A driver police tried to stop near Berkeley on Saturday night “clipped” a BPD officer and left the scene, prompting a slew of officers to pursue him into East Oakland, authorities report.
As of about 8:10 p.m. the investigation was ongoing and no arrests had been made, police said. The driver had not been located.
Numerous readers asked Berkeleyside to find out why so many officers were speeding south from Berkeley into Oakland at about 6:25 p.m.
“10 Berkeley PD cruisers hauling down Market St into North Oakland just now. More coming,” wrote one local resident on Twitter. “We also saw about 10 police driving like mad at Ashby Bart,” wrote another.
“What’s going on in South Berkeley? Just saw 10+ police cars full speed on Adeline/MLK. Some on left side of street,” asked someone else.
Berkeleyside posted on Twitter about the police response at 6:40 p.m., and said we would provide an update as soon as we heard from BPD.
Lt. Alyson Hart said, shortly after 8 p.m., the earlier activity was the result of a traffic stop related to a vehicle code violation at 61st and Dover streets. That’s just over the Berkeley border in North Oakland’s Bushrod neighborhood.
When the officer approached the vehicle and asked the driver to get out, he instead drove further into Oakland, “clipping” the officer as he left the scene.
According to Bay City News, Oakland dispatchers got a call just before 6:20 p.m. from the Berkeley Police Department, which was pursuing the driver east on Interstate 580 until he exited at Seminary Avenue in Oakland.
Lt. Hart told Berkeleyside that BPD “pursued him for quite awhile” into East Oakland, but ultimately called off the chase.
In the end, the officer reported no injuries as a result of the collision.
Hart said police are not releasing a suspect description at this time due to the early stage of the investigation.
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