Full Notification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Case Number:
18-0275

Crime/Incident:
2800.2(a) VC – evading peace officer with wanton disregard for public safety

2800.4 VC – evading peace officer, driving wrong way on highway

Location:
Florence Avenue and Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol

Date/time of Incident:
3/18/18 at 2301 PM


Suspect(s):
Yoges Murugan, 35 years old, of Sebastopol

Synopsis:
On Sunday, March 18, 2018, at about 1058 PM, Sebastopol Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Sebastopol Avenue near Morris Street following a 911 call regarding a possibly intoxicated driver. An SPD officer located the vehicle, a white Honda Civic driving on Bodega Avenue near High Street.

The officer activated his emergency lights to stop the driver. The driver chose not to stop, fleeing northbound on Florence Avenue. The officer pursued with lights and siren activated. The pursuit progressed onto Healdsburg Avenue and eventually southbound through downtown Sebastopol reaching speeds of about 70 mph. The driver continued to flee south of town on Highway 116 at speeds in excess of 100 mph, eventually turning onto Stony Point Road and crashing into a fence at the intersection of Stony Point Road and Roblar Road.

The driver was uninjured in the collision and taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Sonoma County jail on the above charges.

Press Release Prepared By:
Sergeant Dave Harston