A maroon Jeep allegedly reached 120 mph on Highway 101 before a Sonoma County deputy used a PIT maneuver to disable it. The driver then reportedly left the Jeep and continued on foot.
The pursuit began at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 16. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were responding to a report of a man and woman physically fighting inside the vehicle.
Deputies located the Jeep and attempted a traffic stop. The sheriff’s office identified the driver as 23-year-old Charlie Mazariegos of Santa Rosa and said he instead accelerated south on Highway 101.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said the pursuit continued through three cities before reaching Lakeville Highway, where deputies finally stopped the Jeep.
The Pursuit Crossed Three Cities
Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.
View this post on Instagram
The Jeep traveled through Rohnert Park and Cotati before entering Petaluma, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies also accused Mazariegos of driving toward marked patrol vehicles several times, forcing their drivers to take evasive action. The pursuit eventually left Highway 101 and continued along Lakeville Highway.
A Pit Maneuver Is Meant To Rotate the Fleeing Vehicle
A deputy ended the vehicle portion of the pursuit by making tactical contact with the Jeep. The sheriff’s office said the resulting PIT maneuver disabled it.
PIT stands for Pursuit Intervention Technique. The maneuver generally involves contacting the rear quarter of a fleeing vehicle to rotate it and bring it to a stop. California law enforcement training treats its use as a decision requiring an assessment of the location, speed, and surrounding hazards.
The Jeep stopped on Lakeville Highway. Mazariegos allegedly got out and ran until deputies caught him following a foot pursuit.
The Booking Added Several New Allegations
Mazariegos was evaluated and medically cleared before being booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. The sheriff’s office listed allegations including evading a peace officer, resisting arrest and driving on the wrong side of the road while fleeing law enforcement.
The department also said Mazariegos was on parole for murder. SF Gate previously reported the same parole status after an unrelated arrest in February.