Hotel arson suspect was free pending parole revocation
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
14h ago
A man authorities say set a Berkeley hotel on fire after being released on his own recognizance despite pending parole revocation proceedings is facing new felony charges this week, court papers show. Police say Jamar Smith, 42, set the lobby on fire just days after being arrested on suspicion of burglarizing the same hotel, which is located at Sacramento Street and University Avenue in West Berkeley. There were no injuries due to the fire, but two people were inside the lobby when it was intentionally set, according to court papers. Another 10 guests were inside the hotel when it happened. Re ..read more
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Judge denies DA motion to reduce charges in murder case
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
2d ago
Update, 3:30 p.m. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Delucchi has denied a DA motion to reduce the charges in the double murder case against former sheriff's deputy Devin Williams. Prosecutor Ted McGarvey told the judge at the start of the hearing Wednesday that, "Per the instructions I received from our administration, I would move the court to strike the alleged enhancements and the special circumstance allegations." Judge Delucchi said he was denying the motion, "given the age of the case … and how many court appearances there have been even under the new administration," because it w ..read more
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Teen boy shot in Berkeley, police investigation underway
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
2d ago
Berkeley police are investigating a shooting that sent a teenage boy to the hospital Tuesday night, according to preliminary reports. The 13-year-old boy happened to be outside and was shot in the leg. He was rushed to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland for treatment and is expected to survive, BPD said. Police were called to the 2200 block of Bonar Street (near Bancroft Way) at about 11:15 p.m. for reports of six or seven gunshots, according to dispatch traffic. Read more about shootings in Berkeley. Officers arrived quickly and taped off the block for the investigation. Witnesses told ..read more
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Repeat offender picks up 2 burglary cases in less than a day
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
2d ago
Hours after being released from jail following a Berkeley home burglary last week, a homeless man tried to break into another house and was arrested again, according to court papers. Now, 30-year-old Peter Nothof is facing burglary charges in both cases, which took place less than a day apart, court records show. The investigation began at about 8 a.m. last Monday, March 18, when a woman told police that someone had broken into her home in the 2100 block of Derby Street in South Berkeley, taking clothing, money and a Rolex watch. Berkeley police officers found Nothof nearby wearing a black dre ..read more
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Berkeley officials call for action after Marin Ave. jogger fatality
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
2d ago
Berkeley officials are pushing for traffic safety measures and more police enforcement after a driver struck and killed a jogger on Marin Avenue last month. Four Berkeley City Council members have asked the city to spend up to $200,000 to address "urgent safety needs for pedestrians" following the tragic death last month of Julia Elkin. On Feb. 12, a driver struck Elkin in the crosswalk at Marin and Oxford Street, causing serious head injuries. She died two weeks later. Elkin was just 37 years old. The crash remains under investigation, Berkeley police said this week. Marin Avenue is notorious ..read more
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Safety ambassador intervenes to stop attack near UC Berkeley
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
2d ago
A Streetplus safety ambassador caught part of the attack on camera. A safety ambassador intervened over the weekend to stop a man from attacking a young woman near UC Berkeley, averting what may otherwise have led to serious injuries, a Cal parents group has reported. The ambassador was part of a parent-funded private security pilot program in March that ended Saturday. SafeBears, a nonprofit group created by UC Berkeley parents last year, has been working to raise awareness about safety issues around campus and advocate with Cal to address them. Sagar Jethani, SafeBears president, said ..read more
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Berkeley Scanner wins 'Truth to Power' press freedom award
The Berkeley Scanner
by Editor's desk
3d ago
The Berkeley Scanner is honored to have won the "Truth to Power: Golden Sledgehammer" award from the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Scanner founder Emilie Raguso "stood up publicly against an attack on press freedom," SPJ NorCal wrote, when Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price turned her away from a news conference last year. "Raguso bravely served the public and Price’s office a practical and important lesson in the First Amendment, and was ultimately welcomed to subsequent press events," organizers said. "Raguso covered the incident on her ne ..read more
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Man runs red light in Berkeley crash, serious injuries reported
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
4d ago
A driver sustained serious injuries in a two-car crash in South Berkeley over the weekend after a man ran a red light and fled the scene, authorities report. The man who ran the light tried to hide from Berkeley police, who found him nearby and detained him. The collision took place Saturday shortly before 10:30 a.m. at Sacramento Street and Alcatraz Avenue, police said in response to a Berkeley Scanner inquiry. BPD said multiple callers reported the collision. The driver who struck the other car jumped out and ran from the scene, police said. Officers found him hiding behind a vehicle about f ..read more
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Man arrested in Berkeley after accidentally shooting himself
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
5d ago
A man who accidentally shot himself in Berkeley on Saturday is now facing criminal charges, authorities report. The man walked into Alta Bates Hospital on Ashby Avenue at about 1:50 p.m. seeking treatment for a gunshot wound, Berkeley police said. The man was initially hesitant to share details about the shooting, but ultimately said he had shot himself accidentally while playing with the firearm in his office in the 1100 block of University Avenue, according to police. The gun went off, leaving the man, who is in his 40s, with a gunshot wound to the leg, BPD said. Read more about shootings in ..read more
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Berkeley hotel lobby fire prompts arson investigation
The Berkeley Scanner
by Emilie Raguso
5d ago
A man with a jug of gasoline walked into a Berkeley hotel lobby on Saturday morning and set the floor on fire, authorities report. Berkeley police said the man poured gasoline on the floor just before 11:30 a.m. and ignited it without any provocation. The man fled as the floor began to burn, police said. No one was hurt, but authorities said the fire could have had serious consequences and put lives at risk. The Berkeley Fire Department was dispatched at about 11:30 a.m. to investigate the fire at Aiden By Best Western Berkeley at 1499 University Ave. (at Sacramento Street). BFD Battalion Chie ..read more
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