Santa Rosa police arrest driver after high-speed chase in Roseland, crash

A 22-year-old state prison parolee was arrested Saturday after leading Santa Rosa police on a high-speed chase, running a red light, colliding with two other vehicles and attempting to flee on foot, police said.

The episode began about 5:15 p.m. when an officer attempted to stop a Chevrolet Malibu for a vehicle code violation in the area of Stony Point and Sebastopol roads, Sgt. Mike Clark said in a press release.

The driver quickly pulled into a Starbucks drive-through and a citizen told police the driver had thrown what looked like a handgun out of the Malibu. The car sped away and circled through Roseland neighborhoods with police in pursuit, Clark said. A loaded firearm was later recovered, he said.

Heading north on Dutton Avenue, the Malibu reached about 70 mph before running a red light at the intersection with Sebastopol Road, where it collided with two vehicles and rolled onto the driver’s side door, skidding for several yards, Clark said.

Police quickly caught the driver, identified as Mateo Sandoval of Santa Rosa, as he jumped out of the car and tried to run away. He was arrested on suspicion of a host of crimes including reckless evading, possession of a firearm and ammunition, parole violation, destruction of evidence, driving on a suspended license and resisting arrest.

He was on parole related to a vehicle pursuit in 2015 in which a passenger in his car was injured, Clark said.

Police closed Dutton Avenue between Highway 12 and Sebastopol Road due to the collision.