Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested In Healdsburg After Chase: SRPD

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man suspected in a shooting Saturday in Santa Rosa that left a man with life-threatening injuries was identified and taken into custody Wednesday by Santa Rosa police after a chase into the city of Healdsburg.

Detectives had identified Ethan William Blaser, 19, of Santa Rosa, as a suspect in the shooting of a 21-year-old man around 9:40 p.m. on North Dutton Avenue.

"The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital where he is currently being treated for life-threatening wounds," Santa Rosa police Sgt. Kyle Philp said in a news release. "Due to the violent nature of this crime, his name will not be released."

Witnesses of the shooting told police they saw the victim walking on N. Dutton when he was approached by at least two people. After a short conversation, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired at least two shots at the victim, then ran off with the other suspect or suspects, Philp said.

"The suspect with a gun was described as a Hispanic male adult, in his 20s, wearing a gray and black plaid shirt, blue jeans and white shoes," Philp said. "The gun was described as a black handgun."

While conducting surveillance as part of their investigation, detectives positively identified Blaser as the driver of a Honda CRV.

Detectives called in marked patrol units Wednesday to make a traffic stop and provided them with the license plate number of the car Blaser was believed to be driving.

As the officers attempted to stop Blaser on Trenton-Healdsburg Road, he refused to stop and led officers on a vehicle pursuit, Philp said.

As the chase proceeded north onto Eastside Road, Sonoma County sheriff's deputies and the sheriff's Henry One helicopter crew assisted in the effort to catch Blaser.

The pursuit reached speeds up to 80 mph as Blaser continued into the city of Healdsburg, where an officer saw an opportunity to end it using a PIT — Pursuit Intervention Technique—maneuver, Philp said.

The car came to a stop and the chase suspects were taken into custody.

Blaser was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of attempted homicide and reckless evading a peace officer. Blaser remained behind bars Thursday in lieu of $1-million bail pending a court appearance set for Friday afternoon, jail records showed.

A 17-year-old Santa Rosa boy who was riding in the car with Blaser was not arrested in connection with the shooting but did have several warrants for his arrest and was booked into Juvenile Hall, Philp said.

As part of the investigation, Santa Rosa Police SWAT team members served search warrants Wednesday in the 7800 block of Adrian Drive in Rohnert Park and the 500 block of Duncan Street in Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa police ask anyone with additional information pertinent to the investigation to call SRPD's Violent Crimes Investigation Team at 707-543-3590. Callers can remain anonymous, Philp said.