What began as a routine drunken-driving arrest morphed into a major felony case when the suspect stole his arresting officer’s patrol car just east of Davis, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Robert Lee Collins, 41, of Stockton, faces assault, hit and run, vehicle theft, evading and other charges in connection with the Sunday night incident, which officers say began at about 8 p.m. when Collins was pulled over for reckless driving on eastbound Interstate 80 east of Chiles Road.
Arrested on suspicion of DUI, Collins was handcuffed and placed into the back seat of a CHP patrol car for transport to the Yolo County Jail. Collins, however, apparently had alternative plans.
“For reasons that are still under investigation, Collins managed to free himself, make his way to the front seat of the patrol vehicle and then flee the scene,” the CHP wrote in Collins’ arrest report. “As the suspect fled, he swerved in the direction of one of the officers, who, fearing for his life and that of his partner officer, fired his service weapon.”
Collins was not injured in the shooting, however, and proceeded to lead officers on a pursuit from I-80 to Highway 50 in Sacramento, where Collins rammed a CHP vehicle near the 15th Street exit and brought an end to the chase, officers said.
Both the incident and the officer-involved shooting remain under investigation.
Collins was booked into the Yolo County Jail, where he was being held in lieu of $1.14 million bail as of Monday night. His arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Yolo Superior Court.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene