A man who risked life and limb jumping off a freeway overpass to flee police after a liquor store break-in last week has since been linked to a slew of other burglaries, police say.
San Francisco police say the investigation began when a group of people broke into a Dogpatch liquor store in the dark morning hours of Nov. 7, and then fled in multiple cars.
The suspect hopped into one of those vehicles and led cops on a chase that ended with him crashing on the Central Freeway.
After colliding the blue SUV into the side of the freeway, the suspect then hurled himself over the barrier and down a 40-foot drop to 15th and Vermont streets, according to SFPD.
Officials called the injuries life-threatening; a week later, he’s still undergoing medical care.
Police say they found a loaded gun and items pilfered from the Dogpatch liquor store in the vehicle, one of multiple stolen cars that fled from the Nov. 7 break-in.
In the days since the dramatic arrest, SFPD said investigators unearthed evidence that linked the suspect to other break-ins — including two that same night in Ingleside and the Mission.
“A review of recent burglaries has led investigators to investigate connections to other incidents based on similarities in suspect description, victim similarities, and modus operandi (M.O.),” SFPD wrote in a Thursday press release.
He’s now being charged in three separate burglaries.
Because of the nature of the investigation, police withheld his name and asked for the public’s help tracking down other people who may have worked with the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact inspectors by calling (415) 575-4444 or texting a tip to TIP411 in a message that begins with “SFPD.”