Santa Rosa-to-Sonoma Valley pursuit ends in surrender of wanted man

A motorcyclist with warrants for his arrest led CHP officers on a 21-mile pursuit late Wednesday until the bike began to break down and he surrendered, authorities said.

Andrew Stiefel, 41, was being held without bail Thursday at the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of evading police; possessing stolen property, methamphetamine and an illegal knife; and driving without a license, Officer Jon Sloat said. He also had outstanding warrants for his arrest for burglary and parole violations, according to Sloat.

An officer initially tried to pull over Stiefel, who was riding a Triumph motorcycle, at about 10:15 p.m. on Sebastopol Road, Sloat said. As Stiefel pulled out from Roseland Avenue onto Sebastopol Road, the officer noticed the bike had a stolen license plate, he said.

But Stiefel did not stop, heading onto eastbound Highway 12 and then city streets, despite the patrol car following with lights and sirens, Sloat said.

Stiefel continued past Santa Rosa, traveling east on Bennett Valley Road to Warm Springs Road near Glen Ellen where an officer reported seeing him throw something into the front yard of a residence, later found to be an 8-gram bag of methamphetamine, the CHP said.

Stiefel surrendered when the bike began to break down on Arnold Drive in the Sonoma Valley, Sloat said.

Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies, who were called to assist the CHP, removed an 8-inch fixed-blade knife from Stiefel’s possession, Sloat said.

Stiefel is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon.