Features

Sexual Battery Suspect Busted 

Following an attack on a 15-year-old student near the Berkeley High School campus, police arrested a 36-year-old man they had already identified as a suspect in a series of recent sexual batteries near the UC campus. 

The young woman was walking along Allston Way at Milvia Street when a man grabbed her from behind. Drawn by the woman’s screams and the sight of her struggling with her assailant, an unidentified Good Samaritan grabbed the attacker and the student was able to flee to safety.  

The attacker also fled, but Melvin Scott was arrested and taken to Berkeley City Jail after the student picked his image from a photographic lineup, said BPD spokesperson Kevin Schofield—who urged anyone with information on this or other recent attacks to call the departments Sex Crimes Detail at 981-5735. 

Strong-arm Robbers Grab Purses, Phone 

A hapless 20-year old woman walking near the intersection of College Avenue and Parker Street was thrown to the ground by a strong-arm robber who made off with her cell phone. No suspects have yet been identified, according to Berkeley Police spokesperson Kevin Schofield. 

Police arrested a 17-year-old juvenile early Sunday morning Sunday after two strong-arm types robbed a pedestrian at Prince and Sacramento streets. A suspect, unidentified, suspect remains at large.  

Sunday’s second strong-arm attack came shortly before 1 p.m., when a thief grabbed the purse of a Berkeley woman walking along Telegraph Avenue at Channing Way. The robber fled on foot, and no suspects have been arrested.  

Mother charged with kidnap, abuse 

When neighbors called police after hearing screams and cries for help in the 1300 block of Harmon Street Sunday evening, nine Berkeley police officers responded. 

BPD spokesperson Kevin Schofield said the incident involved the mother of a 3-year-old girl and the foster parents charged with caring for the daughter. 

The mother, 26-year-old Christina Petite, was arrested on charges of kidnapping and child abuse, then taken to Berkeley City Jail.