Marin Domestic Violence Suspect Assaults Officers: Police

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A Marin County domestic violence suspect is accused of leading authorities on a frantic foot chase on a major freeway and assaulting arriving officers according to Central Marin Police.

Officers on Monday shortly after 4 p.m. responded to a report of man assaulting a woman at the southbound Highway 101 bus pad under the Tamalpais Drive overpass, police said.

The man was seen dragging the woman by her hair as she screamed for help according to police.

Steven Zachery Rizzo, 22 of Corte Madera, was later identified as the suspect, according to police.

Rizzo forced the victim to board a Golden Gate Transit bus but the driver intervened to assist her and called for police assistance, authorities said.

When the first officer arrived at the scene, Rizzo tried to escape by running south on the freeway in the number four traffic lane, police said.

He then turned and ran across the southbound lanes to the center median with the officer in close foot pursuit according to police.

Rizzo stopped in the median and fought with the officer as additional units arrived, police said.

Rizzo then jumped over the center barricade and moved into the stopped commute traffic in the northbound lanes, police said.

Officers quickly took him into custody and moved him to the shoulder of the roadway according to police.

The 19-year-old female victim was hospitalized with serious injuries according to police.

Two officers suffered minor injuries, police said. One was treated at the scene, and the other treated and released at the hospital.

Rizzo was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including kidnapping, felony domestic violence, criminal threats, obstruction, battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest, and two probation violations, police said.

He was booked at Marin County Jail on $100,000 bail according to police.

His first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday morning (April 28).