Riverside City police Saturday were looking for man who was involved in two hit-and-run crashes while driving a stolen vehicle earlier this week and asked the public for help finding him.
The first crash occurred at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday on the 215 Freeway near Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood.
The suspect then sped onto the Blaine Street off-ramp, crossed numerous lanes and in the process smashed into a van, which was knocked onto a sidewalk where a group of teens were walking home from school, according to police.
“It is thought the van may have struck at least one of the teens, but the teens left before police arrived,” the department said.
Security camera footage posted on social media by police shows the suspect fleeing the scene holding a dog who was in the vehicle he was driving.
He was followed by a group of bystanders until he jumped over a fence into an apartment complex, police said.
The suspect was described as being in his 20s with a short afro-style haircut and wearing a blue shirt, blue pants and black shoes.
Anyone with information about the crashes or the suspect’s whereabouts was urged to contact Detective Brian Jones at 951-826-8722 or bjones@riversideca.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted at rpdtips@riversideca.gov.