A 1999 white and gold Lexus ES 350 was reported stolen at 8:40 a.m. on Jan. 16 from the area of West Napa Street and Second Street West, according to Sonoma Police Sgt. Scott McKinnon.
The owner of the Lexus parked the vehicle around noon on Jan. 15 and last saw the luxury car at approximately 6 p.m. that night. When the owner left their residence at 8 p.m. later that same night, they discovered the car missing, McKinnon said. The owner waited 12 hours to report the crime.
All keys to the vehicle were accounted for, and no video surveillance was available from the scene. The owner of the vehicle stated they had no enemies, McKinnon said.
Sonoma deputies issued a countywide report to be on the lookout for the Lexus.
Hit and run
Sonoma police received a call at 7:54 p.m. on Jan. 15 for a hit and run when a man was sideswiped on the side of the road along the 500 block of Sixth Street West, McKinnon said.
A white two-door Lexus — unrelated to the Jan. 16 incident — struck the victim’s vehicle and fled northbound on Sixth Street West toward Napa Road, McKinnon said.
The victim was not injured in the incident.
Public intoxication
A man inside Black Bear Diner was seen drinking liquor from a bottle inside his jacket at 1 p.m. on Jan. 15 when employees asked the man to leave, McKinnon said.
The man recoiled at the suggestion and became irate and aggressive. Employees of Black Bear Diner called Sonoma Police, but the man fled toward Sonoma Plaza before deputies could arrive, McKinnon said.
Police then received a call from the 100 block of First Street West of an intoxicated man yelling and scaring customers of Wildeflower Boutique, McKinnon said. The description of the suspect matched that of the man from the Black Bear Diner.
The suspect continued to walk to Sonoma Plaza where deputies reached him. The suspect displayed slurred speech, red eyes and smelled of alcohol, McKinnon said. When deputies performed a search of the suspect’s person, they found a half-finished 750-milliliter bottle of gin.
Assault with a deadly weapon
A man in the process of divorce went to his soon-to-be ex-wife’s home on Jan. 14 where he found her in a car with another man. She left the area, but he followed her, according to McKinnon.
The man got out of his car and attempted to confront the female victim. In fear, the woman fled in her vehicle westbound on West Spain Street, McKinnon said.
The woman told police she drove 30-40 mph attempting to get away from the suspect. When she arrived at the intersection of West Spain Street and First Street West, the suspect allegedly intentionally rammed his vehicle into hers.
The woman continued to flee and attempted to call police, but was unable to connect with dispatchers. She began driving in the direction of the police station, McKinnon said.
When she arrived at the Sonoma Police Department parking lot, she was able to connect with deputies as the suspect followed behind. Police prevented the suspect from leaving the parking lot, McKinnon said.
The suspect admitted to following her to the parking lot but denied ramming her car. But deputies observed damage to each vehicle and determined a paint transfer had occurred, offering evidence for the woman’s account, McKinnon said.
Sonoma police placed Sonoma man, Jose Sanchez-Hernandez, 27, under arrest for felony assault with a deadly weapon. Police also obtained an emergency protective order for the woman and her male counterpart.
Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.
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