Brief Crime Spree Lands Martinez Man In Jail, Concord Police Say

CONCORD, CA — A 24-year-old Martinez man was arrested Saturday in connection with a brief crime spree that involved a theft from the Martinez Home Depot and a hit-and-run crash in an SUV reported stolen from Concord, according to the Concord Police Department.

It started when several people reported seeing a black SUV driving recklessly while exiting southbound state Highway 242 at Solano Way and Grant Street, Concord police said. The left front tire had "completely came off of wheel, but that didn’t stop the suspect from continuing to drive while dwindling down the rim," police said.

The SUV came to rest on the center median, at which point the suspect, later identified as Antonio Neely, "frantically exited but not before grabbing a backpack and a few boxes of tools," Concord police said.

Neely reportedly ran into a nearby neighborhood where several witnesses saw him jumping fences into various backyards.

Meanwhile, Concord police dispatchers were informed by the Martinez Police Department that an SUV was involved in a hit-and-run in Martinez after the driver stole tools from the Martinez Home Depot.

Minutes later, Concord dispatchers got another call: it was from a Concord resident wanting to report their SUV stolen.

"Turns out, the license plate number provided by the registered owner matched the one that the suspect used in his crime spree," Concord police said.

As Concord officers continued searching the area, dispatchers received a call from someone who saw a man jumping fences.

Officers arrived at that address within seconds and found Neely, whom police said "continued on his path of poor decisions, and ran."

After a brief foot chase, officers apprehended Neely without further incident.

Officers also picked up a backpack that Neely is accused of ditching while he ran. The backpack contained the tools stolen from Home Depot in Martinez, police said.

A records check on Neely revealed he was on felony probation for robbery and evading police.

"For his actions, Concord police placed Neely under arrest for a surfeit of criminal violations and provided him with a ride to County Jail," police said, giving a "big thanks to all of the amazing witnesses who called and helped us apprehend Mr. Neely. As we repeatedly say, we couldn’t do this without you!"