Cloverdale traffic stop leads to fight, alleged stolen car and property

An Illinois man was being held in Sonoma County Jail on $500,000 bail after police said he shoved a California Highway Patrol officer and grabbed his gun during a traffic stop Saturday in Cloverdale.

Jeffrey Ramsey, 20, whose last address was in Illinois, was taken into custody by CHP Officer Scott Zwetsloot, assisted by Cloverdale police, after a scuffle that came during the 1:15 p.m. incident

CHP spokesman Jonathan Sloat, in a news release Monday, said the officers determined, after handcuffing Ramsey, that the red Jeep he was driving was listed as stolen from a residential burglary in San Francisco. In addition, the officers said they found property in the vehicle from the same residential burglary.

Sonoma County Jail staff said Ramsey, who is charged with battery on a peace officer, attempting to take the officer's weapon, vehicle theft and possession of stolen property, appeared in Sonoma County Superior Court on Monday on the charges. He is scheduled to return to court on March 28 at 10 a.m., jail staff said.

According to Sloat,  Zwetsloot made an enforcement stop Saturday at 1:15 p.m.on a red Jeep that had been reported in a broadcast as driving erratically and a possible DUI.

Ramsey, according to Sloat, was the driver and sole occupant, and had no form of identification.

"He was evasive and the vehicle was registered to a female out of San Francisco," Sloat said. "Officer Zwetsloot was able to obtain an ID match on him on a photo ID only out of Illinois."

Sloat said Zwetsloot cited Ramsey for driving without a license, and requested a tow truck to impound the vehicle.

"Dispatch was also attempting to contact the reporting officer to inquire if the vehicle may be an unreported stolen vehicle," Sloat said. "The subject requested the opportunity to retrieve some items from the car before the tow arrived.

"Officer Zwetsloot denied the request, but the subject began walking toward the vehicle," Sloat added. "He began to open the driver’s door, but Zwetsloot was immediately behind him and Zwetsloot pushed the door closed.

"Ramsey, turned and shoved Zwetsloot," Sloat said. "As Zwetsloot reached to gain control over the subject, the subject grabbed Zwetsloot’s gun with both hands.

"A short struggle ensued, and the officer took Ramsey to the ground," Sloat said. "The subject was then cuffed with the assistance of arriving Cloverdale Police Department unit."

After the arrest, the officers determined that the Jeep was an  "unreported stolen" from a residential burglary out of San Francisco, and that items in the Jeep were also stolen property from the same residential burglary, Sloat said.

Sloat said the $500,000 bail was an enhanced bail granted after Ramsey was determined to be "an extreme flight risk," he said.

Prior to his incarceration, Ramsey was medically cleared at Sutter Hospital, Sloat added.