Suspected Drugged Driver Leads Petaluma Cops On 5-Mile Chase: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man who led officers on a 5-mile chase Sunday is suspected of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.

Concerned residents called police shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday to report that a man in a green Saturn sedan was driving erratically, running stop signs and weaving, near a market in the 700 block of Western Avenue, Petaluma police Sgt. Ryan DeBaeke said.

Officers found the driver — later identified as 28-year-old Jose Toribio Brizuela — as he was heading west out of town on Western, DeBaeke said.

Believing Brizuela may be driving under the influence, officers turned on their lights and sirens and tried to stop him but Brizuela failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, the sergeant said.

The chase continued at moderate speeds westbound on Chileno Valley Road until Brizuela stopped at the intersection of Chileno Valley Road and Wilson Hill Road where he was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers did a DUI investigation and suspected Brizuela was driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Brizuela was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony reckless evading, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and driving without a valid California driver's license.

Brizuela remained in custody Monday morning in lieu of $10,000 bail, jail records showed.