Burglary at illegal pot grow leads to police pursuit, crash in Hayward

HAYWARD, Calif. - A police officer was injured while responding to a burglary in progress in Hayward on Wednesday morning, the Hayward Police Department confirmed to KTVU. 

Police were called to a burglary in progress at an illegal marijuana grow at a building near West Winton Avenue and Cabot Boulevard. Tthe suspects fled the scene when police arrived. People who work nearby tell KTVU confirmed the business was a marijuana operation of some sort. 

When the officer chased the suspects, he crashed. A fire hydrant was sheared in the crash, which left a large geyser on Cabot Boulevard.

A portion of Cabot was closed due to large amounts of water from the hydrant making its way into the street. 

A Hayward police cruiser was visible at the scene. It appeared to be heavily damaged from a crash. The officer suffered non-life threatening injuries, and is now being treated at a local hospital. 

The suspects escaped, and the investigation is ongoing, said Officer Cassondra Fovel, a Hayward police spokeswoman. Fovel said it appeared the would-be burglars left empty-handed because police interrupted the break-in.