Berkeley police arrest 2 after gunfire, fight at Golden Bear
Community members have expressed growing concerns about the property, which the city converted into homeless housing in recent years.
Berkeley police arrested two men over the weekend in connection with gunfire and a fight at a hotel being used for homeless housing, authorities report.
Early Saturday morning, officers responded to the Golden Bear Hotel at 1620 San Pablo Ave. (at Cedar Street) after getting a report of gunfire, BPD said in response to a Scanner inquiry.
Officers arrived at about 2:20 a.m. and determined that two men had gotten into an argument just outside a motel room, authorities said.
As part of the investigation, Berkeley police reviewed surveillance video and learned that the fight began after James Foreman, a 55-year-old San Leandro man, had pointed a handgun at Austin White, a 49-year-old man from Berkeley, BPD said.
Police also found a bullet hole near the motel room where the fight happened, BPD said.
Authorities found Foreman a few blocks from the Golden Bear and arrested him on suspicion of negligent discharge, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being a felon in possession of a loaded gun and possession of narcotics, which police described as more than 7 grams of methamphetamine and more than 2 grams of fentanyl, BPD said.
Police also arrested White on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and said he had hit Foreman in the head with a metal bar, authorities said.
White was initially taken to the hospital to treat injuries to his head and hand, BPD said.
Both men are now in custody at Santa Rita Jail, according to booking records.
Foreman, a carpenter, is being held on $320,000 bail while White (no listed occupation) is being held on $30,000 bail, according to jail records.
Both men are scheduled for arraignment Wednesday at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
Over the weekend, several neighborhood residents alerted The Scanner to the Golden Bear shooting and asked for additional details.
One described hearing gunfire at 2 a.m. along with the sound of screaming.
Community members have expressed growing concerns about the property, which the city converted into homeless housing after receiving a $16.2 million Homekey grant from the state in 2022.
"The 44-unit hotel will be converted into 43 permanent supportive housing studios for people experiencing homelessness in addition to a manager’s unit," the mayor's office wrote about the plans in 2022. "On-site amenities will include space for counseling, a community room and a dining hall."
Emilie Raguso
In May, Councilwoman Rashi Kesarwani's office held a community meeting for neighbors and Golden Bear residents to hear about some of the ongoing challenges at the site.
Since then, a number of community members have continued to express concerns and say more needs to be done to address neighborhood impacts, particularly in terms of property management and the oversight that was promised when the project launched.
The Scanner will continue to follow the story.
