Suspect, Oakley PD sergeant collide head-on in crash

OAKLEY, Calif. ( KRON ) — An Oakley Police Department sergeant used his patrol car Saturday night to block a suspect from driving a stolen car into a crowd of people at a nearby gas station, according to authorities and witnesses of the violent crash.

Oakley police spotted and attempted to stop a stolen car near Bethel Island, but the driver took off before officers turned on their lights and sirens, Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard said. An officer was then able to successfully lay down spike strips, which the suspect drove over and slowly deflated his tires.

The suspect’s vehicle erratically barreled into the police sergeant, who eventually cut him off at East Cypress Road and Knightsen Avenue.

Despite being briefly pinned in his patrol car by his airbag and twisted metal, the sergeant got out and helped arrest the suspect, identified as Devon Singleton, 29, of Antioch.

Arrest records show Singleton was arrested at least three times last month in Antioch for vehicle and theft-related offenses. “It looks like that the suspect has a propensity to steal cars, to get into police chases and to get involved in things that endanger the lives of others to include himself,” Chief Beard said.

Singleton, his passenger and sergeant were all hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

Chief Beard said he anticipates the sergeant will quickly be back to regular duty.

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