Man Tries To Ram Police, Police Shoot At Vehicle In High-Speed Chase

A routine seat belt stop turned into a high-speed chase and officer-involved shooting Sunday night after the driver attempted to ram pursuing officers, police said.

Police arrested Ricardo Tijero, a 25-year-old Hayward parolee, and transported passenger Yasmine Martinez, 24, of Union City to a local hospital for treatment.

Authorities say she was shot in the hip by officers while Tijero tried to run them over.

According to police, the chase began about 10 p.m. in Union City when an officer tried to stop the vehicle, a silver four-door Toyota Corolla, near Arroyo Park after noticing the passengers weren’t wearing seat belts. The driver, Tijero, quickly entered the park, accelerated and reportedly tried to evade officers.

Because of Tijero’s reckless nature, officers didn’t give chase but alerted others to the vehicle’s direction, police said.

Officers in another patrol car positioned themselves at the opposite end of the park, where they saw the Toyota approaching. The car stopped briefly, then sped up, turned around and tried to ram the patrol car, according to police. The officers moved to avoid collision with the Toyota, which sped away.

Authorities then gave chase as the vehicle drove through residential neighborhoods and entered Fremont at speeds of more than 50 miles per hour, police said.

Police said Tijero exhibited dangerous behavior and drove on the opposite side of the road throughout the chase.

Two Union City police officers, who were riding in a single patrol car, eventually followed Tijero into a cul-de-sac off of Wyndham Drive in Fremont.

According to police, the Toyota had its lights off and was facing the incoming officers’ direction. When the officers stopped and exited their vehicles, they said Tijero stepped on the gas and attempted to ram them.

Both officers drew their handguns and fired several shots at the Toyota, which swerved and fled out of the cul-de-sac, police said.

Assisting officers saw the Toyota as it fled and continued the chase.

The Toyota eventually raced onto Ardenwood Boulevard and tried to cross over a raised concrete divider, which rendered it too damaged to drive.

Officers had to take Tijero and Martinez into custody at gunpoint, police said.

Tijero was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and violating parole.

Martinez sustained a gunshot wound to the hip and was treated and released from a local hospital, according to police. Charges are currently pending against Martinez.

The two officers involved in the shooting have been put on a three-day administrative leave, police said. The names of the officers were not released.