Berkeley police chase leads to stolen car, burglary tools

A man found in a stolen car led police on a short foot chase Thursday. Image: Google Maps

A man who led police on a short foot chase Thursday was linked to a stolen car full of burglary tools, authorities said Friday.

Thursday just before 1 p.m., the Berkeley Police Department received a call about a man in South Berkeley who was slumped over in a car that reportedly had been running for three hours, said Capt. Andrew Greenwood.

Police and paramedics responded to the 2900 block of Adeline Street, and found a 41-year-old man who was later identified as Roberto Pasillas of Berkeley.

Greenwood said Pasillas had bloodshot eyes and “watery” speech when authorities spoke with him. He would repeat questions that were asked of him, and authorities believed him to be under the influence. He also gave authorities a name that turned out to be fake.

At one point, as Pasillas was walking with police toward an ambulance that had responded, he “suddenly broke and fled from the officer” and firefighters, perhaps after hearing the sound of a siren that was approaching.

“The officer pursued him into a backyard, where a struggle ensued,” Greenwood said, via email. “He was able to break free and continued to flee through the block, but was apprehended by responding officers as he came out onto Martin Luther King Jr. Way.”

Traffic on Martin Luther King was closed temporarily during the investigation.

During their investigation, officers determined that the car Pasillas had been sitting in had been reported stolen. It had been disguised with an unreported stolen license plate, which had been attached.

Inside the car, police found shaved keys, bolt cutters, a drill, gloves, a hacksaw and pry tools — which Greenwood said are known to be used as burglary tools — as well as stolen property including an identity card and check. Police also found ammunition in the car.

Pasillas was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, providing false identification, battery on a police officer, possession of burglary tools and stolen property, driving a stolen vehicle, being a felon in possession of ammunition and being under the influence.

He is being held with a bail of $66,075 at Berkeley Jail, and is scheduled for arraignment Monday, June 16. Pasillas is not eligible for release on bail because he is on parole.

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Emilie Raguso