Auto Thief Arrested on Plaza After Police Chase

Sonoma police chased the driver of a stolen vehicle after a concerned citizen reported him driving a erratically at 3:45 pm Tuesday near the Sonoma Plaza. 

The car, a white Honda, was stolen earlier Tuesday in Santa Rosa.

After spotting police the driver, Adam Paoli, a 27-year-old Santa Rosa resident, left the vehicle and took off on foot. He sprinted down West Spain St., and on to Church St. to avoid officers who pursued on foot and motorcycle.

He looped back to the Plaza, where he slowed and was apprehended by officers.

In addition to the car, Paoli had several credit cards and a check which were stolen earlier Tuesday from a business on Eighth Street East and an auto burglary on Second Street East. After burglarizing the businesses, he left a trail of stolen property on the sidewalk in downtown.

Paoli was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of a controlled substance, violation of Parole and Probation as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.

Paoli was transported to the County Jail along with a female passenger in the stolen vehicle, a 23-year-old from Penngrove, who was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession drug paraphernalia.

Police are still investigating the case. If you have information about this incident, please contact the Sonoma Police Department at 707-996-3602.