A Santa Rosa man who fled authorities during an early morning pursuit in Santa Rosa threw a loaded, stolen handgun out his car window before he was caught, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said.
Biniam Tewolde-Berhan, 20, is being held without bail in the Sonoma County Jail on charges stemming from his Thursday morning arrest, as well as two warrants, jail personnel said.
A sheriff's deputy pulled him over for speeding on Kawana Springs Road east of Santa Rosa Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, but Tewolde-Berhan took off as the deputy approached his car, Lt. Bob McMenomey said.
The deputy saw him toss something from his window as the chase ensued and later retrieved the handgun, McMenomey said.
Tewolde-Berhan was apprehended at Farmers Lane and Highway 12 after he and a passenger got out of the car and ran, McMenomey said. The passenger was not caught.
Tewolde-Berhan was booked into the Sonoma County jail for suspicion of evading a police officer, carrying a stolen firearm, possession of a concealed weapon, carrying a firearm in a vehicle, drunken driving and driving with a suspended license, authorities said.
He had one warrant for violation of probation and drunken driving and another for failure to appear in court, drunken driving and driving with a suspended license, authorities said.
- Mary Callahan
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