Police Log: Bomb Squad Investigates Suspicious Package; Robberies at Rite Aid

The following is a collection of reports prepared by the Union City Police Department. The document contains only items of note. Dated Dec. 16, the log contains incidents that occurred from Dec. 9 to 14. Reports have been lightly edited for Patch style.

Friday, Dec. 9

Teen suffers major injuries after assault and battery at high school

On Friday night, an officer was sent to a local hospital to investigate a battery with great bodily injury. The victim sustained a major injury requiring surgery. The juvenile victim refused to provide a statement due to fear of retaliation from gang members, the report said. The officer was able to determine that the assault occurred the previous day at James Logan High School. School officials were notified and this case has been forwarded to the investigations unit for follow-up.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Man arrested after vandalizing friend’s apartment

On Saturday night, officers were sent to the Green Haven Apartments to investigate a disturbance. A man was acting violently and screaming, according to the report. He refused to open the door for officers. The resident of the apartment arrived while officers were still on scene and advised that the person inside the apartment was a guest, and opened the door for the officers. The interior of the apartment and the majority of its contents had been destroyed by the male subject, the report said. The resident placed the subject under citizen’s arrest on suspicion of felony vandalism. The motive for the outburst was unclear.

Sunday, Dec. 11

Suspicious package found, bomb unit called in for assistance

On Sunday, officers responded to the area of Mann Avenue and Hollyhock Street to investigate a suspicious package lying in the street with the words “Caution” written on it. Officers were concerned that the package contained an explosive device. The neighborhood was evacuated with the assistance of neighboring agencies. The Alameda County explosives disposal unit responded and rendered the package safe by blasting it with a water cannon.

Monday, Dec. 12

Strong-arm robbery at Rite Aid

On Monday, officers responded to the Rite Aid store located at 1650 Decoto Rd. for an in-progress strong-arm robbery. Arriving officers saw the loss prevention officer fighting with a male suspect in front of the store. UCPD officers determined that loss prevention had apprehended an adult female for shoplifting prior to their arrival. According to the report, the woman’s boyfriend saw that she had been apprehended and intervened to help her escape. The male suspect was in possession of pepper spray and a pair of scissors, the report said. In addition, the male suspect had a court order stating that he is to stay away from Rite Aid stores. The suspect was booked into jail on suspicion of robbery, court order violations, receiving stolen property and possession of a forged check. The female suspect escaped prior to the police arriving on-scene.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Armed robbery at Rite Aid

On Tuesday night, officers investigated another just-occurred armed-robbery at same the Rite Aid store located at 1650 Decoto Rd. According to the report, two suspects entered the store and brandished a handgun at the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. The clerk complied and the suspects fled on foot toward the BART station.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Vehicle stolen out of Palo Alto found in Union City neighborhood

On Wednesday, a security guard at the Meridian neighborhood gated community reported a suspicious vehicle within the complex. He provided authorities with the vehicle description and license plate, which came back as a stolen vehicle out of Palo Alto. Arriving officers located the vehicle with the suspect was still inside. The suspect was arrested at gunpoint on suspicion of auto theft.

Reckless drivers arrested after attempting to evade police

Later in the day, an officer on routine patrol spotted a vehicle driving in excess of 70 mph on Alvarado-Niles Road toward Fremont. The officer attempted to make an enforcement stop, but the vehicle ignored the police emergency lights to pull over and continued into Fremont, the report said. The officer momentarily lost sight of the vehicle in the adjacent neighborhood, but found it stopped in the middle of the road. The driver then accelerated and drove off again, but eventually yielded to the officer. The two occupants were detained at gunpoint until the officer could sort out what was occurring.

Through the investigation, the officer learned that the passenger was the original driver on Alvarado-Niles Road. He and the other suspect switched seats when the officer lost sight of them in Fremont. Since they both participated in driving away from the officer, they were both arrested.

Parolee arrested after stealing vehicle, resisting arrest

On Wednesday night, officers were sent to investigate a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a home on the 4800 block of Delores Drive. The reporting party told police that the unfamiliar vehicle had a single occupant inside and that it was running for over an hour.

Arriving officers tried to contact the driver, but he refused to open the door, roll down the window or communicate with the officers, the report said. While the officers were attempting to communicate with the man, police learned that the vehicle was reported stolen out of San Pablo.

Because the occupant refused to show his hands and leaned over as if reaching for a weapon, the officers on scene radioed for assistance. Officers were able to break a rear window and unlock the vehicle’s door, but the suspect continued to be uncooperative and physically resisted and fought with officers, the report said. A police dog was deployed and eventually subdued and arrested the man.

Through their investigation, police learned that the vehicle was stolen during a residential burglary and that the suspect was wanted for a parole violation.

The suspect was treated at a local hospital and arrested on suspicion of auto theft, possession of stolen property, threatening a police officer, injuring a police K-9, and other active misdemeanor arrest warrants.