Full Notification

On Monday, 4/27/2020, at approximately 1647 hours, a Sebastopol Police Department motorcycle officer observed a black Lexus SUV traveling eastbound on Healdsburg Avenue at a high rate of speed. After catching up with the Lexus on South Main Street near Bodega Avenue, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however the driver of the Lexus refused to stop.

The driver accelerated within city limits to a high rate of speed and passed numerous vehicles in the two-way turn lane and in the opposing lane of traffic. The pursuit continued south and eastbound on Gravenstein Highway South, where the driver continued to recklessly pass other vehicles.

After failing to negotiate a curve in a construction zone near the intersection with Llano Road, the driver lost control of the Lexus, proceeded through the opposing lane of traffic, and left the roadway, impacting a large pile of concrete rubble and coming to rest in a ditch.

The SPD motorcycle officer saw numerous subjects exit the Lexus and begin hopping a fence and running through nearby properties, and was forced to lay his motorcycle down in the roadway. The officer was uninjured and gave chase on foot.

One suspect was detained in a nearby field, and residents reported that the remaining suspects had fled in a southeastern direction onto other properties.

A female occupant of the Lexus was located near the crash scene. Both she and the detained suspect were arrested for resisting and obstructing a peace officer, and were subsequently transported by ambulance to the hospital for complaints of pain resulting from the collision.

Deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department had responded to the area, along with the SCSO helicopter, Henry 1. They were able to locate three outstanding male suspects in a field near Woodworth Road, approximately 1/4 mile from the crash scene.

Two of those suspects provided false names to the SPD motorcycle officer when he met with them. It was later determined that each of them had felony warrants out of San Francisco County, and they were both arrested for their warrants, providing false ID to a peace officer, and for resisting arrest. The driver, who also had a felony warrant and was unlicensed, was booked for felony reckless fleeing and eluding, felony child endangerment, felony hit and run, resisting arrest, unlicensed driver, and his warrant.

It was later determined all the occupants of the vehicle were juveniles. Since all suspects were juveniles, their names will not be released.

The Sebastopol Police Department would like to extend our thanks to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in this case, and thank the residents near the crash scene who provided vital information helpful in the capture of several of the suspects.