Driver jailed in deputy assault after fleeing Rohnert Park traffic stop

A 31-year-old man was arrested Thursday after he assaulted a deputy while trying to flee during a traffic stop in Rohnert Park, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.

Waziyata Grant was sitting in the front passenger seat when a deputy pulled over the black Lexus in which he was riding for a traffic violation just before 10 a.m. near Golf Course Drive and Commerce Boulevard, according to sheriff’s Lt. Greg Miller. He said Grant, who initially provided a false name, climbed out of the car and assaulted the deputy.

Grant and the deputy rolled into a nearby ditch during the scuffle, Miller said.

“Grant was able to break away from the deputy and ran,” he said, adding that the deputy was uninjured.

Grant, who was on probation for an earlier crime and didn’t have a listed home address, fled into a nearby car dealership on Commerce Boulevard, Miller said. Deputies caught up to him in the rear of the car lot.

“They recovered some stolen checks on him,” Miller said.

Grant was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on various charges, including assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, giving false identification and probation violation. He remains under investigation for the stolen checks, Miller added.