On Tuesday, Oakley PD and neighboring law enforcement agencies were in hot pursuit of a stolen vehicle. The chase unfolded amidst a multi-agency traffic enforcement campaign aimed at ensuring driver safety along Highway 4, a joint effort that included the Antioch and Brentwood Police Departments, as well as Hercules, Pittsburg, and Richmond's finest. Oakley Officer B. Jackson, participating in the operation, attempted to intercept the GMC Yukon, which notably lacked a rear license plate, setting off the high-speed chase that would soon involve several jurisdictions.
The City of Oakley Local Government shared event details on social media. According to their account, the Yukon's driver, later identified as 28-year-old Dejon Brandy, refused to stop and instead escalated the situation by racing along the highway's shoulder, dodging through traffic, and eventually causing a collision at an intersection in Bay Point. The crash left the occupants of the other vehicle in need of medical attention, while Brandy continued to flee, at one point driving against traffic, before the pursuit was ceased for safety reasons.
The end of the chase came with Brandy's hasty departure from the vehicle and an attempted escape on foot towards a Burger King. A coordinated response from the various agencies, including the CHP Contra Costa and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's deputies, culminated in his detention. Investigations confirmed the Yukon was indeed stolen, and Brandy is now facing charges for the offenses committed during his brazen escape attempt.
Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard underscored the gravity of the situation. "The officers participating in the multi-agency traffic enforcement campaign were primarily focusing on safety issues related to commute driving to ensure our local commuters exercise safe driving habits. This case goes to show crime, and criminals, exist everywhere (even when people are just trying to get to work to support their families) and it is a sad part of our everyday life," Beard expressed, as per the City of Oakley. He also extended his gratitude towards all the officers involved in apprehending Brandy, who he referred to as "a dangerous criminal" now removed from the societal equation.
