Hit-And-Run Suspect Leads Officers On Several-Mile Pursuit: SRPD

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A suspect in a hit-and-run will face additional charges after police say he led multiple law enforcement officers on a several-mile pursuit Monday along U.S. Highway 101 from Santa Rosa to Petaluma then back through Santa Rosa to Healdsburg.

The incident began just before 8:30 a.m. Monday when the victim of a hit-and-run crash called the Santa Rosa Police Department and said he was following the suspect near Third and Davis streets in Santa Rosa.

The victim described the suspect's car as a green Jeep Cherokee SUV and said the suspect was driving the Jeep erratically prior to the collision.

The victim pursued the Jeep to 4th Street and Brookwood Avenue, where a Santa Rosa motorcycle officer attempted to pull it over.

But the suspect, later identified as Dexter Blake Jensen, 31, of Sonoma County, refused to stop and a pursuit ensued, according to Santa Rosa police Sgt. Summer Gloeckner.

Santa Rosa police pursued Jensen at moderate speeds as he drove the Jeep eastbound on 4th Street to Rogers Avenue, Gloeckner said.

As Jensen turned and headed westbound toward U.S. Highway 101, he ran multiple red lights and refused to stop for several marked SRPD patrol units before he entered southbound US 101 near Third Street, Gloeckner said.

As the Jeep continued southbound on US 101, California Highway Patrol officers assisted and took over the pursuit near Todd Road. The chase continued southbound to Petaluma Boulevard North, where Jensen changed direction and got back onto northbound US 101.

The pursuit continued on northbound US 101, and a CHP airplane crew started assisting from above just as the Jeep got to the Windsor area.

Jensen continued driving, at times in excess of 80 mph, until he reached the Shiloh and Central Windsor areas where both front tires of the Jeep were disabled by spike strips set up by Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies, Gloeckner said.

Jensen eventually exited the 101 at Healdsburg Avenue where the Jeep came to a stop because of excessive tire damage.

It is alleged that Jensen got out of the Jeep and jumped over a chainlink fence as he tried to avoid capture.

However, he was apprehended a short time later by CHP officers.

Jensen was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony evading and misdemeanor hit-and-run.

"The Santa Rosa Police Department wants to extend its sincere appreciation to our allied agencies, CHP and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office for their tremendous support and teamwork in apprehending Jensen," Gloeckner said.

Police said the original victim of the hit-and-run was not injured.