Two Livermore police officers who made a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Airway Boulevard and the eastbound Interstate 580 off-ramp early Wednesday morning ended up drawing and firing their weapons on a second car reportedly steering toward them at high speed.
Investigators said the two officers were conducting a DUI investigation on a nearby access road away from oncoming traffic at about 3:25 a.m. when they heard the screeching of tires and saw a second car speeding directly towards them.
Based on the second car’s line of travel it “appeared the driver made a deliberate and overt turn onto the remote access road, and accelerated quickly from Airway Boulevard,” police said.
Both officers reportedly opened fire on the approaching car as it accelerated toward them, hitting its driver and lone occupant – later identified as Matthew Kelley, 38 – in the leg.
Kelley allegedly continued to drive his vehicle past the officers and citizen who jumped out of the way, drove to the end of the access road and performed a U-turn. At this point, his vehicle stalled, according to police.
Witnesses reported the suspect continuously trying to restart his vehicle, eventually able to get it started and driving back by the officers and citizen in what appeared to be an attempt to flee the area. Kelley’s vehicle ultimately stalled at the entrance of the access road and remained at that location, according to police.
Additional officers arrived to take Kelley into custody. His injuries are not considered life threatening.
Police say Kelley has ties to Newark, Fremont and Union City, CA as well as Meridian, ID. The Livermore Police Department has placed him under arrest for the following charges:
– 1 count Felonious Assault with a Deadly Weapon Against a Person – 245(a)(1) PC
– 2 counts Felonious Assault with a Deadly Weapon Against a Peace Officer – 245(c)(1) PC
This investigation is still in progress as the Livermore Police Department Investigations Unit as well as the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office continue to collect and analyze additional evidence in addition to interviewing witnesses. Per Livermore Police Department policy and as standard procedure, both officers have been placed on administrative leave as a result of the ongoing investigation.
Trying to come up with a reasonable scenario for why someone would do that.
Bizarre behavior, but I had much the same happen to me back in the day. Perhaps the driver will be able to explain himself.
What the heck is going on?
Something is going on up in Idaho they’re not telling us about.