Richmond police

Richmond Police Officer Nearly Run Over, Opens Fire at Fleeing Suspect

Berkeley police officers have ended their search in the area of Aquatic Park for an auto burglary suspect who allegedly tried to run down a Richmond officer with a car early Tuesday morning, prompting the officer to fire multiple rounds in self-defense, authorities said.

Around 12:15 p.m., Berkeley police dispatch received a call from a community member about a "suspicious car" near Channing Way and Fourth Street. Police said they found the suspect's abandoned vehicle, described by Richmond police as an early 2000s model silver four-door Mercedes Benz.

The driver was seen running northwest on Channing Way in the direction of Aquatic Park. Officers chased the man in the area just east of Interstate 80, police said, but were unable to catch him. He remains at large, they said.

The suspect is believed to be in his 20s or 30s and wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, a witness told police.

The chaos began around 1:10 a.m. along the 1900 block of Carlson Boulevard when police received word about a man trying to break into a truck on Sutter Avenue, police said.

When the first officer arrived at the scene, the suspect took off running and the officer gave chase but lost sight of him on Carlson Boulevard, Tan said.

A second officer arrived a short time later and began looking for the suspect on foot.

The silver Mercedes then darted out at the officer with no headlights on and tried to run him over, Tan said.

"The second officer then, feeling that he was going to be run over and killed, he shoots at the driver in hopes of stopping the car," Tan said, adding that police do not yet know if the shots hit the driver.

The suspect continued driving north on Carlson Boulevard, police said, and the officer nearly run over was not injured.

People who see the suspect or have additional information about the case are asked to call 510-981-5900.

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