Police Chase Robbery Suspect Through BART Tunnels Prompting Delays

(CBS SF) -- A robbery suspect sent police on a roughly one-hour foot pursuit through the BART tunnels near the Lake Merritt station Monday, a BART police lieutenant said.

Officers responded to the station at 11:20 a.m. on a report of an assault and battery on a train, BART police Lt. Tyrone Forte said.

Forte said the officers later learned that the suspect had allegedly taken a cellphone from a victim before running onto the tracks towards the Fruitvale station.

The search for the suspect held up BART passengers in the Dublin/Pleasanton, Fremont, Richmond and Daly City directions for roughly an hour.

Officers were able to catch up with the man at 12:11 p.m. Trains resumed service shortly thereafter at about 12:20 p.m., Forte said.

Forte said police were not yet releasing the name of the suspect.

The victim suffered minor injuries in the attack. Forte said paramedics would be evaluating that person as a precaution.

BART