Driver Spray-Painted 'Head to Toe' in Gold Surprises California Officer Who Pulled Him Over
Alerted officer had "no idea 'gold' meant he was covered completely in paint."
— -- A state cop was surprised to encounter a driver "covered head to toe in gold spray paint" during a recent traffic stop in Oakland, the California Highway Patrol wrote in a Facebook post.
The driver, identified by the California Highway Patrol as 21-year-old Damaj Cook, was driving eastbound on I-80 on Wednesday evening when an off-duty CHP officer saw Cook "hit three different vehicles and continue to drive off," public information officer Sean Wilkenfeld told ABC News today.
The off-duty officer followed Cook to a ramp, where one of Cook's wheels fell off, forcing him to stop, Wilkenfeld said.
"We did have a broadcast on the CHP radio describing the driver as gold, but the officer had no idea that 'gold' meant he was covered completely in paint," Wilkenfed said. "It was certainly a surprise."
Cook explained that his gold look was for a photo shoot, Wilkenfeld said.
Cook was arrested and booked that evening into Alameda County's Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of hit and run and driving under the influence of drugs, Wilkenfeld said. He added that he was unsure whether Cook was still in custody.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office, which operates the Santa Rita Jail, did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for information, and a search on the Alameda County Sheriff's Office online inmate locator did not return any records for Cook as of this morning.
It was not immediately clear whether Cook has obtained a lawyer or has entered a plea.
The Alameda County Superior Court's criminal records office did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for information.