Santa Rosa police arrest two in illegal car rally

About 100 drivers blocked Yulupa Avenue in east Santa Rosa during an illegal car rally, leading to the arrest of two Santa Rosa men suspected of speeding off to avoid officers, police said.

A “sideshow” rally, which typically includes stunts and street racing, moved into Santa Rosa late Saturday night, Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Dave Linscomb said Monday. Dozens of drivers flooded several areas, including the Dollar Tree parking lot on Sebastopol Road, Airport Boulevard at Fulton Road, Yulupa Avenue and Bennett Valley Road, he said.

Officers found Yulupa Avenue blocked around 12:45 a.m. Sunday. As they approached, drivers scattered, Linscomb said.

Police arrested 20-year-old Fredy Yobany Cortez-Arellano, suspected of misdemeanor evasion. They also arrested Tyler Bassignani, 19, on suspicion of felony evasion.

Bassignani sped away in his Chevrolet Tahoe, traveling about 80 mph north on Yulupa Avenue, police said. In front of him, a driver in a black BMW was going about 100 mph. Officers tried to stop the BMW, but Bassignani wouldn’t let them pass, Linscomb said.

Bassignani was pulled over, but police backed off the BMW after deciding a pursuit would be too dangerous.

Sideshow rallies typically are organized last minute on social media, resulting in sometimes hundreds of drivers in a chosen city. The rallies can last for hours, with drivers quickly shifting to different locations before law enforcement arrive.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.