Apartment Fire Leads to Arrests for Drugs, Weapons, Identity Theft
Photo: Stock Image
Written By: Jim Emerson
BERKELEY — Two men were arrested in August after authorities found methamphetamine, weapons, and hundreds of stolen items. This evidence against them was collected following an apartment house fire.
The fire occurred in July on the 1500 block of Ashby Avenue. Inside one of the evacuated apartments, firefighters discovered suspicious items and notified police.
A search of the apartment uncovered illicit drugs, firearms and ammunition, mailbox master-keys and other items not belonging to the suspects. These items included mail, checks and ID cards from at least 10 victims.
One of the suspects Travis P. Erwin, 31, of Lathrop, was videotaped by security cameras on August 2 at an apartment building in downtown Berkeley. Police investigating mail and package thefts at that building recognized Erwin.
The second suspect is Richard A. Mohrbacher Apartment Fire Leads to Arrests for Drugs, Weapons, Identity Theft, 38, of Union City. Erwin and Mohrbacher were apprehended August 25. They were detained and arrested at a hotel at Broadway and 9 th Street in Oakland.
Both men were booked at Santa Rita Jail. Erwin and Mohrbacher each face charges for possession of weapons by convicted felons, identity theft, burglary, and other offenses.
Erwin is incarcerated in lieu of $295,000 bond. Since 2014, he has been arrested seven times for illicit drugs, firearms, and other offenses. Mohrbacher also has prior arrests, and he is being held custody in lieu of $100,000 bond.
