From the Moraga PD:
On May 31, 2015, approximately 8:15 p.m., Moraga Police received a report from a citizen of two subjects loitering around a car and garages on Miramonte Drive, possibly trying to steal the car. Officers responded to the area and observed the subjects driving away from the area in a black Acura. The officers ran a computer check on the car and found that the car had been reported stolen to Concord Police.
The officers followed the car and requested assistance from Lafayette Police and Contra Costa County Sheriffs units. As the suspects were driving on St. Mary’s Road near South Lucille Lane, they suddenly sped up. The officers turned on their emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the car, but the suspects failed to yield. The officers pursued the vehicle from St. Mary’s Road to Moraga Road. The suspects turned off of Moraga Road and drove on streets around Stanley Middle School to return to St. Mary’s Road. When the suspects turned from Topper Lane on to St. Mary’s Road, they failed to stop at the intersection and collided with a car that was being driven westbound on St. Mary’s Road.
When the stolen Acura came to a stop, the engine caught on fire. Moraga and Lafayette officers had to cut a seat belt off of one suspect and a shoe off of another to extricate and pull them from the burning car. The officers were able to put the fire out with a number of fire extinguishers. The other vehicle was occupied by a father and son from Lafayette. The son, who was the passenger of the other car, received a minor injury, but his father was not injured. Both vehicles suffered major damage.
The driver of the stolen car was identified as Jose Zacarias, 19, of Concord. Zacarias is on probation for a number of offenses, including vehicle theft, burglary, carrying a concealed dagger and receiving stolen property. The passenger is a 16-year-old male and is not being identified as he is a juvenile. Both of the suspects were placed under arrest for charges including vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, evading police officers and probation violations.
The suspects were transported by AMR Ambulance to Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, Martinez, where they were treated for minor injuries. The passenger of the other car was transported by AMR Ambulance to John Muir Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries.
Anyone with any information about this incident, including the suspicious activity that occurred on Miramonte Drive, is asked to call the Moraga Police Department at 925-888-7055.