SANTA ROSA – The California Highway Patrol (Santa Rosa Area) had a busy weekend.
On Saturday at approximately 5:30 am, CHP officers responded to a car-pole accident on Scenic Avenue near Moorland Avenue. Officers found a BMW at the scene that had hit a utility pole and caused partial blockage to the eastbound lane. The driver was contacted by officers and identified as 22-year-old Jose DeLeon of Cloverdale. The odor of alcohol and marijuana emanating from DeLeon prompted officers to conduct a field sobriety test. He was shortly thereafter taken into custody. DeLeon was also found to be on felony probation for gang violations and dissuading a witness. He was booked on charges of DUI and violation of probation.
State Route 12 near Dutton Avenue.
At approximately 4 am Sunday, officers patrolling eastbound State Route 12 near Dutton Avenue saw a Chevrolet Malibu weaving on the road. The officers conducted an enforcement stop and noted that the driver was impaired. He was identified as 42-year-old Pedro Lagunes of Santa Rosa. Lagunes failed the field sobriety tests. Records indicated that Lagunes’ license had been suspended since 2009 for a prior DUI conviction. He was booked on DUI charges, driving while suspended and having a second DUI within 10 years.
At approximately 10 am Sunday an officer patrolling North Old Redwood Highway in Cloverdale observed an Audi sedan coming at him. The vehicle was in the northbound lane driving southbound. The Audi had passed another vehicle at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his emergency lights and pulled to the shoulder as the Audi passed. The officer turned his vehicle around and attempted to overtake the vehicle, that had then turned right onto SR 128.
Old Redwood Highway and SR 128.
The officer followed as the Audi pulled away from him as he radioed ahead to another CHP officer on SR 128. The Audi continued to flee for about a mile before encountering the other CHP unit who was now blocking his path. The pursuing unit pulled in behind the Audi to block any possible escape. The officer ordered the driver out of the vehicle.
Joel Degallier (image Facebook)
The driver was identified as 32-year-old Joel DeGallier of Ukiah. DeGallier told the officer that he didn’t want to be pulled over. A DUI evaluation determined that DeGallier was almost 3 times over the legal limit. He was subsequently arrested and booked on charges of DUI and evading an officer.
CHP officers made a total of 14 arrests over the weekend, 12 of which were for DUI’s. The CHP had also been called upon to assist with protests in the Oakland area.
