Rohnert Park hit-and-run leads to chase, four arrests

Four people, including three juveniles, were arrested by Rohnert Park police Tuesday afternoon following a short vehicle pursuit and foot chase that ended outside a grocery store east of Highway 101.

Rohnert Park’s public safety officers responded to a Commerce Boulevard gas station on reports of a person being thrown from a moving car. While taking a statement from the man, who had to go to the hospital after the car ran over his ankle, police said the gold sedan he described stopped at the nearby Hunter Drive intersection.

Officers ordered the driver, later identified as Thor Thomas, 23, of Novato, to pull over, but police said he sped off into heavy northbound traffic. Police said they abandoned the pursuit when the suspect drove into oncoming traffic.

The car later was found parked in the Raley’s lot, Sgt. Troy Moore said. Thomas was arrested inside the store, as were two girls, ages 14 and 15, hiding in the women’s bathroom. A fourth suspect, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested in front of the next-door post office.

The three juveniles face charges of resisting and obstructing a peace officer, while Thomas was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of evading and hit and run - both felonies - and three counts of child endangerment, stemming from the juveniles being in the car during the pursuit.

- Kevin Fixler