Driver Accused Of Resisting Arrest, Spitting On Petaluma Officer

PETALUMA, CA — A Solano County man is accused of spitting on a Petaluma police officer after he was arrested in an early-morning traffic stop, police said.

The incident started at 4:53 a.m. Tuesday in the 700 block of Caulfield Lane when a citizen called police and reported that the driver of a black Mercedes Benz had just cut her off and appeared to be drinking something out of a bottle, Petaluma police Sgt. Paul Gilman said in a news release.

Officers saw the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Fairfield resident Nebiyu Solomon Shefew, stopped on the side of the road, staggering outside of his car, Gilman said.

Officers started to respond but Shefrew got back into his car and drove away, the sergeant said.

Officers soon found Shefrew and pulled him over. Based on their initial contact with Shefrew, officers asked him to get out of his car to take field sobriety tests.

"Shefrew stated, 'If you want me out of this car, you’re going to have to kill me,' and he began to reach his hand towards the driver’s side floorboard where a sheathed knife was in plain view," Gilman said. "The driver’s side door was pulled open, and officers began to control Shefrew and give commands for him to stop reaching for the knife."

Once Shefrew was removed from the vehicle, he was arrested on suspicion of resisting/ obstructing arrest.

An officer noticed that a bullet came out of the car when Shefrew was being removed so an officer looked under the driver's seat and found a Glock .40-caliber handgun with a high-capacity magazine loaded and inserted into the gun, Gilman said.

"Due to his ongoing resistance and combative nature, coupled with his attempt to gain access to a weapon, a restraint device was applied," Gilman said. "The purpose of the WRAP device is to allow the offender to be safely restrained, to breathe freely while not allowing them to kick or strike at officers."

Two pipes used to smoke methamphetamine along with a large amount of cash were also recovered and booked as evidence, the sergeant said.

Shefrew was initially treated on scene by personnel with the Petaluma Fire Department before he was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital to be medically cleared. At the hospital, Shefrew is accused of spitting at an officer.

He was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, resisting/obstructing a police officer, battery on a police officer, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

As of Tuesday night, Shebrew was being held without bail pending a court appearance set for Thursday, according to jail records.