Berkeley chase nets Oakland, Emeryville robbery suspects

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 31, 2008 | by Anonymous

Two men suspected of committing at least five violent street robberies in Oakland and Emeryville, including one in which a pregnant woman was punched in the stomach, were arrested Thursday by Berkeley police, thanks to an alert witness who wrote down the license plate of the car the men were driving.

The suspects were identified as Reginald Patillo, 24, and Amadi Monroe, 19, both of Berkeley.

The robbery spree went from 6:30 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. Thursday in the two cities, and losses included cash, credit cards and other valuables.

The pregnant woman, who was in her eighth month, was punched at Monte Vista and Piedmont avenues in Oakland. Another victim was thrown to the pavement at 28th Avenue and International Boulevard by the suspects, police said.

In two of the Oakland robberies, witnesses got the license plate of the 1995 Honda the suspects were driving, and that information as well as descriptions of the suspects were broadcast to other police departments.

At 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Berkeley police got a call from a "good Samaritan" saying the driver of a Honda had offered to use a credit card to fill up his gas tank for $25 cash, which he thought was suspicious and refused. He got the Honda's license plate number and gave police a description of the car's occupants, which matched those of the suspects in the earlier spree.

Berkeley police flooded the area, and veteran Officer Marty Heist spotted the Honda driving north on San Pablo Avenue from Parker Street. Patillo, who was the passenger, ran from the car to the 1100 block of Parker, where he was arrested.

Monroe, who was driving, was arrested inside the Honda, which police stopped at San Pablo Avenue and Dwight Way.

Both suspects were being interviewed by Oakland police Thursday night and were going to be arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of robbery.