Berkeley, California (Thursday, June 25, 2020) - On June 24th at 5:38 am, a passerby reported a suspicious vehicle stopped on University Avenue (just west of Interstate 80) that was on the wrong side of the road—with the engine still running. Inside the vehicle, there appeared to a person in the driver’s seat who was passed out.
When an officer arrived to investigate, the officer found the vehicle still running—with a person in the driver’s seat passed out. The officer knocked on the side of the vehicle several times to try and wake the driver, but the driver did not respond. As the vehicle was intermittently moving forward, the officer believed the vehicle was still in drive gear.
When the officer tried the driver’s door, the unlocked door opened and the officer was surprised to find a loaded handgun in the driver’s lap. Seeing that the driver was still passed out, the officer seized the moment and quickly grabbed the handgun from the driver’s lap and called for backup.
Once other officers arrived, the officers were able to turn off the car and then safely arrest the driver.
Inside the vehicle, officers found a small quantity of methamphetamine and several glass methamphetamine pipes.
The driver (a 38-year-old Oakland man) was arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm, being a felon with a firearm, possessing controlled substances and other weapon and drug related offenses.
The Berkeley Police Department takes great pride in keeping our community safe. We appreciate the public’s support and are pleased that we were able to bring justice to those who wish to do harm to our community.
Case 2020-00030037