What at first appeared to be a routine call for Novato police officers on Monday morning turned into a high-speed car chase followed by battery on an officer, all concluding with the arrest of the local man responsible. Sergeant Demski of the Novato Police Department released a statement concerning the arrest on Monday afternoon.
At around 7:00 a.m., NPD received a report of a driver, suspected to be under the influence of a controlled substance, spinning donuts in the 800 block of State Access Road. Officers arrived on the scene at 7:05 and found a small Ford pickup with 32-year-old Novato and Canoga Park resident Richard Goldsmith at the wheel, according to NPD Lieutenant John McCarthy.
Goldsmith sped off before the patrol officers could successfully conduct their traffic stop, leading them on a chase through stop signs and red lights and around stopped traffic. When Goldsmith pulled his car onto U.S. 101 northbound, NPD contacted California Highway Patrol to continue the chase.
Goldsmith was seen doing donuts in his pickup in one of the parking lots along State Access Road.
CHP officers were able to stop Goldsmith near Golf Course Drive in Rohnert Park, where they took him into custody. NPD officers took custody of the suspect shortly thereafter and brought Goldsmith for a checkup at Petaluma Valley Hospital. Once he was medically cleared, officers walked him to the car to take him for booking at Marin County Jail. When an officer opened the door to put Goldsmith inside, McCarthy explained, “He pushed back against the officer and struck him with the backside of [his] head into the officer’s face.” Fortunately, neither Goldsmith nor the officer sustained any injuries.
Officers Braun and Dunbar, along with Sergeant Demski, booked Goldsmith on charges of reckless evasion of a peace officer, suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer, and multiple vehicle code violations. Goldsmith also had an outstanding felony arrest warrant issued by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Ironically, just days before his most recent arrest, Goldsmith posted this message on his Facebook page: “I can say it took half my life to really realize what is important in my life, it sure has had its ups and downs. I am ready to start a new chapter in my life , old behavior was the hardiest thing to get rid off and knowing that you can’t just pick out the past and try to fix every little thing you did wrong(Impossible) I stand here today and say I am willing to go to any lengths… (Love happy and free)”
Read More:
Novato Patch: Suspected DUI Driver Leads Police & CHP On Chase
Petaluma360: Multi-county Highway 101 chase ends in arrest
