Full Notification

The San Leandro Police are happy to report a safe outcome to a potentially tragic incident that occurred after a man stole a vehicle that had a 4 ½ year old boy in the backseat of the car, early Tuesday morning.

At 7:35am, a mother of 2 drove to a day care center in a residential neighborhood in the 200 block of Cherrywood Ave. with her two children, ages 2 and 4 in her SUV.  She parked the SUV in the driveway and took the 2-year old inside, leaving the 4 year old unattended with the vehicle’s engine running.

When the mother came out, she found a man in her car, backing out of the driveway.  Knowing that her son was inside, she ran in front of the vehicle, which immediately accelerated and struck her.  The woman was able to jump out of the way as she was struck and was not injured.  She was able to quickly call police to report the incident.

A surveillance video later obtained by police near the Cherrywood Ave. daycare center captured the suspect stealing the woman’s car.  Police are not releasing the video, as it is being retained as evidence of the crime.  Detectives report that the video supports the woman’s account of the event.

Police detectives immediately began looking for the vehicle and found it in less than 15 minutes, parked on 107th Ave., near International Blvd. in Oakland.  The suspect abandoned the car and was nowhere to be found.  Detectives found the boy in the car, safe and unharmed.  He was quickly reunited with his mother, who was elated to see her son.

“Words cannot express the joy seen in both the boy and his mother this morning after they were reunited,” said Lt. Robert McManus.  “Fortunately, this potentially tragic incident ended peacefully after we found the car with the boy inside,” he said.

Detectives began to speak with neighbors and view video surveillance at several homes in the East Oakland neighborhood and gathered information leading them to the area of where the suspect had last been seen.

About 4 hours later, detectives found 44 year old Jason Silva walking in the 10400 block of Graffian St. in Oakland and arrested him on suspicion of auto theft, assault with a deadly weapon (car), kidnapping, child endangerment and for violating his probation.  

Silva was taken to the San Leandro Police Department, where he was interviewed by detectives.  Silva is being held without bail and is expected to appear in the Alameda County Superior Court in Hayward later this week.   

MEDIA UPDATES WILL BE MADE AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE

Please contact the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division with any information regarding this case or any other case at (510) 577-3230. 

Information may also be submitted anonymously by:

•    Phone:    Anonymous Crime Tips at (510) 577-3278
•    Text Message:      Text “TipSLPolice” to 888777

For crime prevention tips, please visit the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd or contact our Crime Prevention Unit at 510-577-3228.

Citizens play a critical role in creating a safe environment by observing and reporting any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.  The San Leandro Police Department recommends that citizens do not participate in any direct verbal or physical involvement with suspicious persons or those engaged in the commission of crimes. Personal safety of our community is paramount.  We encourage the San Leandro community to record the details of what they observe and to report those details to the police.  This type of community involvement and partnership has proven to be a very effective crime prevention tool.  Citizens act as the eyes and ears of the community first, and the extended eyes and ears of the San Leandro Police Department.  Thank you for being a force-multiplier in our efforts to provide professional police services and safety to the community.

PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION:

DATE / TIME OF RELEASE:  01/10/17 – 5:05pm

INCIDENTS:  Man Arrested After Stealing Car with Boy Inside
 
PRESS RELEASE OFFICER:  Lt. Robert McManus        

TELEPHONE: (510) 577-3232

EMAIL: [email protected]

DATE / TIME OF INCIDENT: 01/10/17 – 7:35am

ARREST LOCATION(S): 10400 block of Graffian St., Oakland

INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE(S):  Det. Steve Cesaretti

SUSPECT(S):  Jason Silva, 44 years old