Wanted Felon Ditches Girlfriend, Baby in Moving Car

On Friday evening a Santa Rosa police officer was conducting a lookout for distracted drivers and spotted a white BMW pass by whose driver was talking on a cellphone as he drove.  As the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, with lights and sirens engaged, the BMW fled at a high rate of speed.

Eric Diaz-Pineda

Ignoring stop signs and speed limits, the suspect finally ditched the vehicle as it was a moving on Coulter Street.  The BMW hit an unoccupied vehicle that was parked on the 800 block of Coulter Street.

The suspect jumped several fences in the residential section and, despite the set-up of a police perimeter that included a K-9, he escaped capture.

Back at the car police discovered two passengers – the man’s 21-year-old girlfriend and 15-month-old son.  He also left his wallet and cellphone in the car which helped police identify him as 22-year-old Eric Diaz-Pineda of Santa Rosa.

Pineda, a documented gang member, was on felony probation and had three outstanding felony warrants for his arrest.  Police added the new charges of reckless evading and child endangerment.

Police developed further information on Diaz-Pineda’s whereabouts the next day and on Saturday night they surrounded a home in the 900 block of Kingwood street.  As police established contact with the suspect, he at first refused to come out of the house.  A K-9 officer arrived at the scene and Diaz-Pineda finally made a decision to protect someone, himself, and surrendered.

In addition to the new charges, Diaz-Pineda was booked on a felony no-bail warrant, a $50,000 felony warrant, and $1,000 misdemeanor warrant.

Read More:

Press-Democrat: Santa Rosa Police Find, Arrest Man Wanted After Fleeing Friday Chase

ABC7: Santa Rosa Man Arrested in Connection with Child Endangerment