San Jose tattoo artist fighting deportation arrested on criminal charges in Berkeley

nbcbay.com · By Jaxon Van Derbeken · 2025-07-29T19:40:56-07:00

A San Jose tattoo artist who is facing ICE deportation was arrested and is now being held for mental evaluation after authorities say he attempted three carjackings along a commercial stretch of Berkeley on Sunday. Guillermo Media Reyes, 31, has become a rallying cause for immigrant rights groups who say he is facing ICE deportation because of his community activism after he served prison time for attempted murder. At 5 a.m. Saturday, police say Reyes called 911 to report a woman screaming in a vacant house on Prince Street in Berkeley, next door to where Reyes has been staying. Police arrived and found a broken window in the back and Reyes suffering from cuts to his hand. Officers left, but four hours later, a big-rig driver alerted authorities that he was approached by a shirtless man, later identified by authorities as Reyes, who allegedly stole his cell phone and tried to take his truck, which was hauling several vehicles on San Pablo Avenue. However, the truck quickly stalled, and Reyes ran off. Police say the trucker’s phone was later abandoned. Farther north on San Pablo Avenue, Reyes allegedly went into a local café’s kitchen and then to a rental car agency next door. Medics were summoned to a “medical emergency” at the café, possibly a fentanyl overdose, according to dispatch traffic, but Reyes fled north as emergency responders arrived. Reyes then went to the rental car office next door, authorities say, where he allegedly took a handheld radio. Employees said he next went into an office and called 911. According to police, Reyes went across the street, where firefighters saw the attempted carjacking of a Prius from a customer in line at a local bakery. A toddler was in the back seat of that victim’s car as Reyes attempted to drive off, authorities say, but the car wouldn’t start because the keys were not inside. Local Reyes allegedly then went across the street to a woman filling up at a gas station. Police say the 70-year-old woman struggled at her door with Reyes and doused him with gasoline to fend him off. She was knocked to the ground during the confrontation. Fire officials eventually spotted Reyes, who was detained and given Narcan, according to dispatch recordings. He was described as “combative and altered” by the authorities who took him to the hospital. After being booked by police, he was taken for a mental evaluation at a local hospital.