Berkeley police: Ex-boyfriend jailed after knife attack

A man police say broke into his ex-girlfriend's apartment in the middle of the night, attacked her and her roommate and took their phones has been arrested.

Berkeley police tracked down Israel Pierson in Dublin and arrested him 10 hours after the crime, according to booking records.

Someone in the 1300 block of Ashby Avenue called 911 for help just after 3:30 a.m. Saturday, records show.

Police say Pierson used a pry tool to get inside, then kicked his way through a locked bedroom door.

There, he confronted his ex-girlfriend and cut her head with a knife, authorities say.

When the woman's roommate tried to intervene, Pierson cut her leg with a knife. (Neither woman ultimately accepted hospital transport.)

Pierson then fled with the women's phones as police and firefighters were responding, BPD said.

On Saturday, Berkeley police secured a warrant for Pierson's arrest and picked him up in Dublin, recovering evidence related to the case, police said.

He was arrested on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, burglary and grand theft, among other crimes, according to booking records.

As of Tuesday, the 20-year-old man remains in custody without bail. His city of residence was not immediately available.

Pierson has no charged cases listed in Alameda County Superior Court.

But, according to arrest records, the San Joaquin County sheriff's office picked up Pierson in 2025 on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy.

In May, police in Fremont arrested him on suspicion of receiving stolen property and giving false information to a peace officer, according to public records.

He's now being held at Santa Rita Jail with arraignment set for Wednesday.

The Scanner has requested his booking photograph from Berkeley police and will add it to this story when it becomes available.