Suspect Critically Injured In Brief Chase From Costco: SRPD

SANTA ROSA, CA —Northbound Santa Rosa Avenue was closed for several hours Tuesday between Kawana Springs Road and Colgan Avenue following a series of events that began as a report of domestic violence in the Costco parking lot, 1900 Santa Rosa Avenue, police said.

Officers responded at 1:57 p.m. to the parking lot where a witness reported seeing a man hitting a woman during an argument inside a parked maroon Subaru Forester.

When the first officer on scene saw the man actively assaulting the woman, the officer drew his service weapon — gun— and ordered the man to get out of the vehicle, Santa Rosa police Lt. Jeneane Kucker said in a news release.

The woman, in the meantime, was able to escape out of the car.

The male suspect, however, put the Subaru in reverse and backed away from the officer in an attempt to leave, Kucker said.

That is when the officer got back into his patrol vehicle and followed the suspect through the Costco parking lot with his lights and sirens on.

"The suspect drove erratically through the parking lot, exiting westbound on Kawana Springs Road then northbound on Santa Rosa Avenue where he side-swiped another vehicle, lost control and hit a light pole," Kucker said.

As a result of the crash, the suspect was ejected from his car and suffered a major, life-threatening head injury, the lieutenant said.

The suspect, whom police said had not yet been identified, was taken to a local hospital in serious condition.

Northbound Santa Rosa Avenue between Kawana Springs Road and Colgan Avenue was closed for several hours due to the ensuing collision investigation, which Santa Rosa police said was being handled independently by the California Highway Patrol under the Sonoma County Critical Incident Protocol.

Meanwhile, Santa Rosa police were continuing their investigation of the domestic violence incident.

"As a matter of procedure, the officer involved in the pursuit will be placed on Administrative Leave as this investigation continues," Kucker said. "His name is not being released at this time."

The officer was equipped with a body-worn camera but the footage had not yet been reviewed as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the lieutenant said.