OAKLAND — Top Oakland Police Department officials announced arrests Friday in four homicides, including three suspects apprehended this week, and also provided details on recent enforcement actions while pledging to continue their efforts to reduce crime.
“We are working hard as a police department to reduce crime and we are seeing a decrease in the overall number of crimes across the city,” Police Chief Floyd Mitchell said at a news conference. “We are on the right track, but there is still much work to be done.”
Through Aug. 11, violent crime in the city, including homicides, robberies and assaults, was down 12 percent overall, and overall crime was down 32 percent from the same time last year.
Deputy Chief Fred Shavies said three suspects were arrested Wednesday and Thursday in separate fatal shootings that occurred July 5 and 1 and May 22.
Josiah Dempsey, 20, was arrested Thursday morning by the California Highway Patrol on a probable cause warrant charging him with murder in the July 1 fatal shooting of Devonya Thurston, 25, of Oakland, inside a market in the 900 block of 105th Avenue.
Kiara Smith, 22, was arrested Wednesday in Dallas, Texas, by U.S. Marshals in a fatal shooting that occurred around 10:47 p.m. July 5 in the 1900 block of Telegraph Avenue in the Uptown neighborhood. Domaquie Robinson, 29, of San Francisco, was killed. Smith has been charged with murder and carrying a loaded firearm in public and is facing extradition from Texas.
A man was arrested Wednesday in the Kings County town of Lemoore by local police and U.S. Marshals. He is accused of fatally shooting Bre’elle Vercher, 18, on May 22 in the 3700 block of Manila Avenue in North Oakland. Although the shooting happened near Kaiser Hospital, she was taken by others to a San Francisco hospital where she later died. It was initially believed she was shot in San Francisco, but further investigation revealed the incident happened in Oakland and the man, whose name has not been released, was identified as the suspect.
Also announced was the arrest and indictment of a 16-year-old boy for murder and a 19-year-old man for complicity in the Aug. 7 fatal shooting of Maria Ramos in the 5600 block of Hilton Street. They were arrested the same day of the killing, which authorities say stemmed from the sale of marijuana vape pens to young relatives of Ramos, a mother of eight.
Deputy Chief James Beere provided details on recent enforcement actions taken by various police units, including officers from Ceasefire, the Special Resources Section and the department’s Morals and Child Exploitation Unit.
Beere said the Special Resources and Ceasefire Section’s efforts over the past month have resulted in the arrest of numerous violent suspects and the recovery of several firearms, including handguns with high-capacity magazines and assault rifles and ammunition.
He added that police had also focused their efforts on dealing with dozens of street robberies targeting mainly elderly women living in a nursing home not far from the city centre. This had resulted in more than half a dozen arrests of juvenile suspects, three of whom were formally charged. Patrols in the area had been stepped up and police were in constant contact with the home to address concerns and provide safety advice, Beere said.
Police also continue to crack down on human trafficking and child exploitation in known prostitution areas, including operations that have resulted in the arrest of numerous alleged pimps and clients and the rescue of sex workers. He said five arrests were made recently in an operation in the neighborhood along International Boulevard known as the “Blade.” None of those arrested were from Oakland, with one claiming to reside in Arizona.
Beere said the department will continue these enforcement actions and expressed gratitude for the support received from the community.
Chief Mitchell said he understands that victims are upset about the slow response times of police officers, especially for property crimes, and so is he. But he added that violent crimes are the priority calls. He hopes an ongoing study of the city’s police resources will result in an increase in the number of officers, which would lead to shorter response times.
