The area around McBrown and King Roads is a mix of rural and residential properties
SANTA ROSA – According to a Community Bulletin issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Rosa Area, two men were arrested Saturday afternoon, November 21st in east Petaluma for attempting to evade officers.
At approximately 3 pm, a CHP officer was monitoring traffic on southbound Highway 101 near Pepper Road when he saw a Chevrolet Tahoe approach at a high rate of speed. The officer clocked the vehicle speed at 83 mph. He overtook the Tahoe and attempted an enforcement stop.
The speeding SUV exited at Petaluma Blvd. North, but did not respond to the lights and siren and fled northbound on Stony Point Road, then west on Rainsville Road, before stopping near the KOA campground. When the officer left his patrol car to approach the vehicle, the Tahoe sped away. The officer pursued as the driver of the Tahoe committed multiple violations in an effort to escape.
The Tahoe continued at high rates of speed until the driver lost control on McBrown Road and crashed into a fence, coming to rest against a tree. The passenger immediately exited and fled on foot. The driver also attempted to flee, but was prevented from getting out of the vehicle due the damage from the collision.
The driver was taken into custody and identified as Eduardo Azpetia Hernandez, a 22-year-old man from Rohnert Park. CHP, Petaluma Police and Sonoma Sheriff’s deputies set a perimeter in the area to locate the passenger. A CHP plane also responded to the search effort. Residents in the area were also notified of the situation.
A property owner on King Road located a man hiding beneath the floorboards of a barn. The owner ordered him off of his property and notified CHP. The man walked to King Road and attempted to flee but was detained by the citizen until a CHP officer arrived and placed him in custody. He was identified as the driver’s bother, Rolando Azpetia Hernandez, a 24-year-old man, also of Rohnert Park.
On Sunday the same citizen contacted the CHP to report that he had located a jacket that the suspect had dropped, and said that it appeared to contain drugs. An officer responded and confirmed that the jacket contained two bags of methamphetamine. Eduardo Hernandez was booked on charges of reckless evasion, driving while suspended and having an open container of alcohol. Rolando Hernandez was booked on charges of resisting/delaying an officer and possession of methamphetamine.
The Hernandez brothers have both been in trouble with the law before, according to available records. Rolando was arrested in December 2009 for his involvement in an arson, along with resisting arrest, and driving without a valid license or registration. In October 2013 he was booked for possession of illegal metal knuckles. He was picked up in January and May of 2014 for outstanding warrants, and in June for driving on a suspended license. His brother Eduardo was with him at that time, and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
In addition to that arrest, Eduardo was charged four other times in 2014. In April he was arrested for disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and being a minor in possession of alcohol. A week after his arrest with Rolando, he was charged with driving on a suspended license and on an outstanding warrant. In December he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, and violating probation. More recently, on October 23 of this year, he was charged with unauthorized use of someone’s personal identification, and another outstanding warrant.
