Police rammed a stolen vehicle that tried to avoid a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Safeway grocery store at Tennant Station Tuesday morning, according to authorities. Both occupants were arrested.
About 7:30 a.m. Jan. 27, a Morgan Hill police officer saw a Dodge Durango traveling in the area of Tennant Station and determined the vehicle had been stolen out of Gilroy, according to MHPD Sgt. Bill Norman.
Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the Durango continued traveling in an effort to evade officers, Norman said. As the Durango approached the driveway between Troy’s Bocce Ball and Safeway grocery store, MHPD patrol cars used a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT), ramming the stolen vehicle multiple times before the driver could no longer proceed.
The Dodge ended up on a covered sidewalk in front of Troy’s Bocce Ball, with extensive damage.
Norman’s patrol vehicle, a MHPD Chevrolet sport utility vehicle, was involved in the collision and showed front-end damage while he and other officers remained at the scene about 8 a.m.
The male driver and female passenger of the Dodge were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property, Norman said. The driver is suspected of driving under the influence, and the female had “multiple warrants” for her arrest.
The names of the suspects were not available at the scene.
The only reported injuries in the incident were suffered by the female Dodge passenger, who complained of unspecified pain, Norman said.
The shopping center—which includes a bagel shop, grocery store and gym which were open at the time—was bustling with activity when the incident happened. An employee of Safeway said officers approached the Dodge with guns drawn after the vehicle was stopped.
Check back later for updates to this story.
