Crime & Safety
Danville Burglary Suspect Fleeing Cops Crashes Near Caldecott Tunnel
Update: Orinda police officers chased on foot and arrested the Hayward suspect at the scene of the accident along westbound Highway 24.
Update: 4:05pm Friday, name of burglary suspect.
A police chase that started in Danville Friday morning ended with an arrest and a traffic jam near the Caldecott Tunnel after the suspect crashed his getaway car into two other cars on westbound Highway 24 in Orinda.
There was a brief foot chase as Orinda police officers apprehended the suspect. Arrested on charges of residential burglary, possession of stolen property, evading a police officer and reckless driving was Brian Battles, 23, of Hayward. He was taken to Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez.
There were no major injuries, according to the Contra Costa Times.
The right lanes of westbound Highway 24 were blocked for about an hour as a result of the collisions, which were reported near the Fish Ranch Road exit just east of the Caldecott Tunnel around 10:45 a.m.
The Times reports that the chase started after Danville police tried to stop a residential burglary suspect at 10:37 a.m. A resident heard footsteps in her house and called police. The burglar fled with items from the house and drove away, police said.
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Highway 24 reopened shortly after noon.
Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
Find out what's happening in Lamorindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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