Newly released video spotlights Oakland police “ghost chase” that preceded bystander Lolomanaia Soakai’s 2022 death

Footage release renews scrutiny of high-risk pursuits and ongoing federal civil-rights litigation

Video connected to an Oakland Police Department “ghost chase” has been released publicly, adding new detail to a case that has reshaped legal and policy debates over vehicle pursuits in Oakland. A “ghost chase” is a pursuit in which officers follow a suspect at speed without activating lights and sirens and without notifying dispatch or supervisors—steps that typically trigger oversight and safety controls.

The underlying incident occurred early June 25, 2022, on International Boulevard near 54th Avenue, where 27-year-old Lolomanaia “Lolo” Soakai was struck and fatally injured while standing near a taco truck with relatives and friends. Investigative accounts and court records describe a driver, 19-year-old Arnold Linaldi, fleeing from police after suspected involvement in a sideshow. The crash set off a chain reaction involving parked cars and motorcycles; a motorcycle was thrown onto Soakai. Several relatives were also injured, including Soakai’s mother.

What the case alleges about police conduct

Civil-rights claims filed on behalf of Soakai’s family allege that two Oakland officers—later identified in appellate court records as Walid Abdelaziz and Jimmy Marin-Coronel—pursued Linaldi at high speed in an unauthorized manner. The allegations include that the officers did not activate emergency equipment, did not radio in the chase, and did not stop immediately to render aid after the crash.

The legal dispute has centered on whether officers can be held liable under the U.S. Constitution for injuries to bystanders caused by a fleeing suspect during an allegedly reckless pursuit. In May 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit allowed the family’s Fourteenth Amendment due-process claim to proceed, concluding that the alleged conduct could meet the high legal threshold for conscience-shocking executive action.

Why the newly released video matters

The newly released footage is significant because “ghost chases” are, by definition, difficult to track through routine pursuit reporting. Video evidence can clarify the timing, distances, traffic conditions, and the presence or absence of lights, sirens, and radio communications—facts that are central to both policy compliance reviews and civil litigation.

Broader policy context in Oakland

Oakland’s pursuit rules have tightened over time following audits and incidents that linked chases to injuries and deaths. After multiple high-profile pursuit-related fatalities in 2022, Oakland police leadership issued additional restrictions, including speed-based termination expectations unless a supervisor authorizes continuation. The Soakai case has remained a focal point in ongoing disputes over whether expanding pursuit authority improves public safety or increases risk to uninvolved residents.

• Incident date: June 25, 2022 (International Boulevard near 54th Avenue)
• Bystander killed: Lolomanaia “Lolo” Soakai
• Key legal development: Ninth Circuit ruling in May 2025 allowing constitutional claims to proceed
• Current stakes: potential settlement talks and trial scheduling alongside continued appellate maneuvering

The case has become a test of how courts weigh public safety risks against policing discretion when pursuits allegedly bypass required safeguards.