Petaluma Dad Stopped For Speeding, Arrested On 4 Warrants: Police

PETALUMA, CA -- Police on patrol near Casa Grande High School Thursday morning arrested a man with multiple warrants from Sonoma and neighboring counties after he was stopped for allegedly speeding through a school zone with his young children unrestrained in the car, Petaluma police said. At 8:12 a.m. Thursday, Manuel Chaneuan, 31, of Petaluma, was stopped in a Chrysler Pacifica minivan for allegedly going 44 mph in the 25-mph school zone on Ely Boulevard South, according to Petaluma police Lt. Ron Klein.

When the motorcycle officer pulled Chaneuan over at Ely Boulevard South and Village East Drive, he looked inside the minivan and saw multiple young children -- two identified as the Chaneuan's daughter, 6, and son, 4, who were not in child safety seats nor were they wearing seat belts, Klein said.

Also in the car was Chaneuan's wife, Rosario Chantu, 32, and his minor-aged niece and nephew, Klein said.

The lieutenant said a records check revealed Chaneuan was driving on a suspended license and had four no-bail warrants from Sonoma, Marin and San Francisco counties for charges including DUI and misdemeanor hit-and-run.

Chaneuan was arrested for the warrants and for driving on suspended license, and was booked into Sonoma County jail.

Chaneuan's wife was cited for allegedly being a parent in a vehicle with unsecured children, Klein said.

Photo: David Mulder/ Flickr Creative Commons