Full Notification

On March 17, 2024, at approximately 3:25 PM, Central Marin Police Officers responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery at Macy’s in Corte Madera involving three suspects. One suspect reportedly punched a loss prevention employee in the face and threatened that he had a gun.  That suspect then fled Macy’s in a vehicle.  As Central Marin Police Officers were responding to Macy’s and the surrounding area, a vehicle matching the fleeing suspect’s description was located on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Larkspur.  The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated.  Shortly thereafter, the pursuit was terminated for the safety of the public and the officers involved.
 
Officers arriving at Macy’s located the other two suspects who were already in custody by Macy’s loss prevention.  These suspects were subsequently arrested by the Central Marin Police and booked into the Marin County Jail.  The suspects were not involved in the assault of the loss prevention officer, but were arrested and booked for the following charges:

• Dorothy McGriff, age 30, resides in San Rafael.  Arrested for commercial burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of narcotics and an outstanding warrant out of Santa Clara County
• Alair Woodcock, age 34, resides in Alameda.  Arrested for commercial burglary and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Shortly after the vehicle pursuit was terminated in Larkspur, the Central Marin Police were dispatched to a welfare check of a subject in the area of Forbes Avenue near the San Anselmo/San Rafael.  Dispatch determined the subject matched the description of the outstanding robbery suspect, and the subject was asking residents for a change of clothes and an Uber ride.
 
The Central Marin Police requested the Marin County’s Sheriff Office to assist with the call.  A responding Sheriff’s deputy arrived on scene first, located the suspect, and attempted to detain him.  The suspect resisted arrest and fled on foot into a nearby residence in San Rafael.  The deputy chased the suspect, but he evaded them and was last seen going into a neighboring yard.  A perimeter was set up by the San Rafael Police, the Marin County Sheriff, and the Central Marin Police.  A helicopter was also requested from the Sonoma County Sheriff to assist with the search.
 
Shortly thereafter, the Central Marin Police received a call from a resident on Island Drive, San Anselmo that their house was broken into and their vehicle was stolen when they were away from their residence.  An all points bulleting was put out regarding the stolen vehicle.  Shortly thereafter, a Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy located the stolen vehicle traveling in Fairfax.
 
The Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, the vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated.  The Deputy pursued the vehicle from Fairfax into San Rafael.  The Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter tracked the pursuit from the air.  The pursuit ended when the deputy was involved in a vehicle collision.  The suspect vehicle continued to be tracked by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter into downtown San Rafael.

The suspect then abandoned the stolen vehicle and carjacked a passing motorist in downtown San Rafael by alleging that he had a knife.  The suspect continued to flee responding police units by getting onto Interstate 580.  The Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter an California Highway Patrol tracked the suspect into Richmond, where Richmond Police officers assisted with the pursuit.  The suspect eventually abandoned the vehicle in San Pablo, where he was taken into custody by Richmond Police officers.
 
The Central Marin Police responded to San Pablo and took custody of the suspect and subsequently booked him into Marin County Jail for the following charges:
 

• Richard Contreras, age 34, resides in Freemont.  Arrested for robbery, residential burglary, stealing a vehicle, carjacking, repeat felony offender, resisting arrest, evading a police officer, and evading a police officer with disregard for safety.

 
For further information regarding this arrest contact the Central Marin Police Authority at 415-927-5150.
 
 
Prepared by:
 
Sergeant Jeff Peterson, PIO
 
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