Driver Leads Petaluma Officers On U.S. Highway 101 Pursuit: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Santa Rosa man was arrested on suspicion of evading officers in a chase Monday night from Petaluma to Santa Rosa.

The pursuit started around 10:20 p.m. Monday when a patrol officer tried to stop the driver, later identified as 39-year-old Irish McBroom, for multiple vehicle code violations, the Petaluma Police Department said.

McBroom was driving northbound on U.S. Highway 101 near Old Redwood Highway when the officer positioned his patrol car behind McBroom's car.

The officer then turned on his emergency lights and siren but McBroom did not stop, police said.

Instead, McBroom continued northbound on U.S. 101 from Petaluma to the Todd Road exit in Santa Rosa before finally yielding to pursuing officers, police said.

Following the 9-mile pursuit, McBroom was taken into custody without further incident.

McBroom, who was on active Sonoma County probation, was later booked into the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of evading officers and violation of probation. He remained in custody Tuesday morning.

"Vehicle pursuits are very dangerous to the offender, the officers, and our community," police said. "The Petaluma Police Department urges everyone to follow the rules of the road and yield to the right for all emergency vehicles approaching with emergency lighting and siren activated."