Early morning chaos ensued in the Ashland Area of Unincorporated San Leandro last Wednesday when two stolen vehicles, a Subaru and a Honda, were spotted blasting down 159th Avenue. The Alameda County Regional Auto Theft Task Force (ACRATT) had been monitoring the cars' movements but had not engaged in a pursuit, attempting to minimize potential danger to the public. Despite these precautions, an Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) deputy was seriously injured while trying to halt the Subaru using a tire deflation device. The announcement released by ACSO detailed the frightening moment: the deputy was hit and sent airborne by the speeding stolen Subaru as the driver swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid the deployed spike strip.
Following the assault, law enforcement converged in force to secure the area. Assisted by the San Leandro Police Department and California Highway Patrol, investigators began piecing together the events. The Subaru and Honda were later involved in separate collisions, and the suspects attempted to escape on foot, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. Twenty-one-year-old Miguel Cardenas believed to be driving the Honda, was arrested shortly afterward in his attempt to flee. Joel Gonzalez, 34, was identified as the suspect behind the wheel of the Subaru and was apprehended on the following day on unrelated charges.
Crime lab specialists at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office played a pivotal role, conducting forensic tests that pinned down Gonzalez as the driver responsible for the deputy's injuries. Following their investigation, ACSO arrested Gonzalez for the direct assault on the deputy. The case was handed over to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where Gonzalez faced a slew of charges ranging from attempted murder to unlawful driving. Making their gratitude public, ACSO thanked the various agencies and medical personnel who assisted both in the investigation and the deputy’s recovery. The injured deputy, whose name hasn’t been released, is reportedly making a good recovery from his injuries sustained in the line of duty.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged Gonzalez with Attempted Murder of a Police Officer, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and other related felonies.
