BERKELEY — Robert R. Barnes, a 44-year-old man from Stockton was arrested after he tried to retrieve his impounded vehicle. It was towed as evidence in connection with a drive-by shooting one day earlier.
Barnes is suspected of shooting at an occupied vehicle on the night of October 22, but no one was reported injured. The victim was passing through a green light, when gunfire erupted from a vehicle stopped at a red light.
Police investigating the incident interviewed witnesses and reviewed surveillance videos. The vehicle involved in this shooting was identified easily.
On the following day, police saw the same vehicle double parked in downtown Berkeley. Two persons entered the vehicle and shortly afterward police conducted a high-risk traffic stop with guns drawn.
After the vehicle was pulled over, officers detained Barnes and a woman accompanying him. However, neither person was arrested at that time, but the vehicle was towed away as evidence. A handgun was recovered from inside it.
On October 24, Barnes showed up at Berkeley police headquarters. He was apparently expecting to fill out paperwork and retrieve his impounded vehicle.
At 5:45 p.m. Barnes was arrested and later transported to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. He remains in custody in lieu of $220,000 bond.
Barnes was booked for shooting at an inhabited vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle. He also faces charges for being an addict in possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition.
Barnes has numerous prior arrests related to drug dealing and shootings. He has been arrested 10 times since 2013.
by Jim Emerson
