Suspects escape, weapon found
A speeding vehicle crashed into a front yard on Monticello Avenue on August 1. The stolen white 1990 Jaguar XJS was detected by the city’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system due to a stolen license plate. Police were tracking the vehicle around 11:30 p.m. traveling at a high rate of speed with its lights off near Park Way and Dracena Avenue, according to a post on the Piedmont Police Department’s Facebook page.
Police officers saw the vehicle crash into the front yard. The suspects escaped into a backyard, then jumped several fences and got away, according to the Facebook post. Inside the vehicle, police found a loaded Walther Arms P22 handgun. The car had been stolen out of Antioch.
The police log said the driver was wearing dark colored clothing and the passenger was in a white T-shirt.
On July 30, Piedmont police arrested a man who was on probation for possession of a firearm. A search turned up suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
On July 28, an ALPR hit on a black 2008 BMW 328i came in at 10:23 a.m. near Grand and Wildwood Avenues. Police found the vehicle parked near Boulevard Way and Grand Avenue. A records check showed the vehicle having been involved in an armed carjacking in Oakland. The driver was detained for Oakland Police, which took him to Santa Rita Jail, according to Piedmont Police Captain Chris Monahan. The vehicle was impounded as evidence.
A stolen 2020 Toyota Prius was recovered on July 27. It was found by police on Orange Street. It had been reported stolen out of Oakland.
On July 28, a potential drunk driver was reported at 5:21 p.m. Police responded and saw a gray 2007 Volvo going the wrong direction in a lane on Moraga Avenue. Captain Monahan said the driver showed signs of intoxication and performed “poorly” on field sobriety tests. Prelminary alcohol screening tests showed readings of 0.168 and 0.180 percent blood alcohol levels. The driver was taken to Santa Rita Jail.
On July 31, an ALPR alert came in on a stolen license plate at 6:25 p.m. A white 2019 Lexus ES300 had the plate. The vehicle was stopped and it turned out the driver was a mechanic returning it to the owner after repair. They did not know the rear license plate had been stolen, according to Captain Monahan. The plate was taken as evidence.
Also on July 31, an ALPR alert came in on another stolen plate, this time on a white 2002 Chevrolet Astro. Officers found the vehicle parked on Lakeshore Avenue. The driver was identified and released. The license plate was removed.
A silver 2019 Honda Accord was reported stolen from Alta Avenue on August 2. The theft occurred around 4:40 a.m. and the vehicle was seen on camera leaving the city at 4:43. The value of the loss is approximately $35,000 according to Captain Monahan.
Also at 11:35 a.m. on August 2, a report came in of a suspect jumping out of a car on Grand Avenue and smashing the windshield of another vehicle with a male driver. Both vehicles then left the scene. No more information is available.