Full Notification

The Oakland Police Department is fielding numerous questions about unusual police activity within multiple Oakland neighborhoods this morning.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., the Oakland Police Department received information regarding a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner followed by a report that a similar vehicle had intentionally struck another vehicle near E.23rd St and Coolidge. OPD units were immediately dispatched to the area. While driving to the scene two OPD vehicles were struck by the suspect at Fruitvale and Hyde. No officers were injured during the apparently intentional effort. The suspect vehicle continued to hit numerous uninvolved civilian vehicles at several different locations as the vehicle fled. One of these collisions occurred at or near 39th Ave and MacArthur where a woman was reportedly injured.

Officers requested air support assistance from the California Highway Patrol and coordinated a Citywide and multi-agency search for the suspect vehicle. Officers received report that the suspect was actively pointing a firearm at citizens in West Oakland, and at about 8:45 a.m., officers observed the vehicle near 14th St. and Filbert where a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The vehicle pursuit was intentionally ended as officers weighed the speeds of the pursuit, the traffic conditions, and safety of the surrounding public against the need to immediately apprehend. With the aid of CHP and surrounding law enforcement agencies, the vehicle was located near or within the 1700 block of Hearst Ave. in Berkeley at about 9:22 a.m. We believe that as many as six vehicles may have been struck by this suspect at various Oakland locations. The woman injured on 39th Avenue was treated and her condition is not being reported as life threatening at this time.

With multiple law enforcement agencies on scene, the suspect was observed walking away from the vehicle with his hands within his pockets. The suspect, reasonably believed to be armed, initially ignored commands to be safely detained. Oakland officers with less-lethal options in addition to an armored vehicle were dispatched to the location in order to assist with the apprehension in the most tactically advantageous and safest manner possible. He was taken into custody by Berkeley Police Department officers at about 9:25 a.m.

The protection of human life shall be the Oakland Police Department’s primary consideration when deciding to engage in a vehicle pursuit.
We understand that each vehicle pursuit is inherently dangerous, but at times may be necessary to apprehend dangerous persons who evade police in an attempt to escape. However, the decision to engage in a vehicle pursuit to immediately apprehend a fleeing suspect requires a careful weighing of the risks to the safety of officers, motorists, bystanders and the general public versus the benefit to public safety. Similarly, we are committed to accomplishing the police mission with respect and minimal reliance on the use of physical force when developing strategies for high-risk vehicle stops and arrests.

We wish to thank the citizens who provided us information this morning, the California Highway Patrol for their quick response and expert assistance, and the Berkeley Police Department for their partnership.