‘Prolific’ East Bay Car Theft Suspect Leads Cops On Wild Pursuit

TIBURON, CA — An East Bay car theft suspect was arrested Monday night after leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit through Marin that reached speeds of 100 mph, the Tiburon Police Department said.

Daniel H. Zeru, a 37-year-old Hayward man with a long criminal history, was arrested on suspicion of evading officers with disregard for public safety, possession of a stolen vehicle, taking vehicle without owner’s consent, driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, and an outstanding warrant, amd giving officers false identification, police said.

Zeru was described as a “prolific auto theft suspect” in 2017, when he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on a San Francisco police officer.

Zeru was booked into Marin County Jail after being treated for injuries from being struck by his own vehicle at the end of the pursuit in Petaluma, police said.

Tiburon officers initiated the pursuit after receiving an Automated License Plate Reader System alert of a vehicle with a stolen license plate that was headed eastbound into Tiburon, police said.

The vehicle made an illegal U-turn at Beach Road and headed westbound after an officer located the vehicle as it approached the downtown area, police said.

The vehicle sped away after the officer tried to stop it, swerving over the double yellow lines and passing vehicles on the wrong side of the road, police said.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol joined officers on the pursuit when the vehicle started traveling northbound on Highway 101, police said.

The CHP took over the pursuit when the vehicle crossed the Sonoma County line and ultimately used spike strips to stop it.

The vehicle was confirmed to be stolen out of San Francisco and had stolen license plates taken from another vehicle, police said.

Zeru was on parole and had an extensive criminal history that included violent crimes, police said.

He was found to be in possession of narcotics and had a suspended driver license and an arrest warrant for violating the terms of his parole, according to police.