Full Notification

Incident:​  Vehicle Pursuit/Violation of Probation
Report Number: ​17-3375
Occurred Date:​  07-09-2017
Occurred Time:​  Approximately 1:30 AM
Location:​  North McDowell Blvd/Professional Drive
Incident:​  2800.1(a) VC, Evading/Vehicle Pursuit / 1203.2 PC, Violation of Probation
Suspect:​  Douglas Booth, 62 year old, Petaluma Resident
Vehicle: 2005 BMW 635 Sedan
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Incident Summary:
 
On July 9, 2017, at approximately 1:30 am, a Petaluma Police officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound on North McDowell Blvd. in the area of Professional Drive.  The vehicle was traveling very slowly and impeding traffic.  The officer believed the driver was possibly driving under the influence of alcohol. The initiating officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle for a traffic violation by activating the patrol vehicle’s lights and siren.
 
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Douglas Booth, failed to yield to the officer and a slow speed pursuit ensued. During the pursuit spike strips were deployed twice by Petaluma Police officers and once by a California High Patrol officer in an attempt to stop the pursuit from continuing. Booth ran over all three of the spike strip deployments but still continued driving.  When it appeared that the spike strips were not effective, officers forced the suspect vehicle to stop by boxing the vehicle in at a slow speed.
 
Booth was taken into custody without incident. Booth was evaluated and it was determined he was not impaired. Booth was further determined to be on active probation for a prior DUI offense and was charged with a violation of probation. Booth was later booked in the Sonoma County Jail.
 
The maximum speed reached during the pursuit was approximately 40 MPH.  The pursuit traveled approximately 11 miles and lasted approximately 30 minutes.   No property was damaged as a result of the pursuit, nor was anyone injured.