Robbery suspect caught

Oakland Tribune, Jul 11, 2003 by STAFF WRITER

BERKELEY -- A speeding driver who crashed his car in a Berkeley front yard Wednesday afternoon turned out to be a suspect wanted in a May gas station robbery in Berkeley and was taken into custody.

"He learned the value of abiding by the speed limit," said Berkeley police spokeswoman Officer Mary Kusmiss.

At about 4 p.m. Wednesday, police said, Paul Ellis McGee, 29, of Richmond was speeding at nearly 60 mph through the 25 mph zones of northwest Berkeley when a minivan pulled out of a driveway near the intersection of Sixth and Delaware streets.

McGee's red Pontiac broadsided the minivan, then plowed over the lawn and into a gate of a nearby residence. No one in the minivan was seriously injured. McGee then started running from the scene, but was stopped by a Berkeley motorcycle officer.

Police then discovered McGee had a warrant in connection with a May 1 robbery at a Union 76 gas station on University Avenue where police say McGee flagged down a man who was pumping gas, simulated a weapon and made off with $400 in cash.

During Wednesday's arrest, officers seized evidence from the May robbery in McGee's car, police said. McGee was booked on the robbery warrant and felony hit-and-run charges.

because he tried to flee the scene of the Delaware accident.