Two men accused of leading police on a high-speed pursuit that took them through two counties and ended with a collision in downtown Walnut Creek were charged with several crimes as investigators sought a third man believed to have escaped a police cordon.
Jorge Vargas, 20, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, felony evasion of police and outstanding burglary warrants while a companion, Carlos Cardenas, 21, was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest and for being a parolee at large, Kelly said.
Vargas is being held on $1.5 million bail at Santa Rita Jail. Detailed information on Cardenas was not immediately available.
The pair were taken into custody after the chase – which quickly accelerated to speeds beyond 100 mph – ended with a collision at Pine and N. Main streets in Walnut Creek around 10 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the chase was initiated after Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies spotted a blue SUV allegedly involved in an assault on a San Leandro police officer in the area of Hesperian Boulevard and Grant Avenue in San Lorenzo.
Police said the vehicle sped away when police attempted to pull it over, leading deputies and California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed pursuit for 30 miles before the SUV exited the freeway in Walnut Creek, sideswiped two other cars and slammed into a third near North Main and Pine streets.
A large number of Walnut Creek police – backed by canine teams and officers from the Alameda County Sheriff’s off, CHP and other jurisdictions – cordoned off a wide quadrant of downtown Walnut Creek as they searched for two men spotted fleeing the scene.
Officers said one of the men discarding clothing – and his shoes – as he went.
Police tracked the pair to a parking lot at 2112 N. Main St. and eventually took them into custody there.
Is “Sic ’em” still a police command? Or is it more of a Miranda thing today? Like, “Detain for interrogation, Shep!”. Don’t get me wrong. I would rather err on the side of “Detain” when it comes to German shepherds, nice as they are. Nevertheless, “Sic ’em” does produce results. Maybe “Sic ’em” would have nabbed the Lafayette perp who used a car as a battering ram and escaped. On the other hand, “Sic ’em” scared the bejeesus out of lawful protesters in Selma.
Hard to say, what is correct, unless you are the one with the dogs. Then it is up to you. Tough job, I would think.