Antioch: Wrong Way Highway 4 Driver Arrested in Stolen Vehicle, Firearm, Drugs Located

The Antioch Police Department and California Highway Patrol announced Friday morning that the driver and its occupants who traveled in the wrong direction on Highway 4 through Antioch have been detained.

According to CHP, at 12:45 AM, a driver of a stolen BMW sedan chose to evade Antioch Police on Hillcrest Avenue by traveling the wrong direction on eastbound Highway 4. Antioch Police immediately terminated their pursuit due to public safety concerns.

Antioch Police Sergeant Rick Smith, explained Antioch Police Officers attempted to stop a stolen BMW in the area of East 18^th Street and Cavallo Road. The driver, later identified as Ricky Barnette of Concord, refused to stop and led officers on a vehicle pursuit. Officer’s terminated their pursuit when Barnette entered eastbound Highway 4 the wrong way from Hillcrest Avenue.

Smith highlighted that Barnette drove westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 4 and collided head on with another vehicle heading eastbound.

“Barnette and his two passengers fled on foot from the vehicle and climbed down to surface streets from the highway,” said Smith.  “An officer in the area spotted Barnette and the passengers. They were taken into custody without incident. A search of the vehicle located a stolen, loaded handgun and approximately 6.2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine.”

Police said as result of the collision, the victim sustained major, but non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Barnette was not injured and his passengers were treated for complaints of pain due to the collision. Both passengers were later released at a local hospital and Barnette was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on several Felony charges.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Antioch Police Department will be conducting the criminal investigation in this incident and CHP – Contra Costa will be conducting the traffic collision investigation.