K-9 Takes Down Felon In High-Speed Rohnert Park Chase: SCSO

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A Sonoma County sheriff's dog is credited with taking down a convicted felon accused of leading deputies on a high-speed chase Thursday in Rohnert Park, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. The incident involving Paul Gebhardt, 29, started at about 1 p.m. Thursday when detectives from the sheriff’s Property Crimes/Narcotics Unit went to serve a drug-related search warrant at Gebhardt's residence in the 6500 block of Country Club Drive in Rohnert Park, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

"Gebhardt has prior violations for firearms and was believed to have access to them based on a case that was being investigated," Crum said. "As detectives arrived at the home they observed Gebhardt exit and drive away."

When a patrol deputy with a canine tried to stop Gebhardt in the parking lot of Raley's Market on Commerce Boulevard, Gebhardt "briefly pulled over but then sped away, leading deputies on a high-speed chase east on Rohnert Park Expressway and north on State Farm Drive," Crum said.

Gebhardt lost control of his vehicle — a 2015 silver Honda CRV — and hit a curb and mailbox on State Farm near Classic Court as his speed neared 90 mph, Crum said.

Shortly thereafter, deputies reportedly noticed Gebhardt toss something wrapped in a plaid shirt out of his car window.

When Gebhardt's car became disabled near the intersection of Commerce and Golf Course Drive, he got out and ran under the freeway toward Good Nite Inn, the sergeant said.

The deputy who'd initially tried to stop Gebhardt got his K-9, Mako, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, out of the patrol car and yelled a warning to Gebhardt to "stop running or the canine would be used," Crum said.

Gebhardt continued running, Crum said, so the deputy unleashed Mako.

After quickly closing the gap, Mako took down Gebhardt by biting his foot and arm.

As deputies took Gebhardt into custody, detectives served the search warrant on Gebhardt's car.

A loaded handgun, heroin, large sums of cash, methamphetamine and prescription medications were seized from the car, Crum said, noting that because Gebhardt is a convicted felon he is not supposed to have firearms or ammunition in his possession.

Later, it was determined the object deputies saw Gebhardt throw from his car was an AR-15 style rifle with a short barrel and a loaded, 40-round magazine with a round in the chamber, Crum said.

Gebhardt was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of evading and resisting arrest, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed and multiple felony weapons charges.

"[Gebhardt] has since been released from custody after posting a $50,000 bail bond," Crum said Friday afternoon.