Police Drone Finds Wanted Driver Hiding In Petaluma Creek

PETALUMA, CA — A driver on parole, sought on two felony warrants, ended up hiding in a Petaluma creek after police said he fled a traffic stop, crashed into a guardrail, and ran from his vehicle in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety sergeant stopped a white Nissan sedan for a vehicle code violation at approximately 3:11 a.m. near the southbound Highway 101 on-ramp at Rohnert Park Expressway.

The driver gave the sergeant a name, then sped south on Highway 101 when the sergeant questioned the man's identity, according to Rohnert Park police.

Two passenger were still inside the vehicle as the pursuit continued into Petaluma.

The driver struck a guardrail exiting the freeway at East Washington Avenue.

The man ran from the vehicle, leaving the two passengers at the scene, Rohnert Park police said.

Officers found the driver hiding in a nearby creek with help from a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office deputy operating a drone. Police identified the driver as Joshua Hankins, 29, of Redding. Rohnert Park police said they found a firearm and ammunition in his car.

Hankins was parole and had two outstanding felony warrants, according to Rohnert Park police.

Hankins and his passengers were taken to a local hospital and later discharged. Officers transported Hankins to the Sonoma County Jail.

Police arrested him on suspicion of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, violating Post-Release Community Supervision, felony evading, felony hit-and-run, possessing a firearm as a felon, possessing ammunition as a felon, falsely impersonating another person, and theft or misappropriation of lost property.