The Berkeley Scanner
@berkeleyscanner.com
Authoritative daily crime and safety news for Berkeley, California. Founder: Emilie Raguso, 2017 SPJ NorCal journalist of the year.
A search is underway near Lake Anza for a missing UC Berkeley student who disappeared Tuesday, according to police and community reports.
Search continues for missing, at-risk UC Berkeley student
Saketh Sreenivasaiah, 22, was reportedly depressed. He has been missing since Tuesday, Berkeley police said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:44 AM
A search is underway near Lake Anza for a missing UC Berkeley student who disappeared Tuesday, according to police and community reports.
A weeks-long cleanup effort at Berkeley's Aquatic Park saw eight people move into motels and the complete removal of area homeless encampments Wednesday, the city reports.
Berkeley clears Aquatic Park homeless encampments
"For the first time in months, Aquatic Park is now entirely encampment-free," the city said. Eight people agreed to move into motels.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:50 AM
A weeks-long cleanup effort at Berkeley's Aquatic Park saw eight people move into motels and the complete removal of area homeless encampments Wednesday, the city reports.
A homeless man linked to several antisemitic hate crimes is in jail again this week after wounding someone during a robbery and vandalizing a UC Berkeley Jewish center, according to court papers.
New Berkeley hate crime case for longtime felon
Police say David Denton struck a man with a rock while robbing him Friday night and then vandalized a Jewish center next to campus.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:54 AM
A homeless man linked to several antisemitic hate crimes is in jail again this week after wounding someone during a robbery and vandalizing a UC Berkeley Jewish center, according to court papers.
Dozens of traffic officers from around Alameda County descended on Berkeley on Wednesday to pull over drivers caught breaking the law in "high-collision areas."
Seeing cops all over Berkeley? It's traffic enforcement
Officers with the High Impact Traffic Team, a countywide collaboration, are stopping drivers all over town.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Dozens of traffic officers from around Alameda County descended on Berkeley on Wednesday to pull over drivers caught breaking the law in "high-collision areas."
BREAKING: The Berkeley City Council voted Monday in closed session to dismiss Hansel Aguilar, the city's beleaguered director of police accountability.
Berkeley to dismiss police watchdog director
Tension has been brewing for months between the City Council and director of police accountability Hansel Aguilar.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:49 AM
BREAKING: The Berkeley City Council voted Monday in closed session to dismiss Hansel Aguilar, the city's beleaguered director of police accountability.
A man who gave a shop clerk a concussion when he attacked her during a robbery last week tried to break into a Berkeley woman's home the next day, authorities report.
Suspect in violent robbery also tied to hot prowl burglary
A 60-year-old shop clerk learned she had a concussion after passing out in the hours after the robbery, Berkeley police said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:18 AM
A man who gave a shop clerk a concussion when he attacked her during a robbery last week tried to break into a Berkeley woman's home the next day, authorities report.
A criminal case centered on a heated conflict that made national headlines last year, between a Trump supporter and an older woman at a Berkeley protest, is now in the jury's hands.
Berkeley 'Tesla Takedown' trial: Jury deliberations ongoing
Video that quickly went viral last year showed Trump supporter Ricardo Ruiz jabbing a stun gun toward several people on Fourth Street.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:46 AM
A criminal case centered on a heated conflict that made national headlines last year, between a Trump supporter and an older woman at a Berkeley protest, is now in the jury's hands.
Two men charged with killing a youth pastor in Berkeley in 2022 were sentenced to prison Thursday after seeing the murder case dropped to manslaughter in the lead-up to trial. We spoke with the victim's sister to learn how the family has been coping.
Youth pastor's family reacts to plea deal in deadly shooting
"They won't make us forget who Eli is, the person he was," his sister told The Scanner in an exclusive interview Thursday night.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Two men charged with killing a youth pastor in Berkeley in 2022 were sentenced to prison Thursday after seeing the murder case dropped to manslaughter in the lead-up to trial. We spoke with the victim's sister to learn how the family has been coping.
UPDATE: Neighbors of an older Berkeley woman who died after a fire broke out in her duplex Wednesday said they had been trying in vain to get her help. "She's very, very alone," one longtime neighbor told The Scanner. "She's just been going downhill for a while."
Fatal Berkeley fire: Before she died, neighbors tried to help
"She's very, very alone," one longtime neighbor told The Scanner. "She's just been going downhill for a while."
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:33 AM
UPDATE: Neighbors of an older Berkeley woman who died after a fire broke out in her duplex Wednesday said they had been trying in vain to get her help. "She's very, very alone," one longtime neighbor told The Scanner. "She's just been going downhill for a while."
BREAKING: A Berkeley woman was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday after a fire broke out in her duplex just south of Strawberry Creek Park.
Woman dead after West Berkeley fire
Firefighters were able to rescue the resident from the home but she was unresponsive and did not survive.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 AM
BREAKING: A Berkeley woman was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday after a fire broke out in her duplex just south of Strawberry Creek Park.
UC Berkeley police have made an arrest in a shooting investigation — with robbery and sex crime allegations — in the Lawrence Hall of Science parking lot in January.
UCPD investigates gunfire, sex crime in UC Berkeley parking lot
Suspect Wilson Argueta Urbina, 26, of Oakland was arrested last week, records show.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:06 PM
UC Berkeley police have made an arrest in a shooting investigation — with robbery and sex crime allegations — in the Lawrence Hall of Science parking lot in January.
A Berkeley Hope Center resident stole several items from an Uber driver Monday when he tried to return a lost phone to the suspect's girlfriend, according to court papers.
Uber driver has wallet, cash snatched while returning phone
Police say suspect Tariq Ahmad reached into the Uber and grabbed several items when the driver tried to return a woman's lost property.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:31 PM
A Berkeley Hope Center resident stole several items from an Uber driver Monday when he tried to return a lost phone to the suspect's girlfriend, according to court papers.
An individual with a knife tried to jump over the counter at a Berkeley business during a robbery Monday night, police report.
Police investigate robbery via knife at Berkeley business
The clerk "suffered minor injuries" but "did not require medical attention," police said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:54 PM
An individual with a knife tried to jump over the counter at a Berkeley business during a robbery Monday night, police report.
A man in his 60s was rushed to Highland Hospital on Saturday night after a driver struck him in a crosswalk at one of Berkeley's busiest intersections, according to police and community reports.
Man struck by driver in Berkeley crosswalk, taken to Highland
When Berkeley police and firefighters arrived, the pedestrian was bleeding from the head but conscious.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:15 AM
A man in his 60s was rushed to Highland Hospital on Saturday night after a driver struck him in a crosswalk at one of Berkeley's busiest intersections, according to police and community reports.
Two longtime members of Berkeley's police oversight board abruptly resigned Friday, citing reform "rollbacks," trouble getting records and reversed misconduct findings.
Police oversight board members resign: PAB has 'been ignored'
Their decision leaves just four members on the nine-member advisory body, which has been plagued by vacancies for much of its tenure.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Two longtime members of Berkeley's police oversight board abruptly resigned Friday, citing reform "rollbacks," trouble getting records and reversed misconduct findings.
The man who died in a recent train strike in Berkeley has been identified as Derrick Donnel Wallace, 33, of Oakland, the coroner's office said this week.
Man killed Monday morning in Berkeley train strike
Update, Jan. 28: The man who died has been identified as Derrick Donnel Wallace, 33, of Oakland, the coroner's office said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:47 PM
The man who died in a recent train strike in Berkeley has been identified as Derrick Donnel Wallace, 33, of Oakland, the coroner's office said this week.
SCOOP: A Berkeley motel will soon house a new diversion program for people coming out of custody. Participants must be nonviolent adults (only misdemeanor arrests). A community meeting comes Thursday.
Berkeley motel will house new post-arrest diversion program
The city hopes the new diversion and reentry program will reduce recidivism. Participants must be nonviolent and need no medical attention.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:07 AM
SCOOP: A Berkeley motel will soon house a new diversion program for people coming out of custody. Participants must be nonviolent adults (only misdemeanor arrests). A community meeting comes Thursday.
Berkeley firefighters extinguished a massive warehouse fire on Second Street early Tuesday morning. Firefighters reported "strange-looking flames" and possible hazardous materials at the site. Don't miss these dramatic photos and videos.
Huge warehouse fire breaks out in Berkeley overnight
Firefighters reported "strange-looking flames" and possible hazardous materials at the site.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Berkeley firefighters extinguished a massive warehouse fire on Second Street early Tuesday morning. Firefighters reported "strange-looking flames" and possible hazardous materials at the site. Don't miss these dramatic photos and videos.
UPDATE: Seawall Drive and Shorebird Park in the Berkeley Marina have re-opened after authorities destroyed hazardous materials with a small explosion Monday afternoon.
Berkeley hazmat: Picric acid destroyed; marina re-opens
The blast — a sharp boom — sent a plume of smoke into the air at about 2:30 p.m.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:34 AM
UPDATE: Seawall Drive and Shorebird Park in the Berkeley Marina have re-opened after authorities destroyed hazardous materials with a small explosion Monday afternoon.
UPDATE: Police plan to dispose of "hazardous and potentially volatile materials" in an empty parking lot at the Berkeley Marina after removing them from a local home Monday.
Berkeley hazmat update: Avoid Seawall drive, Shorebird Park
"Emergency personnel will use the empty parking lot to dispose of hazardous and potentially volatile materials," the city said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:51 PM
UPDATE: Police plan to dispose of "hazardous and potentially volatile materials" in an empty parking lot at the Berkeley Marina after removing them from a local home Monday.
BREAKING: Here's everything we know about the shelter-in-place advisory issued for North Berkeley on Monday morning. We'll continue to monitor the situation.
Berkeley hazmat: Shelter-in-place order on Colusa Avenue
Residents with a block of Colusa and Tacoma avenues "should prepare to be out of the area or inside your home for at least the entire day."
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:18 PM
BREAKING: Here's everything we know about the shelter-in-place advisory issued for North Berkeley on Monday morning. We'll continue to monitor the situation.
Police are investigating a scammer who targeted an elderly Berkeley woman last month by claiming her daughter needed money to get out of jail.
He said her daughter had been in a car crash. It was a scam.
The stranger told the 91-year-old woman "not to tell anyone else about their phone call" — a red flag, Berkeley police said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Police are investigating a scammer who targeted an elderly Berkeley woman last month by claiming her daughter needed money to get out of jail.
UPDATE: A man found dead in the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve earlier this month has been identified as Brian Zanzibar, 55, of Berkeley. We'll try to learn more.
Body found in Claremont Canyon near UC Berkeley
Update, Jan. 23: The man who died has been identified as Brian Zanzibar, 55, of Berkeley.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:09 PM
UPDATE: A man found dead in the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve earlier this month has been identified as Brian Zanzibar, 55, of Berkeley. We'll try to learn more.
Police are investigating gunfire over the weekend in South Berkeley not far from a shooting in the neighborhood earlier in the month. The incident may have begun as a conflict between two women, one of whom reportedly had a knife, authorities said.
Police investigate more gunfire in South Berkeley
The incident may have begun as a conflict between two women, one of whom reportedly had a knife, authorities said.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Police are investigating gunfire over the weekend in South Berkeley not far from a shooting in the neighborhood earlier in the month. The incident may have begun as a conflict between two women, one of whom reportedly had a knife, authorities said.
A blood-stained towel helped police catch a convicted burglar who broke into the home of a Cal football player and his housemates while they slept, according to court papers.
After DNA hit on bloody towel, convicted burglar charged again
Authorities say they have linked Jatinder Pal Singh to at least three "hot prowl" burglaries of occupied homes in the neighborhood near UC Berkeley.
www.berkeleyscanner.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:48 PM
A blood-stained towel helped police catch a convicted burglar who broke into the home of a Cal football player and his housemates while they slept, according to court papers.