CHP Officer Chance Nabs Two DUI’s and Car Thief Runs Out of Luck at Casino
SANTA ROSA – According to the Santa Rosa Area CHP, Officer Mike Phennicie had a very busy morning on Monday, February 2nd. Shortly before 6 am, Officer Phennicie was patrolling southbound Highway 101 at Citrus Fair Boulevard near Cloverdale, when he observed a vehicle approaching him northbound at a high rate of speed.
The officer confirmed the speed of the Honda Civic at 92 mph as it passed him. He turned around in pursuit and overtook the vehicle, making an enforcement stop. The officer contacted the driver and noted signs of intoxication. After a DUI evaluation the driver was arrested and booked for DUI charges. The driver was identified as William Payne, a 49-year-old resident of Petaluma.
The officer later caught up with a drunk driver on the 101 near the Santa Rosa exit.
After Officer Phennicie completed his arrest report at the Rohnert Park CHP office, he resumed his patrol duties. While he was approaching Highway 101 at Rohnert Park Expressway, dispatch broadcast a possible DUI driver heading northbound. The report was made by an observant citizen via 911. The officer pulled to the shoulder, and then moments later saw the Dodge Sprinter van pass his location. When he caught up to the van, the officer saw it weaving from lane to lane, which caused another driver to swerve to avoid a collision. The van soon weaved again, causing yet another driver to also take evasive action.
Officer Phennicie activated his emergency lights to make an enforcement stop. The van took the Santa Rosa off-ramp and pulled to the shoulder. The officer contacted the driver and noted signs of drug intoxication and began a DUI evaluation. The driver was determined to be under the influence and was placed under arrest. He was identified as 44-year-old David Stanley of Cotati.
John Hamner-Wolfe was captured for vehicle theft at the Graton Casino.
Then, at 2 am Tuesday morning, CHP officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at the Graton Casino in Rohnert Park. The officers were met by casino security personnel upon their arrival. Security then informed them that the Toyota Corolla that had been stolen was now back on the property, and that the suspect was being tracked inside the casino.
While the officers were gathering information on the theft from the victim, a Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy responded inside the casino to locate the suspect. While still the victim was still with the officers, the suspect exited the casino and walked towards the Toyota. When he observed the officers he fled back into the casino. However, before he could exit the building the deputy detained him.
The suspect was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine and had two outstanding “no bail” warrants for violations of probation, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. He was identified as 24-year-old John Hamner-Wolfe of Santa Rosa. He was booked on the outstanding warrants in addition to the new drug and vehicle theft charges.
