Victims Recovering After East Bay Police Chase Rampage
HERCULES (CBS SF) - Three of five people, including a Pinole police officer, who were hospitalized Wednesday after a burglary suspect fleeing from police hit several vehicles, have been released from the hospital, a Hercules city spokeswoman said Friday.
The incident began at about 3:20 p.m. on Sycamore and Willow avenues, where Hercules police officers found a black Ford Taurus that was thought to be connected to a burglary that had just been committed at a Rite Aid pharmacy, Hercules spokeswoman Michelle Harrington said.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect fled.
The Ford struck a vehicle near Sycamore and Willow avenues, but continued to flee onto San Pablo Avenue, Harrington said.
More officers came to help and pursued the Ford at speeds of up to 80 mph.
Meanwhile, officers notified Pinole police that the suspect was heading west on San Pablo Avenue into Pinole, and Pinole police arrived to help, Harrington said.
The suspect's vehicle struck two more vehicles at the intersection of San Pablo and Tennent avenues in Pinole and then hit a Pinole police vehicle at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Oak Ridge Road, Harrington said.
The suspect's vehicle became disabled, and Pinole and Hercules police arrested the driver, 39-year-old Richmond resident Java Taylor, on suspicion of burglary, misdemeanor hit and run, felony hit and run, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Taylor and two passengers in her vehicle were transported to hospitals along with the Pinole police officer who was hit and one person from one of the other vehicles that were hit, Harrington said.
Taylor, the police officer and one of the passengers in Taylor's vehicle have been released from the hospital.
The other woman in Taylor's vehicle remained hospitalized Friday.
Harrington she said she did not have an update on the condition of the fifth person hurt in the rampage.
Taylor is being held at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond in lieu of $290,000 bail.
Pinole police said Thursday that their officer was treated at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo and released Wednesday night. He was not seriously injured and was recovering at home.
Harrington said police were still investigating whether the two passengers in Taylor's vehicle were involved in the initial burglary, but one of them, Concord resident Verdia Nix, had an outstanding warrant for an unrelated theft.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Hercules or Pinole police at (510) 724-1111.
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