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On Wednesday, August 17, 2016 two suspects were arrested for charges that include Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Property, Attempted Burglary, Identity Theft, Counterfeiting and Resisting Arrest. The arrests stem from a burglary investigation conducted by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit.

On August 14, 2016 two suspects were caught on video surveillance in a white Dodge pickup at a business in the 7500 block of Conde Ln., in Windsor. The suspects were able to access an unlocked business vehicle and removed business credit cards. They took the stolen credit cards and were able to go to local Home Depots and purchase thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

Detectives viewed the video surveillance and determined the suspect was a former employee of the business, Robert Gilliland, a 27-year-old Santa Rosa man and his friend Michael Bonari, a 32-year-old man out of El Dorado County. When doing research, Property Crimes Detectives found that Bonari was featured on television as an El Dorado County Most Wanted Felon, wanted mostly for numerous DUI’s and a probation violation for possession of the stolen, white Dodge pickup. El Dorado officials were assigned to the Bonari case full-time and considered him a significant risk to their community.

In the early morning hours of August 17, 2016 a Sheriff’s Sergeant spotted the stolen white Dodge pickup with dealer plates on Franklin St in Santa Rosa. The sergeant made a traffic stop and the driver, Robert Gilliland pulled over and was arrested; however the passenger, Michael Bonari fled on foot from the traffic stop and was able to get away. The truck was full of items that led detectives to believe the duo are heavily involved in identity theft, credit card fraud and counterfeiting.

At about 1:00 PM detectives tracked Bonari to the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. As they closed in, Bonari exited out of a rear door and ran through the parking lot, jumping fences into nearby yards. Detectives gave chase and Bonari was apprehended in an adjoining neighborhood.

Both suspects were booked into the Sonoma County Jail and being held without bail due to outstanding arrest warrants issued from unrelated cases.

This case is still under investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Property Crimes Unit and further charges are expected to follow.

Prepared by Sgt. Spencer Crum
Media Inquiries 707-565-3941