Suspected Drunk Driver Speeds Off At Stoplight In Front Of Cops

PETALUMA, CA – A suspected impaired driver, who allegedly was at a Petaluma stoplight in front of a cop car and sped off when the light turned green, was arrested last week after a high-speed pursuit and foot chase, police said.

Daniel Martin, 31, of Petaluma, reportedly on Wednesday at about 8:30 p.m. was stopped for a red light at the Caulfield Lane and Payran Street intersection, with a patrol car behind him, and when the light turned green accelerated at such a high rate of speed his rear tires lost traction and the vehicle fish-tailed, the Petaluma Police Department said.

The officer followed the vehicle as it proceeded to the intersection of Caulfield and Lakeville Street, again speeding and fish-tailing, where the driver turned right onto Lakeville, police said.

Despite sirens and emergency lights from the trailing patrol car, the motorist allegedly drove on at speeds up to 80 mph sped onto East D Street, ignoring stop signs, before turning right onto Payran Street, right onto Jefferson Street, and finally left onto Vallejo Street, which is a dead-end, according to the department.

Martin then allegedly ditched his car and ran, jumping a fence and continuing to run south on Payran before being taken into custody, police said.

Martin was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County jail for suspicion of reckless evading, driving under the influence and probation violation, as he was on probation for a 2014 DUI arrest, police said.

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--Image via Renee Schiavone, Patch