A dark sedan bolted from an attempted felony stop in Menlo Park yesterday, turning a quiet evening into a brief cross-bay pursuit. Menlo Park police used a GPS tagging device to follow the fleeing car into Berkeley, where officers arrested the occupants. Investigators later said they believed the sedan was stolen and that the driver is facing a reckless evasion charge.
GPS tag led officers to Berkeley
According to KRON4, Menlo Park officers tried to conduct a felony stop before the sedan took off, prompting them to deploy a StarChase GPS tag to track the vehicle from a distance. Video credited to the Menlo Park Police Department shows the dark-colored sedan tearing along a winding road as sirens wail behind it. The tracking device allowed officers to quietly monitor the car’s movements all the way to Berkeley, where police moved in and detained the occupants.
How the technology works
The StarChase system used in the incident fires a small adhesive GPS tag from a launcher mounted on a patrol vehicle so officers can mark a car that refuses to stop. Once the tag sticks, it sends real-time location data to a mapping platform that officers can monitor from their vehicles or a command center. A feature in Police Chief notes that agencies use the system to reduce the need for high-speed pursuit by tracking from a safer distance instead.
What officers recovered and charges
Police said officers found a bandana-style face mask and a replica Glock 19 inside the sedan after the stop and confirmed that the occupants were juveniles who were taken into custody. The driver was booked on a reckless evasion charge, according to KRON4. Authorities have not released the suspects’ names because of their ages, and officials say the case is still under active investigation.
What the charge can mean
Under California law, willfully fleeing a peace officer can be charged as felony reckless evasion when the driver shows what the statute calls a “willful or wanton disregard” for public safety. Vehicle Code section 2800.2 allows for a sentence in state prison or county jail and significant fines, according to the California Vehicle Code. Prosecutors can pursue tougher penalties if someone is hurt or killed while a driver is trying to get away.
Investigation continues
Menlo Park police say they are continuing to investigate the incident and are coordinating follow-up work with Berkeley officers. Detectives are reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses and are asking anyone who saw the chase or captured it on dashcam to contact the Menlo Park Police Department. Officials have not released any additional information about possible charges beyond reckless evasion at the time of this report.
