PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Date: January 3, 2021
Prepared By/Contact Person: Commander Sean Young
On January 3, 2021, at about 5:54 PM, Coalinga Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on Third Street and Forest Avenue when a vehicle failed to stop at a posted “STOP” sign.
Upon contacting the occupants of the vehicle, officers noticed odors of narcotics coming from inside the vehicle. The driver became extremely nervous and then began to drive away at a high rate of speed. The suspect (driver) drove down the alleyways at high rates of speed. He reached speeds so fast that his vehicle became airborne several times as it entered the alleyways after crossing the streets.
As the suspect was crossing Sixth Street, he collided with a vehicle that was traveling northbound on Sixth Street. That occupant was uninjured, but both vehicles sustained major damage. The suspect did not stop, but continued driving down the alleyways and entered the O’ Reilly parking lot. The suspect continued into the Little Caesar’s parking lot where the suspect jumped out of the moving vehicle. He then fled on foot, reaching into his waistband as he was running.
The vehicle, (without a driver), continued to travel through the parking lot, coming to rest after hitting a trailer and the curb. The female passenger, identified as 19-year-old Castro Valley resident Dominique Thurman, was quickly taken into custody. The primary suspect, identified as 23-year-old Oakland resident Gene Gleeson, is still at large.
During a search of the scene, an unloaded semi-automatic pistol was located and is believed to have been thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit. A single bullet was located inside the vehicle, being the same caliber as the firearm found. Officers are still actively looking for Gleeson.
If he is spotted please call the police department at (559)935-1525, Option 0, immediately. You can remain anonymous if you wish. Do not approach Gleeson as he may be armed.