Man with Prior Convictions Arrested for Assault on a Construction Worker
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BERKELEY — A man with two prior convictions and 16 previous arrests was arrested again this month. Kelly J. Barnes, 37, a resident of Berkeley, is now accused of assault with a deadly weapon on a construction worker.
Police responded to reports of disturbances on University Avenue on the morning of March 9. Barnes was placed under arrest at 10:54 a.m. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail, where he is ineligible for release on bond.
The suspect allegedly attacked a laborer leaving a construction site on the 1600 block of University Avenue. The suspect who was carrying a knife approached the victim and attempted to stab him. Fortunately, the victim was able to get out of harm’s way. After fleeing the construction site, the suspect entered nearby Nation’s Giant Hamburgers restaurant at 1800 University Avenue. While still carrying a knife and behaving erratically inside the restaurant, he menaced customers. Responding officers arrested him without further incident.
Eight felony charges were filed against Barnes involving assault, use of a deadly weapon and other offenses. He is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing March 23 at Superior Court of Alameda County. A violent parolee, Barnes has been on and off probation in recent years. He was convicted in 2021 for making criminal threats. He was convicted in 2013 for voluntary manslaughter and carrying a loaded firearm. Barnes has been arrested 17 times since 2021, including several incidents involving assault, battery, robbery, and parole violations.
by Jim Emerson
