Law enforcement officers in Sonoma County arrested a Vallejo man Saturday night after a 16-mile vehicle pursuit.
A Sonoma County sheriff's deputy recognized the driver of a Buick, David Garcia, 23, as a wanted gang member with a felony warrant at the intersection of Moorland Avenue and Gorel Court south of Santa Rosa, sheriff's Sgt. Cecile Focha said.
Garcia sped away without stopping at several intersections and drove on the wrong side of the road in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County southwest of Santa Rosa, Focha said.
The 14-minute chase that also included the California Highway Patrol reached speeds between 60 and 100 mph on southbound U.S. Highway 101 where Petaluma police deflated the Buick's tires with a spike strip, Focha said.
The Buick kept driving to Kastania Road where a sheriff's patrol car caused it to spin out into the center median, Focha said.
Garcia stepped out of the car and challenged deputies and he was shot with a Taser when he ignored the deputies' commands, Focha said.
Cans and beer bottles were found inside the Buick, Focha said.
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Garcia was arrested for evading and resisting arrest with disregard to public safety, reckless driving and DUI, Focha said. Garcia was on probation in Napa County and has two probation cases in Sonoma County, Focha said. He was booked on no-bail status in the Sonoma County jail and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Sonoma County Superior Court.
A passenger in the vehicle, Brian Men, 18, of Sonoma Valley, was booked in the Sonoma County Jail for obstructing a deputy, but was released on his promise to appear in court March 28, Focha said.
