Berkeley police: Man charged with robbery of disabled person
Police found suspect Felix Johnson in the downtown Berkeley BART station in possession of a stolen necklace, according to court papers.
A man has been charged with multiple felonies after punching a disabled man on a mobility scooter and snatching a gold chain from his neck, court papers show.
The incident happened April 17 near Shattuck Avenue and Kittredge Street in downtown Berkeley at about 5:15 p.m.
Minutes after the robbery, police found suspect Felix Johnson, 31, in the downtown Berkeley BART station in possession of the stolen necklace, according to court papers.
While he was being transported, police said Johnson kicked a BPD officer in the leg and later "began to kick the inside of the vehicle, causing the entire car to shake."
Felix Johnson. BPD
Last week, the Alameda County DA's office charged Johnson with robbery and elder or dependent adult abuse, both felonies, as well as battery on a police officer, which is listed as a misdemeanor, according to court papers.
He entered a not-guilty plea in connection with the charges.
Johnson has one robbery conviction, from San Mateo County in 2016, and a burglary conviction, from San Francisco in 2015, according to charging documents.
He has no other criminal charges listed in Alameda County, according to court records.
Police wrote that Johnson had, however, been arrested in Antioch on suspicion of gun possession and assault or battery.
He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $115,000, according to court records, and is set for a preliminary hearing in June.
There have been at least 66 robberies reported in Berkeley this year, down 50% from last year when there had been 99 as of April 17, the most recent date available, according to BPD data.
