Marin Crime Spree, Chase Ends With 3 Arrests

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A robbery and assault at a Corte Madera Macy's kicked off a wild string of events Sunday, culminating in a police chase that ended in Contra Costa County.

According to Central Marin Police, officers were first called to a strong-armed robbery involving three people at the department store Sunday afternoon. Witnesses told police one suspect punched a loss prevention officer in the face and claimed to have a gun.

The suspect fled the area in a vehicle, which an officer soon spotted traveling along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Larkspur, police said. The officer attempted to pull over the vehicle and gave chase when the driver refused to stop but quickly called off the pursuit citing safety risks.

A few minutes later, dispatchers received a report of someone matching the suspect's description on Forbes Avenue, near the San Anselmo/San Rafael line, asking bystanders for a change of clothes and an Uber.

A Marin County deputy arrived first at the scene and tried to detain the man, but he ran into a nearby home in San Rafael. The sheriff's office worked with Central Marin and San Rafael police to set up a perimeter and called in a helicopter from the Sonoma County Sheriff.

The next 911 call came from San Anselmo, where a resident on Island Drive told police their house was broken into and their vehicle stolen. Police issued an all-points bulletin for the stolen vehicle, and a Marin County deputy discovered it traveling through Fairfax.

The deputy gave chase after the driver refused to stop, pursuing the vehicle into San Rafael as the Sonoma County helicopter watched from the air. A collision between the deputy and another vehicle interrupted the ground pursuit, and the aircrew reported the vehicle moving into downtown San Rafael.

That is where police said the man abandoned the stolen car and carjacked a passing driver, while claiming to have a knife. The suspect fled onto Interstate 580 toward Richmond, where officers rejoined the pursuit. Police said the man eventually abandoned the carjacked vehicle in San Pablo and was arrested by Richmond Police.

Police identified the suspect as Richard Contreras, 34, of Fremont. He was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of robbery, residential burglary, stealing a vehicle, carjacking, resisting arrest, evading police and being a repeat felony offender.

Back at Macy's, police said the other two suspects in the initial strong-arm robbery were detained by loss prevention and arrested without incident. Police identified the pair Monday as Dorothy McGriff, 30, of San Rafael and Alair Woodcock, 34, of Alameda. Both were arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary and conspiracy, with narcotics and warrant charges added for McGriff.