On September 2, 2014 at approximately 4:14PM, a Deputy was on patrol on the overpass for westbound Todd Road, in Santa Rosa. He saw a man driving a black Lincoln sedan speeding on the right shoulder, passing stopped cars and running a stop light. The Deputy got behind the car before getting on the freeway northbound on Highway 101 near Todd Road, Santa Rosa.
The Deputy used his lights and siren, but the driver sped-up and refused to pull over. The driver drove along the carpool lane and center median. Eventually, he crossed all lanes of traffic at high speed, drove along the right shoulder as he took the Yolanda Exit. Fortunately, there was not a lot of vehicle traffic.
As he took the exit, he passed stopped traffic by driving the on the shoulder. As he blew through the intersection, the driver slowed and opened his door, as if he was going to jump out and run. Instead, he got back behind the wheel and sped away again.
The driver went into a nearby parking lot for commercial businesses. The Deputy elected not to follow him into the lot, because of the presence of pedestrians and slow moving cars. He saw the Lincoln driving behind the businesses. Since there is minimal (if any) foot and vehicle traffic back there, the Deputy went that direction.
Eventually, the driver stopped, head-on to the patrol car, leapt from the car and challenged the Deputy. The driver advanced on him screaming profanities and refusing to comply with orders. The Deputy radioed for emergency back-up.
The man violently resisted the Deputy’s attempt to place him in handcuffs. As more Deputies arrived on scene, the man was successfully taken into custody.
The driver was identified as Jimmy Sandoval, a 25 year old man from Santa Rosa. He was arrested for being an unlicensed driver, evading a peace officer and resisting arrest and four counts of violation of probation. He was booked into county jail where he is held without bail. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on September 4, 2014 at 1:30PM.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone to be aware when driving. This pursuit was very short and lasted only a couple of minutes, but the outcome could’ve been tragic. Please remain alert to traffic and especially the patrol cars with lights and sirens.
#140902-021
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO
