Man Allegedly Rams Multiple Police Cars and Leads Officers on a High-Speed Chase
– by Jim Emerson
NOVATO, CA — A man allegedly-intentionally crashed into police cars belonging to California
Highway Patrol and Central Marin Police Authority and led officers on a high-speed chase.
The suspect Erik B. Diaz, 23, of Novato, has remained in custody since his arrest earlier this month. Diaz is a recidivist with more than 20 arrests within the last four years.
CHP officers attempted stop Diaz on May 7 in Novato, but he reportedly fled at a high-rate of
speed. Their pursuit of him was aborted in the interest of public safety.
During the early hours of May 8, his vehicle was tracked driving on the Richmond-San Rafael
Bridge. CHP and CMPA officers next coordinated a containment maneuver to block Diaz’s
vehicle, as he approached Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near U.S. Highway 101.
Diaz apparently attempted to breach the blockade by ramming into multiple police cars.
Several police cars sustained damage, and Diaz’s vehicle became immobilized. CHP officers
placed Diaz under arrest at 1:04 a.m.
Diaz remains inside Marin County Jail in lieu of $85,000 bond. Diaz was booked for:
· Assault with a deadly weapon/not a firearm on an officer
· Hit and run with property damage
· Obstructing/resisting an officer
· Evading police with disregard for safety
· Possession of a controlled substance for sale
· Possession of stolen property
· Unauthorized use of personal identifying information
· Violation of Probation
Since 2022, Diaz has been arrested more than 20 times. His record includes multiple arrests
for possession of controlled substances for sale. Plus, Diaz has prior arrests involving DUIs,
receiving or concealing stolen property, and credit card fraud.
