Editorials

DEA searches home 

Berkeley police assisted federal Drug Enforcement Agency officers Wednesday morning with the issuance of a search warrant at a home in the 2800 block of Mathews Street. 

Lt. Walt Randall, who heads Berkeley’s Drug Enforcement Unit, said the search turned up one ounce of methamphetamine but no other drugs. No arrests were made, he said. 

Bicyclist robs pedestrian 

A man who rode up behind a woman walking alone at 5 a.m. Monday on Telegraph Avenue near Prince Street threatened and then robbed her. 

He approached her on his bicycle, and threatened to kill her if she didn’t hand over her money. The victim gave him $20 and he rode west on Prince Street. The suspect is described as an African-American male in his 50s, 6 feet tall, 170 pounds, black hair and mustache, wearing a dark brown leather jacket, black pants and brown boots. 

Woman attempts robbery 

A woman in a checkout line Tuesday in Blockbuster Video at 2352 Shattuck Ave. handed the clerk a note demanding money at the same time she lifted her shirt to reveal the butt of a handgun tucked in her waistband. 

The clerk refused to comply, so the would-be-robber began to leave the store, and on her way out she grabbed a video. She left the store without removing the gun from her waistband. 

Berkeley Police Capt. Bobby Miller said she is described as an African-American about 30 years old, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and about 180 pounds. She was wearing a blue bandana over her hair, which was pulled back, a blue or purple plaid jacket and blue jeans. 

Manager keeps cool 

An attempted robbery occurred at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when a man walked into the Walgreens drug store at 1050 Gilman St. and asked to see the manager. He started a conversation with the manager talking about getting a job in the drug store and then he handed the manager a note that said, “I have a deadly weapon take me to the safe.” 

The manager replied, “Do you think I’m scared?” according to Lt. Russell Lopes of the Berkeley Police Department. Then the manager handed the note back to the suspect who turned and walked out of the store. 

The manager followed him for a short time but lost sight of the suspect. 

He said the suspect is an African-American male in his mid-20s, 5 feet, 8 inches tall weighing about 225 pounds. He was wearing a tan fleece long sleeve shirt, blue jeans and a black watch cap. 

He never showed a weapon. 

Men demand money 

A 15-year-old boy was walking on the south side of Addison Street near Milvia Street Wednesday, when three young men about his age or slightly older came up to him and stood around him in a menacing manner. They demanded money and the victim was frightened, said Police Lt. Russell Lopes. He took his wallet out of his pocket and gave it to one of the suspects who took $6 and returned the wallet to the victim. 

Woman attacked in park 

A young woman was accosted by a man at 11 p.m. Wednesday in Willard Park. The suspect was hiding in the bushes in the park when she passed and he confronted her, pointing a gun at her, and taking her wallet. 

She described him as an Asian male about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a black mustache, wearing a dark baseball cap. 

– Daily Planet Staff