Crime & Safety

2 Chases Go Onto Freeway, End in Crashes

The El Cerrito Police Blotter for Feb. 22-24 includes two pursuits of vehicles that fled onto the freeway and ended in crashes. One ended in arrests, while the car occupants in the other escaped, abandoning items stolen in the Denny's parking lot.

Editor's note: the El Cerrito Police Blotter below is provided by the El Cerrito Police Department.

February 22, 2013 

Warrant Arrest - San Pablo Ave. at Manila Ave. 
At approximately 12:15pm, officers pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation. Officers arrested the driver, a 23-year-old man from Richmond, for a warrant for driving on a suspended driver license and providing false information to police. The driver was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released on a citation. 

Warrant Arrest - San Pablo Ave. at Wall Ave. 
At approximately 2:12pm, officers pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation and arrested the 49-year-old male passenger from Richmond for a warrant for a probation violation. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Identity Theft - 800 block of Seaview Drive 
The victim reports that an unknown suspect opened up credit card accounts in the victim’s name and used the accounts outside of El Cerrito. 

Driving Under the Influence – San Pablo Ave. at Lincoln Ave. 
At approximately 5:00pm, officers located a 30-year-old female from Hayward, asleep behind the wheel of a car that was stopped in the middle of the roadway. The woman was found to be under the influence of alcohol. The woman was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Drunk in Public / Obstructing Police Officers/ Convicted Felon in Possession of Pepper Spray - San Pablo Ave. at Lincoln Ave. 
During the above arrest, officers arrested the 40-year-old female passenger from Oakland after she was found to be highly intoxicated and would not follow orders from the officers. Officers learned that the woman was in possession of pepper spray and had a prior felony conviction. Officers booked the woman at the El Cerrito Police Department and took her to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Public Appearance 
El Cerrito police officers attended a carnival at Tehiyah School from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. 

Residential Burglary – 8700 block of Terrace Dr. 
An unknown suspect entered the victim’s residence via an unlocked window and stole property sometime today between 8:30 am and 7:20 pm. 

Recovered Stolen Vehicle, Evading Police Officers – Potrero Ave. / Eastshore Blvd. 
Officers conducted a records check on a vehicle and found that it had been reported stolen to Richmond PD earlier in the day. Officers followed the vehicle and, before they could attempt to pull it over, it collided with a vehicle on the freeway. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but it fled and immediately rear-ended a vehicle on I-80 eastbound at San Pablo Dam Rd. The rear right passenger of the vehicle fled on foot but was apprehended with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol Air Unit and San Pablo Police. 

El Cerrito Police Officers arrested the driver, a 21 year-old Richmond man. They also arrested the passengers, two 18 year-old Richmond men. The driver was transported to the Martinez County Detention Facility. The passengers were released pending charges. 

Driving Under the Influence – San Pablo Ave. / Van Fleet Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 50 year-old San Ramon woman, for driving under the influence of alcohol. She was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober relative. 

February 23, 2013 

Theft from a Vehicle - 7600 block of Leviston Avenue 
Sometime between 9:30pm on Feb. 22 and 6:45am this morning, an unknown suspect entered the victim’s unlocked Toyota Prius and stole an iPod and a knife. 

Driving under the Influence – 5900 block of Cutting Blvd. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 33-year-old Richmond man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober relative. 

Evading Police Officers, Possession of stolen property – San Pablo Ave. / El Dorado Ave. 
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle but it did not stop. The vehicle entered I-80 westbound and then I-580 eastbound. The suspect vehicle exited at Harrison Ave. and rear-ended a vehicle at the end of the off-ramp. The occupants fled on foot and eluded capture. A search of the vehicle revealed stolen property from a fresh auto burglary in the parking lot of Denny’s in El Cerrito. 

Driving under the Influence – Carlson Blvd. / Sutter Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 20 year-old Vallejo man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

Auto Burglary – 11344 San Pablo Ave. 
An unknown suspect smashed the victim’s passenger windows and stole property at approximately 12:30 am. The property was later located in a vehicle that fled from officers. 

February 24, 2013 

DUI / Driving on a Suspended License / Possession of Controlled Substance – San Pablo Ave. @ Carlson Blvd. 
At approximately 8:00am, an officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle and determined that the 42-year-old man from San Pablo was under the influence of a controlled substance. A records check revealed that the man’s driver’s license was suspended and a search revealed a small amount of controlled substance on his person. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

Warrant Arrest of a Parolee at Large – 5300 block of Carlson Boulevard 
Officers responded to a report of a possible auto burglary in progress. Officers contacted a 44-year-old man from San Pablo inside of a white Ford Windstar van. The man was on parole for stealing vehicles and he had a warrant for being a parolee at large. It was determined that the van was not burglarized and the man was taken into custody, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Auto Burglary – Parking lot of Walgreens, 11565 San Pablo Avenue 
A suspect broke the window on the victim’s 2008 Lexus RX330 and stole a purse and a camcorder. The theft occurred sometime between 9:55 am and 3:45 pm. 

Residential Burglary – 2600 block of Ellerhorst St. 
An unknown suspect entered the victim’s residence by kicking open a rear door and stole property. The burglary occurred sometime between 12:00 pm on 2/23/13 and 6:30 pm on 2/24/13. 

Driving under the Influence – 10869 San Pablo Ave. 
While assisting the El Cerrito Fire Department with traffic control, a vehicle exited the lot of the Terrace Motel against officers’ directions to travel the opposite way. The driver, a 44 year-old Richmond man, was contacted and subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober relative. 

Driving under the Influence – Moeser Ln. / Kearney St. 
Officers located a 24-year-old El Cerrito man asleep at the wheel of his running vehicle. Upon speaking with him, he was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober relative. 

Driving under the Influence – Note from the ECPD 
During the last two weeks, the El Cerrito Police Department has investigated a series of incidents involving drunk drivers asleep behind the wheel, colliding into cars or objects, or trying to drive on the sidewalk. The Police Department encourages everyone to make safety a priority with themselves, family members and friends. If you see a family member or friend who has had too much to drink, or if you have had too much to drink, please call a taxicab or friend for a ride. In addition, the Police Department reviews these incidents in an effort to determine patterns that contribute to extreme intoxication. If a bar or private party is over-serving patrons or guests, the Police Department may take enforcement action. The AAA DUI Justice page has resources for designated drivers in some cities in the Bay Area. To read more, follow the link: http://duijusticelink.aaa.com/for-the-public/aaas-role/public-education/sober-ride. - See more at: http://local.nixle.com/alert/4965434/#sthash.1JNToJuR.dpuf

The El Cerrito Police Blotter can be found also on nixle.com

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