Full Notification

On 8-26-16, Officers from the Sebastopol Police Department were dispatched to a report of a possibly intoxicated driver traveling northbound on Highway 116 coming towards Sebastopol from the area of Bloomfield Road.

The reporting witness, who was following the suspect, stayed on the phone with dispatch and gave a description of the suspect vehicle, as well as his own. The suspect vehicle was described as driving "all over the road," swerving, and crossing double-yellow lines.

While receiving updates from the caller, relayed through dispatch, Officers located the suspect vehicle traveling northbound on North Main Street near Healdsburg Avenue. Their emergency lights and sirens were activated.

In response to being pulled over, the driver, later identified as Steven Charles Price, age 60 of Sebastopol, continued driving northbound, periodically looking back at the Officers in his rear view mirror. The Officers pursued Price as he drove northbound, eventually stopping for the red light at Hurlbut Avenue. Price then accelerated to about 30 miles per hour and pulled into a driveway, later determined to be his residence.

Officers ordered Price out of the vehicle at gunpoint. He initially complied, but then quickly got back into the vehicle, defying multiple commands to show his hands. He emerged from the vehicle holding a backpack and taunting the Officers to shoot him.

The Officers grabbed Price, in order to subdue him. He physically resisted. The Officers overcame his resistance and arrested him without further incident. An investigation revealed that Price had in fact been drunk driving. His blood alcohol concentration was .25%, over three times the legal limit.

Price was found to be on probation in Lake County for a previous DUI conviction.

Price was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of DUI, evading a Peace Officer, and Resisting Arrest. The Sebastopol Police Department will also seek a violation of Price's probation from the Lake County District Attorney's Office.