PIT maneuver traps DUI driver

PIT maneuver traps DUI driver

An El Verano man is facing multiple charges after he reportedly rammed two Sheriff’s vehicles following a traffic stop in Santa Rosa.

According to a release from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, at about 12:55 a.m. on Sunday, a deputy tried to stop a vehicle for following too closely in the area of Highway 12 near Fulton Road. The vehicle continued eastbound on Highway 12, taking the Stony Point Road exit.

The vehicle turned into the Stony Point Plaza but the driver would not yield to the deputy’s overhead lights and siren. A second deputy arrived in the area and a short pursuit began in the Stony Point Plaza parking lot.

As the suspect attempted to leave the parking lot, the deputy performed a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver in an attempt to stop the vehicle. But the maneuver failed and the vehicle headed southbound on Stony Point Road. Deputies tried a second PIT maneuver that was successful.

But the suspect drove forward striking one of the Sheriff’s vehicles. He then put his vehicle in reverse and struck the second Sheriff’s car in the driver’s door. The deputy was getting out of his vehicle when he saw the suspect driving in reverse at him. The suspect struck the open door as the deputy jumped back into his vehicle for protection. The suspect vehicle was then pinned in by both Sheriff’s vehicles, and the suspect was eventually taken into custody.

The report said the suspect refused to follow directions to exit the vehicle and deputies had to break out the passenger window of the vehicle to gain access to the driver and pull him out. The suspect was found to be extremely intoxicated and uncooperative.

He was identified as 31-year-old Jose Manuel Javier-Lazaro, of El Verano.

Javier-Lazaro was arrested and charged with DUI, felony assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and felony evading.