Last week in Vallejo, officers from the VPD Patrol Division observed a black Mercedes-Benz with tinted windows near Griffin Drive and Gateway Drive around 8:00 PM on Tuesday. The intention was to stop the car for its tint violation, but the events that unfolded were far from ordinary. Evading the initial stop, the driver sped off, leading the police on a pursuit through city streets, according to the Vallejo Police Department's social media post.
The chase ended with the suspect abandoning his car in the 200 block of Lexington Drive, then fleeing on foot into a residence, after tossing something into the bushes. Aided by the California Highway Patrol Air Unit, the police quickly corralled him. The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, was cornered and surrendered without further incident.
The item discarded during his attempted escape turned out to be a loaded firearm with an extended magazine, which, after some investigation, was linked to an Oakland resident. It was further uncovered that the runaway driver, not unknown to the legal system, was a convicted felon with a prior record of robbery. "After being Mirandized, the suspect stated he did not pull over because he thought he could get away and did not think the helicopter would arrive that quickly," the Vallejo Police Department reported.
Subsequently, the man was charged with several felonies, including felony evading, possession of a loaded firearm by a felon, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle without a valid license. The suspect now faces these charges as he waits his day in court, receiving accommodation at the Solano County Jail.
