Driver of stolen tow truck leads cops on chase over Bay Bridge
A man was arrested on suspicion of stealing a tow truck and leading police on a chase across the Bay Bridge early Tuesday, after he was interrupted while trying to get his impounded car out from a San Leandro tow yard, officials said.
The suspect, Moses Miller, 24, of San Leandro, also crashed into a number of patrol cars before his arrest, said Officer Vu Williams, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.
Miller drove the diesel flatbed tow truck through the fence of a San Leandro tow yard at about 3:20 a.m. after he was unable to snatch his own car, said Lt. Ron Clark of the San Leandro Police Department.
He said Miller was apparently going to use the tow truck to break through the fence to get to his car.
“An on-site employee was alerted to the presence of someone when he heard the diesel start up and went outside,” Clark said. “He tried to intervene and the suspect jumped back into the tow truck and fled in the tow truck without getting his car out.”
Photo: CHP Golden Gate Division / Facebook / CHP Golden Gate Division / Facebook
San Leandro police began pursuing the stolen vehicle when they saw it heading north on Interstate 880.
Within 10 minutes, officers from the California Highway Patrol joined the pursuit, following the tow truck across multiple freeways and city streets, continuing onto Interstate 580 westbound, police said.
Miller stayed ahead of CHP cars and ended up on Interstate 80 westbound, blowing through the toll plaza and crossing the Bay Bridge, police said.
CHP officers continued their pursuit after they exited the freeway in San Francisco and deployed a spike strip, causing the tires of the tow truck to deflate.
But the flat tires didn’t stop the driver.
Miller drove onto the South Van Ness Avenue on-ramp toward Highway 101 southbound at 50 mph before suddenly stopping, officials said. He then reversed the truck, ramming it into a patrol car, causing moderate damage, before continuing south on the freeway, police said.
The driver stopped on the Sierra Point Parkway in Brisbane, jumped out of the stolen truck and ran across the northbound lanes of Highway 101 before hiding out in a parking lot, police said.
Highway 101 southbound was closed for about 20 minutes during the pursuit.
Miller was found quickly and apprehended, police said.
He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital to be “medically cleared,” Williams said.
Miller was booked into San Mateo county jail in Redwood City and was being held on $150,000 bail.
He was arrested on suspicion of four felonies, including stealing a vehicle, recklessly evading police, damaging a police officer’s vehicle and taking a vehicle without consent. He is also being charged with three misdemeanors, including obstructing and resisting a police officer, driving under the influence, and driving with a suspended license.
Miller is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Driver-of-stolen-tow-truck-leads-cops-on-chase-10808706.php
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