Features

Bomb Threat Closes Shattuck 

A middle-aged man walked into the offices of Thomas Cooke Currency inside the Mechanic’s Bank at 2301 Shattuck Ave. Friday afternoon, placed a package on the counter and presented a note announcing that he’d set off a bomb if they didn’t make him richer. 

“He then took the money and fled,” said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Though the bag guy had booked, he left his package behind, forcing police to cordon off a section of one of Berkeley’s major thoroughfares while the bomb squad rendered the device safe, said Officer Okies. 

Details of the crime were sparse, Okies said, because the investigating detectives were unavailable for comment Monday. 

The suspect was described only as a white male in his early fifties. 

Gas Station Robbed 

A lone gunman wearing a ski mask walked into the Econo Gas station at 900 University Ave. just after 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 3, and demanded cash. 

His request fulfilled, he departed via shank’s mare. 

Dog Slasher Jailed 

Six hours later, a resident of the 1400 block of Scenic Avenue watched as a man brandishing a knife stabbed at a dog. 

When officers arrived, a quick search turned up the 51-year-old suspect, who was escorted to a new temporary domicile in the municipal lockup. 

Brolly Beating 

After spotting a car clouter attempting to burglarize his car parked in the 2800 block of Webster Street just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, the owner confronted the would-be thief, who proceeded to pummel him with his umbrella. 

By the time officers arrived, the brolly-wielding clouter had fled. The victim declined medical assistance. 

Hammer-Head 

An argument between two fellows in the 1400 block of Blake Street took a nasty turn late Wednesday night when one of the debaters produced a sledgehammer and began exercising his talents on his fellow debater’s car. 

The hammer wielder then came to the fellow’s house and, hammer raised, issued a few threats before departing. 

No arrest has been made, said Officer Okies. 

Frat House Fire 

A fire in a bedroom at the Acacia Fraternity House at 2340 Piedmont Ave. just before 7 a.m. Thursday triggered smoke alarms and set off sprinklers, which extinguished the blaze. 

Officers are investigating to see if arson may have been involved. 

Bat Batterer Busted 

Police arrested an 18-year-old Berkeley woman just after midnight Friday after she took a bat to another woman in the 1100 block of Sutter Street. 

The victim required medical treatment for her injuries, said Officer Okies. 

Child Abuse Arrest 

Police arrested a 45-year-old Berkeley man just after 3 a.m. Friday on charges of physically abusing a 2-year-old, said Officer Okies. 

No further details were available. 

MiniMart Robbed 

A gunman walked into the Campus Mini Mart at 2200 Durant Ave. Sunday afternoon and demanded cash. 

He was last seen running eastbound on Durant.