DUI Probationer Leads Cops On High-Speed Chase From Petaluma: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A suspected DUI driver accused of leading Petaluma officers on a high-speed chase Saturday was ultimately taken into custody with the help of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Around 7:20 p.m. Saturday, the Petaluma Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen about a man stumbling and drinking a bottle of alcohol outside his car in the 1000 block of Lakeville Highway. The caller provided a detailed description of the man and his car, a black Nissan Pathfinder SUV.

Officers located the man, later identified as 23-year-old Dixon resident Samuel Venegas, driving on Lakeville Highway, and one of the officers positioned his patrol car behind Venegas's car.

The officer switched on the emergency lights and siren to the patrol vehicle and tried to stop Venegas but Venegas continued driving east on Lakeville Highway with officers in pursuit, Petaluma police Lt. Garrett Glaviano said.

"Venegas accelerated to speeds close to 100 mph as he left town on Lakeville Highway toward Highway 37," Glaviano said. "Due to factors including excessive speeds, officers lost sight of the vehicle."

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Henry-1 located the car and saw that Venegas was still speeding and driving erratically— at times into oncoming traffic — Glaviano said.

With the helicopter crew providing detailed updates, sheriff's deputies located Venegas and tried to pull him over. At first, Venegas again tried to evade but yielded to deputies after a short distance, Glaviano said.

Deputies took Venegas into custody and confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol.

A records check showed Venegas was on probation in two counties for DUI offenses.

Venegas was later booked into the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of evading officers, probation violation, resisting arrest and DUI.

Monday morning, Venegas remained in custody with his bail set at $240,000, jail records showed.