Berkeley High Student Is Assaulted, Robbed

BERKELEY -- A 16-year-old Berkeley High School student was assaulted and robbed Thursday as he walked home from school, Berkeley police today reported. A 17-year-old Oakland man is being held on charges of assault and robbery in connection with the incident, which took place on the corner of Blake and Milvia Streets at 12:28 pm.

The student told police seven to eight men approached him and one, the 17-year-old suspect, asked him for the time. The victim glanced at his watch and told him the time. The suspect then asked, "do you have a dollar or something?" the student recounted.

The victim said he had no money, at which point another member of the group stepped forward and punched him in the throat, just below his chin. The victim described this man as being in his late teens, with a medium build and short black hair and wearing a white t-shirt.

The victim turned to run but the man grabbed him, pushed him to the ground, and told him that he wanted his watch. The victim didn’t respond so the man removed his watch and then demanded his wallet. The victim said he didn’t have a wallet. The student said his attackers then rifled through his bookbag and a third person told him "I’m taking your CD player," before doing just that.

As the third man removed the CD player, a female witness standing nearby called out to the group, according to the police. Startled, they ran eastbound on Blake Street. The witness then approached the boy and called the Berkeley police, who arrived moments later. The police found the Oakland man—who was still wearing the victim’s watch—nearby, verified his identity with the witness, and took him into custody. They were unable to find the other assailants.

The victim, who declined medical treatment at the scene, suffered scraped elbows and a swollen throat. He told police he didn’t recognize any of the individuals involved in the assault.

According to Ronald Liu, interim public information officer for the Berkeley Police Department, the suspect will be referred to the juvenile district attorney’s office for prosecution.