Fugitive with 3 Outstanding Warrants Located Driving Stolen Vehicle
LAFAYETTE — A fugitive with three outstanding warrants led authorities on a high-speed chase through two counties.
The incident began after the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office was alerted about a stolen vehicle. Soon afterward, Lafayette police spotted it traveling on Highway 24, approaching the Caldecott Tunnel.
With assistance from a sheriff’s office helicopter, the Lafayette officer followed the car into Alameda County. As the vehicle approached Interstate 880 and Marina Boulevard, a traffic stop was attempted with assistance from other agencies.
The suspect refused to yield and continued driving to the Bay Fair BART station in San Leandro. It was there the suspect abandoned the vehicle and then fled on foot along the train tracks.
Another helicopter, deployed by California Highway Patrol, joined in the pursuit. With two helicopters overhead, he was again spotted from the air, hiding from officers on the ground.
The suspect identified as 20-year-old Joseph Willis finally surrendered himself when officers located him. Without further incident, officers recovered a stolen firearm and several large capacity magazines.
Willis was booked January 2 on suspicion of vehicle theft, multiple weapons charges and probation violation. He remains in custody in Richmond at the West County Detention Facility, ineligible for release on bond.
Further legal actions are pending for his outstanding warrants in Alameda, Los Angeles and Solano counties, involving burglaries.
