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Two Berkeley Police Department officers were injured early Wednesday morning when a suspect tried to evade a routine traffic stop, according to Lt. Cynthia Harris. 

At around 3:45 a.m., three officers were handling a traffic stop at Ninth Street and Bancroft Way when a van cruised by, slowly, Harris said. The driver of the van, whom one of the officers said he recognized from a previous case, stared at them. The officers ordered the driver to stop and approached the van. 

When one officer approached the driver, he allegedly attempted to roll up his window and made a sudden grab toward the passenger’s seat. The officer leaned into the window and grabbed the suspect. Another officer attempted to assist him. 

The driver then hit the accelerator, throwing one of the officers to the ground, Harris said. The other officer held on to the suspect for approximately 25 feet before being thrown. A high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 85 mph, ensued. The van was eventually stopped on E. 25th Street in Oakland, whereupon the driver and two previously unseen suspects in the back of the van fled on foot. 

One suspect, Deshawn Murphy of Richmond, was apprehended. The other two suspects, including the driver – who police believe is Montay Boseman of Berkeley – escaped. 

The officers were transported to Highland Hospital and treated for abrasions. Both were released by early Wednesday afternoon. 

Boseman is described as an African-American male, 21 years old, five feet seven inches tall, weighing 140 pounds. At the time, he was wearing a dark jacket with gold sleeves. 

Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to call the Berkeley Police Department at 981-5733. 

A woman was robbed at gunpoint by four young men Tuesday night, according to Lt. Harris. 

The victim was walking near Shattuck Avenue and Haste Street at around 10 p.m. when she saw the men approaching. One suddenly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her, while two others took her purse, Harris said. All four then fled on foot. The suspect with the gun is described as an African American man, 18-20 years old, around six feet two inches tall and about 200 pounds. He was wearing a black, puffy jacket and black pants. 

On Saturday, a man was hospitalized after trying to flee from the police, according to Lt. Harris. At around 12:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to 63rd and California streets after a report of drug activity in the neighborhood. Upon arriving, police spotted a man who matched the description of the suspect. After detaining him, they discovered the suspect had a number of traffic warrants outstanding. They placed him in handcuffs, at which point the suspect broke free, and, still handcuffed, attempted to flee. 

The officers gave chase, but given the wet weather, the suspect slipped and fell on the sidewalk. He suffered damage to his teeth, and was transported to Highland Hospital.