​Novato Car Theft Suspect Arrested After Ramming Police Car: Cops

NOVATO, CA — A San Francisco car theft suspect accused of ramming a vehicle into a police car during a pursuit was arrested Saturday, Novato police said.

Jovonni Guerry, 44, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer, hit-and-run, reckless evading, possession stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, possession of burglary tools, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving with open containers of alcohol, and violation of probation, along with outstanding warrants among other crimes, police said.

Guerry was booked into Marin County Jail, police said.

Officers at around 6:40 p.m. Saturday dispatched to the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center on the report of a stolen vehicle initiated a “high risk” traffic stop after locating the vehicle, police said. Such traffic stops are typically initiated when a vehicle is reported as stolen or when the stop may pose a significant risk to the officers or community when dealing with the occupants of a vehicle.

The driver failed to comply officer commands, backing out of the parking space at a high rate of speed and colliding with a parked car, police said.

The driver then pulled forward and accelerated rapidly, colliding with one officer's patrol car, driving directly toward an officer's open patrol car door, police said.

“The officer had to jump into his patrol car to shield himself from being hit by the fleeing vehicle, as the driver had weaponized the vehicle to escape arrest,” police said.

Officers abandoned the pursuit after the suspect drove recklessly, but officers located the vehicle after a community member reported a suspicious vehicle with major front-end damage in the area of S. Novato and Rowland boulevards, police said.

Guerry initially provided a false name to the officers at the scene, police said.

Officers determined the car Guerry was driving was reported stolen, and that he had three outstanding felony warrants, police said.

Officers during a search found Guerry in possession of stolen property and a controlled substance, police said.

No injuries were reported.

— Bay City News contributed to this report