Resident, Dog Walker Help Nab Burglary Suspect in Berkeley

A Berkeley woman was returning to her Hearst Avenue home on a Friday afternoon when she saw a stranger walking away from her front porch.

The chain of events and arrest that followed, including a police pursuit through Ohlone Park and a timely eye-witness report from a dog walker in the vicinity, is told in the latest edition of the Berkeley Police Department's monthly newsletter.

The department's "Neighborhood Update" newsletter also features a tribute a tribute to Berkeley Police Sgt. Jimmie Rutledge, slain 40 years ago last month in trying to apprehend a prowler, as well as various crime-prevention tips and announcements on upcoming events, like the Aug. 6 National Night Out. Also included are a wanted poster and contact numbers for various police offices and divisions.

Here is the newsletter's account of May 31 incident and arrest:

AUTO BURGLAR CAPTURED

On Friday, May 31st at about 4 pm, a resident was just returning home (1500 block of Hearst Avenue) on-foot when she noticed a man walking away from her home’s front porch. The resident watched the man walk to a neighbor’s home. The resident saw the man ring the doorbell a few times and then check the front door handle. With no answer at the door, the man then walked to her neighbor’s car in the driveway and started peering through the windows. Suspicious of the man, the resident went inside her home and notified BPD.

Arriving in the area first, Officer John Ettare #156 spotted the man walking along the sidewalk on the 1500 block of Hearst Avenue. When Officer Ettare attempted to detain the man, the man ran away—eastbound on Hearst Avenue. Officer Ettare ran after the man as he began to run into Ohlone Park—toward McGee Street. Once on Delaware Street, the man made a quick left (westbound) and hid behind a house. When the man turned on Delaware Street, Officer Ettare lost sight of him. Looking all over for the man, Officer Ettare saw a dog walker and asked them if they saw a man running in the area. The dog walker quickly pointed to a home on Delaware—saying that the man ran behind it.

Officer Ettare then broadcasted this information over the police radio and within minutes—several officers surrounded the home. With a perimeter around the home, Officer Ettare along with a few other officers searched the backyard of the home—where they located and arrested the man.

Subsequent investigation led to his arrest for auto burglary, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, as well as violating his probation (BPD Case #13-30226).

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