Berkeley

Suspect Arrested by BPD Detectives on Sexual Assault and Kidnapping Charges

On March 26th, 2023, between 9:13 pm and 9:20 pm, a victim (female in her 20’s) was grabbed from behind, pulled into a parking lot, and sexually assaulted on the 2000 block of Blake Street. The suspect assaulted the victim for several minutes before fleeing the scene. BPD responded to the location but was unable to locate the suspect.

Published

5 months ago

April 24, 2023

Oakland Post

The Berkeley Police Department would like to encourage any additional potential victims to contact Berkeley Police Department Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735. Detectives have been investigating a similar crime that occurred on March 1st, 2023, on the 2400 block of Warring Street, but the victim in the case has not come forward to report the incident.

The sexual assault occurred on the 2000 block of Blake Street.

Based on the initial statement provided to police on the scene, BPD did not have enough information to give a suspect description to the public. Our Sex Crimes Detectives worked tirelessly on obtaining search warrants, did follow-up in the area, and walked the apartment complexes going door to door looking for any evidence and attempting to locate and identify the suspect.

Due to the nature of this investigation, BPD did high visibility extra patrols in the area daily. BPD Detectives did additional surveillance to keep everyone safe and allowed this investigation to continue without the risk of others being victimized.

On April 5th, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, identified as Jonathan Castellanos Miller (20-year-old male), after he was identified using forensic evidence that had been collected on the scene. Our Detectives arrested Castellanos Miller a few hours later outside our city limits.

A search warrant was executed at an associated address, which yielded additional evidence of the crime, handcuffs, and two replica firearms.

On April 6th, 2023, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged Castellanos Miller with PC 209(b)(1)- felony kidnapping to commit sex crime or robbery, PC 261(A)(2)- felony sexual assault by means of force or fear and, PC 220(A)(1)- felony assault with attempt to commit a sex crime.

Although Castellanos Miller has been placed under arrest, the Berkeley Police Department would like to encourage any additional potential victims to contact Berkeley Police Department Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735. Detectives have been investigating a similar crime that occurred on March 1st, 2023, on the 2400 block of Warring Street, but the victim in the case has not come forward to report the incident.

Berkeley PD would like to thank the Serological Research Institute, San Mateo County Crime Lab, and California Department of Justice Jan Bashinski Laboratory for their timely assistance with forensic evidence in this case.

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Bay Area

The Multicultural Institute Honored as 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year

The Multicultural Institute (MI) has been selected as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year by California State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Assembly District 14, which includes Richmond. The nonprofit’s Executive Director Mirna Cervantes and Senior Programs Director Rudy Lara attended a luncheon at the State Capitol in Sacramento earlier this month, where they were honored with a resolution and met with Assemblymember Wicks to mark the occasion.

Published

3 months ago

June 25, 2023

Oakland Post

Representatives of the Multicultural Institute hold the resolution given to them by California State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. Photo courtesy of the Multicultural Institute.

By Kathy Chouteau

The Multicultural Institute (MI) has been selected as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year by California State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Assembly District 14, which includes Richmond.

The nonprofit’s Executive Director Mirna Cervantes and Senior Programs Director Rudy Lara attended a luncheon at the State Capitol in Sacramento earlier this month, where they were honored with a resolution and met with Assemblymember Wicks to mark the occasion.

MI is “one of the nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve,” said the nonprofit in a statement.

The nonprofit—which has offices in Richmond, Berkeley and Redwood City—envisions a community where immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, are valued in their live/work communities, per the statement.

To this end, MI provides an array of services including job placement assistance for day laborers and domestic workers, immigration/health support, weekly food distributions, after school tutoring, adult education courses, day laborer housing and more centered on serving immigrant families.

Cervantes, said that “The Multicultural Institute’s staff and Board of Directors work daily to improve the lives of day laborers, domestic workers and their families and we are deeply humbled to be recognized by California State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks as a 2023 Nonprofit of the Year.”

Learn more about the organization at https://mionline.org/

Bay Area

Renew your residential parking permit before July 1

Use our parking permit portal to renew your residential parking permit or sign up for a new one by June 30, when 2022-2023 permits expire. Starting July 1, you will need a 2023-2024 permit to avoid getting ticketed in Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) areas.

Published

3 months ago

June 25, 2023

Oakland Post

Renew online, in person, or by mail; existing permits expire June 30, 2023.

Use our parking permit portal to renew your residential parking permit or sign up for a new one by June 30, when 2022-2023 permits expire.

Starting July 1, you will need a 2023-2024 permit to avoid getting ticketed in Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) areas.

Residents with a 2023 permit should have received a renewal notice letter by May 1 with instructions. If you did not receive a notice, use the parking permit portal to renew an existing permit or apply for a new one.

If you do not renew your permit before July 1, 2023 you’ll need to submit a new permit application, including your photo ID and current vehicle registration.

Use our parking permit portal to renew your existing permit, apply for a new permit, or get one-day digital visitor permits. One-day digital visitor permits are valid for 24 hours from the time of activation. A hangtag visitor permit for a single day or 14 days can be purchased in person at the Customer Service Center.

RENEW YOUR PERMIT ONLINE

Most residents can use their existing login information to renew parking permits on the portal.

Some residents may need to use a link code from their renewal letter to renew their permits. If you lost the letter, request the code by calling 311 inside Berkeley limits or (510) 981-2489.

If your renewal has incorrect information, such as listing the wrong RPP area, use the portal to apply for a new permit online. Likewise, residents whose permits are labeled “Suspended” in the online portal must re-apply to verify residency.

New online applications will be approved in 5-7 business days, and you will receive a confirmation receipt via email when your application is submitted and again once it is approved. Permits are not valid until an application has been approved and payment is received.

RENEW BY MAIL OR IN-PERSON

To renew by mail, fill out the payment coupon included with your renewal letter, enclose payment by check or money order, and send it to the address listed in the letter, City of Berkeley RPP Permit Renewal, PO Box 29, Berkeley CA 94701.

To renew in person, bring your renewal letter to the Customer Service Center to complete the purchase.

In-person purchases may be completed by cash, check, money order, Visa, or Mastercard.

APPLY FOR A NEW PERMIT

If you need to re-apply for a permit, you may do so via the parking permit portal, in person, or by mail.

If applying by mail, download the application and mail the completed forms with your supporting documents and payment by check or money order to:

City of Berkeley Customer Service Center
1947 Center St, 1st floor
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

If applying in person, bring your proof of residency documents to the Customer Service Center to fill out an application and purchase a permit by cash, check, money order, Visa, or Mastercard.

Note that permits are not valid until an application has been approved and payment is received. A mailed application will take longer to process.

Online or in-person renewals are the safest ways to avoid a ticket.

ENFORCED THROUGH LICENSE PLATES, NOT STICKERS

Once your application has been approved, your license plate will be your permit. You will not receive a sticker in the mail.

Parking enforcement officers have been using license plate readers since 2016. This database is a closed system, not linked to any other database, such as DMV databases. Violation data is kept for one year. Our privacy policy is that no data is kept for more than 30 days unless we act, such as through a citation or violation found.

Be sure to renew your permit online, by mail, or in person by June 30.

Bay Area

National Night Out 2023

National Night Out is back for 2023. This event is planned for Tuesday, August 1st and registration is now open. This year the event is planned for its usual day, the first Tuesday in August. For 2023 that means Tuesday, August 1st. We have updated the registration process this year with a new interactive map to assist you in finding an event in your area.

Published

3 months ago

June 24, 2023

Oakland Post

National Night Out 2023

National Night Out is back for 2023. This event is planned for Tuesday, August 1st and registration is now open.

This year the event is planned for its usual day, the first Tuesday in August. For 2023 that means Tuesday, August 1st. We have updated the registration process this year with a new interactive map to assist you in finding an event in your area.

To register for this year’s event, visit: https://berkeleypd.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/aaf21f4d73ff47f8a258896cd1cefb0a

If you register an event, make sure to also apply for a block party permit if applicable. A link to directions to apply is in the registration.

We are looking forward to another great event. We hope to see you on August 1st for National Night Out 2023!

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