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Benicia Police Shooting Suspect Arrested In Vallejo

VALLEJO (CBS SF) -- A man who allegedly shot at a Benicia police officer after fleeing from a traffic stop and leading officers on a chase was arrested Sunday.

22-year-old Robert Folster was arrested Sunday morning in Vallejo. Folster allegedly exchanged gunfire with a Benicia police officer and carjacked a vehicle Saturday night, a police lieutenant said.

Around 6:55 p.m. Saturday, an officer stopped Folster for a minor traffic violation, said Benicia police Lt. Scott Przekurat.

The officer learned through a DMV check on the vehicle's license plate that the car had been reported stolen.

The suspect then sped away from the patrol car, prompting a short chase. Police said Folster turned into a residential court with the officer following closely behind.

As the suspect vehicle turned to exit the court, Folster allegedly fired several shots at the patrol car, police said.

Przekurat said the officer exchanged gunfire with the suspect, but that neither was hit.

A short time later, police located the suspect vehicle parked just blocks from where the gunfire had erupted, but Folster was nowhere in sight.

Officers from the Vallejo Police Department, the Solano County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol assisted in combing the area, but even with the help of a CHP helicopter and police K-9s, were unable to locate the suspect.

Police later spotted a female who was with Folster at the time of the shooting driving the suspect vehicle and arrested her.

During the search for Folster, a man matching his description carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Highlands Condominiums complex at 900 Cambridge Drive, police said.

The suspect drove that car to the edge of the parking lot but parked it and fled on foot after seeing that police patrol cars were blocking off the area.

Officers from multiple agencies again searched the area extensively but did not find Folster.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)

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