Moore, a 41-year-old transgender Berkeley resident, died of an accidental drug overdose while in police custody in February, but the details of her death did not come to light until the release of the report on May 3 — nearly 3 months after her death.

A death in police custody is inherently an extremely sensitive situation — one which the department needed to communicate with the public about quickly and extensively.

Instead, not only was an autopsy report not released in a timely manner, but the police failed to provide a meaningful reason for the delay to the public.

Furthermore, before the death occurred in police custody, the autopsy should have been done by an outside agency other than the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau to ensure its validity and rid the police department of unnecessary suspicion.

Employing an outside organization to complete an internal investigation is not unheard of. Following the events of Occupy Cal in November 2011, an independent review of police actions were ordered to make certain that no bias was involved.

Although department spokesperson Jennifer Coats apologized for the lengthy delay and noted that the department wanted to ensure a “proper and thorough investigation for Moore,” an apology is not enough.

If Berkeley Police Department expects to be valued and trusted by the people it aims to protect and serve, it needs to be prompt and accountable regarding its own conduct.

The department should learn from this incident and create a better procedure for the future — one in which it moves forward with transparency as a fundamental value.

The post A deplorable delay appeared first on The Daily Californian.

The suspect was hiding near the intersection at approximately 12:05 p.m. and jumped out at the 20-year-old female victim as she walked by, according to the UCPD crime alert released Tuesday. The suspect allegedly took her cell phone from her hand.

The suspect fled the scene in a white Toyota Camry, which was last seen driving eastbound on Durant.

The victim, whose affiliation is unknown, was not physically injured during the encounter. UCPD and BPD searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the suspect is described as: A black male in his early 20s with a medium build, wearing a gray shirt and black gym shorts.

Contact Andrea Guzman at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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The female victim was walking on Fulton Street at approximately 9:20 p.m. when she was approached from behind and confronted by a male suspect, according to a UCPD crime alert released Monday. The suspect pulled out a gun and demanded the victim’s property, taking her cell phone and wallet.

The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim, whose affiliation to UC Berkeley is unknown, was not physically injured during the encounter.

UCPD and BPD searched the area but were not able to locate the suspect.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the suspect is described as:

A Black male in his late 20s, 240 lbs., with a heavy build, wearing a black hat with a red bill, black windbreaker, black polo shirt and dark jeans.

Contact Andrea Guzman at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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A 20-year-old female was walking in the area at approximately 1:58 a.m. when she heard footsteps behind her, according to the UCPD crime alert released Monday. The victim heard a voice say, “Don’t move.” She was grabbed by the neck by one of the suspects. The other suspects took the victim’s property, which included a laptop and iPhone.

The victim screamed and was pushed to the ground, according to the alert. The suspects fled the scene northbound on Hillegass Avenue toward Dwight Way.

The victim, possibly a UC affiliate, sustained minor injuries. UCPD and BPD searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects.

According to the UCPD crime alert, the suspects are described as:

Suspect #1 – A Black female in her 20s, with a light complexion and wearing a turquoise sweatshirt.

Suspect #2 – A Black male in his 20s, with a dark complexion, wearing a white t-shirt and black beanie.

Suspect #3 – A Black male in his 20s, with a dark complexion, wearing a white t-shirt and black beanie.

Contact Andrea Guzman at aguzman@dailycal.org.

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Organized by Kayla’s family, the celebration will be held at the Gaia Building apartment complex at 5 p.m. on what would have been her 42nd birthday.

Moore, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, died in police custody on the night of Feb. 12 after officers were called to her apartment to respond to a call about a disturbance.

Following the event, Berkeley Copwatch has organized a march to the Berkeley Police Station to call on the department to release information about their investigation into Moore’s death.

“Our first objective is to honor Kayla Moore and the grief that her family has endured as a result of her murder,” said Copwatch member Andrea Prichett. “Then we’re going to the police station, asking them to release the hold that they have placed on the coroner’s report … we’re asking BPD to correct that situation and let the public and the family have access to the report.”

There is currently a “press hold” placed on the release of the autopsy report by the BPD as the investigation is still ongoing. The coroner’s office is also still currently conducting their own investigation at this time, said Deputy Damon Wilson from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau.

Maria Moore, Kayla’s sister, says the department mishandled the incident and that the officers lacked the necessary training to handle suspects with mental illnesses.

“(The incident) was handled horribly,” Maria said. “One of the neighbors said that (Kayla) was quiet and didn’t know why the police was called. The situation only escalated when the police came.”

According to Maria, the department has not been forthright with information about the investigation to the family, saying they had to reach out to BPD in order for someone to respond.

“We had to call them several times just to get a phone call back,” Maria said. “We may have to get a lawyer involved because they’re not producing any information.”

Maria also criticized the rate at which the investigation is being handled, saying that it has been two months without any word from the department. In an email, Officer Jennifer Coats, spokesperson for BPD, said that the investigation is going at its current rate because officers want it to be as thorough as possible.

The investigation involves detailed interviews with witnesses as well as a collection and analysis of all evidence, according to Coats.

“We understand the community’s concern over this incident and their desire to have as much information as possible,” Coats stated in the email. “This can take some time and we are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into this matter.”

Andy Nguyen is the lead crime reporter. Contact him at anguyen@dailycal.org
and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Truc.

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At approximately 2 a.m., Berkeley Fire Department and Berkeley Police Department responded to a medical call at a home in the 1200 block of Dwight Way. Soon afterward, shots were fired from inside the residence, according to Officer Jennifer Coats, spokesperson for BPD.

“The officers were responding when BPD reported shots fired inside,” Coats stated in the email. “One of the firefighters was hit, and received a non-life threatening injury, that did not required hospitalization.”

BPD officers were able to make contact with the shooter, an 88-year-old man, who was then taken into custody and sent to a local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. His name is currently being withheld.

“BPD works very closely with BFD and we are very grateful that the firefighter was not hurt more seriously,” Coats said in the email.

Andy Nguyen is the lead crime reporter. Contact him at anguyen@dailycal.org
and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Truc.

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Residential burglary — 3000 block of King Street

On March 25 at approximately 2:16 p.m., a resident on the 3000 block of King Street reported a burglary of a rear storage unit. The unknown suspect entered by breaking one of the unit’s window. According to the victim, nothing appeared to have been taken.

Vandalism — 2700 block of Bancroft Way

On March 26 at approximately 2:15 a.m., an unknown suspect broke the window to a residential building on the 2700 block of Bancroft Way. The suspect used a brick to break the window.

Residential burglary — 900 block of Tulare Avenue

On March 27 between 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., a residential burglary occurred on the 900 block of Tulare Avenue. The unknown suspect entered the residence by prying a door. The suspect stole a computer and jewelry from the home.

Auto theft — 3100 block of Lewiston Avenue

On March 28 at approximately 9 a.m., a victim reported a vehicle stolen on the 3100 block of Lewiston Avenue. The victim parked the vehicle the night before on the city street. The victim went out in the morning and discovered the vehicle missing. Taken was a black 1998 Honda Civic. The vehicle was recovered on Northampton Avenue in Berkeley.

Possible arson — 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue

On March 29 at approximately 2:01 a.m., a BPD officer was on patrol and discovered a city of Berkeley trash can on fire on the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue. Using a fire extinguisher, the officer put out the fire. Berkeley Fire Department arrived to assist and indicated the fire may not be accidental. The incident is still under investigation.

Narcotics violation — 2100 block of Fourth Street

On March 30 at approximately 11:20 p.m., a BPD officer on foot patrol on the 2100 block of Fourth Street noticed an individual hiding behind a vehicle smoking a substance. The officer investigated further and determined that the individual was smoking what was suspected to be methamphetamines. The subject was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Please note that these are Calls For Police Services only and are subject to review and reclassification. These CFS numbers only reflect part one crimes reported to BPD. The numbers reflected in the report are only a snapshot of what occurs in the city of Berkeley. The numbers are considered for informational purposes only and should not be used for data analysis or comparison to other agencies. Cases may be reclassified after further review of the incident by supervisors, investigating detectives or the district attorney as appropriate.

View Crime Blotter March. 25—30 in a larger map

Andy Nguyen is the lead crime reporter. Contact him at anguyen@dailycal.org
and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Truc.

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The Berkeley Police Association, a labor organization serving member officers, sergeants and command staff, sent out the survey in an email on March 27. Chris Stines, president of the Berkeley Police Association, called the survey a “preliminary step” toward starting a discussion on Berkeley Police Department taser use.

“Taser use in the city has not been seriously explored for many years,” Stines said. “We are very interested in the opinions of the community we serve.”

Berkeley police officers are some of the only officers in the Bay Area who are not equipped with tasers, according to Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, a supporter of the adoption of tasers.

“The controversial political climate in Berkeley has kept the UCPD and BPD from using tasers,” said UCPD Lt. Marc DeCoulode.

Many police departments, including UC police departments such as those in UCLA and UC Davis, have chosen to use tasers as an alternative to forces such as gunfire, according to DeCoulode.

Wozniak believes that tasers can be useful tools that should be available to Berkeley officers. Wozniak added that, as with firearms, there should be strict guidelines on their use. Support, however, is not unanimous on the council.

Councilmember Max Anderson voiced opposition to the use of tasers in Berkeley, citing the dangers of using them on people with medical conditions.

Andrea Prichett, a co-founder of Berkeley Copwatch, a volunteer group that monitors police, said that she believes tasers are the equivalent of lethal force and emphasized the risks that their use may pose that could result in death.

DeCoulode acknowledged the risk of using tasers but affirmed their usefulness to police officers, saying that they reduce physical confrontations and give officers another option besides the use of deadly force to subdue suspects.

“There are cases in which people have died from taser use, but there are also people who died after being arrested and put in a certain position,” DeCoulode said. “The important thing is appropriate application.”

Additionally, Sgt. J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, which currently uses tasers, said the devices are an effective tool in his department because lethal force can be avoided.

The Berkeley Police Association will release the results of the survey in the next few weeks along with its subsequent course of action, Stines added. The City Council, however, will have the final say on this matter, according to Wozniak.

Contact Matt Trejo at mtrejo@dailycal.org.

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During the meeting’s public comment section, community members urged the commission to find out details about the night, when a 41-year-old transgender person who was initially identified by police as Xavier Christopher Moore, died. The community members also inquired about the status of the coroner’s report.

When asked by Commission Chair Kiran Shenoy about whether the coroner’s report would be released, Berkeley Police Department Captain Cynthia Harris responded that the department was still waiting on it and that there were not any new developments regarding the investigation.

A man who identified himself simply as Nate interrupted the meeting several times to ask if any officers were placed on leave as a result of Moore’s death. He also claimed that Shenoy did not care about the incident.

“She was ugly and she was a drug addict, so she doesn’t matter … I really don’t think you care that someone is dead,” he said.

The Berkeley Police Review Commission is made up of nine members chosen by the City Council and mayor. It reviews the practices and procedures of BPD and investigates any complaints made by community members against the department.

According to a press release from Berkeley Police Department, the department received a disturbance call on the evening of Feb. 12. Responding officers were directed to Moore’s residence.

“(She) became increasingly agitated and uncooperative to the officer’s verbal commands and began to scream and violently resist,” according to a statement from the department. “After struggling with officers, they were able to gain control of the subject and place (her) in restraints.”

After being restrained to a gurney, officers discovered that Moore had stopped breathing and was later pronounced dead after being rushed to a local hospital.

Earlier in the week, a protest was held for Moore, with nearly 70 protesters who marched from People’s Park to BPD headquarters in Downtown Berkeley.

Andy Nguyen is the lead crime reporter. Contact him at anguyen@dailycal.org
and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Truc.

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Loud reports — 2100 block of Los Angeles Avenue
On Feb. 10 at approximately 1 p.m., residents on the 2100 block of Los Angeles Avenue reported hearing several loud reports. Officers responded to the area and discovered the loud reports were fireworks related to a Chinese New Year celebration.

Robbery — Etna and Derby streets
On Feb. 11, at approximately 7:45 p.m., a robbery occurred near the intersection of Etna and Derby streets. The female victim was walking in the area when she was approached by two unknown suspects. One suspect demanded money from the victim. The victim gave her the money she had. The other suspect then searched the victim for any other property. The suspects then got into a vehicle, which was last seen going south on College Avenue.

The suspects are described as:
Suspect 1 – “Black female, 18 years old, 5’3”, wearing a dark baseball hat and dark clothes.”
Suspect 2 – “Black female, NFD”
Suspect Vehicle: Newer red convertible, possibly Ford Mustang.

Auto burglary — 1100 block of San Pablo Avenue
On Feb. 12, at approximately 2:15 p.m., an auto burglary occurred on the 1100 block of San Pablo Avenue. The unknown suspect broke the window of the victim’s vehicle. The suspect prowled through the vehicle but did not take anything.

Residential burglary attempt — 2800 block of California Street
On Feb. 13, at approximately 9 a.m., an attempted residential burglary occurred on the 2800 block of California Street. The reporting party heard an unknown suspect kick in the door of a residential home. The reporting party called the police and reported seeing someone nearby. The police arrived and determined the door of the home had been kicked in. The resident arrived and reported that nothing was missing from the home.

Robbery — 2200 block of Shattuck Avenue
On Feb. 14, at approximately 7:19 p.m., a robbery occurred on the 2200 block of Shattuck Avenue. The unknown suspects entered the store and removed several cellphones and attempted to exit the store without paying for them. When confronted by an employee, the suspects threatened to physically harm her. The employee, fearing for her safety, moved aside. The suspects then fled the store.

The suspects are described as:
Suspect 1 – “Black male, 20 years old, 5’7”, skinny build wearing a dark baseball hat, navy blue hooded sweatshirt.”
Suspect 2 – “Black male, late teens, 5’5”, skinny build wearing a navy blue windbreaker.”
Suspect 3 – “Black male, late 20s, 6’0”, wearing dark clothing.”

Stolen vehicle — Ashby and San Pablo avenues
On Feb. 15, between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., an auto theft occurred near the intersection of San Pablo and Ashby avenues. The victim reported parking and locking her vehicle in the area. She returned and discovered her vehicle was missing. It is unknown who stole her vehicle. The vehicle taken is a gray 1993 Honda Civic with four doors.

Residential burglary — 1200 block of Hopkins Street
On Feb. 16, at approximately 6 a.m., a residential burglary occurred on the 1200 block of Hopkins Street. The victim reported possibly hearing footsteps early in the morning. He later discovered that several items were taken from his residence. The unknown suspect possibly gained entry through an unlocked door.

View Crime in Berkeley: Feb. 10 to Feb.16 in a larger map.

Andy Nguyen is the lead crime reporter. Contact him at anguyen@dailycal.org
and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Truc.

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