Arsonist Burned Down People's Park Tent, Hit Man With Golf Club: Cops

BERKELEY, CA — UC Berkeley police are searching for a suspect who allegedly lit a tent on fire Tuesday morning in People’s Park, and struck the inhabitant “multiple times” with a golf club.

Police say they received reports of a fire at People’s Park at around 7:03 a.m. Tuesday, and evacuated the park. Police found a tent on fire in the center of the park with 10-foot flames, according to a Berkeleyside report. One resident of the park told Berkeleyside that she heard the sound of something “blowing up.”

Police were able to contain the fire by 7:45 a.m., but a tent and all its belongings were destroyed.

Upon evacuating the park, police found a victim on Bowditch Street who had been assaulted. The man was breathing but “could barely talk to us,” UCPD Sgt. Patrick O’Donnell told Berkeleyside. Emergency crews transported the victim, who sustained “significant injuries” to Highland Hospital.

Police say the suspect is a 6-foot Black man wearing a gray t-shirt and light blue jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call UCPD at 510-642-6760.