Kermith Miller, 61, was arrested in Oakland and booked into Santa Rita Jailfor suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing death, according to legal documents. Officials have revealed no further details on the investigation, the procedures that granted Miller’s bailless stay, and the potential reasons. Miller is currently being held without bail and is set to be arraigned on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland, highlighting the seriousness of the charges and underscoring the urgency for justice in the community.
He is suspected of

of hitting 77-year-old Burawoy while he was in a crosswalk at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Park View Terrace at about 7:15 a.m. on Feb. 3

This tragic incident has left a deep void in the community. Burawoy was driving a bicycle through a crosswalk when he was hit at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Park View Terrace on Feb. 3, at around 7:15 a.m. The local authorities provided immediate medical care to the affected party. The efforts to resuscitate the 77-year-old citizen were carried out by highly trained paramedics. Although those initial efforts were successful, resulting in a stable patient and transportation to a hospital, his condition rapidly declined. Burawoy did not survive, passing away shortly after landing at the hospital.

The local community has expressed deep sadness over the loss of its respected member. Burawoy “dedicated 47 years of his life to Berkeley, contributing immeasurably to the discipline, transforming the fields of labor, ethnography and theory,” according to a statement by social sciences dean Raka Ray of UC Berkeley.

Ray added that “Burawoy was one of the most influential minds in sociology, a past president of the American Sociological Association and the International Sociological Association.” He was known for both his prolific contributions to academic literature and his unwavering mentorship of innumerable students. His work has shifted the paradigms in labor studies, ethnography, and sociology as a whole. His willingness to assist academics has left a profound impact in the field.

Ray’s sentiments are mirrored by numerous colleagues and students who remember Burawoy for his distinctive character: a sharp intellect paired with deep kindness. One of his former students said, “He was the most inspiring professor I had in college, his sensitivity never exceeded his academia.” The influence of such a character is indelible and enduring.

The community is grappling with the bereavement that has followed the demise of this celebrated academic.