Deputy Injured When Car Theft Suspect Rams Cruiser: ACSO

SAN LEANDRO, CA — An Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured Tuesday afternoon when their marked vehicle was rammed by a car theft suspect, according to a social media post from the sheriff's office. The deputy was transported to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries.

The confrontation started when the stolen vehicle was spotted traveling westbound on I-580 near Estudillo in San Leandro. "Deputies followed the vehicle until additional resources were in place to assist with a high-risk traffic stop on the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Jose Barajas-Avalos, of Oakland."

When the stolen vehicle pulled into a parking lot near 35th Avenue and E. 12th Street, deputies tried to contain and stop him. "Barajas-Avalos intentionally rammed his vehicle into three occupied law enforcement vehicles, disabling two of them and injuring a deputy."

The stolen vehicle got away but ACSO air support maintained visual contact. The vehicle was ultimately abandoned in the 700 block of High Street. The suspect was located hiding in a parked vehicle, at which point he taken into custody without further incident.

Barajas-Avalos is on probation and has an extensive criminal history including several arrests for vehicle theft. He was booked into the Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of multiple felony offenses.