05/08 – A strong arm robbery occurred on Tennyson Blvd under the BART tracks. The victim was approached by the suspect who demanded the victim’s cell phone. The victim complied out of fear and the suspect fled on foot with the cell phone.

05/08 – Officers initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle near Manon/Harris. As the vehicle comes to a stop, the driver flees from vehicle. A short foot pursuit ensues and the suspect is apprehended a short distance later. The officers search the vehicle and discover nearly 1000 pills of ecstasy.

05/08 – A robbery with a handgun occurred on the 2200 block of W. Tennyson. The suspect approached two citizens and attempted to rob them of their belongings. Both victims were able to run away. The suspect then ran to a car wash on Aldengate where he pointed a gun at a third victim. That victim sprayed the suspect with water and then ran away. There was no property taken from any of the victims, suspect is still at large.

05/09 – An Officer responded to a group of juveniles hanging around a white four door sedan. Upon arrival, she found four of them standing outside the vehicle and one sitting in the rear passenger’s seat. After checking the vehicles registration, dispatch confirmed the vehicle was stolen. One of the juveniles was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle.

05/11 – A robbery occurred on the 2200 block of S. Garden Ave. The victim was walking along the sidewalk when a suspect asked the victim for a dollar. The victim replied he only had $100 bills. A second suspect brandished a knife at the victim and demanded all his money. The victim gave the suspect all his money and both Suspects fled to a white mini-van parked on S. Garden and drove S/B out of the area. Loss was $300 cash.

05/12 – An assault with a deadly weapon shooting occurred near Merritt Ln. and Lindenwood Way. The victim was shot one time in the stomach while standing in the street. The victim was associated with a garage party on the 1100 block of Merritt Ln., but witnesses and victim are uncooperative. Officers located 9mm casing at the scene. The victim in stable condition at local hospital.

05/13 – An attempted Bank Robbery: The suspect entered a bank on the 900 block of B Street. He presented the teller a demand note asking for all the $100 dollar bills. When the teller asked from which account, the suspect walked away with the note.

05/13 – Assault with a deadly weapon, slashing with knife: The victim and his girlfriend got into an argument at local hotel with 2 males and 1 female. One of the suspects used a knife or similar weapon to cut the victim’s face, requiring stitches. The victim and his girlfriend were uncooperative. Suspects have not been identified.

From the Hayward police department:

“Do not hesitate to call the police. It is important for the public to feel comfortable when calling the police. If you think you should call the police, dial (510) 293-7000 (non-emergency) or 9-1-1 for a life-threatening emergency or a crime-in-progress.

“Don’t assume that someone else has called the police. Don’t worry about ‘bothering’ the police and don’t worry about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove unfounded. It is better to act than to think about what could happen if you didn’t act at all.”

REPORTING NON-EMERGENCIES

“The dispatch communications center is busy at times and may ask that you hold on the line. Please be patient. When your call is answered, be prepared to give complete information about who it happened to, what happened, where it happened, when or how long ago, and any weapons used. Give cross streets for locations and license plates for vehicle descriptions. It is also a good idea to update dispatch on information as situations change.

“Please remember that just because you see the police in your neighborhood frequently, or you see a patrol car pass by, that the police know everything that goes on there. They depend on you to be the eyes and ears for them. You have important information that they don’t always see or hear from a patrol car.”

4/30/2013
19:55
Officers responded to a family disturbance on the 900 block of Snowberry Court. Officers were talking to the mother inside of the home when she disclosed her son said he would commit suicide if the police responded. The distraught man was inside of his closed bedroom when officers heard the sound of a shotgun being loaded. Officers were able to negotiate with the man and he surrendered. A loaded shotgun was recovered and seized for safe keeping. The man was detained for a psychological evaluation.

5/01/2013
00:01
A robbery occurred at the Jack in the Box restaurant at Fairway Shops on Mission Boulevard. Two suspects wearing ski masks and black hooded sweatshirts entered the Jack in the Box and ordered all employees into the kitchen. The suspects were armed with a small semi automatic handgun. The suspects took cash from the registers and fled. Nobody was injured.

06:00
Officers responded to the 27100 block of Tampa Avenue regarding a suicidal 18 year old male. The mother of the subject reported he was upset, not taking his medications, and suicidal. She reported he was armed with a large kitchen knife and locked into a patio area. When officers arrived they found the subject on the patio holding himself hostage, alternately threatening to kill himself if the officers approached and asking the officers to shoot him. On duty crisis negotiators responded to assist. After about 50 minutes the negotiators were able to talk the subject into dropping the knife and surrendering. The man was detained for a psychological evaluation.

5/2/2013
04:30
A suspect crashed an unreported stolen vehicle into a field at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Gibbons Street. Responding officers found the suspect driver was still in the vehicle. The suspect refused to comply with orders to get out of the vehicle, forcing officers to physically remove the suspect from the vehicle. The driver exhibited symptoms of alcohol intoxication and refused to submit to a breath or blood test. A warrant was obtained to require the suspect to provide a blood sample for testing.

08:15
A resident on the 22600 block of 7th Street heard about 5 gunshots around 22:30 hours the previous evening. In the morning she discovered her van was shot 5 times. The van was parked in front of the victim’s house. Nobody was injured.

10:00
Residents of Dean Street reported a suspicious van at the dead end of Dean Street. Responding Officers discovered it was a stolen vehicle with a different stolen license plate attached. The van was occupied by a female suspect and the van is believed to have been used to commit thefts and burglaries. The suspect was arrested.
***Crime Prevention Tip***
Reporting suspicious vehicles, persons, and activity can prevent crimes from occurring in your neighborhood. For more information about crime prevention and Neighborhood Alert Groups, please contact one of our crime prevention specialists at (510)293-7151 or (510)293-1043.

5/3/2013
22:26
Officers responded to a report of a shooting at the intersection of W. Tennyson Road and Capri Avenue. Callers reported that occupants of two vehicles shot at each other. Officers responded and located expended shell casings in the roadway. Bullet damage was located on a parked unoccupied vehicle and on a nearby building. No victims were located.

23:49
A caller reported hearing six gunshots in the area of the 26200 block of Gading Road. Moments later an adult male subject approached the caller and stated he “just got jumped.” The subject appeared to have injuries consistent with being attacked, but no gunshot type wounds. The subject walked away before police officers arrived and was not located after an extensive area check. Officers located expended bullet casings in the intersection of Gading Road and Dumont Avenue. No shooting victim was ever located.

4/21/2013

1200-2000
The HPD Vice-Intel Unit conducted a tobacco decoy operation that was funded by an Alameda County grant. The operation is designed to ensure retailers comply with state law regarding sales of tobacco products to minors. The operation occurred at 32 retail establishments in the City. A total of 9 citations were issued to cashiers for selling tobacco products to a minor.

4/22/2013

11:06
A 23 yr old victim came into the Police Department to report that he was attacked while jogging at Mt. Eden Park. The victim stated 3 male subjects approached him and pushed him down to the ground. After knocking the victim to the ground the suspects began shouting derogatory remarks regarding his clothing and sexual orientation. The victim believes that he was targeted because of his sexual orientation.

21:00
A robbery was reported to have occurred on the 1400 block of Denton Ave. A father and son were in front of their residence when two black male adults in dark clothing put guns to their heads and demanded money. The victims gave the suspects their wallets and the suspects hit the victims in the back of their heads with the gun. An Officer attempted to stop a group of 3 males who were similar in description to the suspects. Two of the subjects fled and were not detained. One of the subjects, a juvenile, was detained but was not identified by the victims. The juvenile was released.

21:05
A victim reported her boyfriend threatened her with a shotgun and she was barricading herself in her bedroom on the 700 block of Simon Street. Responding Officers encountered the victim as she was fleeing out of the residence. The suspect boyfriend was contacted on the porch as he came out of the home and he failed to obey commands of the officers. An Officer utilized a control device to safely detain and arrest the suspect.

4/23/2013

12:54
A Stabbing occurred on Broadway St. and E 16th. Two transients got into an argument over $5.00. A fight ensued and the suspect stabbed the victim once in the chest and slashed him on his arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was in stable condition. The suspect was identified and the investigation is ongoing.

4/26/2013

11:00
A robbery with a knife occurred on the 23600 block of Odom Drive. A female victim was crossing the street in front of her house when 2 suspects drove up in a vehicle. One suspect held a knife to the victim’s throat & demanded her purse. The suspect ripped the victim’s purse off of her shoulder & they drove off. The suspects are described as follows. The suspect vehicle was described as a blue sedan.

21:09
A strong arm robbery occurred at the CVS store at 22501 Foothill Blvd. A suspect initiated a purchase and when the cashier opened the cash register, the suspect pushed the victim away from the register and grabbed cash from the open register. The suspect then fled from the store. The suspect is described as follows: Black male adult, 30-35 years old, bald, wearing a silky silver sweatshirt, black shorts and gray shoes.

4/27/2013

21:36
A strong-arm robbery occurred at the intersection of B Street and 2nd Street. A juvenile male suspect rode his bicycle into the victim vehicle. When the victim got out of his car to check on the suspect, the suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone and ran off. Prior to the victim reporting the crime, Officer’s stopped the suspect for an unrelated offense and they located the cell phone on his person. During the detention the victim was contacted and police learned of the crime. The victim responded and identified the suspect, but declined prosecution. The suspect also related he needed medical attention due to being “hit” by the car. The suspect was released to his mother on a notice to appear.

4/28/2013

02:23
Officers attempted to stop three suspected gang members in the park on Huntwood Avenue near Tennyson Road. One male suspect tried to run away into the park. Officers chased the suspect who physically resisted the detention. Officers were able to overcome the resistance and safely detain the suspect. The suspect was found to have 3 outstanding arrest warrants, one of which was a no bail felony parole violation warrant.

15:48
A resident in the 1700 block of Bobolink Court reported that his car had been stolen and his home had been burglarized. The investigating officer learned that the victim met a female in Mountain View and they agreed to return to his home in Hayward. While at the victim’s home, the female suspect made the victim a drink and he fell asleep about 30 minutes later. When he awoke, the female was gone and property had been stolen from his home, including his vehicle. The victim believed the female may have put an unknown drug in his drink. The investigating officer was aware of a similar incident that occurred in Vallejo. A suspect was known in the Vallejo case. The victim in Hayward identified the female from the Vallejo case as the same female who stole his property.

Hayward Police blotter for April 15, 2013 through April 21, 2013

April 15, 2013
5:25 AM
A man called HPD asking them to respond to the 700 block of Memorial Way because his girlfriend was making threats of suicide. According to the distraught man, his girlfriend locked herself inside their apartment and was refusing to come out. When officers arrived, they received no answer at the door. Feeling the girlfriend’s life may be in jeopardy, the officers forced the front door open only to find there was no one inside. The man eventually admitted that he had locked himself out of his apartment and just needed to get the door opened.

April 16, 2013
2:33 PM
Officers responded to a residence in the 2000 block of Florida St regarding an assault with a motor vehicle. When officers arrived they learned that the suspect and victim are neighbors and have a long standing feud. The suspect saw the victim on the street and challenged the neighbor to fight. He then began punching the victim when he refused to fight the suspect. The victim tried to run from the suspect but the suspect got into a car and chased the victim down the street. The suspect then tried to run the victim over after yelling that he was going to kill the victim. A passerby picked the victim up in his vehicle only to have the suspect chase after them and start ramming the Good Samaritan’s vehicle. HPD located the suspect shortly after arriving and arrested him for attempted homicide with a vehicle.

6:13 PM
HPD units responded to the area of 28000 Huntwood Ave regarding two subjects seen passing a handgun back and forth. When police arrived, the subjects split up and walked in different directions. Both were quickly detained and one subject was identified as the one who brought the gun. The firearm was found loaded and discarded in a bush. The suspect was arrested and the firearm was recovered.

April 18, 2013
2:11 PM
Patrol officers received a broadcast of a disturbance occurring to the rear of All Saints Church and possibly involving gang members. School Resource Officers responded and detained 6 juveniles at the church. A loaded 45 cal. handgun was located in a bush near the detained subjects. One of the juveniles, a known gang member, admitted to possessing the gun.

***Crime Prevention Note*** Notifying the police of suspicious activity can result in a crime being thwarted and possibly, as in this case, of a firearm being taken out of the hands of criminal gang members.

3:37 PM
Two subjects, one in a car and the other walking on the sidewalk, exchanged hostile words as they passed each other. It was later determined that the two suspects belonged to rival gangs. The situation escalated with both suspects exchanging gunfire. One suspect was seen going into an apartment in the 700 block of Shepherd Ave. Arriving officers surrounded the residence but no one would come out. A juvenile fled from the residence but was caught by officers. It was determined that he was not the same subject seen entering the residence although he was on probation and did go to jail. An area check where the fleeing suspect was detained revealed a loaded firearm that he had discarded. He was subsequently charged with the gun crime as well.

April 19, 2013
9:50 AM
Units were called to the 200 block of Virginia St regarding an 89 year old female who had wandered away from home. It was further reported that she suffered from the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Officers flooded the area and sent fliers of the missing woman to our neighboring law enforcement partners. An alert Community Officer saw the lady in front of K-Mart. She was returned home in good health.

10:30
A police unit was requested to the Citibank at 225 Second St regarding a suspect who was attempting to steal $35,000 through an Identity Theft scam. When the officer arrived, the suspect was still on the scene and was taken into custody. It turned out the suspect was also wanted in a HPD case where he had 45 counts of forgery and ID theft pending. He was also wanted by several local agencies and the US Postal Service for fraud related offenses.

***Crime Prevention Note***
Please visit the Identity Theft information page at http://user.govoutreach.com/hayward/faq.php?cid=11973
Or the Identity Theft Council page at

http://www.identitytheftcouncil.org/hayward

Here you can find information on prevention and remedies if you have been a victim of ID Theft.

April 20. 2013
7:41 AM
Citizens called HPD to report that there was a large man yelling “KILL KILL” at passing motorists and pedestrians as he swung a metal pipe near Weekes Park. When officers arrived they found a man weighing over 400 lbs. and still swinging the pipe. They attempted to negotiate with the man, who approached the officers with the pipe. One officer was injured in the ensuing scuffle but the suspect was ultimately taken into custody. It isn’t known what drove the man to his actions but he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

10:30 PM
The police went to the area of the 25000 block of Franklin St regarding a shooting. When they arrived they found that one man had been shot by another over money issues. The men were apparently playing dice when the argument broke out and one shot the other. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The suspect is wanted for murder. The suspect has been identified.

April 21, 2013
Residents of a home in the 300 block of Bridgecreek Way called HPD through 911 to report that they were watching 2-3 suspects through remote closed circuit TV. The suspects were in the victim’s home and were in the process of burglarizing it. Hayward PD unit surrounded the house. When the suspects came out, one was quickly taken into custody but the other two fled on foot. Officers quickly caught the other two in nearby yards. A stolen and loaded handgun was located in a vehicle deemed to belong to one of the suspects.
All suspect were charged with burglary and other related offenses.

April 8, 2013
1:46 AM
HPD and Hayward Fire responded to a vehicle on fire in the 31000 block of Chicoine Ave. The owner of the vehicle had no idea why someone would set fire to his vehicle. The incident is being investigated as an arson.

11:43 AM
A strong arm robbery occurred in the 700 block of B St. when a female suspect approached the victim and asked to use a cell phone. The victim provided a cell phone and the suspect took it and fled. The victim chased and caught the suspect but was pushed to the ground and the suspect got away. The victim was not injured and the suspect is not known at this time.

5:07 PM
Officers responded to the 200 block of Boardwalk Way for a male who called 911 and mentioned suicide. When officers located the male, he said he wanted the police to kill him. As the officers tried to negotiate with the irrational man, he began walking backwards into traffic and toward oncoming vehicles. Another officer was able to approach the male from behind and the police took custody of the man without injury or further incident.

April 10, 2013
3:40 PM
A strong arm robbery occurred in the bus loop at Chabot College. The victim was talking on her cell phone when she was approached from behind by the suspect. The suspect ripped the cell phone from the victim’s hands and fled on foot.

6:35 PM
Officers responded to the 400 block of Rousseau St regarding a brandishing a firearm incident. The victim and several young children were standing in front of a residence when a car occupied by 3-4 subjects drove by slowly. An occupant pointed what was believed to be a shotgun at the victim. The address is known to HPD as associated with gang activity and the suspects are believed to belong to a rival gang. No one was injured and the case is under investigation.

8:18 PM
HPD units went to the Lucky store at 25151 Santa Clara St to investigate a theft that just occurred at the store. As officers arrived, they spotted the suspect fleeing in a vehicle. The vehicle yielded to a traffic stop but the driver then threw a lit cigarette and hit an officer in the face. The suspect then became combative with officers and bit one officer on the hand. Words and actions by the suspect revealed that this incident was actually a robbery and the suspect was taken into custody and charged accordingly.

9:24 PM
HPD went to an apartment complex in the 600 block of Shepherd Ave for a man with a gun call. Upon arrival, officers saw the suspect flee over fences. Officers searched and ultimately found the suspect nearby. An article search revealed that the suspect dropped a handgun when he saw the police. The suspect was also connected to an earlier auto theft and was taken into custody with another firearm taken off of the street.

April 11, 2013
2:36 PM
A resident in the 27700 block of Tyrrell Ave notified police of an auto burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they located the suspect who violently resisted arrest but was taken into custody.

9:35 PM
A strong arm robbery occurred in the 24000 block of Mission Bl where the victim agreed to meet a potential buyer for a cell phone the victim advertised on Craigslist. The victim was confronted by two suspects who took his cell phone and fled on foot. The victim was not injured and the suspects are unknown. ***Crime Prevention Note*** This is the third time in three weeks that similar robberies have occurred as a result of a would-be buyer who steals the victim’s property after the victim advertised on Craigslist.

5:20 PM
An armed robbery was reported in the 1600 block of D St. The victim and a friend were walking on the sidewalk when the robber approached them and demanded the victim’s cell phone. The suspect pulled up his shirt to reveal a handgun. The suspect took the victim’s phone and fled on foot. The victim was uninjured and the suspect is not yet known.

April 13, 2013
6:15 AM
HPD and Hayward Fire went to the 24000 block of Silva Ave regarding a car that was on fire. The incident was deemed to be an arson based on evidence at the scene. The victim believes an acquaintance may be responsible in response to an earlier argument.

4:00 PM
A strong arm robbery occurred in the 800 block of C St when a juvenile male reached over the victims shoulder and grabbed her iPad out of her hands. The victim tried to hold onto the suspect but he was able to get away and is still at large.

4:00 PM
HPD investigated a carjacking in the 400 block of A St. The victim was selling her vehicle and agreed to meet a potential buyer. While her back was turned away from the vehicle, the buyer pointed an unknown object into her back and demanded her car keys. The suspect took the car and fled. The victim was not injured.

UPDATE: Here’s the story.

Our  story on who’s running for Hayward City Council come June should be posting online soon. And as promised at the end of the story, you can find more information on each candidate here, as collected from the City Clerk’s Office, candidate statements, websites and interviews. Candidates in order per Secretary of State’s randomized alphabet, starting after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Former City Manager Greg Jones checked in with a letter to the editor, related to the City Council setting priorities for the coming year. Jones is concerned about diluting the core goals with the addition of “Green,” which was done last year, and a lack of interest in pursuing gang injunctions,  a hot topic at the Council priority-setting meeting in January. Here’s his letter:

To The Editor:

The Hayward City Council has been reviewing their priorities for 2012. I applaud their continuing efforts to ensure the focus remains on the right things, a process I began back in late 2007 when I arrived at the City. We built a strong, clear framework for how the resources of the City are allocated to service delivery.

Unfortunately, two things (among others) have occurred to weaken that clarity first established almost five years ago:

1. The two overriding priorities of Public Safety and Cleaning Up Hayward have been diluted by the addition of a third overriding priority of “greening” Hayward. This has distracted the organization from the core services that first have to be delivered above all others. Conservation efforts have always been emphasized at the City through a number of actions and policies, but serve as a support of the other two priorities. Each of us has a personal responsibility to assist in meeting environmental challenges to be sure, and local policies enhancing that ability should be carefully considered. I want my elected Council to stay focused on the most concerning and immediate of issues: Safety and Cleanliness!

2. The Gang Injunction Program, a priority articulated when I arrived that has languished for the past four years, has lost Council support. Interestingly, it is members of Council running for reelection that shrank from their commitment to continue to strengthen our public safety efforts. Olden Henson is the lone supporter of the Gang Injunction Program running for reelection. Mayor Sweeney and Council member Marvin Peixoto also support forging ahead with the effort. The others have gone eerily silent in supporting this important policy decision. A number of very effective initiatives have been implemented, but the Gang Injunction Program is a crucial element of a comprehensive strategy for curbing crime.

The community supported Measure A, the Utility User’s Tax, to maintain public safety and to clean up Hayward. We need a Council that will stay true to that commitment. We certainly have NOT reached our goal of a “safer” Hayward nor have we “cleaned up” Hayward to the point we can move on to other issues that could be considered as important.

Let your City Council know you want them to stay the course. Let’s getHayward safe and clean before we start distracting ourselves with other less specific and measurable endeavors.

Greg Jones

Former City Manager, City ofHayward

City of Hayward Resident

Had a story updating what’s going on at the San Leandro Marina, with a focus on the “liveaboards” who call it home. Story was long, never got around to certain aspects such as the crime that accompanies blight. Clipped this part:

Reverse racism! Also, beware the satanic thug and his evil can of hot pink paint.

“There is crime,” said boat owner Oliver Campbell. “Prostitution, and drugs. You run around out there and you got to be careful or you’ll get a needle stuck in your foot.”

Up around the bend in the jetty, past the fenced off former Boat Works site that is now a haven for feral cats, hot-pink and black tags marred the outside wall of a public restroom.

“I’ve been coming here for years, but this is the first time I’ve seen this,” said James Mason, pointing at a pair of hateful little symbols. “It must have been kids – they didn’t even do the swastikas right, they’re going the wrong way. But the intent is still there.”

It should be noted that while I was going through archives I came across a lot of stories related to crime at the marina back in better days. It was once quite a party hangout for teenagers, and there were also some interesting tales of out-of-control incidents at the Blue Dolphin.

“It’s like that with any public park that’s open at night,” said harbor master Delmarie Snodgrass. “You’re going to get people out there, some of them looking at the water, others just to party.”

Snodgrass added that when it comes to big  displays of illegal behavior – think sideshows – “police have been on top of that.”

She said if necessary, cops have a handy way of isolating and catching troublemakers.

“They will close Marina Boulevard and Fairway Drive,” she said. “They’ll box them in if they start doing that stuff again.”

Sunday update: Here’s that happy hour story.

Hayward was talking alcohol at Tuesday’s meeting, in particular loosening a restriction on happy hours around town. More on that later. But as part of the informative packet, they included a chart of the most problematic alcohol serving locations around town based on calls for police between January 2010 and August 2011.

By far the highest number of calls (8 battery, 2 assault w/deadly weapon, 60 disturbances, 6 drunk in public, 6 Alcohol and Beverage Control violations) were to a liquor store at the corner of Mission and Industrial boulevards, with downtown’s Funky Monkey bar settling for second place (5 battery, 15 disturbances, 30 drunk in public, 4 ABC violations).

But the most surprising entry came in midway through the list of 30 establishments.

No. 15, with two calls for battery and 11 for disturbances: Chuck E. Cheese.

Click on the chart for a larger view. See any other surprises? Downtown venues are highlighted in yellow, top six in pink. To be fair, higher numbers can also indicate an owner’s lower tolerance for shenanigans, particularly when it comes to determining what exactly qualifies as a “disturbance.”