Hwy 101 Pursuit Suspect Arrested After Sonoma Co. Standoff: CHP

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Mendocino County man was arrested early Tuesday after allegedly leading California Highway Patrol officers on a pursuit from the Ukiah area to northern Sonoma County. The chase that led to a freeway shutdown started at about 10:40 p.m. Monday on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Perkins Street when Ukiah Area CHP officers attempted to stop the driver of a white Ford Ranger pickup truck on suspicion of speeding, possible DUI and reckless driving, according to CHP officials.

Santa Rosa CHP was soon notified of the pursuit by dispatchers who said the driver had two felony warrants and a handgun registered in his name, CHP Santa Rosa Area Spokesman Jonathan Sloat said in a news release.

Santa Rosa CHP officers set up a spike strip on U.S. 101 at the South Cloverdale Boulevard overcrossing and were successful in deflating both front tires of the truck, Sloat said.

At 11:15 p.m., the suspect — identified by Ukiah Area CHP officials as 58-year-old Dennis Tober of Laytonville — reportedly yielded onto the Dutcher Creek Road offramp and came to a stop.

As Tober exited the truck, he allegedly had his right hand in his right jacket pocket and yelled to the officers on scene that he was armed.

"The driver ignored multiple commands to remove his right hand from his pocket, raise his hands, and to lie down on the ground," Sloat said. " ... At one point, the driver started removing his right hand from the right jacket pocket and numerous officers observed a shiny metal object that appeared to be a gun."

"At one point, seeing an opportunity to deescalate with the least amount of force, CHP Officers fired less lethal shotgun rounds at the driver; however, it had little effect due to his wearing a leather jacket with several layers of clothing," Sloat said.

After officers' attempts to negotiate with Tober reportedly failed, Sonoma County sheriff’s negotiators were requested on scene.

For the safety of passing freeway traffic, the decision was made to close southbound U.S. 101 at S. Cloverdale Boulevard, Sloat said.

Southbound 101 remained shut down for about 40 or 45 minutes until a sheriff’s negotiator was able to successfully distract Tober enough for officers to take him into custody, without the use of more force, at 12:56 a.m. Tuesday, CHP officials said.

Tuesday afternoon, Ukiah Area CHP Officer Chitty told Patch Tober was booked into jail on suspicion of DUI, resisting arrest and evading. Tober may be facing additional arrest charges, Chitty said.

Image via Shutterstock