STOCKTON –Interstate 5 was closed for more than 10 hours after a high-speed pursuit ended with the deadly officer-involved shooting. 43-year-old Robert Craig Perry from Santa Nella led CHP and Escalon police through the streets of North Stockton during the early morning hours of Thursday, December 5th.
Officers reported that a suspicious person weaving in the roadway at 12:39 am. The suspect was driving near the area of Highway 99 when the officer ran the plates of a 2004 Suzuki. When officers tried to pull Perry over to the side of the roadway, a high-speed chase quickly ensued. The suspect ran up to speeds of 115 mph, and turned off of local streets onto Highway 99, where CHP officers located him and continued the pursuit.
According to Escalon authorities, “The deadly sequence of events began about 12:39 a.m. when CHP officers notified the department of a wanted felon driving a 2004 Suzuki found weaving in the city street now traveling at a high rate of speed. The officer ran the vehicle’s license plate and soon learned that suspect had a felony warrants for his arrest out of Merced and San Jose. Perry was wanted for the suspicion of domestic violence in Merced. Perry was also wanted for the attempted murder and brutal stabbing of a woman in San Jose.
The pursuit began in Escalon when Perry’s car was seen weaving near Main and Hwy 120.
The Escalon police department was advised that CHP officers were chasing a wanted felon on the 99 Freeway, then exiting onto Hammer Lane. The chase continued westbound on Hammer, winding through the streets of Stockton and eventually onto Interstate 5 South. His vehicle became disabled near Alpine and Michigan exits. KCRA has reported that Perry released a Pit Bull dog from his car, and even threw fireworks. His dog was secured, and a police K9 was sent in. Perry was bit by the police dog, and emerged with a broken butcher’s knife, according to their report. When the suspect left his vehicle, wielding the knife at a female officer, the 12-year veteran fired several shots at the suspect in fear for her safety.
The CHP reported that they would be working directly with City and State officials in order to investigate into what led to the shooting death of the suspect. Authorities said the female officer who faced off with the suspect felt that her life was in immediate danger and fired several shots at the suspect, hitting him at least once. Perry was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later.
Read More:
San Jose Mercury News: Stockton: Man wanted in San Jose stabbing shot and killed by police on I-5 freeway
Record.net: Police shooting closes major Stockton freeway for hours; suspect wanted in San Jose
KCRA: Suspect shot to death on I-5 identified
