Features

Police Blotter By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday November 29, 2005

Sex crimes 

Police arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of rape on Nov. 22, minutes after a 21-year-old woman called to report that she had been sexually assaulted in the 1600 block of Russell Street, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

BART Police notified Berkeley officers of another sex crime that occurred about 7 p.m. in the 2700 block of Mabel Street. 

The victim, an 18-year-old woman, told officers she had been kicked and subjected to an assault. She made her way to the Ashby BART station, where she reported the crime. 

 

Armed robber 

A gunman in his late teens robbed a 17-year-old man of his wallet in the 1700 block of Harmon Street shortly after 6 p.m. on the 22nd. 

 

Good Samaritans 

After a 17-year-old strong-arm robber tried to steal a woman’s purse in the 2000 block of Durant Avenue at 7:37 p.m. on the 22nd, bystanders chased him down, holding him until police arrived to arrest him. 

 

Backpack heist 

One of two men in their early 20s pulled a pistol on a 22-year-old woman as she walked along the 1400 block of Spruce Street, then robbed her of a backpack. 

The pair, clad in dark garments, was last seen fleeing northbound on Spruce Street in an early 1990s minivan. 

 

Animal cruelty 

A caller summoned police to the 1600 block of Ashby Avenue about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday to investigate a case of animal cruelty. 

Officers arrived to find a canine whose jaws had been taped shut. They took the dog into custody, and Officer Okies said investigators have a suspect in the incident. 

 

Crutch-wielding vandal 

A vandal armed with a brick and crutches took out the windows of three businesses in the 2900 block of Shattuck Avenue about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. 

One of the victims was Wheelchairs of Berkeley. 

 

Robbery busts 

Police arrested three suspects, including a 23-year-old man, in the armed robbery of a backpack worn by a man as he walked in the 1600 block of Scenic Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday. 

Officers made the arrests after they stopped a dark-colored Dodge minivan as it was departing the scene, said Officer Okies. 

 

Andronico’s robbed 

A beefy gunman in his late twenties robbed the Andronico’s Market at 1850 Solano Ave. at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday. 

He ran out of the car carrying cash and was last seen bounding south through the parking lot. The suspect is described as an African American man who stands about 6’ tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He was wearing a dark gray beanie-style cap, a dark green knee-length jacket, dark pants and a red backpack. 

Anyone with information is requested to contact Berkeley Police at police@ci.berkeley.ca.us or call the department at 981-5900. 

 

Another gunman 

A bicycling gunman robbed a 17-year-old man of his cell phone and cash in the 3400 block of Adeline Street just after 1 p.m. Friday, then pedaled off toward the Ashby BART parking lot. 

Officers arrived moments later, in time to arrest the 39-year-old suspect with the loot.?