Yesterday morning in Oakley, a high-speed pursuit unfolded after police identified a stolen vehicle operated by 44-year-old Joseph McDonald, a parolee at large from Brentwood. According to the social media post from the City of Oakley Local Government, at approximately 9:16 AM, Officer G. Ganz of the Oakley Police Department spotted the vehicle near Gamay Drive and Empire Avenue. The chase ensued when McDonald failed to stop, leading to a collision with a Ram 1500 truck on Main Street.
The incident escalated as McDonald attempted to elude authorities, culminating in a crash that left both the stolen vehicle and the Ram truck inoperable. In the chaos of the moment, the driver of the truck sustained injuries and was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment. The social media announcement also confirmed that McDonald, after the collision, had been taken into police custody and was hospitalized for injuries from the accident.
Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard, reflecting on McDonald's history with the law, stated, as per the City of Oakley Local Government, "By mere virtue of Mr. McDonald being a parolee at large, this incident is not the first time he has crossed the threshold of right and wrong." The chief criticized the decision to grant McDonald parole and acknowledged the risk his freedom posed to the community. Following protocol, Officer Ganz and the department are preparing to have McDonald formally booked and transferred into the custody of the Sheriff’s Office.
