‘Open the door, Granny’: Berkeley man charged after alleged armed entry into ex-girlfriend’s grandmother’s apartment to retrieve sneakers | Crime and Safety

A 19-year-old Berkeley man is being held without bail after allegedly breaking and entering into his ex-girlfriend’s grandmother’s apartment on Hyde Street in Oakland to retrieve a pair of sneakers, where court records allege he pointed a handgun directly at the 76-year-old resident.

According to a declaration filed in Alameda County Superior Court, Marvyn Alexander was arrested in San Francisco by the Oakland Police Department on Aug. 6, just two days after the incident allegedly occurred.

Prosecutors filed the case Aug. 10 and Alexander entered his plea Aug. 11 before Judge Rozlynn Silvaggio.

The charging documents note that the grandmother was sleeping in her room when she heard a “loud banging at her door.” As she approached the door to inspect the banging, she saw that it was her granddaughter’s ex-boyfriend, Alexander, who was demanding she open the door.

After denying him entry, the charging documents state that Alexander pulled out a handgun and pointed it directly at her, threatening her with “something along the lines of ‘Open the door granny or I will break the door down and hurt you.’”

According to the document, the grandmother opened the door for Alexander out of fear for her safety, and Alexander entered the apartment to retrieve a pair of sneakers, telling the grandmother, “Who do you think wears size 12 sneakers?”

Alexander is facing felony charges for first-degree residential burglary for allegedly unlawfully entering an inhabited residence with the intent to commit a felony, according to the case filing.

The filing also charges Alexander with a felony criminal threat, alleging that Alexander threatened the grandmother with death or great bodily injury and caused her to be in “sustained fear” for her and her immediate family’s safety.

Additionally, the filing contains special allegations of use of firearms and abuse against elders, noting that the victim was 76 years old.

According to the case record, Alexander submitted a formal plea of “not guilty” for both primary charges — first-degree residential burglary and criminal threats — while denying special allegations such as the use of firearms, crimes against a vulnerable victim and violence or bodily harm.

A preliminary hearing will take place on Sept. 23 before Judge Thomas Reardon.