Full Notification

On Monday, June 2, 2014, at approximately 10:30 PM, Deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Valley Substation were involved in a vehicle pursuit. A Deputy was on routine patrol, driving a marked Sheriff’s patrol car, and was in the area of Verano Ave and Riverside Drive. A grey Toyota Camry that was directly in front of the deputy accelerated away for unknown reasons. The suspect vehicle began to straddle the middle of the roadway and turned its headlights off, then back on again.

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued to accelerate away and began violating several vehicle code violations. The suspect’s speed reached as much as 100 mph during certain portions of the pursuit. The suspect continued to evade deputies through surface streets in the Sonoma Valley area. The pursuit lasted approximately 15 minutes. During the course of the pursuit Sheriff’s deputies requested the assistance of the California Highway Patrol and an air support unit.

For unknown reasons, the suspect vehicle eventually turned into the Hanna Boys Center, located on Arnold Drive in Sonoma. At that time deputies were able to perform a Pursuit Intervention Technique maneuver on the suspect vehicle, but the suspect vehicle spun around and the suspect intentionally drove towards the pursing patrol car and rammed the deputy, causing moderate damage to both cars. There were no injuries during this incident.

After this collision, deputies removed the suspect from the car and took him into custody. The driver, 61 year old Christopher McRee from Concord, CA was arrested for 245 (A)(1) PC, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, 148(A)(1) PC Resisting Arrest, 2800.2 (A) CVC, Evading a Peace Officer and 14601.1(A) CVC, Driving on a Suspended License. McRee was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and bail was set at $30,000.00.

Deputies were unable to determine exactly why the suspect originally fled however last week he was arrested in Alameda County for felony evading a police officer and may be mentally unstable.

Press release prepared by Sgt. Adrian Mancilla (707-565-3941)