Parolee Flees Sonoma County Traffic Stop, Still Gets Busted Driving Stolen Car

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Santa Rosa police arrested a Napa man after a pursuit Thursday on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle.

An officer stopped a Toyota Scion with license plates belonging to a Honda around 3:45 p.m. on March 23 in the area of Santa Rosa and Flower avenues, Sgt. Brenda Harrington said.

The driver, identified as 38-year-old Michael Quail of Napa, did not have the Toyota's registration and he told police he was on probation, Harrington said.

As officers continued their investigation, Quail fled the traffic stop, Harrington said.

Police pursued Quail in east Santa Rosa on state Highway 12 and Farmers Lane as Quail drove at excessive speeds and through red lights, Harrington said.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office's Henry-1 helicopter monitored the chase as patrol car officers pursued the Toyota from a moderate distance, Harrington said.

Quail continued driving recklessly on eastbound Highway 12 toward Sonoma where a sheriff's deputy used a pursuit intervention technique to stop the Toyota, Harrington said.

Quail was arrested and booked in the Sonoma County Jail for evading police, possession of stolen property and a violation of probation, Harrington said.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock