SANTA ROSA – Sonoma County authorities have arrested a motorist for alleged reckless driving after a lengthy chase last weekend.
In a statement on Sunday, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said that on Saturday around 9 p.m., one of its deputies attempted to stop a gray BMW in the area of Santa Rosa Avenue near Todd Road after the vehicle was seen driving recklessly.
However, the driver sped away and after a pursuit began, the deputy had to end his pursuit when he lost sight of the vehicle near Santa Rosa and Yolanda avenues, the sheriff’s office said.
Minutes later, the sheriff’s office helicopter spotted a vehicle speeding through the area of State Highway 101 and the Highway 12 interchange. According to the air patrol, the vehicle’s brakes appeared extremely hot through the helicopter’s thermal imaging camera.
A deputy attempted to stop the vehicle as it traveled along Wilson Street in Santa Rosa. The pursuit was again ended for the safety of the public as the vehicle fled towards downtown.
A Santa Rosa police officer, unaware the vehicle was involved in a pursuit, attempted to stop it as it turned onto First Street. But the car turned onto South A Street and lost control.
The BMW crashed into a wall and tree in the 400 block of the street.
The driver was taken into custody and booked by both the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office for numerous suspected violations, including reckless driving and felony eluding.
