Carjacker Rammed Healdsburg Police Vehicle, Led Chase Through Downtown: Cops

HEALDSBURG, CA — A Cloverdale man dragged a construction worker whose truck he was stealing in Santa Rosa, then rammed a Healdsburg police vehicle on purpose as he was trying to flee law enforcement, authorities said.

Matthew Webb, 41, was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon, evasion and assault causing bodily injury, according to police.

Officers responded around 1:30 p.m. Friday to Kaiser medical offices in the 3900 block of Old Redwood Highway in Santa Rosa, where the maintenance worker reported that a man entered his parked truck and started the engine, police said.

The worker approached the driver’s side of his truck and tried to remove the keys from the ignition, but the man inside said he had a gun and accelerated out of the lot, dragging the worker about 25 yards, according to police, who said the worker suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Video surveillance revealed the thief to be Webb, and the stolen truck was quickly found in the 100 block of Bailhache Avenue in Healdsburg, police said. Webb had parked the truck and entered a different vehicle, fleeing when authorities tried to make contact, according to police, who said law enforcement chased him through downtown Healdsburg.

“During the pursuit, Webb intentionally rammed a Healdsburg Police officer’s patrol vehicle,” the Santa Rosa Police Department said in a social media post.

Webb eventually slowed down, abandoned his vehicle and tried to flee on foot, but he was quickly apprehended and taken into custody, according to police.