The Berkeley Scanner

01/10/2024

DEEP DIVE: Family and friends of Alyx Herrmann came together in Santa Cruz in recent days for a vigil to remember her. We were fortunate to have an exclusive interview with Herrmann's brother this week. She lived a remarkable life.

"She was fearless," her brother Eric told The Scanner this week. "She would uplift everyone around her."

01/09/2024

Kids, don't try this at home: A teenager escaped an armed robbery attempt near UC Berkeley on Monday night by riding away on his scooter, authorities report.

The 19-year-old was riding westbound on Parker Street when the driver pointed a gun with an extended magazine at him, BPD said.

01/09/2024

Burglars broke into Creekwood Restaurant in Berkeley for the second time in about a year, shattering the glass front door and stealing cash from the closed business. Commercial burglaries are spiking in Berkeley.

"It impacts customers’ perception of safety," said Creekwood Restaurant owner Greg Poulios. "People may not come in."

01/07/2024

One man was taken to the hospital Sunday morning and another has been arrested in Berkeley's first shooting of the year, authorities report. The call initially came in as an active shooter report but BPD determined that was not the case. Here's what we know.

The call initially came in as an active shooter situation. Authorities ultimately determined that was not the case.

01/04/2024

Police officers swept into People's Park overnight and overcame a small protest to secure the site for housing UC Berkeley hopes to build.

Park supporters have staunchly opposed the plans, citing the park's long history as a community space and cultural landmark.

12/29/2023

EXCLUSIVE: In 2009, Steven McCreary set out for San Francisco on his latest ramble. His family never heard from him again. The discovery of McCreary's bones at UC Berkeley's Clark Kerr Campus gave his loved ones a chance this year to reflect on his life. They also hope increased media attention might still help solve the cold case.

"You're thankful that you don't look to see if that's him every time you pass someone on the road," said cousin Larramie Pace.

12/27/2023

A man who had been wanted in connection with several robberies in Berkeley this year is now facing new charges after a car theft last week, according to authorities and court papers.

Dylan McMillian had already been charged with several Berkeley robberies — but he had never been arrested. That changed Thursday.

12/23/2023

Albany police are investigating a break-in at the Solano Avenue CVS where thieves rammed the doors and tried to steal an ATM on Friday morning, authorities report. "The whole country seems to be turning upside down," one witness said.

"Everybody said they were shocked that it's happening in Albany — but the whole country seems to be turning upside down," one witness said.

12/22/2023

Robbers in Berkeley mugged an older woman and her niece on Wednesday night and then went to her house hours later and stole her car, police say. "We’re getting hammered," one man wrote on Nextdoor, of crime in the Claremont neighborhood.

"We’re getting hammered," one community member wrote on Nextdoor, of crime in the neighborhood.

12/21/2023

A clerk at City Lee's Market in South Berkeley has just been charged with committing s*x crimes against a disabled man and a homeless man in separate incidents over the summer, court papers show.

Police say Nafeh Gawbah offered both men work stacking boxes in a back room of the market, which is across from Berkeley Technology Academy.

12/16/2023

Police used less-lethal rounds to take an armed man into custody Saturday afternoon in a busy North Berkeley neighborhood, authorities report.

Police say the man stabbed at the windshield of a cruiser where an officer was sitting at about 2:15 p.m.

12/13/2023

EXCLUSIVE: Fantasy author Diana L. Paxson has begun sharing her story online about being stabbed by a relative at her home in Berkeley on Friday. We spoke to her this afternoon to learn more.

Paxson told The Scanner that what happened Friday had been the culmination of "a series of difficulties" with Byron DeCles over the past year.

12/12/2023

A man who had been wanted by police since Friday in connection with a stabbing in Berkeley that sent two people to the hospital is now in custody, according to booking records.

Byron DeCles, 21, was arrested Tuesday shortly before 4 a.m. on a warrant related to the Berkeley case, jail records show.

12/09/2023

BREAKING: Two people were taken to the hospital with stab wounds Friday night as Berkeley police search for the suspect linked to the attack, authorities report.

The suspect is reportedly a younger relative of the victims and may have a history of mental health issues, as per early reports.

12/08/2023

A month after a Berkeley police officer fatally shot a man during an auto burglary call, BPD released a video overview of what happened. Police say the man was shot after ramming a police car and nearly hitting officers and a detained suspect.

Police say the driver who was killed when a BPD officer shot him had just rammed a police car and nearly hit two officers and a detained suspect.

12/03/2023

In the face of mounting criticism, the Alameda County DA's office has announced that The Berkeley Scanner will now be "welcome" at its press events.

"Emilie Raguso is welcome to attend future press conferences organized by the office of the Alameda County District Attorney," the office said.

12/02/2023

Tonight's full segment on KTVU with reporter Henry Lee re: what's been happening this week after I was refused access to a press conference by DA Pamela Price.

11/30/2023

In recent months, DA Pamela Price's office removed me from her media email list without explanation. This week, she refused to let me into her press conference.

In recent months, Price's office removed me from her media email list without explanation. Today, she refused to let me into her press conference.

11/29/2023

Berkeley police arrested teenage suspects in a stolen car earlier this month with the help of a GPS tracker that's been touted as a safer alternative to police pursuits.

There have been more than 1,200 vehicles stolen in Berkeley in 2023, a 64% increase over last year at this time, according to BPD data.

11/28/2023

EXCLUSIVE: A Rodeo man charged with the carjacking of a Piedmont mother while her baby was in the back seat has also been linked to three Berkeley robberies, including a carjacking, court papers show.

Quran Mabon, 19, has also been charged with three robberies, including a carjacking, in Berkeley this year, court papers show.

11/18/2023

"I feel the entire system failed my child," said Berkeley mother Florence McCrary, of the DA's office under Pamela Price. "They don’t care about the victim at all." Her son Terrence McCrary Jr.'s murder case was just dropped after years of waiting.

"I feel the entire system failed my child," said Berkeley resident Florence McCrary. "They don’t care about the victim at all."

11/17/2023

THE LATEST: Harrowing new details about the hit-and-run crash on Halloween that left a 7-year-old boy with a broken leg and pelvis. Here's what Berkeley is planning to do now. And a community petition for traffic safety is up to almost 15,000 signatures.

"I just grabbed him up onto my body and just held him, screaming," the mother of the boy who was hit said Wednesday. The driver "never stopped."

11/16/2023

A 78-year-old woman is recovering this week after being attacked for no reason by a stranger in downtown Berkeley, according to police and community reports. The alleged assailant, a younger woman, is a documented repeat offender who suffers from serious mental health issues.

Police wrote that Carraway seemed to be "experiencing a psychiatric episode" when she shoved the woman down on Shattuck Avenue.

11/15/2023

EXCLUSIVE: The baby who ingested m**hamphetamine at his Berkeley home last month had just tested positive for drugs days earlier, triggering a suspected child abuse report, court papers show.

Citing the baby's positive test for m**hamphetamine and the recent child abuse report, police described the home situation as unsafe.

11/14/2023

Two Berkeley mothers are calling for stepped-up traffic safety measures after their son was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Halloween night. "Our family, and the other parents and children that were trick or treating with us that night, will never forget the horror," one wrote.

"Our family, and the other parents and children that were trick or treating with us that night, will never forget the horror," one mother wrote.

11/13/2023

The Berkeley Police Association has launched its annual Thanksgiving turkey basket fundraiser and is looking for some help from the community to get to the finish line.

The police association has raised more than $8,000. Organizers say they hope to get a bit more support before Thanksgiving.

11/11/2023

Authorities arrested a juvenile male driver early Thursday morning after a carjacking in Emeryville and subsequent police chase from Brentwood to Berkeley.

The victim, a 34-year-old man, said six male juveniles armed with two guns took his vehicle, Emeryville police said Friday.

11/09/2023

BROOM BUSH NEEDS HELP: A fire over the weekend at Berkeley's Broom Bush Cafe caused an estimated $100,000 in damage and closed the business temporarily, authorities and community members said.

"We're in shock right now and don't know when we can re-open," 16-year-old Grace Jung, daughter of the owners, wrote on GoFundMe.

11/08/2023

Maria Garcia remembers everything that happened on the day she said goodbye to Angel and Jazy, her two oldest sons, for the last time. We recently sat down with her to hear her reflections on the past year. Don't miss our latest deep dive.

She said she hopes the community will help support a BHS scholarship fund that was created by classmates to honor Jazy and Angel.

11/07/2023

THE LATEST: The man who died Monday in a Berkeley police shooting was driving toward an officer and detainee just before it happened, BPD says. Dispatch audio sheds light on what took place and seems consistent with the BPD narrative so far.

Dispatch audio sheds light on what took place and seems consistent with a police narrative released Monday night.