Salinas Police: Man leads officers on chase, rams patrol car head-on

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A driver was arrested after Salinas police said he led officers on a chase that ended with him ramming a patrol car and injuring an officer.

At around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, officers said they tried to stop a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Timothy Callahan near N. Main Street at Menke, but he did not stop and a chase started. Officers said the chase got up to 80 mph before the vehicle stopped on Stockton Street, he took off again before officers could contact him.

Because of rush hour traffic in the area, officers called off the chase.

Police said Callahan kept trying to drive through traffic and sideswiped a vehicle at the intersection of N. Main Street and W. Market. Near Lincoln Avenue, there was construction traffic, so police said Callahan turned southbound on Lincoln Avenue. A police patrol car was stopped in northbound traffic on Lincoln Avenue, and Callahan reportedly rammed it head-on, damaging both vehicles.

Callahan got out of his vehicle and was arrested, but his passenger was treated and released at the scene. The officer in the patrol car had moderate injures, but was treated and released later.

Officers said Callahan had multiple warrants for his arrest that include several felonies. They also believe he may have been driving under the influence during the incident. He was booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges that include assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.