Police Log: Drunk Dad Sullies Christmas; Water Vehicle Stolen

The following are significant crime and incidents reported in Newark between Dec. 17 and 26 as released by the Newark Police Department.

Thursday, Dec. 26

• They stole a what? An overnight theft of an Argo 8x8 UTV (amphibious vehicle) from Cargill Salt was reported at 10 a.m. The vehicle has no license plate, but its VIN was entered into the Stolen Vehicle System. (What's an Argo 8x8 UTV? It looks something like this.) 

• Wanted man hides out in family restaurant. A sharp-eyed patrolling officer spotted La Cabana's interior lights abruptly turn off at 3 a.m., and suspected a well-known probationer, a 39-year-old Newark man whose family owns the restaurant and who was wanted on a felony warrant, was possibly inside. The suspect's mother gave police keys to the business. A perimeter was set, the front door was opened, and the man was arrested at gunpoint without incident.

• Car thieves take jolly out of Christmas morning. At 5 a.m. on the 36000 block of Sycamore Street, a 1993 green Honda Civic, with license plate 3CJZ371, was reported stolen. The theft occurred between 10 p.m. Dec. 24 and 5 a.m. Dec. 25.

• Dad too drunk to take kids on Christmas Eve, escalates to threats and tire slashing. Police were called at about 6 p.m. to a home on Thomas Avenue where a woman reported her children’s father, a Newark man, 43, arrived intoxicated for a child exchange. When the mother refused to let the children go with the man, he made statements that he had a firearm in the car. While the mother knew the gun claim was untrue, she didn’t want her children to leave with him due to his intoxication. The father was arrested in front of the residence for public intoxication and being unable to care for himself. He was taken into custody and booked at Fremont Jail. After his release, five vehicles -- with ownership related to the mother  -- had their tires slashed and the woman received text messages, from the father, threatening death and great bodily harm to the victim. An Emergency Protective Order for the victim and children was obtained.

• Children Awaken to Find Presents Stolen from Under Christmas Tree. Arrests made and that story is here.

• Four tires were stolen overnight from a Toyota Prius parked on the 6300 block of Buena Vista Drive.

• A robbery in front of a residence on the 39700 block of Potrero Drive was reported at 6:18 p.m. by a female, who said she was approached by man who demanded her wallet. Fearing for her safety, the victim took out her wallet. The suspect knocked the wallet to the ground as the victim yelled for help. He then picked up the wallet and ran west on Potrero. He was described as being a black male about 20 years old, and wearing a gray shirt, gray pants and a red baseball cap.

• Dollar Tree staff reported two male subjects were routinely stealing from the store. Police investigation led to an Arbeau Drive home for a probation search. No stolen or illegal items, however, were located.

• DUI driver arrested, along with his meddlesome passenger. Officers at 9 p.m. stopped a vehicle and arrested the driver, a Newark man, 22, for suspected driving under the influence, no license and a DUI warrant. While being arrested, the passenger, a Fremont male, 24, attempted to intervene and refused to obey officers' warnings. He was arrested for resisting or interfering with police. Both were booked at Santa Rita Jail, Dublin.

• Delivery truck stolen with driver inside. Police were called shortly after 10:15 p.m. to Bob’s Liquors on 7000 Jarvis Avenue where a man reported being carjacked while inside his minivan delivery truck. As the car thief drove off, the victim rolled out of the van and made it back to the liquor store to call police. His vehicle was located the next day at Byington Park. There is no description of the suspect.

• Slew of smash-n-grab car break-ins were reported at 7:30 a.m. at an RV repair business along the 38000 block of Cedar Boulevard. 

• 5-to-1 ends in 245. Five men, ages 23, 25, 26, 28 and 55, were arrested at 10:30 p.m. on assault-with-deadly-weapon charges (245 PC) after reportedly attacking their roommate. 

• No booze; just bad driving. At 11:30 p.m., a motorist was injured after crashing into a parked car along 39017 Alpine Street. He was transported to a local hospital. Alcohol was not a factor in the collision.

• Two gang members claimed to be shot by rival gang members near Wells Avenue and Locust Street. Officers found and collected evidence of the shooting on Wells, spoke to witnesses and zeroed in on a particular gang. The alleged shooter, a Fremont male, 20, was arrested Dec. 21.

• A suspected shoplifter, a Fresno man, 26, was stopped at about 2:45 p.m. driving on Mowry Avenue at Alpenrose Drive after security workers saw him steal from Macy's and drive off. Police spotted the described “getaway” car, and arrested the man. He was also driving on a suspended license, and was cited for that, too. 

• A briefcase was stolen at 10:33 a.m. from a vehicle parked along the 35040 block of Newark Boulevard.

• Three vehicular burglaries logged. A 9:05 p.m., an Apple laptop was swiped from an auto in the El Burro Restaurant parking lot. And at 9:33 p.m., two additional car break-ins were reported at BJ’s Restaurant. 

• Every crime begins with a crook. After Kay Jewelers at NewPark Mall reported a possible forgery theft at 4:23 p.m., police stopped an Oakland man, 33, who matched the suspect's description. The man was arrested for warrants, and possession of cocaine and marijuana. He was also carrying multiple fake credit cards -- one used to allegedly “purchase” a $4,000 piece of jewelry. He was arrested on 20 felony charges.

• Two Injured in FedEx Truck Accident.