Walnut Creek Police Officer Injured in Chase For Alleged Car Thief

Walnut Creek, CA - A suspect whose attempt at a vehicle theft in Walnut Creek was foiled led police on a pursuit during which an officer was injured Thursday afternoon, police said today.

A San Jose man allegedly fled from officers both in a high-speed vehicle chase and then on foot through the parking lot of a Lafayette Whole Foods, Walnut Creek police said.

• San Jose suspects involved here: 4 Suspects Arrested in Milpitas for Drugs, Theft

Police initially responded Thursday at 4:54 p.m. to the 1300 block of North Broadway in Walnut Creek, where a person reported a suspect rummaging through an unlocked vehicle.

The reporting party had scared off the suspect, police said. The man was later seen driving away from the scene in an allegedly stolen vehicle.

Police said that when officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated and fled onto westbound state Highway 24 at speeds of around 80 mph.

Officers chased the vehicle into Lafayette, where the suspect left the vehicle in the parking lot of a Whole Foods at 3052 Mt. Diablo Blvd. and fled on foot.

While chasing the suspect, an officer was allegedly struck by a chair thrown by the suspect. The officer suffered a deep laceration and was later taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

The suspect was eventually taken into custody with the help of a citizen who witnessed the foot pursuit.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Teluluai Lesiu, was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of various offenses.

--Bay City News; Image courtesy Walnut Creek Police