A man found sitting in the back of a stolen van was also found to possess suspected methamphetamine and two Indian passports.
The incident began at 6:51 a.m. on April 7 on Santa Clara Avenue when a Piedmont Police Department officer found an individual that he recognized sitting in the back of a green Ford Econoline van. The officer knew the individual was on Alameda County probation for possessing a stolen vehicle, according to Piedmont Police Capt. Chris Monahan. He also had an outstanding warrant out of Berkeley, according to Monahan.
A VIN check revealed the van had been reported stolen in San Francisco. The suspect told the officer he had purchased the van from a tow yard, according to Monahan.
The officer searched the suspect and the vehicle and found 8.96 grams of suspected methamphetamine along with two stolen Indian passports.
The suspect was arrested and taken to Berkeley Jail.
Also on April 7, a traffic stop led to the recovery of a stolen 1981 Toyota Tacoma. The stop happened on Sylvan Way at 4:49 p.m. for what Monahan called “multiple CVC violations.” He said the driver was found to have an expired California driver’s license. A VIN check found the Tacoma had been reported stolen in Oakland. The driver was taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and booked for possession of a stolen vehicle, registration fraud, and driving without a valid license.
On April 12, the owner of Gabriella’s Pizza on Lake Park Avenue in Oakland flagged a Piedmont police officer down at 12:07 a.m. The owner alleged a male suspect had walked into his business and thrown a trash can around. The officer made contact with the suspect and Monahan said a check on him found a warrant for battery. The suspect was taken to Santa Rita Jail and booked for his outstanding warrant.