A suspicious man followed her. She helped police catch him
Nolan Leonardo has dozens of arrests dating back more than a decade, according to public records. He was released on OR.
A woman who noticed a man following her after a party helped police catch him by leading him to the Berkeley police station, authorities report.
The woman got off the freeway in Berkeley and called police after seeing the man tail her from San Francisco.
When police arrested Nolan Leonardo, they found illegal items in his car, including a loaded handgun — which had been reported stolen — and a Taser, along with crack cocaine, authorities said.
He was prohibited from owning guns and ammunition due to his criminal history, according to charging papers.
Nolan Leonardo. BPD
Leonardo, 36, has felony convictions dating back to 2012, mostly related to burglary and auto theft, according to court records.
Events unfolded Nov. 29 just after 2 a.m. when a woman in her 20s called police after seeing a suspicious driver behind her.
She exited the freeway to confirm her hunch and the man continued to follow her, police said.
Police advised the woman to drive past the station so officers could stop the man safely.
After pulling him over, officers saw a handgun on the floor of his car, according to BPD.
When they checked it, they found it was loaded and had been reported stolen from Richmond, police said.
A search of the car also turned up a flashlight Taser and BB gun along with gloves, crack cocaine and several crack pipes, BPD said.
Read more about crime in Berkeley.
The Alameda County district attorney's office has now charged Leonardo with multiple gun crimes — possession of a firearm by felon, carrying a concealed firearm in a car, carrying a loaded firearm and possession of ammunition — as well as drug possession and possession of a stun gun by a felon.
In addition to his convictions, for evading police, burglary, auto theft and vandalism, which date back to 2012, Leonardo has dozens of arrests in the Bay Area and around California related to drugs and auto crimes, along with others related to assault with a deadly weapon and knife possession, according to public records.
In 2023, the Salvation Army San Francisco featured Leonardo in one of its success stories on social media, writing, "From the depths of addiction and the darkness of the streets, Nolan Leonardo found a glimmer of hope at the Salvation Army. After years of struggling with substance abuse and constantly finding himself in and out of institutions and custody, he finally found his way to The Way Out program."
According to the post, he had learned new skills and repaired broken family relationships as a result of the Salvation Army's diversion and training opportunities.
Leonardo was arraigned last week in the new case and entered not-guilty pleas, court records show.
He was released on his own recognizance and is set to return to court next month.
