Oakland Man Arrested in San Mateo County after Allegedly Leading Police Pursuit in Stolen Vehicle
A San Mateo County man has been arrested after allegedly leading police on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle.
According to a press release by the San Mateo Police Department, officers pursued a stolen vehicle through San Mateo on April 17th, before finally apprehending the suspect on the Caltrans maintenance road near the San Mateo Bridge.
The incident began at approximately 8:42 p.m. when SMPD officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle traveling westbound on Peninsula Avenue. The officers located the vehicle parked on Woodside near Studio Circle and attempted to contact the driver, but the vehicle fled from them, police said.
The officers then initiated a pursuit as the suspect vehicle traveled through San Mateo before traveling south on US-101. The vehicle then exited US-101 at Ralston Avenue, entered US 101 in the northbound direction, and proceeded onto CA-92 east. It was shortly after entering onto CA-92 that the suspect vehicle reportedly experienced a mechanical failure and started to slow down.
Just prior to the San Mateo Bridge, the suspect vehicle exited onto a Caltrans maintenance road. SMPD officers initiated a high-risk traffic stop, and the suspect, later identified as Dajon Hardy (26) of Oakland, reportedly exited the vehicle with a white plastic bag in his hand. Hardy attempted to flee but was tackled by the officers as he tried to climb over a concrete traffic barrier and enter onto oncoming traffic.
During the struggle to apprehend Hardy, he allegedly resisted the officers’ attempts to place him in handcuffs. Despite this, the officers were able to safely take him into custody. Shortly after placing Hardy in handcuffs, officers located a loaded handgun on the ground near the white plastic bag that Hardy had been carrying.
Hardy was arrested and booked into San Mateo County jail on multiple charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle, evading police, and carrying a loaded firearm. The SMPD has not released any further information regarding the incident at this time.
