Features

North Aquatic Park Rape 

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the man who sexually assaulted and raped a 17-year-old woman in North Aquatic Park Saturday night. 

Berkeley police spokesman Officer Joe Okies said the attack began about 6 p.m. when the assailant grabbed the woman as she was walking in the park and dragged her into nearby bushes. The victim called police after she was released. 

“It appears to be an isolated case,” Okies said, “and detectives from the Sex Crimes Detail ar e currently pursuing investigative leads.” 

The department has assigned additional officers to patrol Aquatic Park and locate potential witnesses, he said. 

Anyone with information is requested to contact the Sex Crime unit at 981-5735 or e-mail tips to p olice@ci.berkeley.ca.us. Informants may remain anonymous. 

Pedestrian Beaten 

A call from the emergency room at Alta Bates Hospital alerted police to a three-person attack on a 24-year-old pedestrian in the 2900 block of San Pablo Avenue that occurred abo ut 4 a.m. Thursday. 

The victim reported that he was beaten by three suspects, all clad in dark clothing. 

Drunken Brandisher 

A 45-year-old woman was arrested by Berkeley police shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday after a 40-year-old woman reported that sh e had threatened her with a knife. 

Officers arrived on the scene to find the suspect still on the scene. In addition to arresting her for brandishing a deadly weapon, officers also charged her with being drunk in public, Okies said. 

BB-Gun Toting Studen t 

Officers arrested a student at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School Thursday afternoon after he reportedly brandished a BB-gun at another student. 

Backdoor Gunman 

A 31-year-old resident of the 2700 block of Ashby Avenue called police just after midnight Friday to report that someone had just knocked at his back door and threatened him with a pistol. 

The mysterious felon was gone by the time police arrived. 

Assault by Car 

Officers arrested a 49-year-old driver Saturday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon after he drove his car into a motorcyclist in the culmination of what police are calling an act of road rage. 

The 50-year-old victim was rushed to a local hospital, said Officer Okies. 

The incident apparently began on the Eastshore Freeway before ending at 7:17 p.m. in the 2900 block of San Pablo Avenue. The suspect was booked on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. 

Street Robbery 

Two men wearing T-shirts robbed a 23-year-old man near the corner of Parker and Ellsworth streets about 7:20 a.m. Sunday. 

Bizarre Theft 

Police investigating a theft report near the intersection of Durant Avenue and Fulton Street found themselves confronting a suspect armed with scissors and pepper spray. 

Once the suspect had been subdued, the 23-year-old was charged with one count each of theft, improper use of pepper spray, brandishing a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, said Officer Okies.