Crime & Safety

Robbery Suspect Tackled at Al's Big Burger after Albany Hill Chase

An El Cerrito Police motorcycle sergeant tackled a robbery suspect in the parking lot of Al's Big Burger Friday afternoon after a police chase at Albany Hill, police said. Stolen was a bicycle whose owner was struck several times in the head.

A police chase of a robbery suspect through the brambles of Albany Hill ended this afternoon, Friday, when an El Cerrito Police motorcycle sergeant tackled the fugitive in the parking lot of Al's Big Burger in Albany, police said.

The police drama began about 2:30 p.m. when El Cerrito police were summoned to a report of a robbery that just occurred in 3400 block of Belmont Ave., police said.

"The victim had his bicycle stolen and when he tried to recover it, the suspect hit him in the head several times and then fled with the bike," police said in a news release. "The victim suffered minor injuries."

The suspect fled with the bike, and an El Cerrito Police motorcycle officer who was nearby took off in pursuit, spotting the suspect as he crossed Cerrito Creek at Creekside Park onto a path at Albany Hill, said El Cerrito Police Lt. Paul Keith.

The officer dismounted his motorcycle and gave chase, while from the other end of the path, another El Cerrito Police officer, who had the department's police dog Koda in his car, confronted the suspect and ordered him to halt or else Koda would be put into action, Keith said.

The suspect then dropped the bike he was carrying and took off through thorny bushes, eventually making his way to Al's Big Burger on the corner of San Pablo and Brighton avenues where an El Cerrito Police motorcycle sergeant who had rushed to the scene intercepted him, chased him around the building and tackled him in the parking lot, Keith said.

"Both motor officers used the manuverability of their motorcycles through heavy Friday afternoon traffic to capture the suspect," the police release said.

The bicycle was returned to its owner, and the suspect – a 27-year-old Richmond man – was arrested on suspicion of robbery and resisting arrest, police said. He was transported to the county jail in Martinez.

The arrest followed two other arrests effected by an El Cerrito Police motorcycle officer on Thursday afternoon when two 20-year-old men suspected of having just burglarized two El Cerrito homes were arrested after they were stopped by the officer, who was able to maneuver through the heavy afternoon traffic, police said.

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