Sonoma County Sheriff Arrested 34-Year Old Transient After Vehicle Pursuit In Windsor

Press release from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office:

April 27, 2020

On 4/25/20, at approximately 9:45 PM, WPD received a report of a brandishing of a firearm report near the Windsor High School. The caller stated he was parked in the area when a male subject drove up to him in a red Pontiac and pointed at him what he believed to be a firearm.

Deputies arrived quickly on scene and observed a vehicle matching the description near the high school. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, however it fled south on Windsor Road. During the entirety of the pursuit, speeds mostly fluctuated between 20-40 MPH.

It was learned during the pursuit, the registered owner of the vehicle, identified as 34-year old transient Tyrell Vargas, was wanted by the Santa Rosa Police Department for an attempted vehicle theft that occurred earlier that day.

As the suspect vehicle neared Conde Lane, Deputies successfully used spike strips to deflate the vehicles tires. The suspect vehicle then drove onto the southbound on-ramp of Highway 101 at which time a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) was used to stop the vehicle from entering the highway. The PIT maneuver is a slow speed tactic designed to cause the suspect vehicle to spin out and terminate the pursuit.

The suspect vehicle slid off the roadway and down an embankment landing on its roof. The driver, later identified as Tyrell Vargas, fled on foot from the vehicle. During the foot pursuit, Vargas ran through a tall grassy field and covered a distance of approximately 500 yards.

Deputies were able to get close the distance enough to where a Taser was effectively deployed. Vargas was safely taken into custody. A search of Vargas’ vehicle revealed no firearm; however, a small sized black hatchet was located.

After being medically cleared at a hospital, Vargas was booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following charges: evading a peace officer, brandishing, resisting arrest, DUI/Drugs, and Violation of Probation. Vargas remains in custody being held on $35,000 bail.

Prepared by Windsor PD Sgt. D. Fong
WPD Case# 200425-003

This press release was produced by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.