A 26-year-old driver opened fire Tuesday on Manteca officers during a police pursuit before colliding with another car and flipping his vehicle, authorities said.
The suspect, whom police are not yet identifying, is wanted in connection with four shootings in the past two days, Manteca Sgt. Steven Beermann said.
Officers spotted the car they say was connected to the shootings about 6:55 p.m. in a Jack In the Box restaurant parking lot. Although police ordered the man in the car to stop, he fled in the vehicle — at one point backing up toward officers who were attempting to block him in, Beermann said.
During the pursuit, the man fired several shots at patrol cars while traveling north on Union Road between Lovelace and French Camp roads, police said. The chase came to an end when the driver struck another car at French Camp and and Dudley roads, veered off the pavement and rolled his vehicle several times.
Still, he didn’t give up right away; there was a short standoff with police before he was taken into custody, according to Beermann.
Authorities said no one was seriously injured in the crash, although the suspect driver was taken to a hospital for treatment after complaining of pain. His name is being withheld because he is expected to appear in photo lineups, officials said.
A gun was found in the car after the man, who was described as being from the Antioch area, was arrested, Beermann said. He was slated to be booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on multiple charges, according to a news release from the Manteca Police Department.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case, including the shootings, to call Manteca police at (209) 456-8101.