'Violent' Gang Member Arrested In Overpass Shooting: SRPD

SANTA ROSA, CA — A Santa Rosa man accused by police of being a violent gang member remained behind bars Friday in lieu of $805,000 bail following his arrest in connection with a shooting earlier this week, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department and Sonoma County jail records.

The shooting 34-year-old Aman Tesfay Berhe is accused of was reported at 5:08 a.m. Tuesday by a caller who said someone had just shot into an occupied vehicle at the overpass of Stony Point Road at Highway 12, SRPD Sgt. Tommy Isachsen said in a news release.

Isachsen said the victim in the incident was not struck by gunfire "but was extremely shaken by the shooting."

Within seconds of the call an officer who was in already in the area spotted the suspect vehicle, which had crashed at the intersection of Highway 12 and Merced Avenue.

Isachsen said Berhe — known to police because he has an extensive criminal and gang history —was the driver and was getting out of the car as the officer arrived.

Officers detained Behre at the scene and proceeded to search the car — determined to be a rental — and found evidence consistent with the shooting, Isachsen said.

Officers also began searching the area from where the shooting reportedly took place to where the car crash happened.

The search for evidence continued for a couple of days, with personnel and volunteers from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff's Volunteer Search-and-Rescue Team and Caltrans pitching in, Isachsen said.

"Based on evidence located at the shooting scene and evidence located in and around Berhe’s crash scene, the Santa Rosa Police Department believes Berhe discarded the firearm used in the shooting prior to his arrest," Isachsen said.

Jail records Friday showed Behre was being held on several felony and misdemeanor charges, with a court appearance set for Thursday, Feb. 14.

The Santa Rosa Police Department is continuing its investigation and encourages anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information regarding the incident to call the Gang Crimes Team at 707-543-3670. Completely confidential and anonymous messages about suspected gang activity can be left at 707-543-GANG (4264).

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