Santa Rosa pursuit ends with spike strips, broken window, arrest

The suspect, wanted on a probation violation, led deputies on a slow-speed chase, which ended when deputies popped his tires with a spike strip and boxed him in with their vehicles, the Sheriff’s Office said.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A Santa Rosa man wanted on a probation violation remained in jail Tuesday following a slow-speed chase with deputies, who used spike strips and a foam projectile in attempts to stop him, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.

A deputy tried pulling over Gary Lee Helms II, 44, about 10 p.m. Saturday near Moorland Avenue and Eddy Drive in southwest Santa Rosa after learning he was wanted on a felony arrest warrant while checking his vehicle registration, officials said. Helms instead made a U-turn and led the deputy on a chase along Moorland Avenue, repeatedly stopping and then moving on, Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

When the driver stopped at the Cranbrook Way intersection, a deputy ordered him out while others set spike strips. The driver took off, but his rear tires popped on the strips, forcing him to stop. A deputy then fired a foam-tipped projectile through the man’s car window. Helms was boxed in by other patrol vehicles when he started to drive away, officials said.

Helms was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor evasion and resisting arrest, but the probation violation resulted in no bail.

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

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