Crime & Safety

Four DUI Arrests in Sonoma County Over Weekend

CHP warning drivers not to drink and drive.

The California Highway Patrol in Sonoma County made four arrests for driving under the influence during the weekend, several involving repeat offenders.

The first arrest came on Friday at 8:50 p.m. when a CHP officer encountered a speeding Toyota 4Runner on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near Golf Course Drive. The Toyota was allegedly traveling at 90 mph in a construction
zone, and as the officer's car approached it, its speed increased to 100 mph.

Eventually, the driver exited at state Highway 116 and the officer pulled it over. The driver, identified as Katherine Russell, 34, of Rohnert Park, told the officer she was speeding because she was late to her child's birthday party.

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The officer arrested Russell on suspicion of driving under the influence, traffic violations, and driving while unlicensed.

Sunday at 12:40 a.m., another CHP officer encountered a Toyota truck weaving onto the shoulder on westbound River Road near Slusser Road.The officer pulled the truck over, and suspected the driver, identified as Rodney Montoya, 33, of Windsor, may be intoxicated.

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Montoya was arrested and became aggressive with the officers on the scene and at the jail, according to the CHP.

CHP officers found that Montoya had prior convictions for DUI and felony hit-and-run and was on probation. He was booked into jail on suspicion of DUI, probation violation, and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

Around an hour later, another CHP officer stopped a Mercedes sedan on southbound Highway 101 at state Highway 12 for speeding and weaving.

The driver, identified as George Linsenmeyer, 31, of Santa Rosa, appeared intoxicated and failed field sobriety tests, according to the CHP. A records check revealed that Linsenmeyer had two prior DUI convictions, a suspended license, and is on probation.

On Sunday at 7:10 p.m., the CHP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 101 at Petaluma Boulevard North.

The driver of one of the cars involved, identified as Ernesto Rojas, 29, of Richmond, appeared intoxicated and was arrested for DUI, the CHP said.

Roja's 18-month-old and 14-year-old sons were in the car, as well, and Rojas was arrested on suspicion of driving while unlicensed, DUI and child endangerment.

-Bay City News


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