San Jose

Woman Arrested for Ramming Into Campbell Police Car With Stolen Vehicle, Stealing Another Patrol Car: Police

Itse Murillo blamed her behavior on a meth addiction and said she attempted to flee from police to avoid ending up in jail.

A woman, accused of absconding for nearly three days after allegedly ramming a stolen vehicle into a Campbell police car, stealing another patrol car and injuring an officer Saturday, is behind bars from where she blamed a meth addiction for her behavior.

Itse Murillo, 26, was arrested without incident at 7:15 p.m. Monday near East San Antonio Street and King Road in San Jose. Booked on a $1 million arrest warrant, Murillo faces charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, auto theft, felony evasion and conspiracy, according to Campbell police.

In a jailhouse interview with NBC Bay Area on Tuesday, Murillo said she was a passenger in the stolen car and attempted to flee from police to avoid ending up in jail. 

"I didn't want to go to jail," Murillo said. "I'd just done six months and with other cases popping up, they were going to send me to prison."

According to police, officers, responding to a report of a possible auto theft, located a silver Acura MDX and white Acura Integra on the 2800 block of South Winchester Boulevard early Saturday.

The silver Acura’s driver, however, accelerated toward the police car and intentionally struck and damaged it. Meanwhile, Santa Clara County fire crews were called to the scene because the silver Acura burst into flames.

Two male suspects – identified as Christian Hernandez and Anthony Reyes – fled on foot and officers pursued them.

Anthony Reyes for CMS
Campbell Police Department
Anthony Reyes

In the meantime, Murillo jumped out of the silver Acura and climbed into a Campbell police car, which had been left unoccupied by an officer who was chasing Hernandez and Reyes, police said.

She closed the police cruiser’s door as an officer attempted to intervene and reversed the car, pinning and dragging the officer.

"I didn't mean to hit him," Murillo said. "I just wanted to get away. I was under the influence of crystal."

Upon being tossed on the ground, the officer suffered head injuries and scrapes. He was taken to the hospital and has been treated and released, police said.

The patrol car was recovered a few hours later, police said. 

Murillo is also believed to be behind a number of law enforcement vehicle pursuits since Saturday.

She is also suspected of evading Los Altos police before her apprehension Monday by driving over several curbs and striking a patrol car, according to police.

Murillo’s "dangerous and reckless behavior over the last several days posed serious concerns for the safety of the public," Campbell Police Captain Gary Berg said in a statement.

When Murillo, who is married and has three children, was asked why she was involved in an incident like this past weekend, she replied: "What good does it do to try and do good when they're just going to send me to prison? It's not going to matter."

Police arrested Reyes, 22, on Saturday, but Murillo and Hernandez managed to escape.

Hernandez is the final suspect at large after the weekend incident, police said. The 35-year-old San Jose man is wanted on a $250,000 arrest warrant.

Hernandez is described as a roughly 170. lb Hispanic man, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall. He has brown hair, brown eyes and a receding hairline. Police say he was last seen wearing a dark top and gray sweatpants.

Christian Hernandez for CMS
Campbell Police Department
Christian Hernandez

People with information about Hernandez’s whereabouts or other parts of this investigation are asked to call Campbell police’s 24-hour Dispatch Center at 408-866-2101 or the Investigations Unit at (408) 871-5190. Anonymous tips can be left at 408-871-5191.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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