High-speed chase ends in Mountain View High-speed chase ends in Mountain View (June 16, 2000)

Alleged robber flips SUV over railroad tracks at Highway 101 and Ellis Street

By Greg Kozocas

A high-speed chase originating in Dublin ended in Mountain View during the early morning hours of June 8, when an alleged robber fleeing a crime scene flipped his SUV over the light-rail tracks at Highway 101 and Ellis Street.

Juan Gonzalez, 57, a San Francisco resident, ended up surrounded by eight Mountain View police officers, the California Highway Patrol, Dublin police, and a helicopter unit at 3:45 a.m. last Thursday, when he refused to exit his Ford Explorer near the light-rail tracks east of Highway 101.

Although police ordered him in both English and Spanish to exit the vehicle, Gonzalez refused to get out and blocked the windows of his overturned SUV with a sun visor and blanket, Lt. John Hardester of the Dublin police said.

Mountain View police and the CHP attached a tow truck cable to the suspect's vehicle, bringing it to its wheels with the man still inside.

According to Hardester, Gonzalez allegedly resisted arrest, and officers removed him from the vehicle only after using pepper spray.

At 7 a.m. Gonzalez was taken to Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he was treated for knife wounds to his wrist and injuries from the crash.

According to Dublin police, the incident began around 2:58 a.m. at a Shell gas station on the corner of Alcosta Boulevard and San Ramon Road, where an off-duty Newark police officer flagged down two Dublin police to report that he had been approached by Gonzalez and asked for his credit card in a robbery attempt.

Lt. Hardester said Gonzalez then tried to rob the Shell gas station after he approached the off-duty officer for money.

After Dublin police arrived at the scene, Gonzalez climbed into his vehicle and rammed a police car.

Dublin police and the CHP pursued Gonzalez down Interstate 680 at speeds of 80 to 90 miles per hour. After reaching San Jose the pursuit continued northbound on Highway 101.

The chase ended in Mountain View when the suspect exited from Highway 101 onto Ellis Street, where his reckless driving caused him to overturn his vehicle, police said.

Police charged Gonzalez with assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery, resisting arrest, hit and run, and evading a police officer.

The suspect remains at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Lt. Hardester added that Gonzalez is undergoing psychological evaluation at the jail.

Jim Bennett, Mountain View police spokesman, said that the Mountain View police involvement in the incident was limited to assisting the CHP and Dublin police.