Full Notification

Sandra R. Spagnoli Chief of Police
901 East 14th Street, San Leandro CA 94577

PRESS RELEASE


DATE / TIME OF RELEASE: 1/16/2014 3:00 a.m.

INCIDENTS: Auto burglary / auto theft / possession firearm

PRESS RELEASE OFFICER: Lieutenant R. DeCosta

TELEPHONE: 510-577-3242

LOCATION(S): Dolores Avenue / Bancroft Avenue

INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE(S): Sergeant D. Calcagno

SUSPECT(S): LEE, John Henry 8/14/1993



On Thursday, January 16th 2014, 12:13 a.m., a San Leandro Police patrol officer interrupted an auto burglary in progress on Dolores Avenue in San Leandro. The auto burglary suspect got into another vehicle and sped away from the officer at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted a traffic enforcement stop on the vehicle however the suspect ignored the officer’s emergency equipment (lights & siren), refusing to yield.

The officer initiated a pursuit of the suspect vehicle as it fled north on Bancroft Avenue, subsequently entering the City of Oakland. Shortly after the pursuit was initiated, San Leandro Police Department Communications confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen out of BART Police Department’s jurisdiction.

Officers continued pursuing the vehicle as the suspect sped down surface streets in both Oakland and San Leandro. The pursuit, which lasted approximately twenty minutes, ended when the suspect lost control of the vehicle, colliding with a tree and street sign at the intersection of 5th Avenue & E.8th Street.

The suspect fled from the vehicle, on foot, and was subsequently taken into custody with the assistance of a San Leandro Police Department K-9. A handgun was later recovered from the passenger compartment of the stolen vehicle.

The suspect sustained minor injuries from the collision and Police K-9 bites. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

MEDIA UPDATES WILL BE MADE AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE

Please contact the San Leandro Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division with any information regarding this case at 510-577-3230 or contact the Anonymous Tip Line at 510-577-3278.

Citizens can also send an anonymous tip to San Leandro Police Department by texting the word SLPD and their tip to 847411. Anonymous web tips can be submitted from the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd/at.asp\

For crime prevention tips please go to the Police Department’s website at http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd or contact PSA Sandy Colwell at 510-577-3248
Citizens play a critical role in creating a safe environment by observing and reporting any suspicious and 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 who are committing crimes. The personal safety of the 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.