1 Arrested In Stolen Vehicle Pursuit, Crash On Hwy 101: Sonoma Co. Sheriff's Office

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Sonoma County sheriff's deputies arrested a Santa Rosa man Monday night on suspicion of vehicle theft after a pursuit on U.S. Highway 101 that started when a deputy found a stolen Honda Civic in a hotel parking lot, a sheriff's sergeant said.

The patrol deputy saw the maroon Civic parked outside the Extended Stay America hotel at 2600 Corby Ave. south of Santa Rosa around 9:45 p.m., Sgt. Spencer Crum said. The rear license plate and the Honda's vehicle identification number matched a Civic that was reported stolen in Sonoma County, Crum said.

The deputy watched the Honda until a man and a woman left the hotel and got into the Honda around 11:40 p.m.

The driver, identified as Steven Anthony Sanez, 26, of Santa Rosa, sped out of the parking lot onto southbound Highway 101 when the deputy approached the Honda, Crum said.

The deputy pursued the Honda, which was traveling about 90 mph before it exited the highway at Todd Road. Sanez ran off the road at about 80 mph on a sharp right-hand turn, hit a ditch and crashed into a guardrail,
Crum said.

Sanez, who had a no-bail warrant in Marin County for vehicle theft, was quickly apprehended and booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, vehicle theft with prior vehicle thefts and evading police, Crum said.

Sanez's female passenger was released at the scene, Crum said.

By Bay City News Service

Photo via Sonoma County Sheriff's Office