Man Robs Student, Victim Chases Robber, Cop Chases Victim — and Then an Arrest

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of strong-arm robbery Monday, April 29, after a chase that led the suspect, the victim and a University of California Police officer into the Downtown Berkeley BART Station on Shattuck Avenue, police said.

A UC Police Department bulletin said the incident began about 10:05 a.m. Monday when a 23-year-old UC Berkeley student was texting on his cell phone near the intersecction of Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way.

A man grabbed the phone and fled, with the victim chasing him, police said.

A UCPD officer driving a patrol car on Shattuck saw the two men run into an intersection, where the suspect turned around and threw punches at the victim, police said.

The suspect then ran down into the BART station, again followed by the victim, police said. The officer got out of his patrol car and followed them into the station, where he caught up with the victim and told him to remain where he was.

The officer located the suspect on the lower train platform and arrested him, police said. The suspect was identified as Flavio Villegas.

The victim sustained minor injuries during the incident, police said. His cell phone was recovered and returned to him.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the Berkeley Police Department at (510) 981-5900.