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Directory of Prior Reports

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On 10/31/2004, at approximately 2121 hours, Officer Tang was dispatched to investigate a taxi cab that was parked on Eastshore Boulevard near Potrero. Officer Tang located the aforementioned vehicle and observed a man sleeping in the back seat. The sleeper contended that he was napping while waiting for the last four hours for the driver to return. While searching for vehicle registration information, Officer Tang located a box between the front seats and upon opening it, located a 9mm handgun.

Arrested was Jaskirat S. Boparai, a 30-year-old and homeless. During booking, Officer Tang searched Boparai’s front coin pant pocket and located several pieces of a crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Boparai was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on a felonious charge of drug possession and possession of a concealed handgun before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Boparai with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419

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On 10/31/2004, at approximately 2007 hours, Officer Hoffman arrived at Albertson’s pursuant to a report of a shoplifter in-custody. Albertson’s alleged that a subject walked into the grocery store and proceeded to the liquor aisle and began to select and conceal seven bottles of alcohol and placed them into a back pack. The suspect exited the store without making payment and was detained by security.

Arrested was Jose Bernardo Garcia, a 27-year-old resident of Richmond. Garcia was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on a felonious charge of theft with priors before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Garcia with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419

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On 10/30/2004, at approximately 1646 hours, officers from this department were dispatched to a hit and run that just occurred near the intersection of Pomona Avenue and Moeser Lane. The silver Dodge Durango fled into Albany and was pursued by a witness who directed officers via his cell phone. The driver abandoned the vehicle at the end of Behrens Street, north of Brighton (Albany). The witness continued to follow the suspect pedestrian until Albany Police detained him at the intersection of Portland and Evelyn.

According to the witness, the suspect had collided with a parked vehicle in front of 7002 Moeser Lane. The suspect got out, inspected the damage and returned to his vehicle before driving off without leaving a note.

The suspect confessed that he had stolen the Durango from a car lot in Oakland (Connell Dodge). Arrested was Nino Anthony Ambrogio, a 40-year-old resident of Oakland. Ambrogio was booked on a felonious charge of auto theft and a misdemeanor count of hit and run and driving without a license before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Ambrogio with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Zink: (510) 215-4422

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On 10/30/2004, at approximately 1600 hours, Officer Doty arrested Michael David Rogers after finding him asleep inside a residence located in the 900 block of King Drive. The interesting thing is that Rogers does not live there. Rogers forced entry into the home and apparently took up residency there while the victim was away.

Rogers was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on a felonious charge of residential burglary before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Rogers with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/30/2004, at approximately 0830 hours, Officer Stanich was dispatched to a subject who stealing items from Walgreen’s. Upon her arrival, the suspect was being detained a short distance away by Officer Barawed. A witness/employee responded and identified the suspect and the stolen cameras which had been concealed inside a bag.

Arrested was Eric Odell Traylor, a 46-year-old resident of Oakland. Traylor was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on a felonious charge of 2nd degree burglary before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Traylor with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419

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On 10/28/2004, detectives from this agency, working with California State Parole, located and detained a parolee for suspicion for counterfeiting Cal ID Cards. He was taken into custody at the Concord Parole Office and soon after was driven to his residence in Hercules where additional evidence was collected pursuant to a parole search..

Arrested was Marcus Benford, a 37 year-old resident of Hercules. Benford was booked on a parole hold along with a new charge of counterfeiting. He was later delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Benford with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Keith: (510) 215-4420.

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On 10/27/2004, at approximately 1240 hours, a sequence of criminal events transpired that ultimately resulted in the arrest of 5 subjects for suspicion of car-jacking, auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of burglary tools.

The origin of these crimes began when 4 students from Kennedy High School cut class and walked to El Cerrito where they stole a Honda Accord from the 1600 block of Lexington Avenue. After some driving, the car they had stolen began to have engine problems.

This caused them to travel to the Pacific East Mall in Richmond to search for another car. They came upon another red Honda in the parking lot. Two suspects got out and walked around the car with one acting as a lookout. One suspect used a shaved key to enter the car and start it when the car owner returned and realized what was happening. The suspect backed out of the parking stall and was confronted by the owner who stood in front of the car and screamed at the suspect to stop. The suspect drove forward, colliding with the owner and knocked him to the ground before he fled out of the parking lot toward San Diego Street (El Cerrito).The other three suspects fled in the other Honda and traveled to the south east end of El Cerrito.

Coincidentally, Traffic (Motorcycle) Sergeant Regan, who was monitoring traffic at the intersection of Belmont and San Diego, observed the red Honda run a stop sign and made a traffic enforcement stop. When Sergeant Regan approached the driver, he quickly realized that the car was running, yet there was no key in the ignition. Suspecting that the car had been stolen, Sergeant Regan detained the juvenile driver and shortly after discovered that the car had been stolen in a car-jacking from the Pacific East Mall.

Richmond P. D. arrived and took custody of the suspect and the vehicle was returned to the owner. R.P.D. case # 2004-105292

While the above events are transpiring, El Cerrito Police Officers are investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle which was overheating. A witness called and reported that four Hispanic male juveniles had abandoned the suspicious vehicles and were now walking down (westbound) on Moeser Lane. The four suspects were detained and later taken into custody and the vehicle was towed until the owner could be notified.

Arrested were four male juveniles, 14-16 years of age. Three were residents of Richmond and one from Emeryville. One suspect was released to a parent after questioning when it was determined that he had been picked up after the car-jacking incident. The other three were booked for auto theft and delivered to Juvenile Hall in Martinez.

The El Cerrito Police Department will coordinate this case along with Richmond P.D.’s investigation and submit them to Deputy District Attorney Jim Pico of the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office-Juvenile Division for disposition.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Corporal Pierson: (510) 215-4418.

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On 10/26/2004, at approximately 0513 hours, Officer Hoffman was dispatched to an alarm at 10690 San Pablo Avenue (El Cerrito Medical Group). Upon his arrival, Officer Hoffman contacted a subject that identified himself as an employee and claimed that he had accidentally set off the alarm. Officer Hoffman asked the subject for identification and conducted a warrant check. Dispatch advised that the subject was wanted by Santa Clara County for a felony narcotics violation.

Arrested was Kardell Sye Moore, a 37-year-old resident of El Cerrito. Moore was booked on his felony warrant and also for cocaine possession when additional drugs were found in his possession. Upon completion of booking, Moore was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Moore with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419

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On 10/19/2004, at approximately 1135 hours, Officer Wong was detailed to the area of San Pablo Avenue and Cutting Boulevard (northeast corner) to investigate a report of a subject stealing money from a self-pay parking machine. According to information received by a witness, the suspect was using a metal wire to extract coin and paper currency from the machine.

Officer Caputo was first to arrive and located the suspect standing next to the machine. A wire was located on the ground next to the suspect along with pieces of ripped up currency. The witness confirmed that police had the right person detained.

Arrested was John Clifford Brady, a 41-year-old resident of San Francisco. Brady was booked on a felonious charge of theft with priors and possession of a hypodermic and was released per citation.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Brady with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/25/2004, at approximately 0115 hours, Corporal Garman conducted a vehicle registration check on a car that was migrating through the Jack~in~the~Box drive-thru. A DMV check revealed that the car had been reported stolen out of Oakland. The vehicle made a right turn onto eastbound Cutting Boulevard and continued onto southbound San Pablo Avenue where a stop was initiated. The driver, and sole occupant, was taken into custody for auto theft.

Arrested was Reisha Ranae Hill, a 24-year-old resident of Richmond. Hill was booked on a felonious charge of grand theft auto before she transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Hill with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/24/2004, at approximately 0147 hours, Officer Leone was dispatched to Jack-in-the-Box for a reported theft of food. According to a customer, she had paid for her food and was having it handed to her in the drive-thru window when the suspect intercepted the bag of fast food and fled on foot. According to a “Jack” employee, the suspect actually reached inside, through the window, grabbed her wrist and took the bag from her hand. The suspect was located and arrested a short distance away by police.

Arrested was David B. Brouton, a 33-year-old resident of Novato. Brouton was booked on a felonious charge of strong armed robbery before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against the Brouton with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/23/2004, at approximately 1810 hours, Officer Caputo was dispatched to Target for a shoplift detail. According to Target Loss Prevention, a subject entered the store at approximately 1700 hours when he was recognized as a person who committed a theft earlier in the day. The suspect was observed concealing two radios inside his pants pockets and exit without payment. Loss Prevention contacted the suspect and escorted him back inside the store without incident.

Arrested was Warren Eugene Ratliff, a 47-year-old resident of Richmond. Ratliff was booked on a felonious charge of 2nd degree burglary before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against the Ratliff with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/23/2004, at approximately 0002 hours, Officer Leone was dispatched to an interrupted auto burglary in front of 8178 Terrace Drive. The suspects stole a car stereo and fled westbound on Terrace in a brown Chevy pickup. While responding, Officer Leone observed the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on Stockton Avenue. The vehicle was stopped, the two occupants arrested and the stolen stereo recovered.

Arrested were Jesus Enrique Aguilera, 19, Richmond and Santiago Miranda Caballero, 21, San Pablo. Both were booked on a felonious charge of 2nd degree burglary before they were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Caballero and Aguilera with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/21/2004, at approximately 1239 hours, Officer Bell stopped a bicyclist near the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Wall Avenue for not wearing a helmet. During the stop, a consensual search of the bike rider revealed the presence of a wooden baton in a front pouch of his jacket. A later search during booking uncovered a smoking pipe inside the suspect’s pant leg.

Arrested was Lawrence Clifford McGlory, a 46-year-old resident of Richmond. McGlory was booked on a felonious charge of possessing a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia before he was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against the McGlory with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/20/2004, at approximately 1136 hours, Officer Wong arrested Mario Arturo Castillo, a 35-year-old resident of El Cerrito for possession of suspected methamphetamine during a traffic stop in the 3300 block of Belmont Avenue. The suspected drugs were located during a search that was a condition of the bicyclist’s probation.

Castillo was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on drug possession and released pending laboratory analysis.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Castillo with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Keith: (510) 215-4420.

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On 10/19/2004, at approximately 1715 hours, officers from this department were detailed to El Cerrito’s Guitar Center where reportedly three subjects were attempting to sell stolen items. The item in question was recognized by a store employee as a custom component system that the Guitar Center created for the Resurrection AME Church in Richmond. Additionally, the church had contacted the Guitar Center earlier to alert them to the possibility that someone may attempt to pawn the system at their store.

Arrested were Frank Lawrence Robinson, 31, Richmond, Reggie Robert Kittell Jr., 30, Stockton, and Dewayne Antoine Robinson, 34, Richmond. All three were booked on a variety of felonious charges including possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and false impersonation. All three were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against the Robinsons and Kittell Jr. with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/17/2004, at approximately 1830 hours, Officer Shipp was detailed to Target for a shoplifter in custody. According to a Target employee, the suspect selected four watches and concealed them inside his jacket pocket. The suspect proceeded to exit the store without making payment and was apprehended.

Arrested was Michael Maurice Scott, a 41-year-old resident of Richmond. Scott was booked on felonious charges of theft with priors before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against Scott with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/17/2004, at approximately 0430 hours, Officer Tang stopped a bicyclist for equipment violations near the intersection of San Diego Street and Santa Clara Avenue. During a consent search, Officer Tang located a loaded syringe that contained suspected methamphetamine. The bicyclist was taken into custody and transported to the El Cerrito Police Department where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance before he was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Arrested was Joseph John Rivard, a 30-year-old transient.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against Rivard with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/16/2004, at approximately 1841 hours, officers from this department were dispatched to a fight in front of Albertson’s at the El Cerrito Plaza. Upon their arrival, officers recognized a Loss Prevention employee from Albertson’s standing over who turned out to be a shoplifter. According to the employee, the suspect had been inside the grocery store where he observed him conceal several items inside his pant and jacket pockets. When the suspect left the store, the employee apprehended him following some resistance.

Arrested was Joseph Michael Greg McGuffy, a 46-year-old transient. McGruffy was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on a charge of theft with priors before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a complaint against McGruffy with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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On 10/15/2004, at approximately 1503 hours, Officer Barawed was dispatched to Albertson’s to investigate a reported shoplifter in custody. According to Albertson’s, a subject was detained after he left the grocery store a variety of stolen food items valued at approximately $15.00.

Arrested was Luc Cam, a 35-year-old resident of San Francisco. Cam was booked on a felonious charge of theft with priors before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department submitted this case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and obtained a felony complaint against Cam.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Zink: (510) 215-4422.

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On 10/13/2004, at approximately 1339 hours, Officer Wong arrested Frank Rutherford Woodward, a 48-year-old resident of El Cerrito for possession of suspected methamphetamine during a suspicious call. The encounter with Rutherford occurred after officers were dispatched to 2604 Tulare for a possible, in progress residential burglary.

Woodward was contacted and searched by Officer Wong and the suspected controlled substance was located. Woodward was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on drug possession and released pending laboratory analysis.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek complaints against Woodward with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Keith: (510) 215-4420.

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On 10/13/2004, at approximately 0033 hours, Officer Barr stopped a ’94 Nissan Sentra for an equipment violation. The vehicle stopped in the parking lot of 2614 Arlington Boulevard. As Officer Barr made his approach to the driver’s door, the vehicle quickly reversed, nearly striking him (Officer Barr) and collided with the front of his patrol car. The vehicle fled west on Barrett Avenue and was quickly located, abandoned, in the 2600 block of Tamalpais Drive. The vehicle had been stolen out of Richmond.

An area search was conducted with the assistance of Richmond P.D. K-9 Officer Hill and his dog, Nero. The suspect (driver) and passenger were located on the side of 2690 Tamalpais. Arrested were: Ryan Ray Vowiell, a 19-year-old resident of El Sobrante and a 16-year-old female resident of San Pablo.

Vowiell was booked on a variety of felonious charges including auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of stolen property before he was delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility. The female juvenile was booked similarly with an additional charge of drug possession due to methamphetamine that was located during a search. The juvenile was released to a family member.

The El Cerrito Police Department will submit this case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Division for disposition of the juvenile.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Corporal Pierson: (510) 215-4418.

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On 10/14/2004, at approximately 1700 hours, a 15-year-old female student from El Cerrito High School was taken into custody by detectives of the El Cerrito Police Department following an interview where she confessed to lying to police on Tuesday (10/12/2004) when she alleged that she had been kidnapped by two suspects in front of school Monday afternoon.

The female student had alleged that she was confronted by two Hispanic males, 19-20, on school campus who forced her into a car and drove her around for 8 hours before they returned her to El Cerrito. During her re-interview, the juvenile admitted that she lied to police because she cut school with a friend and needed an excuse to account for her absence from school and home.

The El Cerrito High School student and resident of Richmond, was booked on a charge of making a false police report and was released to her father.

The El Cerrito Police Department will submit this case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Division for disposition.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Corporal Pierson: (510) 215-4418.

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On 10/11/2004, at approximately 1455 hours, Officer Wentworth was dispatched to Target to investigate two shoplifters in custody. According to a Target security guard, a subject entered the store that he recognized as committing a theft from the Pinole store. The subject and his female companion were observed selecting a shopping cart and make their way to the bedding department. There the female selected a “bed-in-a-bag” bedding set and placed it into the cart. The female then selected a table cloth from a nearby display and concealed it inside the bedding item bag. Additional items were selected by both subjects. Also selected was a comforter that the two presented for a refund after producing an old receipt for the same item. The two subjects paid for some items, failed to pay for others and left the store. The two were detained outside the store and escorted to the security office.

Arrested were James Milton Hannah, 24 and Debra Ann Mitchell, 44, both residents of Richmond. Both Hannah and Mitchell were booked at the El Cerrito Police Department on a felonious charge of theft with priors before they were delivered to the Martinez Detention Facility.

The El Cerrito Police Department will seek a formal complaint against these suspects with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions should be referred to Detective Savko: (510) 215-4419.

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