Felon Leads Cops On Stolen-Vehicle Chase Into Napa, Hits 2 Cars: ACPD

NAPA COUNTY, CA — An East Bay man led officers on a high-speed chase early Monday morning from American Canyon to Napa, police said.

Around 5:30 a.m. Monday, American Canyon officers spotted a Ford pickup truck reported stolen from Yolo County. As the driver headed north on Highway 29, officers tried to stop the truck near Paoli Loop Road.

However, the driver sped off— leading officers on a pursuit toward Napa, police said.

The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Oakland resident Thomas Melching, continued into the city of Napa where he collided with an oncoming motorist, then hit a parked car on Soscol Avenue, police said.

Melching ran from the crash site but did not get far.

Officers detained Melching and learned he had two arrest warrants out of Yolo County and was on post-release community supervision out of San Joaquin County for identity theft.

He was booked into Napa County jail on the warrants and on suspicion of local charges including felony evading an officer, resisting arrest, hit and run, receiving stolen property and possession of methamphetamine.

The uninvolved motorist was not injured during the collision, police said.