Suspected car thieves held after chase in Santa Rosa

Two San Francisco residents were arrested early Saturday after leading Santa Rosa officers on a chase in a stolen car, police said.

The incident happened at 1:50 a.m. after an officer spotted a Subaru WRX run a traffic light on Santa Rosa Avenue, Sgt. Mike Clark said.

An officer pulled the car over and was walking back to his patrol car with the driver’s identification when the woman drove off, accelerating to a high speed, Clark said.

A chase ensued through the Burbank Gardens and downtown neighborhoods. The original officer was able to stop the car in the 900 block of Santa Rosa Avenue using a technique that caused the Subaru to spin out, Clark said.

Police later determined the car was stolen Jan. 7 in San Francisco, he said.

The Subaru’s driver, Nelly Maria Mejia, 34, was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of car theft and felony evading. A passenger, John Valdelomar, 49, was also booked and charged with stolen car possession and giving a false identification to an officer.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.