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Directory of Prior Reports

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On February 2nd, 2005 officers responded to the residence of Steven Ronald Bossi a 53 year old male at 1725 Wesley Ave. on report of a no breathing female. Bossi’s 44 year old girlfriend was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers conducting the investigation into the death located a small amount of heroin and several rifles in the house. Bossi is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms. A search warrant was obtained for the residence to more completely search for additional drugs. A larger amount of heroin was located elsewhere in the house. Bossi was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

There is no suspected foul play in the death of Bossi’s girlfriend.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 28th, 2005 at 1948 hours and officer stopped a motorcycle for vehicle code violations at Hill St and San Pablo Ave. during the contact it was determined that the driver, Nicholas Moss, a 40 year old San Anselmo resident had an arrest warrant for drug charges in Marin county. A search incident to his arrest located a small quantity of methamphetamine in his coat pocket. Moss was issued a court date for the Marin County offense and released on the new possession of a controlled substance charges pending lab tests on the drugs.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 27th, 2005 at 1550 hours an officer made a enforcement stop on a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee for a vehicle code violation. The vehicle stopped and the officer determined that no one in the car had a valid driver’s license. The officer located a license plate in the car that showed the vehicle had been stolen in Vallejo over a year ago. The license plate actually on the car belonged on a different car. The three occupants of the car were arrested for motor vehicle theft. Stephen Marcel Johnson II a 19 year old Oakland resident and two Oakland juveniles were transported to El Cerrito Police Department for booking. The three were released pending additional investigation into the status of the car.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Ken Zink: (510) 215-4422.

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On February 25th, 2005 at 0340 hours officers responded to 2607 Mira Vista Dr. for a small marijuana in-door cultivation case. The marijuana had been discovered by the El Cerrito Fire Department when a water main break in the street flooded the residence. The Fire department had entered the house to pump out the water when they smelled the marijuana. The residents attempted to dispose of the marijuana and claimed the marijuana was for personal use. A search warrant for the residence was obtained and during the search, officers located two assault weapons, a bullet proof vest, and a large amount of cash and marijuana plants in various stages of growth. The plants were being grown in an extensive hydroponics setup. The two residents of the house, Carrie Butterfield Pinkerton a 21 year old El Cerrito resident and Nicholas Alexander Roman, a 20 year old El Cerrito resident were arrested for cultivation and possession for sales of Marijuana, Possession of hashish and possession of assault weapons. They were both transported to the county jail. Charges will be sought through the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 24th, an officer responded to the T-Mobile store at 3030 El Cerrito Plaza on report of several counterfeit 100 dollar bills that had been passed by a customer. The investigating officer also took a report next door at the Silver Screen Video Store at 3010 El Cerrito Plaza. An identical counterfeit bill had been passed at the store on the same day. The suspect returned to the T-Mobile store when his phone was disconnected. The officer placed him under arrest and learned that Martin Adrow, a 42 year old Oakland resident was on Parole. He was transported to the El Cerrito Police Department for booking. The Secret Service was contacted regarding the bills and two agents responded to assist in the investigation. Adrow was transported to the county on two counts of burglary. The charges wil be sought through the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On Tuesday, February 22nd, at approximately 1815 hours officers responded to Copeland’s Sports (300 El Cerrito Plaza) to investigate a report of a shoplift that had occurred. During the investigation it was determined that the suspect, Malik Donald Fountaine, a 30-year-old resident of Oakland, left the store with $50 worth of stolen clothing. When confronted outside the business, Fountaine struck a Copeland’s Loss Prevention Agent causing injury.

Fountaine, on active parole, was booked on a felonious charge of strong armed robbery. Additionally, a parole hold was obtained from the California Department of Corrections before Fountaine was delivered to the Contra Costa County Detention Facility in Martinez.

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

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Sergeant Shawn Maples: (510) 215-4423.

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On Sunday, February 20th, at 1520 hours, officers investigated a screaming woman at the intersection of San Pablo Ave and Manila Ave. It was determined that the woman had been struck in the face by her boyfriend. Robert Arreola, a 36 year old male from Richmond was arrested for causing a visible injury to his girlfriend. The injury did not require hospitalization.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On Friday, February 18, 2005 at 2030 hours officers responded to Copeland’s at 300 El Cerrito Plaza on report of a shoplifter in custody. Store security had observed the suspect stealing a pair of shoes and placed him under arrest. When the officer transported Kenneth Andrew Jackson, a 20 year old Richmond male to the police department for booking a review of his record showed that he had two outstanding arrest warrants, was on probation for burglary and had had previous convictions for theft. He was booked and transported to the county jail. Charges of Theft with prior convictions will be sought through the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 18th, 2005 at 1223 hours a traffic officer observed a 1996 Saturn fail to stop at a stop sign at Arlington Blvd. and Moeser Ln. As the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, it accelerated away from the officer. As the officer pursued the vehicle, it collided into a protective pillar in the 1700 block of Arlington Blvd. The driver attempted to flee the scene on foot but was arrested by the initial officer. The car was determined to have been stolen in Kensington shortly before the pursuit began. The driver, Joel Barajas a 30 year old male from Richmond was booked on charges of motor vehicle theft. He was transported to county jail.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 16th, 2005 an officer responding to Target, located at 11450 San Pablo Ave, stopped a woman as she left the store. She matched the description of a forgery suspect in the store. It was determined through the investigation, that the woman, Dianna Nevada Lucas, a 37 year old Richmond resident had used a counterfeit driver’s license in the victim’s name in an attempt to open a charge account at the Target store. Lucas had the personal information of two victims, including their names, social security numbers, and dates of birth, addresses, occupations, salaries and previous addresses. Lucas was released pending additional investigation. Charges of identity theft, burglary and forgery will be sought through the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Paul Keith: (510) 215-4420.

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On February 16th, 2005 an officer stopped two individuals on a single bicycle for traffic violations. A records check revealed one had a warrant for his arrest. They were found to be in possession of several victim’s mail and checks. One had a small amount of methamphetamine on his person. Yacine Gana, a 23 year old El Cerrito male and Eduardo Espinoza, a 19 year old Berkeley male were arrested for possession of stolen property and methamphetamine. Gana was released pending further investigation and contact with all of the victims. Espinoza was transported to the county jail on the outstanding warrant for his arrest on an Oakland PD warrant for brandishing a weapon.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Paul Keith: (510) 215-4420.

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On February 16th, 2005 the El Cerrito Police received a report of employee embezzlement from the Marshall’s store located at 10794 San Pablo Ave. Rickie Lynn Harris, a 36 year old female from Richmond was arrested for stealing $550 dollars from her register over several days. Harris was released from custody pending review by the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On Monday, February 14th at approximately 2015 hours officers responded to an apartment in the 1400 block of Liberty St in El Cerrito on report of a car jacking. It was determined that a suspect forced his way into an apartment at gun point and robbed the two residents. One of the residents was subsequently raped at gun point. The suspect took property belonging to both victims. The suspect left the scene in the victim’s car. Detectives conducting follow up investigation located the vehicle unoccupied in an area search in Richmond.

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On Sunday, February 14th, 2005 a victim made a report at the El Cerrito Police Department about the fraudulent usage of his credit card on February 13th. The victim had mistakenly left his Visa card at the Baskin Robins ice cream store. He had returned a half an hour later and picked it up. When he tried to use the card the next day the purchase was denied as the card had been frozen due to possible fraud. The victim learned that someone had made over $2600 worth of purchases on the internet. The investigating officer was able to determine that an employee at the ice cream store had copied the credit card number down and had then used the information to make purchases on the internet. The employee arrested was a 17 year old male from Richmond. He was booked and released to his parents. The case will be forwarded to the Juvenile Probation Department for prosecution.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 11th, 2005 at 0915 hours officers received a complaint of several juveniles loitering in Cerrito Vista Park across from the Portola Middle school. A group of students was contacted in the park by officers. The students were detained after they tried to flee on foot. One of the juveniles, a 17 year old Richmond resident and El Cerrito High school student was found to be in possession of marijuana packaged for sales, over $100 in various denominations. He was arrested and charged with Possession for sales of marijuana. He was released to the custody of his parents. The case will be forwarded to the juvenile probation department for prosecution.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 9th, 2005 officers responded to the Target Store located at 11450 San Pablo Ave on report of an shop lifter in custody. The store loss prevention personnel had arrested Christopher George Blake, a 29 year old El Sobrante man for shop lifting. Blake had placed items worth $995 into a duffle bag and left the store without paying. Blake is currently on Parole and was sent to the county jail on a charge of Grand Theft. Charges will be sought through the District Attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 9th, 2005 officers responded to the apartment complex located at1726 Lexington Ave and arrested Christina Maria Cranshaw on an outstanding felony arrest warrant for possession and manufacturing of methamphetamine. She was transported to the county jail.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On Sunday, February 6th, 2005 at 0730 hours An officer stopped a vehicle for mechanical violations at the Nation’s Hamburger parking lot located at 6060 Central Ave. During the stop it was learned that the vehicle had been reported as stolen to the CHP on 2-5-05. The driver, Ronald Gray Jr., a 29 year old San Pablo resident was arrested without incident. An 18 year old passenger was detained and released. He was transported to the County Jail in Martinez. Charges of Motor Vehicle theft will be sought through the District Attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Ken Zink: (510) 215-4422.

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On Saturday, February 5th, 2005 officers stopped a 1991 Oldsmobile that had been reported as stolen to Oakland PD on 1-31-05. The driver, Nicolas Samaniego a 18 year old San Pablo resident and his passenger, Tracie Bechard a 18 year old El Cerrito resident were arrested for motor vehicle theft and possession of a stolen/loaded firearm. A revolver found in Bechard’s purse had been reported stolen to the San Pablo police in July of 2004. Bechard was released from custody when the investigation showed that the gun had been placed in the purse by Samaniego.

Samaniego was transported to the county jail in Martinez. Charges will be sought through the District Attorney’s office.

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On February 13th, 2005 an officer completed his investigation of an identity theft by arresting Frisco Ornell Amos, an 18 year old Richmond resident for making over $3300 in jewelry purchases and $4000 in cash advances on a fraudulently obtained credit card. The officer was able to recover some of the jewelry and cash. Amos was released pending further investigation. Charges will be sought through the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Paul Keith: (510) 215-4420.

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On Friday, February 4th, 2005 at 0125 in the morning officers responded to the 6900 block of Wilson Way on report of a suspect trying to break into a Toyota 4-Runner. The suspect was located a short distance from the vehicle and detained. The neighbor witness positively identified the suspect and he was taken into custody for attempted burglary. Marcus Gerald Grantham, a 44 year old Richmond transient was transported to the county jail in Martinez on charges of attempted burglary and an outstanding warrant for his arrest for burglary and possession of burglary tools. Charges will be sought through the District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 2nd, 2005 officers responded to the Target Store on report of a suspect in custody for using a stolen credit card. Michael Scott Luoma, a 33 year old male from El Cerrito was arrested after he purchased over $1100 in electronic items with a credit card stolen from a car in Berkeley earlier in the day. Luoma abandoned the property he had purchased and a bag containing a controlled substance in the store’s bathroom when he saw a El Cerrito PD officer in the store on an unrelated case. Luoma was booked on charges of using the stolen credit card and possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the County Jail in Martinez. Charges are being sought through the District Attorney’s Office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Corporal Donald Horgan: (510) 215-4418.

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On February 11th, 2005 officers arrested Aaron Onasis Newsome with a warrant obtained on January 25th, 2005 for a strong-arm robbery that occurred at Manila Ave. and Everett Ave on January 22nd, 2004. Newsome, a 19 year old Richmond resident was arrested and transported to the county jail. The investigation showed that Newsome and two others attacked a 47 year old Asian male as he walked home. The man was thrown to the ground and punched and kicked. A duffle bag and a cellular phone were taken from him during the attack. The bag was found discarded nearby. A check of the stolen cell phone records led the investigation to Newsome. Charges are being sought through the district attorney’s office.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Ken Zink: (510) 215-4422.

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On February 11th, 2005 El Cerrito PD officers arrested Noel Bailen, a 39 year old male from San Rafael on an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The warrant was for an incident occurring in August of 2004 at the Target store at 11450 San Pablo Ave. Bailen had presented a counterfeit driver’s license in an attempt to fraudulently return a television for cash. Several other Counterfeit licenses with various names were located by store security. Bailen fled in a car. After various attempts to locate Bailen were unsuccessful, a warrant for his arrest was obtained.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this incident should be referred to Detective Paul Keith: (510) 215-4420.