Sidewalk object stops Oakland stolen car chase, teen suspect arrested

OAKLAND — A 17-year-old vehicle theft suspect was arrested this week in Chinatown after a utility box and other items blocking his path forced him to stop the stolen Mercedes he was driving, authorities said.

Two girls who were also in the vehicle, one 12 and the other 14, were briefly detained but later released to their parents, authorities said.

The theft of the Mercedes AMG happened several days ago in Oakland.

Officers spotted the Mercedes in West Oakland about 12:30 p.m. Monday and began chasing it in their vehicles.

After a brief pursuit on Interstate 880, the Mercedes got off the freeway at Jackson Street before starting to go the wrong way on Seventh Street, authorities said.

It then went the wrong way on Alice Street from Seventh Street and turned onto Sixth Street, which has a large homeless camp on the south side. Part of the homeless camp blocks the eastbound exit from Sixth Street onto Jackson Street.

The Mercedes started driving on the sidewalk in the 200 block of Sixth Street to get around the homeless camp items, but had to stop when it came up on a city utility box on the sidewalk.

All three occupants fled from the vehicle. The two girls were found and detained nearby within minutes.

The boy was found in the 200 block of Seventh Street trying to hide under a van. He surrendered about 12:54 p.m.

He was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and evading police and booked at juvenile hall.