Crime Log: Man Beaten With Bats; Driveway Car Fire Deemed Suspicious

The following is a summary of significant crime and incidents reported in Newark between Jan. 19 and Jan. 22 as released by the Newark Police Department.

SATURDAY, JAN. 19

Man intentionally crashes car after threatening to kill girlfriend

A Newark man was arrested after intentionally crashing his car into another vehicle in the Home Depot parking lot in what may have been an attempt to harm his girlfriend, who was a passenger in his car. The incident occurred at about 10:37 a.m. after 42-year-old Michael Mottram assaulted his girlfriend and told her he was going to kill her. Mottram was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, corporal injury to a spouse, making criminal threats and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Man beaten with bats

Officers responded to the Kaiser Permanente at about 4:45 a.m. to interview a 20-year-old man who was being treated for injuries. The victim reported that he was assaulted at about 3:30 a.m. on Haley Street when he was confronted by two suspects armed with baseball bats. A fight ensured and the victim sustained facial injuries.

SUNDAY, JAN. 20

Drunken transient causes disturbance, attacks officer

A 56-year-old transient was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public after creating a disturbance inside of Safeway. He was transported to a hospital to be cleared medically before being booked. While there, he kicked an officer in the knee and was also booked on suspicion of battery on a police officer.

Home burglary on Bettencourt Street

A home on the 36100 block of Bettencourt Street was burglarized between 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. The suspect(s) broke in through a bathroom window and stole electronics.

Hit-and-run on Sycamore Street

A driver was unharmed during a hit-and-run collision on Sycamore Street. The incident occurred at about 6:11 p.m. near the railroad tracks. The victim did not sustain any injuries. The suspect vehicle was described as a black Chevy Suburban. It was last seen heading southbound on Sycamore Street.

TUESDAY, JAN. 22

Drugged man attempts to uproot trees from stranger’s yard

A 42-year-old man who was possibly high on meth was arrested after attempting to uproot trees from a stranger’s yard. Police said officers were called to the 36200 block of Cherry Street after a woman called and said the man was pulling trees from her front yard just after 12:30 a.m. The man then tried to open the front door of the home. Arriving officers said the 42-year-old man "was obviously delusional and believed he was rescuing his children from the potted trees he was trying to pull up,” according to a statement from Newark police. He was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of meth and was booked into Santa Rita Jail

Motorcycle stolen

A motorcycle was stolen from the 37000 block of Sycamore Street between 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. Tuesday. The bike was described as a 2008 black Honda CBR with a license plate number 18Z17141.

Man strangles, beats girlfriend

A woman was strangled and beaten by her boyfriend early Tuesday evening. Officers responded to the area of Thornton Avenue and Mulberry Street at 6:13 p.m. where they found the victim. She said her boyfriend, a 33-year-old Newark man who is also wanted on an aggravated assault warrant, strangled her and then hit her. The victim was treated but the suspect was not apprehended.

Man walking with big stick mistaken for shotgun

Officers responded to the Starbucks on Stevenson Boulevard at around 8:15 p.m. after receiving reports of a man walking with a shotgun in the parking lot. Arriving officers established a perimeter and located an 18-year-old man carrying a big stick who matched the witness description. It was determined that there was no weapon and that people had, in fact, mistook the large stick for a shotgun. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23

Driveway car fire deemed suspicious

A car caught on fire on a driveway on the 35000 block of Garrone Place early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the scene at about 1:15 a.m. and found the car fully engulfed in flames next to the garage door. An officer evacuated the house and neighboring homes while another hosed down the garage door to prevent the fire from spreading. Fire crews arrived and extinguished the fire. Fire investigators say the fire may be suspicion. The case is currently under investigation.

Anyone with information about crimes in Newark is asked to call Newark Police Department's non-emergency line at 510-578-4237 or can call the Silent Witness Hotline at 510-578-4000, extension 500.

Follow the Newark Police Department at nixle.com.

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