Police Pursuit At 100 MPH Lasts 16 Miles

SONOMA COUNTY - A 16 mile police pursuit of an alleged gang member late Saturday night at speeds up to 100 mph ended when officers used a intervention technique to spin the vehicle into a center median.

23-year-old David Garcia, a Vallejo resident, was arrested on numerous charges, including DUI and evading arrest.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office says about 10:52 p.m., a deputy on patrol saw a silver Buick with paper plates stopped without its headlights in the middle of the intersection of Moorland Avenue at Gorel Court, in the southwestern region of unincorporated Santa Rosa.

When the Deputy turned his spot light on the car he saw two men inside it.

Authorities say the deputy recognized Garcia as an alleged gang member with a felony warrant. The man apparently had a distinctive tattoo over his eye and on his neck.

Once spotted, the vehicle immediately sped off. The deputy began following with his emergency lights and siren.

Police say as Garcia fled, he ignored stop signs at several intersections in the neighborhood and drove on the wrong side of the road.

The pursuit went southbound on Moorland Avenue to Todd Road, then onto state Highway 101 southbound at speeds ranging from 60 mph to 100 mph.

The police report states other drivers had to swerve out of Garcia's way on the dark, wet roadway.

Petaluma Police entered the chase and used a spike strip to deflate the Buick's tires in an effort to slow Garcia. Despite driving on the flattened tires, the suspect continued to flee.

The Sheriff's Office says at Kastania Road in Petaluma, the vehicle slowed down enough for a deputy to a use pursuit intervention technique to spin the Buick into the center median.

Authorities say Garcia stepped out of the car and immediately began challenging deputies.

He refused to obey, so Garcia was tased and taken into custody.

A passenger, 18-year-old Brian Mena, from Sonoma Valley, also allegedly refused to follow the commands of deputies, and was taken into custody.

Inside the car were several bottles and cans of beer.

Garcia was arrested for evading arrest; evading with a willful disregard for public safety; reckless driving; resisting arrest; and DUI.

Authorities say Garcia was on felony probation from Napa County, as well as two probation cases in Sonoma County, so he was also arrested for violating those terms.

David Garcia was booked into the Sonoma County MADF and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on March 8 at 1:30 p.m.

Mena was booked into County jail for obstructing a deputy. He was released on his promise to appear in court on March 28 at 8:30 a.m.

The pursuit took a little over 14 minutes, and involved a total of seven officers from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Petaluma Police and the California Highway Patrol.

-image via Sonoma Sheriff