The Berkeley Scanner

01/15/2026

Berkeley police are investigating a robbery this week in the city's Elmwood parking lot.

Police say the assailant struck a man in the face, forced him out of his vehicle "and beat him."

01/14/2026

A Texas man is facing serious charges this week after Berkeley police say they linked him to felony s*x crimes that took place in 2002. Two women later identified Lashay Durisseau as their assailant and his DNA connected him to the crimes, Berkeley police say.

Two women identified Lashay Durisseau as their assailant and his DNA connected him to the crimes, Berkeley police say.

01/14/2026

Police are investigating the discovery of a body Wednesday morning near UC Berkeley's Clark Kerr Campus.

Authorities have described it only as an unattended death. The investigation is ongoing.

01/14/2026

Berkeley officials are warning the public about leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that can be fatal in dogs and humans, after animals in the Harrison Street corridor tested positive.

"Cleanup will take at least 30 days" because that's how long leptospirosis can live in soil, said the city, calling it an "urgent public health concern."

01/13/2026

Berkeley's director of police oversight is in the crosshairs again this week in the city's latest filing in a standoff over police records. It's the sharpest condemnation to date of Police Accountability Board director Hansel Aguilar.

The latest city filing in the case is the sharpest condemnation to date of Berkeley Police Accountability Board director Hansel Aguilar.

01/08/2026

A man was taken to the hospital Wednesday night after crashing into a tree on a steep section of Marin Avenue in the Berkeley Hills.

Marin was closed between Spruce Street and Santa Barbara Road for the emergency response.

01/08/2026

Berkeley started the year with a surge in catalytic converter thefts. Here's what we know.

01/06/2026

EXCLUSIVE: A local father who lost control of his electric scooter while riding through the UC Berkeley campus in December has died, authorities report.

The crash was previously unreported.

01/06/2026

Berkeley police arrested two people Monday after getting a Flock alert about their wanted vehicle, authorities report. Officers found large quantities of cash and illegal narcotics in the car, according to initial reports.

Police found large quantities of cash and illegal narcotics in the car, according to initial reports.

01/06/2026

Catalytic converter thieves brandished a gun at a Berkeley resident early Monday morning on Tremont Street, authorities report. Police said there have already been eight catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley this year.

Police said there have already been eight catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley this year.

01/06/2026

SCOOP: A burglary crew in a pickup truck rammed its way into the Berkeley Cotopaxi on Fourth Street early Monday morning and stole more than $20,000 in merchandise, authorities report.

Limited details were available as of publication time.

01/01/2026

With a potential budget shortfall of $29 million looming, Berkeley leaders are looking at how to cut General Fund spending by 10% across the board.

That's on top of the hiring freeze that began last year and is projected to continue.