VIDEO: Man Leads Sonoma County Deputies On Chase In Stolen Car

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Santa Rosa man is behind bars after Sonoma County deputies said he stole a vehicle and then led officers on a high-speed chase.

Gene Porter, 30, of Santa Rosa has been charged with theft of a car, possession of a stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

On Thursday evening, K9 Duke with the Windsor Police Department and SCSO helicopter, Henry-1, assisted deputies on the ground with locating Porter after he fled on foot after crashing a stolen car he was driving, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.

According to the sheriff's office, while on routine air patrol over Santa Rosa, the department's helicopter switched gears to assist deputies on the ground who were pursuing a stolen vehicle.

"H1's arrived in the area of Steele Lane at Mendocino Avenue within approximately one minute of the initiation of the pursuit," the sheriff's office said in a news release.

With H1’s arrival overhead, patrol deputies were able to back off from the suspect’s vehicle and allow H1 to take over tracking and coordinating of the pursuit.

Deputies said Porter eventually drove the stolen vehicle into the Coddingtown Mall Apartments, located at 2001 Range Avenue in Santa Rosa. He then fled on foot from the vehicle before putting it in park. As a result, this caused the stolen vehicle to collide with two parked vehicles.

Deputies said Porter continued to attempt to evade arrest on foot but was taken into custody a short time later by arriving deputies.

VIDEO OF CHASE: