> Directory of Prior Press Releases

Please direct questions and inquiries to Detective Corporal Susan Garman (510-215-4418).

Report Number 08-08231

On Wednesday April 30, 2008 at about 3:50 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a forgery in progress at Wells Fargo Bank, at 9800 San Pablo Ave. After an investigation Alberto Robles Hernandez, a 27 year old male resident of San Rafael, was arrested for forgery. Hernandez was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07856

On Monday April 28, 2008 at about noon Officer Jacala arrested Michael Lee Walker, an 18 year old male resident of El Cerrito, after Walker was identified as the person who stole a laptop computer from El Cerrito High School on April 25, 2008. Walker was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07970

On Saturday April 26, 2008 at about 9:21 pm Officer Crowder arrested Frank Smith, a 49 year old male resident of Richmond, after it was determined during a traffic stop that Smith had failed to register as a sexual offender as required by state law. Smith was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07947

On Saturday April 26, 2008 at about 3:08 pm Officer Thepkaysone arrested Robert Martin Avelar, a 37 year old male resident of Richmond, and Daniel Ray Carter, a 39 year old male resident of Richmond, after Avelar and Carter were found in possession of methamphetamine during a probation search. Avelar and Carter were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07917

On Saturday April 26, 2008 at about 2:28 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 6900 block of Stockton Ave. After an investigation Adam Dragland, a 25 year old male resident of El Cerrito, was arrested for assault. Dragland was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07887

On Friday April 25, 2008 at about 8:55 pm Officer Crowder arrested Damon Hopkinson, a 36 year old male resident of Richmond, after Hopkinson was found illegally in possession of ammunition during a pedestrian stop. Hopkinson was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07774

On Wednesday April 23, 2008 at about 6:00 pm an El Cerrito resident returned home and discovered their residence had been burglarized. The resident entered the home and found the burglar still in the house. The burglar brandished a firearm and proceeded to rob the resident. The suspect fled the scene in a silver 2007 Toyota Camry, stolen earlier in the day in Richmond.

During the subsequent investigation the suspect was identified as Andrew Marcus Gonzalez, a 21 year old male resident of Oakland. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Gonzalez in this case. Gonzalez is also wanted in several nearby jurisdictions for a variety of crimes, and the investigation is still continuing.

Note: after the filing of this report the suspect was located and is no longer at large.

Report Number 08-07738

On Tuesday April 22, 2008 at about 11:17 pm Officer Guzman arrested Bradford James Busk, a 52 year old male resident of Oakland, after Busk was found to be driving under the influence of a controlled substance and attempted to fight with officers during a traffic stop. Busk was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07664

On Monday April 21, 2008 at about 5:14 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a theft that just occurred in the 6000 block of Potrero Ave. During the investigation Officer Elder arrested Ricardo Boykin, a 19 year old male resident of Richmond, after Boykin was found in possession of the stolen property. Boykin was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07619

On Monday April 21, 2008 at about 6:55 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the El Cerrito Plaza. After an investigation Donald Ray Hampton, a 49 year old male resident of Vallejo, was arrested for assault. Hampton was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07614

On Monday April 21, 2008 at about 2:18 am Officer Crowder arrested Hector Maldonado Rodriguez, a 26 year old male resident of Richmond, and Rolando Sierra, a 28 year old male resident of Richmond, after the pair were found in possession of burglary tools, possible stolen property and Rodriguez falsely identified himself as another person during a traffic stop. Rodriguez and Sierra were transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07568

On Sunday April 20, 2008 at about 9:15 am Officer Wahrlich arrested Christine Simons, a 43 year old female resident of Concord, after Simons was found in possession of methamphetamine during a traffic stop. Simons was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07539

On Saturday April 19, 2008 at about 9:45 pm Officer Del Prado arrested Christine Talisa Finley, a 26 year old female resident of Oakland, after Finley was found in possession of cocaine during a suspicious person investigation. Finley was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07395/08-07400/08-07401

In response to a recent series of automobile burglaries El Cerrito Police Officers organized a dedicated burglary suppression team, with some Officers assigned to work on bicycles, in an effort to deter thieves and locate the offenders.

On Friday April 18, 2008 at about 1:30 am the team arrested Vanderrick Vickers Jr., a 27 year old male resident of Berkeley, after he was detained during a bicycle stop. Vickers was found to have just committed two automobile burglaries in El Cerrito. Vickers was later implicated in several other recent El Cerrito automobile burglaries. Vickers was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

The investigation into Vickers and the recent automobile burglaries is still on-going. One consistent aspect of the recent burglaries is that each vehicle targeted contained items or containers that were visible and appeared to have value.

Report Number 08-07365

On Thursday April 17, 2008 at about 6:08 pm two juvenile males confronted a citizen on the BART path at Portola Drive and stole his property. Detective Leone investigated the crime and identified the suspects, both juvenile males. Detective Leone then obtained warrants for the arrest of the suspects. On Wednesday July 9, 2008 Fairfield Police Officers located one of the suspects, a fourteen year old male resident of Richmond. The juvenile was arrested and transported to Juvenile Hall pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07386

On Thursday April 17, 2008 at about 9:00 pm an Asian male adult contacted a resident in the 700 block of Kearney Street and gained entry to the home under false pretenses. The male subsequently stole property from the resident. Detective Leone investigated the crime and identified Vern Town Saelee, a 20 year old male resident of Fairfield, as the person responsible for the theft. Detective Leone obtained a warrant for Saelee's arrest.

Report Number 08-07306

On Wednesday April 16, 2008 at about 7:49 pm Officer Chalk arrested Charles Edward Byias, a 60 year old male resident of Richmond, after Byias was found in possession of heroin during a traffic stop. Byias was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07286

On Wednesday April 16, 2008 at about 1:43 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to Portola Middle School, at 1021 Navellier Street, on a report of arson. After an investigation a 14 year old male resident of Richmond was arrested for arson. The male was transported to Juvenile Hall pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07146

On Sunday April 13, 2008 at about 10:32 pm Officer Del Prado arrested Tyrone Rogers Robinson Jr, a 19 year old male resident of El Cerrito, after Robinson was found in possession of a loaded and concealed firearm and an illegal weapon during a traffic stop. Robinson was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07125

On Sunday April 13, 2008 at about 4:44 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to Lucky's, at 1000 El Cerrito Plaza, on a report of shoplifting. After an investigation Major Pitts, a 49 year old male resident of Oakland, was arrested for theft. Pitts was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-07117

On Sunday April 13, 2008 at about 2:33 pm El Cerrito Police Officers responded to Target, at 11450 San Pablo Ave, on a report of shoplifting. After an investigation Elley Calvin Fore III, a 45 year old male resident of Oakland, was arrested for theft. Fore was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06674

On Tuesday April 8, 2008 at about 2:06 am Officer Matsui arrested Jayhe Osmond Smith, a 34 year old male resident of Pleasant Hill, after Smith was found in possession of a controlled substance during a suspicious vehicle investigation. Smith was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06632

On Monday April 7, 2008 at about 11:07 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to a report of a theft at Target, at 11450 San Pablo Ave. After an investigation Marlo Williams, a 39 year old female resident of Daly City, was arrested for possession of stolen property and fraud. Williams was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06592

On Sunday April 6, 2008 at about 6:41 pm Corporal Wong arrested Eric Bernard Scott, a 21 year old male resident of Antioch, after Scott was found in possession of marijuana for sales during a traffic stop. Scott was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06423

On Friday April 4, 2008 at about 1:40 am Officer Chalk arrested Kimelyse Hurley, a 46 year old female resident of Antioch, after Hurley was found in possession of a controlled substance during a traffic stop. Hurley was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06375

On Thursday April 3, 2008 at about 2:25 pm Officer Cooper arrested David Omar Campbell, a 30 year old male resident of Hercules, after Campbell was observed stealing a bicycle from a shopping complex. Campbell was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06367

On Thursday April 3, 2008 at about 11:43 am El Cerrito Police Officers responded to Target, at 11450 San Pablo Ave, on a report of shoplifting. After an investigation Dane Mitchell Lewis, a 21 year old male resident of Richmond, was arrested for theft. Lewis was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

Report Number 08-06234

On Tuesday April 1, 2008 at about 11:06 pm Officer Guzman arrested Candace Nikole Hill, a 22 year old female resident of San Pablo, after Hill was found in possession of marijuana for sales during a traffic stop. Hill was released pending the filing of charges by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.