Cotati officers use Taser on homeless man in assault arrest

A man who police said sought to engage Cotati officers in a deadly confrontation by throwing a magnum wine bottle at one and attempting to drive into another was arrested Tuesday, the Cotati Police Department reported.

Once in custody Sebastian Elijah Sotelo, 27, told officers “he was hoping one of us would take his life,” Cotati Lt. Doug Endy said.

Officers used a Taser weapon on Sotelo, who police said is homeless, shocking him to get him to comply, and arrested the man on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and evading officers.

The encounter began after authorities were called about 5 p.m. to a George Street apartment complex to check the welfare of a suspicious man with a gaping arm wound, Endy said.

When the man saw the officer, he ran, with the officer in pursuit. After the two jumped a fence, the suspect picked up and threw the large, empty wine bottle at the officer, which broke at the officer’s feet, Endy said. Sotelo then got into a car and in backing up, headed for another officer who had to jump behind a debris box and then sped toward a patrol vehicle, forcing that officer to swerve to avoid a collision, the lieutenant said.

Sotelo drove away, ran a stop sign at Old Redwood Highway and crashed into another vehicle, police said.

The two Cotati officers and three Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies took positions around the car, guns drawn. The man didn’t get out, instead revving the engine as he sat, police said.

Cotati Cpl. Brian Deaton fired the Taser barb through a broken car window and hit him, ending the stand off.

Sotelo remained at a hospital due to mental health concerns and injuries, including an arm wound that authorities said appeared to be self inflicted.

Endy praised Deaton and Officer Tyler Wardle, saying they had three opportunities to use deadly force and opted for the Taser. “It’s a good example of restraint on our part,” the lieutenant said.

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