Police Log: Man Robbed in Craigslist Car Sale Scam; Gold Chain Snatchings

The following is a collection of reports prepared by the Union City Police Department. The document contains only items of note that occurred July 19 to 25. Reports have been lightly edited for Patch style.

Thursday, July 19

Drunk driver crashes into parked car

At about 8:57 a.m., officers responded to the area of Alvarado-Niles Road and Almaden Boulevard to investigate an auto collision. Arriving officers found the driver to be intoxicated. The driver collided into a parked car causing significant damage to both vehicles. The driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment and arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Three parolees caught after resisting arrest

Later this night at about 10 p.m., an officer on routine patrol conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Alvarado Boulevard near the Fremont border. The right front passenger threw contraband out of the window in an attempt to discard it. He then attempted to flee, turned, and took a fighting stance toward the officer. One officer subdued him after a short struggle but had to hold the driver at gunpoint as he refused to obey the officer’s commands.

At the same time, the rear passenger fled out of the vehicle into Fremont as an officer gave chase. Fremont and Union City police set up a perimeter. The suspect eventually surrendered once he saw that a police K-9 was going to be used to locate him.

All three subjects were on parole and arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, parole violations, and outstanding arrest warrants.

CHP pursuit ends in Union City

At 11:24 p.m., CHP requested assistance from Union City police as they pursued a stolen vehicle into our city. The driver of the stolen vehicle abandoned the vehicle in the area of Almaden Boulevard and Bainbridge Drive. CHP quickly took the passenger into custody at the scene. The driver was located and arrested nearby hiding in some bushes.

Friday, July 20

UCPD among four police stations to receive letters with suspicious powder

At 2:00 p.m., Union City Police Department was notified by the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) to be on the lookout for a suspicious letter addressed to the police department. The ACFD advised letters were sent to the cities of Hayward, San Leandro, and Berkeley and in one case a letter was opened containing a powdery substance.

It was determined that the Union City Police Department received a letter, which matched the description provided and as such, the ACFD was notified. The letter remained sealed and the ACFD Hazardous Materials Unit responded to the police department. There was no need for an evacuation but as a precaution; the front entrance to the police department was cordoned off for about an hour.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspector are now investigating this matter.

Anyone with information concerning this incident should contact Union City Police Department at 510- 471-1365. Anonymous tips regarding this incident can be made by calling 510-675-5207 or emailed to Tips@union-city.org.

Saturday, July 21

Victim robbed at knifepoint in Craigslist car sale scam

At about 1 p.m., the victim of a robbery agreed to meet a man in the area of Lowry Road and Lowry Court to look over a vehicle that he had for sale on Craigslist. The suspect brandished a knife at the victim and demanded his money. The victim complied out of fear of being stabbed.

The suspect then fled on foot toward Union City Boulevard and was picked up by someone driving a white early 90s Chevy Cavalier. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult between 20 and 25 years old.

Sunday, July 22

Drunk driver arrested after brandishing shotgun

At about 2:37 a.m., a citizen reported a person brandishing a shotgun out of the window while driving a silver Audi in the area of Alvarado-Niles Road and Decoto Road. An officer in the area found the suspect vehicle as it was driven into the Mission Sierra apartment complex. A high-risk stop was conducted and the driver and passenger were detained while the officers investigated further.

An unloaded shotgun was located inside of the vehicle, but the reporting party did not wish any additional involvement. The driver was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The passenger was also intoxicated and arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness.

Monday, July 23

Sheds burglarized at mobile home park

Three residences in the Central Park West mobile home park had their sheds burglarized. One burglary occurred on Parkside Drive and two on Gramarcy Avenue.

Woman’s gold chain snatched by teenager

Later this night at about 7 p.m., a female victim was walking in the area of the 4300 block of Planet Circle when a black male juvenile about 15 years old, 5-foot 4-inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds walked up behind her and snatched a gold chain from around her neck. The suspect then fled on foot through the neighborhood.

Tuesday, July 24

Woman’s necklace snatched while walking near Cabello Street and Regents Boulevard

At about noon, an adult female and her sister were walking in the area of Cabello Street and Regents Boulevard when they saw a man walking toward them. As they passed each other, the suspect turned around, tore a gold necklace off the victim’s neck and ran toward Regents Boulevard.

The suspect was seen getting into a black vehicle with a “for sale” sign in the rear window. The suspect was described as a black male adult between 18 and 25 years of age, 5’7” to 5’10” in height with a skinny build, short hair and thin mustache. He was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants.

Wednesday, July 25

Man stabbed in assault

A little after 9 p.m., a victim of an assault called police and stated he had been stabbed. The victim would not cooperate with the dispatcher and decided to go to the hospital on his own prior to police arrival.

Officers responded to the victim’s residence and located blood on the walkway leading up to the front door, blood on the door handle and blood on the front door. After several attempts to contact anyone inside, officers forced entry into the residence to ensure there were no additional victims or suspects inside. No one was located inside the residence.

Officers located the suspect at a local hospital and responded there to obtain a statement from him. The victim stated that he had been assaulted in the area of Decoto Road and Perry Road by two Hispanic male adults. This case is still being actively investigated.