Woman darts onto Highway 12 after being pulled over in stolen car in Santa Rosa

A Vallejo woman pulled over in a stolen car was arrested Thursday after she tried to run, darting out into Highway 12 and briefly bringing traffic to a halt, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.

Officers with the Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force spotted a stolen silver Nissan Cube about 7:45 p.m. Thursday on Farmers Lane near Montgomery Lane, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

A deputy recognized the driver and made a traffic stop. Driver Chelsey Westover, 25, of Vallejo pulled into a handicapped parking spot at Yeti Restaurant but then fled the car and ran into southbound Highway 12 traffic, Crum said. Motorists had to swerve and stop to avoid hitting her. The deputy subdued her after a struggle, Crum said.

Meanwhile, the Cube rolled backward several yards and smashed into a parked vehicle.

The vehicle had been reported stolen Sept. 19 by a woman who told Santa Rosa police she got into a fight with a friend who then stole her car, Crum said.

Westover was booked into Sonoma County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail on suspicion of felony carjacking, auto theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest and methamphetamine possession, sheriff’s officials said. She also had two warrants for her arrest for felony vehicle theft related offenses and a misdemeanor warrant.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.