A California Highway Patrol officer and the suspect he was chasing both sustained minor injuries on Thursday morning after a short pursuit in San Leandro.
The suspect was allegedly fleeing officers after being spotted engaging in what the CHP is calling sideshow activity.
Police say they got reports of some reckless driving, sideshow activity, loud noise, and some tire burnouts on Wednesday night.
The marks left behind from squealing tires can still be seen on the road at the intersection of 167th Avenue and Los Banos in unincorporated San Leandro.
The CHP says a responding patrol unit witnessed the reckless behavior with 37-year-old Mario Ramos Medina behind the wheel.
After a 20-second pursuit, the suspect drove westbound into a driveway believed to be his own residence, colliding with a second pickup belonging to the suspect parked in front. Both Medina and one officer suffered minor injuries as the suspect went over a fence.
While the CHP says Thursday was not the suspect’s first brush with the law, his neighbor who did not want to appear on camera, says he knows Medina as a mellow family man who’s steadily employed.
The CHP called Thursday’s news conference to highlight the dangers of what they are calling sideshow activity.
Officers said Medina did the sideshow activity in his own neighborhood.
Medina has been booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless evasion, and battery on an officer.