Berkeley, California (Thursday, December 30, 2021) - During the early morning hours of December 28th, officers arrested a suspect on suspicion of driving under the influence and for possession of a loaded handgun.
On December 28th at 1:44 am, officers responded to a suspicious circumstance where a person reported that they were approached by a suspect in the parking lot of a business on the 800 block of Potter Street. With his hands near his waistband, the suspect demanded that the person come over to him. Concerned that the suspect was armed with a weapon, the person ran from the suspect and called police.
As officers arrived to the location, the person who called pointed out the suspect who was now driving away from the area. The suspect’s vehicle had noticeable front-end damage as though it had been in a recent collision.
When officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, they noticed several signs of intoxication. When officers searched the suspect’s vehicle, they found a loaded handgun with its serial number scratched off—hidden underneath the front seat.
After a series of field sobriety tests, officers arrested the suspect on suspicion of driving under the influence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, as well as several other offenses.
On December 29th, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged the suspect (a 43-year-old Vallejo man) with PC 29800(a)(1)—possession of a firearm by a felon, PC 25850(a)—possession of loaded firearm, VC 23152(a)—Driving under the influence, VC 23152(b)—Driving under the influence with a BAC over 0.08% as well as a criminal enhancement for refusing a chemical test.
