Crime & Safety
2 Suspects Arrested for Ramming Patrol Car Have Extensive Criminal History
Theodore Baca, 41, of Hayward and Ramon Rocha, 24, of Fremont, allegedly injured two Hayward police officers during a chase last week.
Written by Bay City News Service
Police have identified two men accused of injuring two Hayward police officers during a chase last week, a police sergeant said.
Theodore Baca, 41, of Hayward, was allegedly the driver who rammed into a patrol vehicle near Mission Boulevard and Sorenson Road around 1 a.m. last Tuesday, according to Hayward police Sgt. Ken Forkus.
Police tried to block Baca, who was in a suspected stolen vehicle along with Ramon Rocha, 24, of Fremont, in the front passenger seat.
Baca allegedly intentionally rammed into one of the patrol vehicles blocking him. The patrol car then spun and hit another police vehicle, Forkus said.
The two officers suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Baca allegedly drove off and other responding officers sped after the two men down Mission Boulevard.
The pair crashed into a parked car about 2 miles away at the dead-end of Groom Street. They allegedly damaged two other parked cars during the chase, Forkus said.
They both allegedly got out of the car and tried to run away but were caught by police.
Baca was arrested on suspicion of evading police, possession of a stolen vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, and resisting arrest, according to Forkus.
He is being held on $205,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, according to jail records.
Baca, who according to jail records is a metal worker, has a long criminal history including a recent arrest in Fremont for possessing drugs in late May.
He was arrested in April 2012 for a burglary in Fremont and in 2011 he allegedly made fictitious checks and conducted other fraudulent activity.
Baca's passenger, Rocha, was arrested on suspicion of assault on a police officer and resisting arrest, Forkus said.
He was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and is being held on $35,000 bail, according to jail records.
According to his record, Rocha was arrested at least four times in the past year. He allegedly committed two robberies in Newark and Union City in October and December 2012, respectively.
Both men have a pre-trial hearing scheduled on Oct. 3 at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
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