Police have identified a 26-year-old man who was arrested Saturday after allegedly stealing a police SUV, being shot at by officers and then jumping from the upper deck of the Bay Bridge to the lower deck in an attempt to escape.
Police have not released a known city of residence associated with Randal Lee Maykopet. He was booked into San Francisco County Jail Saturday on suspicion of numerous felonies, including multiple hit and run collisions while under the influence of drugs, according to San Francisco police spokesman Albie Esparza.
At about 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, San Francisco police officers responded to the area of Chestnut and Lyon streets in the city’s Cow Hollow neighborhood on a report that a person was armed with a knife, according to police.
Officers tried to detain the suspect, later identified as Maykopet, but he allegedly ran toward a police SUV despite an officer’s attempt to stop him, police said. Maykopet apparently got behind the wheel and led officers on a chase, allegedly hitting several civilian vehicles as he tried to escape.
Maykopet led police to Treasure Island, where officers apparently tried to stop the man by securing a gate. However, the suspect avoided the gate by driving up onto the sidewalk, according to police.
Officers fired at least one shot at the suspect but no one was injured, according to police.
The suspect then allegedly drove onto the westbound ramp of Interstate Highway 80 and collided with another vehicle, police said.
Maykopet allegedly got out of the SUV and jumped 30 to 40 feet from the upper deck to the lower deck of the Bay Bridge, according to police.
Once on the lower deck of the bridge, the suspect allegedly tried to carjack a vehicle, but an officer jumped onto the lower deck behind Maykopet and arrested him, police said.
As a result of the incident, two officers, the suspect and one otorist went to a hospital for treatment of injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to police.
Maykopet was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, attempted carjacking, felony evasion, resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, felony hit and run, causing injury while driving under the influence of drugs, and being an unlicensed driver, among other offenses, Esparza said.
Hannah Albarazi and Keith Burbank, Bay City News
