Three Arrested After Police Chase

A trio of Tri-City residents were arrested today after leading police on a vehicle chase that ended in Tracy, Sgt. Kevin Santin said.

At 11:13 a.m., Sgt. John Hurd attempted to stop a white, four-door Kia for a speeding violation at the Portola Avenue and Murrieta Boulevard intersection. The vehicle was occupied by three people.

The driver failed to yield and Hurd, who was riding a police motorcycle, chased the vehicle.

"The driver struck a curb on a turn on Murrieta Boulevard at Huron Road, damaging a wheel," Hurd said. "I was expecting a flat tire and the vehicle to break down."

Instead, the chase headed eastbound on Portola Avenue and then northbound on First Street before moving into an eastbound Interstate 580 on ramp, Hurd said.

The driver, later identified as transient Frank Garcia, was driving around 50 mph and topped out at about 70 mph at one point, police said.

During the chase, Garcia at one point drove on the wrong side of the road and ran a red light on First Street and Mines Road. He also clipped another vehicle's side mirror, causing minor damage, Hurd said. No injuries were reported from the minor collision.

Once Garcia entered the freeway he began to drive more recklessly, Hurd said.

At this point Hurd and other patrol cars decided to call off the pursuit and turn off their lights and sirens.

"He was taking reckless chances passing cars," Hurd said. "We didn't want to encourage him to do that so we stopped the pursuit."

Hurd continued to follow the vehicle from a distance to keep an eye out for California Highway Patrol units who were en route to assist in the chase.

At 11:27 a.m., Garcia pulled over on the freeway between the Mountain House and 11th Street exits, Hurd said.

He turned himself in without incident.

Garcia, 35, is a transient from the Fremont and Newark area, Hurd said. He was arrested on suspicion of evading a police officer and on suspicion of hit and run. In addition, Garcia was wanted on a parole warrant, Santin said.

The passengers of the vehicle were also arrested.

Newark resident Marcelina Gallardo, 33, had an outstanding drug-related arrest warrant, Santin said.

34-year-old Dana Rodrigues, also of Newark, was on parole for drug sales. She was arrested for violation of parole, Santin said.

All three were taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.