Passenger Dies In Napa Police Chase, Crash

NAPA, CA — Authorities have identified a Contra Costa County man who is accused of leading Napa police officers and Napa County sheriff's deputies on a chase that turned deadly Monday night when his passenger was ejected and killed.

Jonathan Thomas McCarthy, 24, of Oakley is accused of driving a stolen white Honda in the chase that claimed the life of Logan Dale Patrick Bogan, 34, also of Oakley, according to a news release from the Napa Police Department.

Bogan was fatally injured in a rollover crash as the pursuit reached Big Ranch Road at El Centro Avenue in unincorporated Napa County, according to sheriff-coroner's spokesman Henry Wofford.

The chase started at about 7:30 p.m. Monday when officers responded to Raley's, 217 Soscol Ave., to investigate reports from store employees that a man was suspiciously parked in a white Honda behind the store, Napa police said.

The employees told dispatchers a man appeared to be passed out behind the wheel of the car and was displaying symptoms consistent with a possible drug overdose, police said.

The Honda was gone when officers arrived, but it was soon spotted in the area of Maxwell Bridge. Officers at that point attempted to pull the car over, but the driver, later identified as McCarthy, kept going, according to Napa police.

McCarthy is accused of leading officers on a pursuit through south Napa and downtown — and eventually onto Big Ranch Road where sheriff's deputies deployed a spike strip.

"McCarthy ... swerved to avoid the spike strip and lost control of the car causing it to roll onto its roof," Napa police officials said.

Bogan, riding as passenger, was ejected from the car.

Both men were taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, where Bogan died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Napa police determined the Honda was stolen out of Antioch and had a license plate from another vehicle.

According to Napa police, "McCarthy admitted to officers that he and Bogan went to Napa with the intent of stealing from Home Depot to get money for drugs."

McCarthy has since been arrested on suspicion of evading police resulting in injury or death, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft, and murder in the death of the passenger of his vehicle, Napa police said.

California Highway Patrol is assisting in the accident investigation, Napa police said.

Anyone with information that may be helpful is asked to contact the lead investigator, Napa police Detective Dustin Dodd, at 707-257-9568 or ddodd@cityofnapa.org.