By Bay City News
A domestic violence suspect from Pinole who was arrested after crashing into a house in Hercules last week is behind bars and faces more than half a dozen charges, a prosecutor said today.
Alberto Morales, 18, has been charged with domestic violence causing great bodily injury, false imprisonment, battery causing serious bodily injury, making criminal threats, recklessly evading police, probation violation and DUI, Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Brian Hast said.
On Thursday afternoon, Morales allegedly threatened to kill his 39-year-old girlfriend and her children, broke several items in the Pinole home and choked the woman unconscious, Hast said.
The 18-year-old prevented the woman from leaving the home and snatched a phone from her after she dialed 911, according to police. Morales then fled the home in his silver Nissan and drove to Hercules, where an officer on Sycamore Avenue spotted him running a red light around 4:45 p.m., police said.
As Morales sped away from the police vehicle, the officer conducted a records search on his car and learned that he was wanted on the domestic violence offense, police said. After leading police on a high-speed chase through Hercules, the suspect crashed into a house, his car flipping over onto its roof.
He also nearly crashed into the home's garage, which was being used as a living space, Hast said. "If he had lost control of the car and crashed headlong into the garage, people could have been injured seriously," the prosecutor said.
Morales was taken to John Muir Medical Center with minor injuries and arrested. He was taken to county jail in Martinez where he is being held without bail. The 18-year-old is already on probation in connection with a misdemeanor statutory rape charge and removed a GPS ankle monitor a short time before the alleged domestic violence incident on Thursday, Hast said.
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