Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Issued By:
Sergeant Jeremy Walsh
Petaluma PD
707.778.4596

Incident: 1203.2 PC- Violation of Probation
               23152 VC- DUI Collision
Report Number: PPD 19-0768
Occurred Date : February 27, 2019
Occurred Time: 11:00 AM
Location: 400 Block of Washington Street, Petaluma, CA
Suspect: Robert Jeffry Bechler, 59 years old, Petaluma Resident

Incident Summary

On February 27, 2019 at approximately 11:00 am, Petaluma Police Department Dispatch Center received numerous 911 calls regarding a vehicle roll over collision located in the 400 block of Washington Street. Multiple officers, including Motor Officer Mario Giomi responded to the scene with full emergency lights and sirens activated. Upon arrival, Officer Giomi observed a white 1999 Ford E-Series Van overturned and had collided into a building. The driver and solo occupant, Robert Bechler, a 59-year-old Petaluma Resident, was trapped inside the vehicle. Firefighters and Paramedics from the Petaluma Fire Department arrived on scene a short time later and had to extricate Bechler from the vehicle. Bechler was medically evaluated and was later transported to Santa Rosa for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Through the investigation, Officer Giomi was able to determine Bechler was traveling eastbound on Washington Street and had stopped at the traffic light located on Washington Street at Howard Street. While stopped at the light, Bechler suffered an unknown medical condition and lost consciousness. Bechler then accelerated away from the light and continued eastbound at an estimated speed of 30 mph. Bechler left the roadway on the southside of Washington Street and hit a tree. The impact from the initial collision caused the vehicle to overturn and launch into the side of a building. The secondary impact caused major structural damage to the building and it was later red tagged by City of Petaluma Building Inspectors. Because of the need for emergency repairs of the building to prevent it from collapsing, all eastbound lanes on Washington Street were completely closed for over 6 hours. This allowed the work crews to install temporary bracing until a more permanent fix could be completed.

Based on his traffic collision investigation, Officer Giomi determined Bechler was on active Sonoma County Probation from a previous wet and reckless conviction and he suspected Bechler was possibly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. Officer Giomi initiated a subsequent DUI investigation which confirmed his suspicion. Bechler admitted to drinking and ultimately submitted to a Preliminary Alcohol Screen Device Test which indicated a .09% BAC. Bechler was placed under arrest for violation of probation and for driving a vehicle with a BAC of .08% or higher.

Due to Bechler’s need for further medical treatment and evaluation, he was issued a citation to appear in the Sonoma County Superior Court and released to the hospital.