Suspected Sebastopol car thief arrested after crashes

The battered BMW was found abandoned on a Sebastopol street Tuesday.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A Sebastopol homeless man remained in the Sonoma County Jail Wednesday, suspected of stealing a car from the downtown plaza, crashing it several times and then leaving it on a city street, according to Sebastopol police.

The battered 2003 BMW SUV disappeared Nov. 9 and was found Tuesday, parked on Golden Ridge Avenue. Items inside the car appeared familiar to an officer, who recognized them as belonging to a homeless man who stays in town, officials said in a news release.

Officers found suspect Chester Evan Smith at the downtown plaza. Officials said Smith admitted to taking the vehicle, driving it and crashing it repeatedly before abandoning it.

Officers arrested Smith, 49, on suspicion of two felonies, vehicle theft and possessing a stolen vehicle. He was taken to the jail where bail was set at $10,000.

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

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