her door claiming there was a problem with her chimney, said Officer Mary KusmisS, Berkeley Police spokesperson.  

One of the men said the chimney problem was critical and offered to fix it immediately for $200 cash.  

When he took the woman outside to show her the problem, the other man ransacked her home, according to police. The woman reported missing over $2,000 in gold jewelry and over $500 in cash.  

 

Police nab murder suspect 

Kevin Sterling Jones, who was shot by Berkeley Police last November during an armed robbery sting, was charged with the rape and murder of two women on Wednesday. 

Jones, who is in custody and recovering from gunshot wounds at the Santa Rita Jail infirmary, was charged after Oakland and Napa police said they could link him to the two murders that occurred 1999 and 2000. 

The two victims were Jamie Williams, 22, and Sharonda Parker, 16. Both were raped and strangled.  

Berkeley Police arrested Jones Nov. 15 after a tip that he intended to rob a beauty parlor on Alcatraz Avenue. Because Jones was considered dangerous, parlor employees took the night off and female police officers took their place as stylists and customers.  

Snipers and members of the Barricaded Hostage Negotiating Team were deployed around the business. When an armed Jones arrived at the parlor with an accomplice, he was confronted by police and then shot twice in the abdomen when he resisted. 

 

Actor’s car still missing 

Actor Sean Penn’s jet black 1987 Buick Grand National, along with two handguns, is still missing after being stolen in downtown Berkeley on Tuesday. 

Berkeley police said it’s possible it was taken to a garage and dismantled for parts. 

Penn parked in front of Citibank on Shattuck Avenue around 1 p.m. Upon his return after having lunch at 2:30, he discovered the car was missing. 

When officers arrived at the scene, Penn told them there was a loaded Glock 9 mm handgun and an unloaded Smith and Wesson, five-shot revolver in the car. Penn has a state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon. 

Kusmiss said the car theft has generated calls from the London Times and the Paris Match in addition to other local newspapers.