Vallejo Man Accused In 3-County Police Pursuit

AMERICAN CANYON, CA — Two men were arrested Sunday on suspicion of evading police, attempted assault on an officer and other charges in connection with a three-county chase.

The pursuit started around 5 p.m. Sunday when American Canyon police officers got word that a white Honda sean reported stolen out of San Francisco was thought to be in American Canyon.

ACPD officers spotted the car driving southbound on Flosden Road near the Vallejo city limits and when they initiated a traffic stop, the driver of the stolen car attempted to ram a patrol car, American Canyon police Chief Rick Greenberg said.

The driver, later identified as Gary Pilapil, 32, of Vallejo, then led officers on a chase along surface streets of Vallejo and onto Interstate 80 toward the Carquinez Bridge, Greenberg said.

The pursuit reached speeds over 100 mph until Pilapil lost control of the Honda at I-80 and Central Avenue in Richmond, where he crashed into two uninvolved cars, causing minor injuries to people inside the cars, police said.

Pilapil and his passenger, 40-year-old Joel Lacsamana of San Francisco, abandoned the Honda and ran off, according to police.

Pilapil was quickly taken into custody.

An American Canyon police K-9 was used to apprehend Lacsamana when he did not comply with officers' orders, the chief said.

Both men were booked into Napa County jail on suspicion of several felony and misdemeanor charges, including car theft, evading, and attempted assault on a peace officer with a moving vehicle, Greenberg said.

Lacsamana was released a short time after booking.

Pilapil remained in custody Monday with his bail set at $50,000.