Road Rage Suspect's Mental Competence Questioned in Santa Rosa Courtroom

Bay City News Service

A Santa Rosa man suspected of chasing down and striking a bicyclist with his vehicle on a golf course Saturday was charged in Sonoma County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, hit-and-run and one count of driving on a suspended license.

Harry Edward Smith, 81, delayed entering pleas to the charges. His attorney Charles Dresow told Judge Robert LaForge he has serious concerns about Smith's mental competence. Outside the courtroom after Smith's arraignment, Dresow said that based on his age, Smith might be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

LaForge said Smith was involved in two road rage incidents in the past year, and he offered to appoint a psychologist to examine Smith. Dresow said he wanted to review documents regarding Smith's condition first. Smith allegedly struck bicyclist Toraj Soltani, 47, on the golf cart path of the Oakmont Golf Course around 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 15.

Soltani was riding on Pythian Road when Smith allegedly began yelling at him and tried to hit his bicycle, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Steve Fraga said. Soltani fled onto the golf course to escape Smith, but Smith followed him and struck Soltani with his vehicle before leaving the scene, Fraga said.

On Saturday, Rose Zoia informed Santa Rosa police a similar incident happened to her in October while she was riding her bicycle on Pythian Road in Oakmont, Fraga said.

She said a white male in his 70s with gray and white hair who was driving a gold or tan vehicle yelled at her about being too young to ride her bicycle out of Oakmont, Fraga said. Zoia tried to find out why the driver was raging, but he kept yelling at her, Fraga said.

Zoia told police she noted the vehicle's license, 6NSN258 at the time and gave it to police Saturday, Fraga said. Police determined the vehicle was registered to Smith, an Oakmont resident. Smith was arrested Saturday as he left his residence in a vehicle driven by a relative, and Soltani identified Smith in a lineup as the driver who pursued and struck him, Fraga said.

Outside the courtroom, Dresow said Smith has a reckless driving conviction from a 2006 incident but none for road rage. Court records show Smith pleaded no contest to reckless driving and two counts of DUI were dismissed.

He was sentenced in August 2006 to 18 months probation. LaForge denied Dresow's motion to reduce Smith's $100,000 bail. Deputy District Attorney Barbara Nanney said Smith is a flight risk, and the prosecution is concerned about him driving. Smith's next court date is Aug. 31.