Modesto police officer hurt in crash during chase downtown
A Modesto police officer was taken to a hospital late Tuesday morning after crashing while chasing a suspect vehicle downtown.
The officer was pursuing suspects in the robbery of the Rite Aid pharmacy on the 1000 block of Oakdale Road. His motorcycle collided with their Jeep on the Needham Street overpass.
While being treated, the officer was conscious and alert, Lt. Ivan Valencia said at the scene. The officer, whose name was not released, was taken to an area hospital for further treatment, Sgt. Eric Schuller said. The high-speed pursuit continued north on Highway 99 into Sacramento County, where three suspects were taken into custody, The Sacramento Bee reported.
The robbery occurred shortly after 11 a.m., Schuller said. Police were called just after two males stole merchandise and fled. Witnesses reported that the subjects were in a white Jeep with dealer plates, the sergeant said.
An officer located the Jeep going west on Scenic Drive and followed it before attempting a traffic stop, Schuller said. The suspect vehicle fled over a few downtown streets before the collision with the motorcycle officer.
Modesto police continued the chase onto Highway 99, where in Manteca, the California Highway Patrol took over, Schuller said. A few Modesto officers stayed with the pursuit, which concluded in the area of the Cosumnes River Boulevard-Calvine Road interchange south of Sacramento, he said.
There, Schuller said, the Jeep came to a stop and the suspects ran away.
Initial reports of the robbery indicated the suspects were armed, the sergeant said, but authorities determined no weapons were involved. The three arrested, he said, were the two who allegedly committed the robbery and the driver of the Jeep.
This story was originally published February 26, 2019 at 11:48 AM.
