Cotati police officers engaged in a high-speed chase pulled off the road and stopped their pursuit when the suspect began passing cars on the wrong side of Old Redwood Highway, authorities said.
But the suspect, traveling at more than 100 mph, continued speeding until he crashed into a tree a half mile away, police said.
Michael Emil Kowal, 34, escaped injury in the Thursday afternoon crash, police said.
He was found hiding behind a tree several feet away from the wreckage and arrested on a variety of charges including felony evasion, possession of stolen property, violation of probation and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools, police said.
The damaged car, a Nissan sedan, had been reported stolen in Novato on Wednesday and was returned to its owner, police said.
The pursuit began when Officer Chris Diaz attempted to pull the Nissan over for a traffic violation near East School Street and El Rancho Drive around 2:14 p.m. Thursday, police said.
The driver instead sped through downtown, then south on Old Redwood Highway, accelerating to more than 100 mph near Myrtle Lane and crossing the double-yellow center line to pass vehicles.
Officers, believing the situation too unsafe, terminated the pursuit at Highland Avenue, authorities said.
Kowal crashed near the Green Mill Inn in Penngrove, police said.
He was being held without bail Friday on a probation hold in the Sonoma County Jail, jail personnel said.
- Mary Callahan
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