Police: Santa Rosa brothers arrested after fighting officers

Two Santa Rosa brothers, thrown out of a westside restaurant for their aggressive behavior, went to jail after fighting with police officers who used batons and an electric Taser barb to subdue them, according to a Santa Rosa police official.

The two were stopped at about 5:15 p.m. Sunday by police as they drove away from BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse at Coddingtown Mall. Restaurant staff had called police to report the pair had been told to leave because of their aggressive behavior. A mall security officer gave police their vehicle description.

An officer stopped the two on Guerneville Road at Range Avenue. Sgt. David Boettger said Kyle and Joseph Rexford both got out of their car and quickly challenged and verbally threatened the officer.

Joseph Rexford, 29, stands 6-foot-9 and weighs about 290 pounds and was on parole for a prior felony conviction and driver Kyle Rexford, 25, who is 6-foot-2, was drunk at more than twice the legal limit, according to a preliminary test, Boettger said.

The officer, holding a baton, stepped back and called for emergency assistance and two more officers arrived, the sergeant said. According to police the brothers ignored repeated orders to get on the ground and instead moved toward the three officers in a fighting stance.

Kyle Rexford was hit repeatedly with batons and taken to a hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail. His brother was hit with a baton and then the Taser barb and was handcuffed and taken to jail, Boettger said.

Both were arrested on suspicion of felony charges of resisting arrest. In addition, Kyle Rexford was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and having more than a 0.08 percent blood alcohol level.

Joseph Rexford remained in custody Monday afternoon without bail because of the parole hold.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.