Officers from Fremont and Newark are investigating an assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer incident and fatal traffic collision that occurred Friday.
On Friday, July 26, 2019, at approximately 11:15 a.m. Fremont Detectives located an unoccupied stolen vehicle parked at an apartment complex located in the area of Central Avenue and Blacow Road. As officers watched, Melissa Diamond a 39 year old Fremont resident walked up to the vehicle and got into the driver’s seat. The stolen vehicle was backed into a parking stall and to prevent it from driving away, a detective parked an unmarked police vehicle in front of the suspect’s car.
Detectives attempted to make contact with Diamond to initiate an arrest. Failing to follow orders, Diamond intentionally began ramming two separate unmarked police vehicles in an attempt to get away. Diamond also attempted to run over one of the detectives standing outside their vehicle. While no Fremont Police officers were injured, one of the unmarked police vehicles was rammed head on and completely totaled.
After maneuvering her car away from the police vehicles, Diamond drove through a metal gate and fled at a high rate of speed westbound on Central Avenue. After crossing the I880 overpass a short distance away, Diamond collided with two vehicles at the intersection of Central Ave and Cedar Blvd in Newark. A detective attempted to catch up with the suspect vehicle as it fled, but did not witness the collision.
Diamond sustained major injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced deceased by paramedics at the scene. The driver of one of the vehicles struck was transported to a regional hospital with major injuries.
The Newark Police Department is investigating the collision and the assault with a deadly weapon incident to the Fremont detectives is under investigation by the Fremont Police Department.
This remains an active investigation and no further details are available at this time.
