Crime & Safety
Pursuit From Petaluma To Cotati Ends In Crash
There were no injuries as the suspect's car fishtailed and collided with a patrol car, police said.
PETALUMA, CA — A Solano County man was taken into custody in Cotati after leading Petaluma police officers on a 5.7-mile chase Sunday, the Petaluma Police Department said.
The pursuit started around 10:45 a.m. when a patrol officer tried to stop the man — later identified as Brandon Conwell, 35, of Vacaville — for multiple vehicle code violations, police said in a news release.
Conwell was driving northbound on North McDowell Boulevard near Old Redwood Highway when the officer positioned his patrol vehicle behind Conwell. The officer's patrol-car lights were activated as Conwell pulled into a small shopping center and appeared to be stopping but continued to make his way slowly through the parking lot, police said.
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The officer also activated the patrol-car siren to ensure Conwell knew his intention to stop him.
Conwell did not yield; instead, he turned onto northbound Redwood Highway and sped off, police said. Conwell continued driving northbound on Old Redwood Highway through Cotati where he was forced to slow down because of traffic.
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Conwell lost control of his car as he turned onto Gilbert Court in Cotati, where his car fishtailed and collided with a Petaluma police car.
Conwell got out of the car and fled on foot to a nearby shopping center where a Petaluma police officer promptly detained him with the help of Cotati police and Sonoma County sheriff's personnel.
Paramedics responded and determined no significant medical aid was needed.
A woman riding in the car with Conwell was detained but later released.
Conwell, on the other hand, was found to be on active probation out of Solano County and had two active felony warrants for his arrest. After he was medically cleared for a complaint of an unidentified medical ailment, he was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of evading officers, obstructing/resisting peace officers, and felony possession of stolen property.
Conwell remained behind bars Monday with bail set at $20,000 pending a court appearance Tuesday morning.
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