Police in Lafayette initiated a pursuit of a grand theft suspect in their city shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, touching off a high-speed chase through the city onto Highway 24 and on into Oakland.
Flasher Kathleen wrote: “I heard the race on Mt Diablo by the veteran’s hall; followed immediately by your text…” as the pursuit left the city and the suspect vehicle gained the freeway.
Witnesses said the vehicle was driving evasively and at one point was traveling in the wrong direction in an apparent attempt to throw off police.
The driver of the wanted car eventually bailed out of the vehicle as it was moving on Highway 13, officers launching a widespread air and ground search of the Glenwood Glade area.
Argus and STARR helicopters from Oakland and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office orbited the area.
The suspect was preliminarily described as a black male with an afro and beard.
“The suspect was preliminarily described as a black male with an afro and beard.”
That really narrows it down. So, we are looking for someone who has escaped from a Dirty Harry movie, or maybe Streets of San Francisco, but in an updated car.
I was on Mt Diablo when the driver of the wanted car and police were in pursuit. I couldn’t hardly get out of the way quick enough and pulled up to the median to avoid being hit!! As I saw the cars coming in my rear view mirror, I thought there was no way they weren’t going to plow into me—and told my son who was on speaker phone—“Im going to get hit!!” They missed my car by what I’m sure was mere inches.
Things were definitely moving out there… glad you made it through unscathed!
Awful – he got away!?!?