The OaklandNews occasional Great Barking Gooseshit Award for civic behavior goes to this Oakland family...

"A woman walking home from BART was confronted and had her purse taken. The suspects were followed by a Good Samaritan riding his bicycle who then flagged down Officer Jon Vanerwegan.

Officer Vanerwegan trailed the suspects to the 950 blk of 41st Street, where he detained two juveniles, and a third suspect fled northbound into the residential yards. A perimeter was set between 41st and 42nd Street, but the suspect ran north again and made it across 42nd and 43rd Streets. Another perimeter was set between 43rd and 44th Streets. Canines and a helicopter were used to search. The trail went cold in the 950 blk of 44th Street, south side, behind an apartment building. Everything except the victim's phone was recovered and she was unhurt.

"The two detainees, it was later determined, didn't participate in the crime, but accompanied the third as he acted alone. There wasn't enough evidence to arrest them. They refused to give us any information as to the identity of the third person after their grandparents spoke with them at the scene.

"So we got the best of both worlds - a decent guy just riding by who follows the suspects on his bike and helps out later with a statement, and grandma and grandpa who tell the kids to dummy up."

Sgt. Dave Larson Third Watch Patrol Supervisor

OaklandNews wonders how Sgt Larson managed to stay so calm when he made this report. Of course, the OaklandNews editors and contributors are most like NYPD Blue's Andy Sipowicz, but still.