Hercules officer fires at suspect during chase

A suspect was taken into custody after leading police on a short high-speed pursuit and foot chase that led to a Hercules officer firing his gun at the suspect in San Pablo early Sunday morning, according to police.

Police said the suspect, identified as 55-year-old James Eugenio Pina, was taken into custody on suspicion of auto theft, resisting arrest, felony evasion and violating his parole.

A Hercules police officer spotted Pina driving a silver Honda without taillights on around 1:45 a.m. Sunday on westbound Interstate Highway 80 near Appian Way and attempted a traffic stop, but Pina fled.

He led officers on a chase on the freeway, driving through a construction zone before exiting the freeway and crashing into a fence in the 1400 block of Humboldt Avenue in San Pablo.

Pina was not injured by the single shot fired by the Hercules police officer. Police said the officer ordered Pina to raise his hands and stop after he fled from the vehicle and into an apartment complex.

During the foot chase, police said Pina made a movement toward his waistband, resulting in the shot fired by the officer, who police haven’t identified.

Pina was taken to a hospital for complaints of pain and later was released to police custody and was booked into county jail in Martinez.

The officer wasn’t injured but has been placed on administrative leave, police said.

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