Sonoma County woman arrested after high-speed chase

A 29-year-old Sonoma County resident was arrested late Thursday night after she led law enforcement officials on a high-speed chase, during which a sheriff’s deputy patrol car slammed into an uninvolved vehicle.

The chase started at 11:46 p.m., when the deputy tried to make a traffic stop on a black Ford SUV that was speeding near Guerneville and Willowside roads in Santa Rosa. The driver, Joni Leigh Brown, did not stop, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The deputy pursued Brown onto Highway 12, where the suspect continued east. Brown briefly exited the freeway at Stony Point Road, ran a red light and got back on Highway 12.

At that intersection, the deputy collided with another vehicle. A female passenger in that vehicle and the deputy were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Brown continued east on Highway 12 and then went south on Highway 101, sheriff’s officials said. CHP and Petaluma police officers also joined the pursuit.

After spike strips failed to stop the car near Petaluma Boulevard North, the chase continued into Marin County, where a CHP helicopter joined in.

A second set of spike strips stopped Brown’s SUV just south of San Antonio Road in a construction zone. Brown was arrested and booked on 10 outstanding Sonoma County warrants, including one felony and nine misdemeanor offenses.

Officials said Brown did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.