On April 22, 2015, at 2346 hours Sonoma County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from a citizen regarding a vehicle driving southbound on Highway 101 backwards in the northbound lanes near Windsor. The citizen reported last seeing the vehicle make a U- Turn and exit the freeway in Windsor.
At 2351 hours, a deputy spotted a vehicle driving recklessly and attempted to stop it on Old Redwood Highway near Starr Road in Windsor. The vehicle failed to yield and sped away at a high rate of speed southbound on Highway 101. The deputy initiated a vehicle pursuit that continued south on Highway 101 until the suspect vehicle turned west onto Todd Road. The suspect turned north onto Old Graventstein Highway and subsequently stopped in the parking lot of 2661 Old Gravenstein Highway.
Deputies gave verbal commands to the suspect, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, to surrender. The suspect did not comply with the commands of the deputies. As deputies approached the suspect vehicle it accelerated in reverse striking three deputies and a patrol vehicle parked behind it. Multiple deputies responded by firing several rounds into the suspect vehicle striking the suspect an undetermined number of times.
The suspect was transported to via ambulance to the hospital and the suspect’s present medical condition is unknown. One deputy was treated and released from a local hospital and two other deputies received minor injuries as a result of this incident.
The Santa Rosa Police Department’s Violent Crimes Investigations Unit is conducting the investigation in this incident. Further questions should be directed to Lieutenant Mike Toste.
Report #150423-001
Prepared by: Lieutenant Darin Dougherty
