Wanted felon arrested after vehicle pursuit
On October 21, 2015 at about 8:40 AM, a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy was on patrol on Todd Road near the northbound 101 on ramp in Santa Rosa. He witnessed a vehicle code violation and the vehicle refused to stop when the Deputy activated his emergency lights and sirens.
The vehicle continued from Todd Road onto 101 Northbound and as the vehicle changed lanes from the number 3 lane to the carpool lane, it was involved in a collision and continued northbound on 101 at speeds of 45-50 mph. Fortunately, there were no other drivers in the carpool lane and other lane had only moderate traffic.
There were two people inside the Acura: a white male driver with tattoos on his head and a white female passenger with purple hair.
The driver of the Acura took the eastbound highway 12 exit too fast and veered off the curve, crashing his car into the ivy in the median. The couple got out of the car and started to run away. The Deputy and CHP Officers physically struggled with the male as he fought with them. They eventually got him into handcuffs. The female was detained without incident.
The male was identified as Rico Jerome Andrew Lemay, a 24 year old from Santa Rosa. The female passenger was identified as Teresa Leona Inocencio, a 39 year old from Santa Rosa.
Inside the Acura the Deputy found a replica sawed-off shotgun and live ammunition. Lemay was holding suspected heroin. Inoncencio had suspected methamphetamine in her possession.
There was a warrant out for Lemay’s arrest for violating the terms of his PRCS (post release community supervision). He was arrested for that warrant and for being felon in possession of a replica firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of heroin, hit and run, recklessly evading in a vehicle and resisting arrest.
Inocencio was arrested for violation of the terms of her two probation cases as well as possession of a controlled substance.
Both Lemay and Inocencio were booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. They are being held without bail and will appear before a judge on Friday October 23rd.
The car that Lemay originally struck suffered some damage and the occupants were uninjured.
The pursuit itself lasted about three minutes over approximately three miles.
Report #151021-004
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO
Address/Location
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
2796 Ventura Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-565-2650