An Oakland man was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft after leading a Davis police officer on a chase and ramming the officer's patrol car, according to police.
Over the past month, Davis has seen an increase in stolen vehicle activity, particularly targeting Hondas and Acuras, which have been recovered in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a Davis Police Department news release.
About 1:53 this morning, a Davis patrol officer working in the 1800 block of Cowell Boulevard observed an Acura, and a check of the license plate number revealed that it had been reported stolen out of Oakland. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver accelerated, leading the officer on a high-speed chase around the south Davis area.
The officer chased the vehicle into Benbow Court, a dead-end street, where he tried to block the suspect's escape route with his patrol car, according to the news release. The suspect rammed the officer's vehicle with the stolen Acura and was able to get out of the cul de sac.
Police said the suspect then left the stolen Acura in the parking lot of 3000 Lillard Drive and ran off. He was found hiding in the back yard in the 1200 block of Drummond Avenue and taken into custody.
Officials said methamphetamine was found during a search of the stolen vehicle.
Teluluai Francis Lesui, 25, was booked into the Yolo County Jail. In addition to vehicle theft, he is accused of evading police officers, assault with a deadly weapon, and possession and transportation of a controlled substance.
Officials said the officer was not injured, but his patrol car sustained moderate damage.
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