Oakland police arrested a driver suspected of waving a gun and hitting several cars on Wednesday during a chase in Oakland and Berkeley. (Oakland Police Department)

OAKLAND -- A man was arrested Wednesday morning after an hourlong spree of deliberate vehicle collisions and gun brandishing that started in East Oakland and ended in Berkeley, authorities said.

Officers on city streets and a CHP aircraft were involved in the pursuit of the man, who was driving a Mitsubishi sedan that rammed more than a dozen moving vehicles and an undetermined number of parked cars. Four police cars were also hit.

Despite the number of crashes, no serious injuries were reported. One woman was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. No officers were injured.

The man was arrested at 9:22 a.m. in the 1700 block of Hearst Avenue, near the North Berkeley BART station. He had been involved in at least one suspected hit-and-run in Berkeley moments earlier.

Police did not release his name, but said he is a 37-year-old Berkeley man. Numerous people whose cars were damaged were brought to the scene to identify the suspect.

The suspect, who was evaluated at a hospital, was brought to Oakland police headquarters, where he was being interviewed by investigators.

Oakland police Officer Johnna Watson, citing the "monumental amount of damage" caused by the suspect, said at a news conference he was "an armed individual who clearly displayed a blatant disregard for citizens."


She praised witnesses who pointed out the suspect's direction of flight to pursuing officers and said it was a "massive scene that stretches from Oakland to Berkeley."

The chase began about 8:15 a.m. when the vehicle was reportedly involved in a crash in the Fruitvale district in East Oakland.

The vehicle continued on through East Oakland to West Oakland, where it was involved in other collisions, drove in the wrong direction on some streets and the driver was seen pointing a gun at pedestrians and other motorists.

At one point, the vehicle backed into a police car that was pursuing it near 10th and Union streets in West Oakland. At another point, he got on westbound Interstate 580, then eastbound Interstate 80, and exited in Berkeley.

Because of the erratic driving, police backed off from the ground pursuit and allowed a CHP aircraft to follow the vehicle. Alameda County sheriff's deputies also took part in the arrest.

Authorities spotted the car in Berkeley, and after a brief pursuit it came to a stop near Virginia and Acton streets. The man was arrested after getting out of the vehicle and trying to flee on foot. He finally surrendered after being shot by an officer with a bean bag round. Watson said police were still searching for the man's gun.

Police encourage anyone with information on the suspect to call the Oakland Police Department Felony Assault Unit at 510-238-3426.

Staff writer Katrina Cameron contributed to this report.