Car Hits Police, Other Vehicles; Armed Driver Jailed In Oakland-Berkeley Rampage

OAKLAND (CBS SF) – An armed suspect has been taken into custody after allegedly intentionally hitting civilian and police vehicles during a pursuit from Oakland to Berkeley Wednesday morning.

Police in Oakland received reports of a vehicle driving erratically at around 8:30 a.m. Later reports indicated a similar vehicle had intentionally hit another car near E.23rd St and Coolidge Ave., according to Oakland Police.

The suspect car, a black 1999 Mitsubishi sedan, then intentionally hit two OPD units which were on the way to investigate at the intersection of Fruitvale Ave. and Hyde, police said. The car hit a number of other vehicles at different locations and officers stopped chasing the suspect for safety reasons, according to a police press release.

"I see this car going off the road, hitting cars, like swiping them," said victim Hailey Gilbert. "I pulled to the side because he hit me as well. I honked at him, but he didn't stop. He couldn't get through and he just hit this BMW and her car got really messed up."

Gilbert was lucky. Her car only has some minor damage.

"One of the first victims this morning was a pregnant female," said OPD spokeswoman Johnna Watson

Police said the pregnant woman, who was injured at a collision on 39th Ave. and MacArthur Blvd., was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening and is in stable condition.

The vehicle fled out of Oakland and into Berkeley, and officers requested assistance from the California Highway Patrol and other agencies. The car was found near the 1700 block of Hearst Ave. in Berkeley, where the suspect was seen walking away from the vehicle with his hands in his pockets, police said.

Minutes later, witnesses told KPIX 5 some 20 to 30 cops surrounded the man with their guns drawn.

"He had his hands in his pocket, walking steadily. He ignored all the commands," said bystander John Goldstein.

Police fired a bean bag round at him and that led to his surrender.

Police did not identify the suspect, but a source told KPIX 5 he is 37-year-old Darrell Clarence Blackmon of Berkeley. Blackmon has previous arrests for assault with a deadly weapon and for a high speed police chase, according to KPIX.

Investigators said as many as six vehicles were hit at various locations during Wednesday's rampage.

Carlos E. Castañeda is Senior Editor, News & Social Media for CBS San Francisco and a San Francisco native. You can follow him on Twitter or send him an email.

In:
• Pursuit
• Oakland