Suspect Rams Concord Police Car In Chase From Sun Valley Mall: PD

CONCORD, CA — A probationer allegedly caught breaking into a car that was parked at Sun Valley Mall Wednesday night was taken into custody but not before leading Concord police and California Highway Patrol officers on a vehicle pursuit, a police corporal said Thursday.

The incident allegedly involving 30-year-old San Jose man Charles Alsafari started at about 6 p.m. Wednesday when Concord Police Department Special Enforcement —or SET — officers were flagged down at the mall by a citizen.

"The victim reported finding a Hispanic male inside his car who fled in a newer model Infinity when confronted," Cpl. Summer Galer said. "The victim obtained a photo of the suspect vehicle as it was leaving and gave it to the officers."

At about 8 p.m., SET officers spotted the black Infinity driving near the freeway side of the mall, near JCPenney.

"An enforcement stop was conducted which immediately led to a pursuit," Galer said. "The suspect traveled westbound on Sun Valley Boulevard and intentionally rammed a citizen vehicle on Contra Costa Boulevard while fleeing."

The suspect, later identified as Alsafari, then put his vehicle into reverse and intentionally rammed his vehicle into a SET vehicle, the corporal said.

The pursuit continued eastbound on Sun Valley where Alsafari reportedly swiped two more vehicles before leading officers to Interstate Highway 680/Pacheco, then back southbound onto the Willow Pass Road exit, according to Galer.

Alsafari then got out of the car and ran off, allegedly leading officers on a foot chase across all lanes of Willow Pass Road before being taken into custody.

In a search of the vehicle, officers recovered multiple items of stolen property, Galer said.

Concord PD determined Alsafari is on probation out of Santa Clara County for vehicle theft, and that the Infinity he was driving was a rental vehicle.

Alsafari was booked into Contra Costa County jail on suspicion of vehicle burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run, evading police and a probation violation.

Photo via Concord Police Department Facebook page