Man Arrested After Leading Police on Chase in Stolen Car

By Jeff Shuttleworth/Bay City News

A 20-year-old man is being treated for minor injuries he suffered when he crashed a stolen car at the end of a police chase through San Leandro and Oakland early this morning, police said.       

San Leandro police said the incident began shortly before 12:15 a.m. today when a patrol officer interrupted an auto burglary in progress on Dolores Avenue.           

Police said the suspect, John Henry Lee, got into another vehicle and drove away from the officer at a high rate of speed.          

The officer tried to pull the car over but Lee allegedly ignored the officer's lights and siren and kept going, speeding north on Bancroft Avenue and entering Oakland, according to police.          

Shortly after the pursuit began, San Leandro police learned that the car had been reported stolen out of the BART Police Department's jurisdiction.          

Police said Lee sped through city streets in both Oakland and San Leandro for about 20 minutes but ultimately lost control of the car, hitting a tree and street sign at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East Eighth Street in Oakland.          

After the crash, Lee allegedly got out of the car and ran, but was subsequently taken into custody with the assistance of a San Leandro Police Department K-9 unit, police said. They said a handgun was recovered from the passenger compartment of the stolen car.           

Lee suffered minor injuries in the crash, as well as police K-9 bite wounds, and was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police.          

Authorities said Lee is being held on suspicion of auto burglary, auto theft and illegal possession of a firearm.