Police: Road rage suspect tried to hide in Berkeley creek
He was identified as 34-year-old Derrick Johnson.
A man police say flashed a gun during a traffic dispute Thursday and hid in a creek to evade capture now faces multiple felony charges.
A local couple had been driving home shortly after 4 p.m. when a driver rear-ended them at the red light at San Pablo and Ashby avenues, Berkeley police said in response to a Scanner inquiry.
When the couple pulled over to exchange information, the other driver "kept going straight," BPD said. They decided to follow him to try to get his information.
After following him through several side streets, authorities said, the driver stopped on Channing Way east of San Pablo and got out of his SUV.
He "looked at the couple and threatened them by raising his shirt — displaying the handgun tucked in his waistband," BPD said. Then he drove away.
Authorities were able to identify the driver by looking up the license plate for his vehicle, a black 2019 Nissan Rogue, BPD said.
Officers went to his home, in the 1200 block of Masonic Avenue in northwest Berkeley, not far from the Albany border, and found the Nissan Rogue "parked outside with front bumper damage," police said.
Officers surrounded the house and tried to get the driver to come outside with the help of trained department negotiators, BPD said.
But, instead of surrendering, the man fled into the nearby creek, according to police.
Shortly before 6 p.m., officers detained him "without further incident," BPD said.
Derrick Johnson. BPD
The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Derrick Johnson.
He was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, brandishing a firearm at someone in a vehicle, possession of a concealed weapon and being a felon in possession of firearm.
According to booking records, Johnson remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $190,000.
He is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
