A Hollister police sergeant was injured in a vehicle pursuit that ended in Hayward.
According to the Hollister Police Department:
Hollister police arrested three suspects after long vehicle pursuit that ended in Hayward. A Hollister police sergeant was injured in a vehicle collision that occurred during the pursuit.
On Sept. 19 at approximately 9:57 p.m., Officer Don Tong attempted to stop a vehicle near the intersection of Fourth and East streets. The vehicle’s driver did not yield and sped away at very high rate of speed. Other patrol units joined the pursuit as the suspect drove around the City of Hollister.
Sgt. Michael Paddy was the third patrol car in the pursuit as he monitored the incident. His vehicle’s lights and siren were activated as he entered the intersection. A SUV failed to yield to the emergency lights and sirens and entered the intersection directly in front of Paddy’s path. They collided causing severe damage to both vehicles. Paddy was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for several injuries. The young driver of the SUV was also treated at the hospital and both were later released.
The Hollister Police Department patrol units followed the suspect vehicle to the area of Hwy. 101 and Leavesley Road in Gilroy, where the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit until it ended in Hayward.
Three suspects, Chartanae Lovely (20) of Antioch, CA, Davida Fortenberry (21) of Oakland, CA and Laje Ford (22) of Oakland, CA were in the suspect vehicle. While conducting further investigation, officers learned the suspects had taken several thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from a local store and had discarded evidence of previous crimes out of the vehicle’s window during the chase.
All suspects were returned to San Benito County where they were booked on the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary, grand theft, possession of stolen property and destruction of evidence. The driver, Fortenberry, was also charged with felony evasion resulting in injury.
The Hollister Police Department would like to thank members of the community that were the first to arrive at the crash scene and helped Sgt. Paddy out of the smoking wreckage. They also helped the other involved party.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Officer Tong at the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 800-87-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
