Suspect in custody following wild East Bay police chase, Berkeley standoff

Image 1 of 4

Police in Berkeley were involved in a standoff with a suspect who was surrounded on a downtown building rooftop this evening. 

At 8:52 p.m., Berkeley police said the suspect was taken into custody. Police got on the rooftop and apprehended the man after he was seen smoking cigarettes and hopping down to the ledge of another business. 

The public was advised to avoid the area of College and Ashby avenues where heavy police activity was happening.

The suspect was involved in an apparent chase and crashed into multiple vehicles Wednesday evening. 

It all began around 6:50 p.m. when the suspect vehicle, a white Dodge Ram with a construction rack, rammed an Oakland police car at 14th and Harrison near Lake Merritt as the officer was already pursuing him. The officer suffered minor injuries. 

Police say the suspect had an outstanding felony warrant out , but it did take the suspect and police onto eastbound 580 at 98th through Castro Valley, then onto northbound 880 before rolling through San Leandro where the suspect hit a patrol car. 

The wild chase continued on westbound 580, ended up going the wrong way on Chabot Road and ended in a crash in Berkeley at Ashby and College. 

A couple that the suspect crashed into on College Ave. said they were shaken up, but the wife said they were both okay.

The suspect's truck was said to have front-end damage. 

A foot chase followed the vehicle pursuit, with a gun being recovered on the street and the suspect ending up on the roof. 

A female suspect is said to have been involved and was taken into custody during one of the crashes. Her relationship with the driver suspect is not known.