Piedmonters Arrested for Suspected Cocaine Use, Assault of Prostitute

MONDAY, AUG. 29

Dog Off Leash – At 2:26 p.m. an officer warned a Piedmont resident not to allow their dog to run off leash in Crocker Park.

Recyclables Taken – at 5:46 p.m. a caller reported seeing someone removing recyclables from bins near the intersection of Fairview and Oakland avenues.

Lost for Three Minutes – The father of seven- and nine-year old boys called police at 6:57 p.m. to report they had ridden off on bicycles and had not returned. Police were told their mother had found the boys three minutes later.

Piedmonter Arrested After Argument with Suspected Prostitute – A resident of the first block of Cambridge Way called police about a woman screaming next door at 11:53 p.m. Officers responding to the scene found the woman with a scratch on her neck after what appeared to have been a minor scuffle. A 48-year-old Piedmont man was arrested on suspicion of battery in the incident, but has so far not been charged as the alleged victim has declined to identify herself. Detective George Phifer said Piedmont Police suspected she was a prostitute.  

TUESDAY, AUG. 30

Reckless Drivers Reported – An Oakland Avenue resident called police at 8:35 a.m. about cars speeding down the street and failing to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. The beat officer was alerted.

Moving Truck Blocks Street – A truck was sprawled across Jerome Avenue according to a report made at 11:23 a.m. It was moved less than 10 minutes later.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31

Jacket Found – A jacket left at the Witter Field track had a car key in the pocket, according to a report made at 7:12 a.m.

Minivan Stolen – A resident of the 300 block of Wildwood Avenue reported at 8:13 a.m. that a green Honda Odyssey van with the license plate number 4XZS162 had been stolen.

Kids Partying After Hours – Officers broke up the party after getting a report that kids were blasting music either at the city tennis courts or Havens Elementary School's soccer field at 9:14 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 1

Attempted Leaf Blower Thief Pursued – A gardener working in Oakland reported to police at 12:04 p.m. that a member of his crew had seen a Hispanic male in a tan Volkswagen attempt to steal a leaf blower. The suspect was reportedly driving in the area of Piedmont Park and Highland Way, but Piedmont Police were unable to locate him. 

Traveling Homeowners Alerted of Break-in Attempt – Police responded to a burglar alarm sounding in the game room of a house in the first block of Cambrian Avenue at 12:20 p.m. A gardener on the scene noticed a broken window. The owner of the property was in Central America at the time of the incident. Police had checked out an alarm at the same house three days earlier, but had reported it all clear.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 2

Would-Be Burglar Breaks Window – Police responding to a burglar alarm sounding at a property on the first block of Richardson Way at 11:40 a.m. found a shattered rear window and alerted the homeowner.

Runaway Porsche – A silver Porsche rolled into a red Toyota Avalon near the intersection of Park Way and Hillside Avenue at 3:37 p.m.

Fireworks Set Off – Residents near Wildwood Elementary School called police to report hearing blasts around 8:30 p.m. In a separate incident, kids were reportedly setting off fireworks in the area of Jerome and El Cerrito Avenues near Witter Field at 10:12 p.m. Another report from the Wildwood Avenue side of the field was called in at 11:01 p.m. 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 3

Stolen Vehicle Returned – A vehicle belonging to a resident of the first block of Oakmont Avenue had just been dumped at 1:13 a.m., according to the police log. Officers arranged to have the vehicle towed home within an hour. 

Bike Snagged from Garage – A resident of the first block of Prospect Road reported the theft at 11:04 a.m.

Vehicle Recovered – A resident of the 100 block of Requa Road notified police about a green Infiniti that had been parked in the neighborhood for several days. Officers discovered that the vehicle had been stolen and reunited it with the rightful owner.

Driver Arrested for Stolen Plate – Police stopped San Pablo resident Jose Hernandez near the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Park Way at 12:37 p.m. Upon running the VIN and license plate numbers, officers discovered that though the vehicle he was driving was registered to Hernandez, the plate was not. The 35-year-old was then arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property.

Vandal Smashes Window – A resident of the 300 block of Magnolia Avenue reported at 1:20 p.m. that the windows of "every other car" parked on the street had been smashed. That turned out to be an over statement—the driver side mirror of just one vehicle in the neighborhood had been shattered.

Driver Nabbed on Warrant – Shortly after 10 p.m., police made contact with a 35-year-old Oakland man sitting in his car near the intersection of Santa Clara and Fairmount avenues. Police arrested the man, who had been wanted for driving with a suspended license.

Car Thief Arrested – Following a tip from a resident of the 1100 block of Harvard Road called in at 10:35 p.m., 27-year-old Oakland resident Julio Contreras was arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle and a parole violation.

SUNDAY SEPT. 4

Scooter, Helmet Found – Kids reported finding a scooter and helmet at Havens Elementary School at 10:32 a.m.

Missing Kid Found – A 12-year-old boy was missing for half an hour, but was found by his parents a few minutes after they calling police at 7:55 p.m.

Piedmonter Arrested with Cocaine – Following a report from a neighbor of someone on his knees at Hampton Field at 9:34 p.m., police caught up with Nathaniel Provda. The 27-year-old Piedmont resident surrendered after a brief struggle with officers responding to the scene. Provda was booked on suspicion of obstructing a police officer and on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, which he said was cocaine, according to Detective Phifer.

MONDAY, SEPT. 5

DUI Checkpoint Yields Three Arrests – Piedmont Police again partnered with California Highway Patrol and other regional and local police agencies to operate a sobriety checkpoint at the intersection of Grand and Wildwood avenues Labor Day weekend. Officers arrested three motorists on suspicion of drunk driving between 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday.