Last Friday, a potentially dangerous incident was averted in Downtown Oakland thanks to the prompt actions of a BART Police Department sergeant. According to a social media post by the BART Police Department, the officer encountered a man brandishing a firearm outside a local business on Madison Street near 14th Street.
The sergeant was notified of the situation by a bystander at approximately 3 AM and witnessed the suspect pounding on the storefront window before drawing a gun from his waistband. In response, the sergeant armed himself with his patrol rifle and approached the suspect, who discharged at least one round toward Lake Merritt just as an employee was about to exit the business. The suspect, unaware of the sergeant's presence, quickly surrendered and dropped the handgun when confronted.
Additional officers from BART Headquarters arrived to assist in apprehending the suspect. The firearm, identified as a Walther P22, was recovered and subsequently handed over to the Oakland Police Department, which has since taken over the investigation. The individual taken into custody was also turned over to OPD. "We thank our officer for his quick reaction to keep not just our stations but the neighborhoods around them safe," stated the BART Police Department in their public acknowledgment of the event.
