Arrest of Man with Cocaine Joint, Porn and Child in Safeway Restroom, Police Say

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

March 1, 2013 

Obstruct/Delay an Officer – El Cerrito High School 
At approximately 10:29 a.m., a non-student was contacted on the campus. The 16 year-old male juvenile from San Pablo refused to follow officer’s directions and walked away. Officers detained the juveniles, transported him to the Police Department and released him to his aunt. 

Stolen Vehicle – 6600 Schmidt Lane 
Between 8:30 am to 2:00pm, an unknown suspect stole the victim’s 1989 Nissan Pathfinder. 

Warrant Arrest – Safeway, 11450 San Pablo Avenue 
At 4:30pm, officers contacted a female from San Leandro in front of Safeway. Officers learned that she had a warrant for her arrest for theft out of Alameda County. Officers arrested the woman, booked her at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported her to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

El Cerrito Police officers contacted four El Cerrito High School students who were in violation of the City’s Daytime curfew ordinance. The juveniles were cited and transported back to the high school. 

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Central Ave. / Santa Clara Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the passenger, a 50 year-old El Cerrito man, for possession of methamphetamine. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released pending lab results. 

Warrant Arrest – S. 55th St. / School Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 22 year-old Richmond woman for a warrant. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

March 2, 2013 

Auto Burglary – El Cerrito High School 
Between 5:00 pm to 5:10 pm, an unknown suspect broke the front right passenger window of the victim’s vehicle while it was parked in the drop off area of the high school, and stole her purse. 

Parade 
From 10:00 am to 11:00 am, El Cerrito police officers, reserve police officers and police explorers assisted with the El Cerrito Youth Baseball League parade. Officers provided traffic control along the parade route. 

Driving Under the Influence – Cutting Blvd. / Peerless Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 25 year-old Richmond woman, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

Warrant Arrest – Potrero Ave. / I-80 Westbound 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 22 year-old Richmond woman, for a warrant. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

Driving Under the Influence – Potrero Ave. / S. 56th St. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 23 year-old Richmond woman, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The woman was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

Warrant Arrest – San Pablo Ave. / Manila Ave. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 41 year-old Richmond man, for an outstanding warrant. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. 

Driving Under the Influence – Potrero Ave. / S. 56th St. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and subsequently arrested the driver, a 28 year-old San Pablo man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober friend. 

March 3, 2013 

Petty Theft (Shoplifting) – Safeway, 11450 San Pablo Avenue 
At 06:41 am, officers responded to a theft in progress and contacted a 45-year-old female from Richmond, who attempted to leave in her vehicle. The female stole numerous batteries from Safeway and exited the store after the manager contacted her. Officers arrested the female and transported her to the El Cerrito Police Department. The female had several convictions for theft related charges and officers took her to the Martinez Detention Facility, after booking. 

Petty Theft/Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia- Safeway, 11450 San Pablo Ave. 
While investigating the above shoplifting incident, a witness alerted officers to a male looking at a pornographic magazine in the woman’s restroom with a small child. Officers detained a 32-year-old male from El Sobrante in the men’s bathroom. The male admitted to being in the woman’s restroom and smoking a marijuana cigarette laced with cocaine. Upon entering the restroom, the female juvenile smelled smoke and saw a pornographic magazine on the floor. The juvenile told her mother, who alerted Safeway employees. Officers determined that the man was under the influence of a controlled substance and they arrested him. Once at the El Cerrito Police Department, the man admitted to smoking in the woman’s restroom and stealing a bottle of soda from Safeway. Officers took the man to the Martinez Detention Facility, after booking. 

Auto Burglary – 2900 block of San Mateo Street 
Between 8:00 pm on March 2 and 12:09 pm on March 3, an unknown suspect broke the front driver’s side window of the victim’s Toyota Camry and stole change and miscellaneous items. 

Petty Theft (Shoplifting) – Safeway, 11450 San Pablo Ave. 
Officers arrested a 79-year-old male from Suisun City after he pushed a shopping cart filled with $150.00 worth of groceries out of the store without attempting to pay for it. Officers took the man to the El Cerrito Police Department, booked him, and then released him on a citation. 

Driving Under the Influence – San Pablo Ave. / Hill St. 
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and arrested the driver, a 50 year-old San Pablo man, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released to a sober family member. 

March 4, 2013 

Residential Burglary – 1200 block of Lawrence St. 
Between March 3 at 5:00pm and March 4 at 8:30am, an unknown suspect stole a key from a lock box on the front door, and entered the residence. The suspect ransacked the residence and stole money, cell phones and a laptop. 

Counterfeit Bill – Goody Donuts 10963 San Pablo Ave. 
On March 2 at 1:54 pm, an unknown female suspect bought lotto tickets with a counterfeit $5.00 bill. 

Warrant Arrest – 10900 San Pablo Ave. 
A 30 year-old El Cerrito man turned himself in to clear up a warrant. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

Trespassing – 11382 San Pablo Ave. 
Officers arrested a 64-year-old Richmond man after he violated a trespass order that was issued two days prior. The man was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation. 

Weekend Wrap-up 

Patrol Operations 
Over the course of the weekend, El Cerrito patrol officers focused their patrol efforts in the area of San Pablo Avenue and Potrero Avenue. These efforts resulted in officers impounding nine vehicles from the area of the Del Norte Plaza at 11299 San Pablo Ave. Officers also impounded a vehicle from the Super 8 Motel at 6009 Potrero Ave., for expired registration over six months. Officers issued four citations to people who possessed open containers of alcohol in public. Several officers conducted their patrol efforts on bicycles. 

Police Blotter Scope 
The police blotter is formatted in a way that allows shift Watch Commanders to report on incidents that they believe are important to El Cerrito residents and other police officers. The blotter is very similar to the daily reports that Watch Commanders submit regarding the happenings of the day. Like the daily report, the blotter includes incidents that involve the arrest of suspects, major crimes, and incidents that Watch Commanders believe are of interest to the community. Unlike the daily report, the blotter typically does not include information about mental health committals, hospitalizations, and civil dispute resolutions. In addition, the blotter typically does not include misdemeanor thefts, such as those from unlocked vehicles. Although the blotter usually does not include information about every theft and vandalism in town, El Cerrito Officers frequently meet and develop strategies to address emerging crime trends. 

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

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