Details About I-880 Closure Prompted by Police Search for Armed Robbery Suspect Fleeing SWAT Team

A freeway closure that shut down Interstate 880 in Fremont for nearly two hours Thursday was triggered by a search for a suspect in an armed robbery, police said today. Police on Thursday located a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred earlier this month at the EZ-8 Motel in Newark and called in a SWAT team to apprehend him.

The suspect was spotted in a vehicle around 7:45 p.m., but he fled from officers and jumped over a fence that led to Interstate Highway 880, police said. A search of the abandoned vehicle turned up a firearm. Believing the suspect was hiding along the freeway, police and the California Highway Patrol shut down the freeway in both directions shortly after 8 p.m. from ¼ mile south of Mowry Avenue to ¼ mile north.

Related: Search for Armed Suspect Closes Down I-880 in Fremont Thursday Night

The area was searched by officers, police dogs and CHP helicopter, but around 9:30 p.m. police learned that the suspect had been seen at a Starbucks across the freeway prior to the shutdown. Witnesses in the Starbucks described the suspect as acting strangely, sweating profusely and looking out the doors and windows nervously, but no one called police. The suspect was picked up by another person in a car after around 20 minutes. The search was called off, but the investigation is ongoing, police said.

The suspect was described Thursday as a black male adult, 20 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 155 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. Police said Thursday that anyone who believes they have seen the suspect should call 911 immediately and not approach him, as he is considered armed and dangerous.

By Bay City News