Authorities in Contra Costa County on Wednesday tracked down and arrested a rape suspect who had barricaded himself inside a Nordstrom Rack store in Pleasant Hill then was thought to have escaped, police said.
The suspect was found and arrested inside the store hours after the scene was cleared.
Officers at the scene found what they believe are the suspect's clothes inside the store, and store surveillance video showed him changing clothes and climbing into a crawl space, police said. They thought he could have slipped out during the initial chaos when the store was evacuated.
The scene at the closed Nordstrom Rack and an adjacent Safeway supermarket was cleared at about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
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The standoff started when the man, wanted for alleged rape in eastern Contra Costa County, crashed a car in the middle of the street and ran into the store, officials said. Police confirmed Wednesday they were pursuing the suspect by vehicle before the crash.
Yellow tape surrounded the area on Contra Costa Boulevard while several police agencies, a SWAT team and K-9 units responded.
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Police got everyone out of the Nordstrom Rack and cleared out the Safeway supermarket next door.
Kelly Angell was shopping when it all happened.
“Person in there wasn’t coming out,” she said.
Police did not identify the suspect and didn't specify in which city the alleged rape occurred.
No injuries were reported in the crash or evacuations.
