Features

Cyclist Badly Hurt in Hit-and-Run 

A 20-year-old bicyclist was critically injured Monday morning when she was struck by a tractor-trailer truck at Seventh and Carleton streets. 

Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies said officers responded to a call reporting the accident, and after a brief search found the injured woman, who was rushed to Highland Hospital, where she was reported in critical condition. 

Officers searched for the truck and found it minutes later. The driver, Manuel Chamorro, who turns 43 on Christmas Day, was arrested on a charge of felony hit-and-run, Okies said.  

One Hurt in Berkeley-Oakland Shootings  

Police are investigating a series of weekend shootings in South Berkeley which left one youth injured and neighbors angered. 

Officer Okies said the first incident was reported at 7:21 p.m. Friday at the southwest corner of Oregon and Sacramento streets. 

A teenager sitting at a bus bench was struck in the leg by a single gunshot wound to the leg. 

Neither the victim nor any neighbors reported seeing anything of the shooter or the get-away car. 

The second round of gunshots was reported 82 minutes later near 62nd and Market streets. Officers arriving at the scene found only broken glass.  

The third incident was reported at 7:53 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Ward Street, said Officer Okies. 

Arriving at the scene, officers found a gunshot-ventilated vehicle and a witness who described shots coming from a champagne-colored 2000 or later Ford Intrepid with three passengers. 

No suspects have been arrested in any of the shootings. 

No Luck for the Luck 

A strong-arm bandit walked into the Luck Restaurant at 1428 San Pablo Ave. shortly before 9 p.m. Friday and walked out the with cash. 

Face-puncher Grabs Loot 

A bandit with a wicked hook slugged a hapless citizen at the Mi Tierra Market on San Pablo Avenue in West Berkeley shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday and absconded with his cash. 

Bashers Busted 

Two young adults and a juvenile were arrested for the battery and robbery of a 19-year-old man they robbed of his bag near the corner of College and Durant avenues just before 3 Saturday morning. 

Carjackers Sought 

Berkeley police are looking for four men in the early to mid 20s who pulled a gun on a motorist at Seventh Street and Ashby Avenue about 9:30 Saturday morning and forced him to drive them to Oakland, where they robbed him and made off with his car. 

Juvie Heister Popped 

Police arrested a juvenile male for the strong-arm robbery of a citizen in the 2000 block of Bancroft Way at 3 p.m. Saturday. 

Pizza Driver Robbed 

Three juvenile bandits robbed a pizza delivery man near Acton Street and University Avenue at 9 p.m. Sunday. Officers arrived on the scene fast enough to arrest all three, who were then assigned new quarters at Juvenile Hall. 

Better Watch Out! 

Officer Okies admonished Berkeley drivers to curb their tippling over the current holiday season. 

Police are out in force, as several motorists discovered when they ran into a checkpoint on University Avenue Friday night. Three revelers were sobered up by arrests for driving under the influence, and still others were cited for driving on expired or suspended licenses. 

It’s all part of the Avoid the 21 campaign now underway county wide, designed to curb drunk driving during the Dec. 17 through Jan. 3 holiday period, said the officer. 

“There will be more DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout,” Okies said..