Orinda police performing a routine license plate check near Orinda BART around 7:14 a.m. Wednesday determined that a maroon Nissan they were following had been reported stolen. Suspicions were confirmed moments later, police say, when the driver of the Nissan – a young woman in her early 20s – allegedly sped away from officers in an attempt to get away.
“The suspects realized a police car was behind them and proceeded to flee entering eastbound (Highway) 24,” reported Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel. “Lafayette, CHP, Sheriff’s Office and Concord PD participated in the pursuit which terminated at the North Concord BART station.”
The driver allegedly accelerated to speeds ranging from 80 to 100mph on the freeway. At one point a gun was reportedly jettisoned from the car and quickly recovered by police. The driver also allegedly went the wrong way down a freeway on-ramp in an effort to shake police. The three occupants jumped from the car and ran after the driver stopped the car in the Concord BART parking lot.
“Lafayette, CHP, Sheriff’s Office and Concord PD participated in the pursuit which terminated at the North Concord BART station,” Nagel said. “… one of the suspects had a no bail warrant out of Alameda County…”
Police said there were three people in the car, one of them a 17-year-old juvenile from Oakland. The adults were identified as:
- Francesco Perez Herrera, Oakland, 19 yrs old
- Stephanie Ledon, Oakland, 24 yrs old
It seems the hi speed chase, gun ejection, wrong way direction and run until they catch us approach is popular among thieves these days.
Agree with Maricella. We have been lucky but these criminal endanger us all, not just themselves and police.