Police Chase Leads To Car Fire On Alhambra Avenue

A car driven by a man fleeing the police struck a light pole on Alhambra Avenue and burst into flames Monday night, and police continue to search for the suspect.

According to Sgt. Dave Mathers, police responded around 9:45 p.m. to a report of a person struck with a baseball bat on the 900 block of Brown Street. The suspect had already left the area driving a black Honda sedan. A few minutes later, police say the located the suspect’s car “that had just crashed in front of the Goodyear tire store,” according to a press release. “The driver had fled prior to the officers’ arrival, with the vehicle burning.”

But a witness, Jessica Norlin, said that the vehicle was being chased southbound down Alhambra Avenue by at least five police cars, when the driver attempted to make a u-turn and fishtailed into a light pole by the tire store. At that point, Norlin said, the driver left the car and headed toward the Lotus Apartments. The car then burst into flames, and Con Fire arrived to put out the fire.

The police continue to search for the suspect. Anyone with any information about the incident is encouraged to contact Officr Breinig at tbreinig@cityofmartinez.org, or call 925-372-3440.