Occupied police vehicle rammed during pursuit

A traffic stop turned into a dramatic pursuit last Friday, ending with an occupied Martinez Police vehicle being rammed.

At about 1:14 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, an MPD officer made a traffic stop on a pickup truck in the area of Robinson Street and Alhambra Avenue. The truck yielded briefly and then fled the area as the officer approached the truck. A brief pursuit followed until officers canceled the pursuit due to the vehicle driving in the oncoming traffic lane of Alhambra Avenue.

Within moments of the pursuit’s termination, a citizen alerted a K9 officer in the area of the truck’s location. As the K9 officer arrived at the vehicle, the suspect rammed the K9 officer’s patrol vehicle with the officer and canine still inside. Officers were able to apprehend the suspect, and luckily, nobody was injured.

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Daniel Gillaspy, of Antioch. The vehicle Gillaspy was driving had been reported stolen.

Gillaspy was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.