Albany Police Arrest Convicted Sex Offender After Neighbor Tips

Albany police arrested a recently released sex offender last week after concerned residents reported an increase in suspicious activity in their neighborhood, officials said Wednesday. 

Neighbors on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Cornell Avenue began to make reports during the first week of July about strange men coming and going at odd hours from some nearby houses, said police Lt. Dan Adams. 

Neighbors asked for increased patrol units, and officers responded by keeping a closer eye on the neighborhood, Adams said. 

On July 17, about 4:20 a.m., a police officer checking the area came upon a man walking in the 1100 block of Cornell. Because of the late hour, and the man's outfit, the officer was suspicious.

"He was wearing all black with a backpack and a hoodie," Adams said. "That hides your identity pretty well."

The officer spoke with the man, who identified himself as Rodney Windsor Jr., 44. He said he was staying with family members who live in Albany and provided their address, Adams said. He denied he had been staying on Cornell.

Windsor told the officer he was on parole. He was released July 8 from prison, where he had served time after being convicted of forcible rape. The officer searched Windsor for illegal items such as stolen property, paraphernalia or burglary tools. He found none, and the two parted ways.

Because of his conviction, Windsor was required to register with law enforcement officials as a sex offender, Adams said. An Albany police detective followed up with Windsor's parole agent, who said Windsor had until July 14 to register. 

According to Adams, Windsor told the parole agent he would be living in Richmond and registering with police there. 

Albany officers were concerned that Windsor might actually be staying in Albany, which would be a violation if he registered in Richmond, Adams said. 

As part of his parole, Windsor was wearing a GPS tracking device on his ankle. Officers went over the tracking data and found Windsor had spent at least two recent nights at an address on Cornell, though he had denied it.

"He was telling us he was staying in town with family, but he was telling his parole agent he was staying in Richmond," Adams said. "He seemed to be taking up residence here, trying to get out from under the system."

The parole agent made an appointment with Windsor for noon on July 21 at Casino San Pablo, 13255 San Pablo Ave., so officers would know where to find him.

Albany police arrested Windsor at that time on suspicion of violating parole by giving his parole agent false information. Police requested that the Alameda County district attorney's office file charges against Windsor in connection with failing to register as a sex offender at his true address.

"This is a good example of a community calling, saying there's a problem and requesting extra patrol," Adams said. "It led to more directed investigation and allowed us to identify someone who's breaking the law and running around at 4 a.m. It led to a good investigation and a good result."

According to the Megan's Law website, which lists designated registered sex offenders in California, just two registered sex offenders live in Albany.

Police ask neighbors to report any suspicious activity immediately by calling 510-525-7300.