Activity report from the Richmond Police Department

The following information reflects a general overview of activities associated with the Richmond Police Department during the past week.

Northern District
    Officers from the Northern District continued their efforts to curtail the ongoing problems with auto thefts and burglaries. Last week, in two vehicles were impounded, four vehicle stops were made and two citations were issued.
    Officers conducted radar enforcement on Valley View Road, issuing 10 warnings. No citations were issued. This is an on going project to educate the commuting public about speeding along Valley View Road.
    Officer Timothy Gard responded to a home in the 1000 Block of Ventura Avenue to investigate a man with a gun attempting to force entry into a home. The male suspect, reported to be carrying a revolver, was quickly located in front of a house next door to the alleged victim’s residence. He was detained and arrested, safely and without incident. Although no weapon was located, he was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
    Officers Matt Stonebreaker and Tony Mikell conducted a vehicle stop in the 100 block of 37th Street, because the vehicle had no license plates. After smelling a very strong odor of marijuana, the officers elected to search the vehicle. The officers located one pound of Marijuana and $2,500.00 cash, hidden in the car.
    Officers responded to a call about graffiti being placed in the 12000 block of San Pablo Avenue. Due to the nature of this call, and the importance of blight and graffiti control, officers arranged a coordinated response. Responding officers were able to detain and arrest a single male suspect, who was successfully identified by witnesses on the scene. Officers estimated that the suspect caused approximately $27,000 worth of clean-up damage to signs and poles that are the property of the cities of Richmond and El Cerrito. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s office for felony charges.
    Officers responded to a call on the 2400 block of Grant Avenue about an auto burglary that had just occurred. With assistance from an overhead California Highway Patrol helicopter, officers focused on an older model Lincoln Town car leaving the area. The vehicle was found, parked and unoccupied in the 3800 block of Garvin Avenue. Witnesses working with police confirmed that the two occupants of the vehicle entered a nearby house. Although it was subsequently determined that the occupants of the vehicle had nothing to do with the original burglary call, the vehicle was confirmed as stolen from the city of Piedmont. Both occupants were arrested for vehicle theft.

Southern District
    Officers responded to an audible alarm from a business in the 4900 block of Central Avenue. The first responder discovered the front window smashed with entry possible. No loss was determined.
    Officer Tod Opdyke assisted Richmond Public Works and Cal Trans with a suspicious oil spill on the I-580 off-ramp to Richmond Parkway. Although no tractor trailer was found on scene, the spill extended east from the exit to the area of Market Avenue and Rumrill Blvd. Absorbent materials were placed onto the roadway, along the entire stretch.
    Citizens complained about a property located in the 100 block of South 4th Street, illegally working on cars outside of the building. The complaints included such things as body work, painting, and prostitution activity in and around the building. Lieutenant Mike Booker and Sergeant Darren Monahan worked together to have the business at that location close down thus eliminating the problem.

Central District
    Officers Bill Cantrell and Joe Avila were sent to the 100 block of 2nd Street after receiving a report of a man with a gun. When they arrived, they saw a male subject run from the area. A lengthy foot pursuit ensued with the assistance of Star 2, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Helicopter. Officers were eventually able to take him into custody. Police K-9 Arrow assisted with the arrest of the suspect and a firearm was recovered.
    North Richmond – Officers Nathan Lonso and Mario Chesney stopped a known individual for driving on a suspended license. The individual, on probation for narcotics violations, was found to be in possession of 16 rocks of cocaine. While in custody, Detective Terry Miles of the Homicide Unit, chose this opportunity to interview the suspect on a previous homicide from August, 2006. Information gathered through this interrogation allowed Detective Miles to arrest this same suspect in connection with that case. Charges are pending.
    Sgt. Dave Harris (Southern District Supervisor) affected a pedestrian stop on 23rd Street near Macdonald Avenue. After conducting a warrant check on the individual, it was learned that he had an outstanding narcotics warrant. The suspect fled upon hearing that information.. Following a short foot chase, the suspect was taken into custody by Officer Tracy Mollenbernd. This same suspect had a previous history of graffiti vandalism and is believed to be responsible for “tagging” the area in and around the Richmond Police Activities League center.
    Officer Nathan Lonso spotted a Toyota Camry driving in the lower Macdonald Avenue area. This vehicle matched the description of a stolen car from earlier in the day. The vehicle was stopped at Macdonald Avenue and 7th Street and the driver was arrested without incident.

School District
• Officer Eddie Russell took 10 winners of an essay contest from his Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) class, from Peres Elementary School, to the Giants game May .
• Officer Larry Lewis took several Richmond Police Activities League participants to the Giants game May 5. This event is sponsored by Richmond Chevron.
• 28 WCCUSD students shared $50,000 in scholarship funds through a scholarship program, sponsored by RPAL, in collaboration with our Richmond Police Officers Association, Guardians of Justice, Latino Police Officers Association and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.