Crime & Safety
Arrests Up For Holiday Weekend From 2011
Two Petaluma area incidents result in DUI and other charges against drivers
For some it was a holiday, for others a barbecue, for many a chance to honor the war dead.
For 34 drivers in the Santa Rosa area, it was the weekend they got arrested for driving under the influence by the California Highway Patrol. The total was up from 27 last year.
In the Petaluma area, at 9:30 p.m on Saturday, May 26, CHP Officer Greg White stopped a Chevy Trailblazer for speeding on Lakeville Hwy. After contacting the driver, identified as David Lahti, 39, of Forestville, the officer conducted a DUI evaluation.
Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Also in the vehicle were Lahti’s wife, 9 year-old son, and 8 month-old daughter. The vehicle and children were released to their mother, who was sober. Lahti was charged with DUI and child endangerment.
On Sunday, at approximately 3:15 a.m, officers responded to an injury collision at Hwy. 101 and Kastania. The driver of a Lexus sedan had run off of the roadway and struck a tree. Two passengers, Anna Mena, 28, of Richmond, and Gabriella Nunez, 24, of San Pablo, had been transported to Petaluma Valley Hospital with multiple injuries that were not life threatening.
Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The officer contacted the driver, Ramon Ramirez, 28, of Richmond, who appeared intoxicated. A records check revealed Ramirez has two prior DUI convictions, including one from last month, and multiple suspensions. Ramirez failed sobriety tests, and was booked on charges of felony DUI causing injury, driving while suspended, and violation of probation.
Among other Santa Rosa incidents was a felony hit-and-run on Old Redwood Hwy near Fulton that took place on Friday, at 5:20 p.m. A Jeep Liberty northbound just north of Fulton Rd, driven by Euroasia Moreno Delgado, 21, of Santa Rosa, struck a Chevy Malibu that pulled out in front of her from a driveway. Delgado was unable to avoid the Chevy, and struck the front of the vehicle. Both vehicles were damaged, but the Chevy fled the scene leaving behind its front bumper and license plate.
The driver, Frederick Carl Presler, 48, of Santa Rosa, was tracked to an address in Santa Rosa where he gave conflicting statements. He failed sobriety tests and was arrested.
Presler was found to have had a suspended license since 1993, multiple convictions for DUI and driving without a license. He was booked on charges of felony hit and run causing injury, felony DUI, driving while suspended, no proof of insurance, and violation of probation.
At 9:20 p.m. on Friday, officers arrested Jose Garcia Barajas, 47, of Santa Rosa, for DUI after he was observed running a stop sign at West Robles and Santa Rosa Ave. Barajas was found to have seven license suspensions for DUI going back to 1987, with his latest conviction in 2006.
On Saturday at 2:25 a.m, CHP Officer Greg White was on patrol on southbound 101 at SR 12, when he stopped a Mercedes sedan for weaving. The driver was identifed as Adam McMasters, 31, of Santa Rosa. McMasters was arrested following a DUI evaluation, and found to have two prior convictions for DUI in the last 5 years, his license is suspended, and he is currently on probation.
On Sunday, at approximately 2:15 a.m, Officer Tom Herve stopped a Toyota Camry for weaving on SR 12 at S. E St, and contacted the driver, Cristian Magana, 28, of Santa Rosa. Magana was found to be under the influence, and has two prior convictions for driving while suspended, and DUI. He faces charges of having a third, felony DUI within 10 years, violation of probation, and driving while suspended.
