Manhunt for man that led police on chase in Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. (KTVU) - Berkeley Police are searching for a man who they say almost him an officer during a routine traffic stop, and then led them on a chase that ended in a crash.

It all started after 4 p.m. on Saturday, near Derby and Acton Streets.

Police say an officer tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver took off and almost hit the driver.

Lt. Andrew Rateaver with Berkeley Police said, "We ended up pursuing the vehicle. It ended up being crashed, abandoned, and the solo occupant- the driver- fled into some of the neighborhoods surrounding here."

The SUV crashed into a tree near a house.

Neighbors say the police search went on for hours, but the man wasn't found.

Police say they do not think the incident is connected to another manhunt that happened on Friday in Berkeley.