Piedmont Man Captures Suspected Car Burglar

A Piedmont man caught and detained a suspected auto burglar early Thursday morning, then turned the suspect over to police, a Piedmont Police Department spokesman said today (Friday).

Capt. Scott Wyatt said at least three people called the PPD about 3:46 a.m. on Aug. 15 to report someone yelling for help in the 100 block of York Drive.

When patrol officers responded, they were flagged down in the 1500 block of Grand Avenue by a local man waving a flashlight, Wyatt said.

The Piedmont resident was holding onto another man he said had been rifling through his vehicle, Wyatt said.

He said it appeared the suspect may have been detained after a chase from York Drive to Grand Avenue.

The suspect told police he had been assaulted for no reason, but police recovered several items that had been taken from the Piedmont man's vehicle, Wyatt said. Those included two sets of keys, vehicle registration, film canisters and a cell phone, he said.

Jamel Joseph Williams, 36, was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property, petty theft and a probation violation, Wyatt said.

Williams was checked at an Alameda County medical facility for possible injuries received during a scuffle with the Piedmont man, Wyatt said.

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