Man arrested after car chase that passed through Danville

A police pursuit involving a man who was allegedly driving a stolen SUV ended Thursday afternoon with the man’s arrest, according to a Hayward police spokeswoman.

At about 12:15 p.m., the California Highway Patrol notified Hayward officers that a person driving a stolen red SUV was traveling through the city’s streets, Sgt. Tasha DeCosta said.

The stolen vehicle was apparently first spotted in Lafayette by a Contra Costa County deputy and was being monitored by a CHP helicopter.

The pursuit, which started just before noon, continued into Danville for less than 10 minutes before the driver sped out of town toward Alameda County, according to Danville Police Chief Allan Shields.

Hayward officers were able to catch up with the driver heading west on A Street, near Interstate 880, but ended the pursuit when the driver began driving on the opposite side of the roadway, according to DeCosta.

The stolen SUV entered I-880 southbound and then got onto eastbound state Highway 92, before exiting at Santa Clara Street.

At the intersection, the culprit tried to squeeze by a BMW convertible in order to make a right turn onto Santa Clara Street. The suspect vehicle, however, side swiped the BMW convertible.

At the point, the culprit exited the stolen SUV, abandoned it and jumped into the passenger’s side of the convertible, DeCosta said.

The man then ordered the driver of the BMW convertible to flee the area. The BMW convertible, however, didn’t get far as the driver soon pulled over near West Harder Road and Underwood Avenue after police ordered them to.

Officers then took the man into custody, according to DeCosta. His name has not been released. DeCosta said the man didn’t appear to be armed.

— Daniel Montes, Bay City News