Break-in Robbery Crime-Spree Suspect Charged on 19 Counts

Edgar James, 32, who was captured in Richmond Feb. 14 after what police describe as a day-long crime spree that began with two home-invasion robberies in El Cerrito, has been arraigned on 19 felony counts, Bay City News reported Wednesday.

James allegedly smashed in the front doors of two homes on King Drive, assaulting the resident of one home and stealing a car from the other, police said. Kensington police spotted him driving another car that had been carjacked from a Kensington resident, but he eluded a police chase by driving along a fire trail in the Hillside Nature Area, according to police.

After crimes in Martinez and Vallejo, he allegedly stole a police car in Richmond after he'd been cornered by police and led police on a chase across the city before being captured, according to Richmond police Lt. Bisa French.

James has an an address in Castro Valley and has "ties to Richmond," though where he had been residing was not clear, French said.

Below is the report filed by Bay City News Service Wednesday:

A man who stole a patrol car after a multi-county crime spree last Tuesday has been charged with 19 felony counts in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

Castro Valley resident Edgar James, 32, was charged Friday with six counts of residential robbery, five counts of residential burglary, four counts of carjacking, car theft and evading arrest, among others, according to the district attorney's office.

The charges stemmed from James' daylong crime spree last Tuesday in which he allegedly committed a series of armed home invasion robberies and carjackings in Contra Costa and Solano Counties.

Police arrested James last Tuesday night in Richmond after locating one of the vehicles he stole in the 700 block of 18th Street.

Spotting the officers, James hopped into a parked patrol car and sped off, leading police on a cross-town chase before he was cornered in a cul-de-sac on Reid Court, police said.

Richmond police Lt. Bisa French said James, whose address is listed in Castro Valley but who has ties to Richmond, has a long criminal record and is "very dangerous."

He is set to appear in court on Monday to enter a plea.

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