A man accused of squatting in a shuttered Berkeley church allegedly attacked three contractors with a 5-foot metal pipe on Saturday morning, according to police.
Donald Malone, 28, was arrested after the confrontation at Trinity United Methodist Church, located near Bancroft Way and Dana Street. Contractors working at the long-closed church discovered Malone inside around 10:45 a.m. and the situation escalated.
Cellphone video captured Malone holding the pipe and yelling aggressively at the contractors as one of them called the police. "He's approaching us," one worker could be heard saying in the recording. Malone responded, "Get away from me!"
Police stated that Malone then attacked the three men with the pipe. Officers arrived on the scene after being flagged down by the victims, who had been alerted by a nearby UC Berkeley police officer. Authorities allege they found approximately $20,000 worth of damage inside the building, including to electrical equipment, overturned speakers, and a smashed drum set.
Malone was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office with three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony count of vandalism. Court records indicate Malone has a prior conviction for assault. Prosecutors have also filed a petition to revoke his probation.
The incident occurred across from the University of California, Berkeley's Recreational Sports Facility, during a period of increased activity on campus due to student move-in weekend.
