Petaluma Man Arrested For DUI After Chase On Hwy 101

A California Highway Patrol officer arrested a Petaluma man on suspicion of driving under the influence after a pursuit on southbound U.S. Highway 101 Sunday evening.

CHP Officer Cyril Ruffin saw a Toyota Camry enter the highway near Rohnert Park Expressway and speed past other vehicles around 5 p.m., CHP Officer Jon Sloat said.

Ruffin pursued the Toyota, which was making lane changes and weaving between traffic at more than 100 mph at the Cotati Grade.

The Toyota stopped north of Railroad Avenue south of Cotati and Ruffin contacted the driver, Jose Padilla, 38, of Petaluma.

Ruffin smelled alcohol as he talked to Padilla, who at one point spilled an open beer on the floor of his vehicle, Sloat said.

Ruffin arrested Padilla on suspicion of DUI and having an open container in the vehicle.

Padilla, who has a prior DUI conviction, was booked into Sonoma County Jail, Sloat said.

--Bay City News