Santa Rosa man tries to evade arrest by using last name he can’t spell

A Santa Rosa man, wanted on a felony warrant for violating probation on a burglary charge, was arrested outside the River Rock Casino this week after he gave a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy a phony last name he couldn’t spell, officials said.

The deputy spotted Brett Salva, 30, driving a white Dodge pickup truck around the casino parking garage at about 2 a.m. Thursday, said Sgt. Spencer Crum, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. The deputy recognized Salva and knew he was on probation.

Salva could not provide any identification but gave the first and last name of a person who does exist, said Crum. However, Crum said Salva botched the spelling of the last name, “Casey,” spelling it with two S’s.

“We’re used to people not being truthful to us all the time, so we tend to overly question them to verify what they’re saying,” said Crum. “It kinda comes with the job.”

The deputy got the driver to get out of the truck and found 2 grams of methamphetamine in Salva’s pockets. Crum said the driver subsequently admitted to giving the deputy a false name. Salva then gave his real name and was arrested on suspicion of methamphetamine possession and providing a false name, along with the felony arrest warrant.

He is being held in Sonoma County Jail without bail.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.