Fleeing Driver Caught With Meth After 100 MPH Police Chase

SONOMA VALLEY, CA -- A man was arrested on multiple charges Thursday morning -- including drug possession -- after he allegedly led police on a chase that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.

At about 1:20 am Thursday, two Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputies were on a traffic stop at Fremont Drive and Hwy 121 in Schelleville when a purple Dodge pickup "pulled up real slow and almost stopped," according to a Sheriff's deputy. When confronted, the suspect allegedly sped off at a high rate of speed.

At this point, the deputy noticed the driver's taillight was out, so he got into his patrol car and tried to stop the truck using his red lights and siren.

The pickup-driving suspect fled on Hwy 121 and Hwy 116 in excess of 100 mph, then made several high speed turns, but the deputy was able to keep up with him. The suspect ultimately stopped his truck at S. Temelec Circle and Avenida Sebastiani, police say.

As the deputy removed the suspect out of the truck, a baggy of suspected methamphetamine fell on the ground, police say.

The suspect was determined to be 57-year-old Lonnie VanWinkle from El Verano. When questioned, the told deputies he stopped at the traffic stop to see if his friend was getting arrested.

VanWinkle was later booked into the Sonoma County Jail for felony evasion of a peace officer and misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.

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