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CHP cruiser hits pickup; driver critically hurt

By GUY KOVNER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8:23 p.m.
MARK ARONOFF/The Press Democrat
The CHP was involved in an auto accident on westbound Highway 12 east of Highway 101 about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

A California Highway Patrol cruiser spun out of control and struck a pickup truck, critically injuring the driver, on Highway 12 just east of the Highway 101 interchange in Santa Rosa Saturday night, the CHP said.

Officer Blair Hardcastle took evasive action when a motorcycle merged onto the highway from the Maple Street onramp about 6:30 p.m., driving partly onto the dirt center strip, Sgt. Kevin Mensior said.

The motorcycle crossed over to the fast lane in front of Hardcastle, who was responding to a call with lights and siren activated, Mensior said.

The cruiser spun across both lanes, struck the guardrail and hit the pickup, a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Cynthia Mae Dempsey, 44, of Santa Rosa. The pickup rolled over onto its roof, the CHP said.

Dempsey, who sustained a forehead cut and an injury to the right side of her head, was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the CHP said.

Dempsey was in surgery late Saturday and was listed in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Officers said they had not determined if Dempsey was wearing a seatbelt.

The motorcyclist, Justin Lee Oliver, 36, of Santa Rosa was not injured and his bike, a 2000 Kawasaki ZR-Z, was not struck.

Mensior said no citations or arrests had been made, and that the accident was still under investigation. A special accident investigation team was en route to the scene at 9 p.m.

Alcohol was not involved, Mensior said.

Westbound traffic on Highway 12 was detoured off the highway onto side streets from Farmers Lane to Santa Rosa Avenue. Officials said the detour might last until midnight.

Hardcastle sustained scrapes to the forearm, likely from his airbag deploying, the CHP said. His cruiser was totaled.

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Dramatic police stop ends with reckless driving charge

By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.
JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat
Santa Rosa Police officers train their guns Thursday on a car stopped at Hearn and Corby avenues. Police removed and detained the suspects one at a time in what turned out to be a reckless driving case.

An dramatic incident on Thursday that Santa Rosa police officers initially feared was gang related ended with an arrest for reckless driving.

It began around noon, when an officer patrolling the Roseland area witnessed two vehicles racing down the road, Sgt. Rainer Navarro said.

“It appeared one was chasing the other,” Navarro said, adding that “there was concern about a possible gang fight.”

Navarro said that after one of the drivers was stopped by at least five officers pointing weapons, police learned that there was some sort of altercation between the occupants of the two vehicles and the driver of the stopped vehicle was subsequently arrested for reckless driving.

Navarro said that while the incident did appear to have “some gang overtones,” there would be no further investigation because there was no physical assault. The driver was not identified.

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Petaluma police find home empty after six-hour standoff

By Kevin McCallum
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.

Petaluma police surrounded a house for six hours Wednesday, only to find it empty.

Officers believed that a man wanted on suspicion of domestic violence and a parole violation was holed up inside the home on Castle Avenue, Lt. Tim Lyons said.

The incident unfolded around 2 p.m. after an officer spotted Warren Haley, 31, running toward his home. Contacted by cellphone, Haley said that he would not surrender.

Officers called for backup, and before long had the home surrounded. About 20 officers in total responded, include hostage negotiators, SWAT and K-9 units.

Further efforts to contact Haley by phone and through a P.A. system were unsuccessful. When the SWAT team decided to enter the home, they found it empty.

“We thought we had him, because he’s hidden in the house before. But he wasn’t there,” Lyons said.

Haley has an “extensive criminal history” that includes firearms violations, police said. He is wanted for battery, stalking, burglary, false imprisonment and other charges in connection with a Sept. 14 domestic violence incident in Santa Rosa.

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Former sheriff’s helicopter pilot sentenced to 30 days

By LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 4:14 p.m.

A former Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department helicopter pilot has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years’ probation after admitting he possessed an illegal assault rifle.

Emanuele “Manny” Tsikoudakis, 39, entered a no contest plea to the one felony charge, prosecutor Bill Brockley said.

Judge Dean Beaupre ordered Tsikoudakis to serve 30 days in jail, but allowed him to seek jail alternatives like electronic home confinement.

Tsikoudakis also must serve three years on probation and complete 120 hours of community service. Fines and court fees totaled about $6,000, Brockley said.

Tsikoudakis was suspended early this year when sheriff’s supervisors learned of the weapon, a Belgian-made Fabrique Nationale de Herstal PS90. The weapon is a compact submachine gun that can hold a 50-round magazine and fire single-shot or fully automatic, according to the manufacturer’s Web site.

Tsikoudakis quit the department on May 19 after having been on paid suspension for several months. He was a civilian employee and was still in his probationary employment period after being hired in late 2008.

Members members of the helicopter unit handled the weapon and fired it on duty, sources said. A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department would not comment.

The criminal allegations sparked an internal sheriff’s investigation into other members of the helicopter unit. Following Tsikoudakis’ suspension and eventual resignation, two other members of the unit – a sergeant and a deputy – were transferred to other assignments. The Sheriff’s Department said the moves were not disciplinary.

Tsikoudakis now resides and works as a pilot in Texas.

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Petaluma man surrenders after police standoff