Petaluma police arrest Oakland man in stolen car

Petaluma police arrested an Oakland man who was driving a stolen car after a vehicle pursuit and foot chase Thursday afternoon, a police lieutenant said.

A resident in the 300 block of Lakeville Circle reported a suspicious vehicle, a 2001 Mitsubishi sedan, around 1:15 p.m., Lt. Ken Savano said. The caller gave the license plate number, and police determined the car was stolen in San Francisco.

The suspect, identified as Vejay Jacobs Pacheco, 40, of Oakland, was confronted by police at gunpoint, and as he fled, he drove directly at an officer who had taken cover behind the driver’s door of his patrol car, Savano said.

Pacheco swerved to the right within inches of the officer and nearly hit a resident when he drove over a curb, Savano said. Police pursued the Mitsubishi sedan west on Frates Road and north on Calle Ranchero Drive where Pacheco fled on foot.

Police set up a perimeter in the area and requested a California Highway Patrol helicopter, Savano said. A 40-minute police and K-9 pursuit lead through a creek, an open field and over eight fences through the backyards of residences on Del Oro Circle, Savano said.

Officer John Antonio spotted Pacheco on Del Oro Circle around 2 p.m., and he and Sgt. Paul Gilman chased Pacheco as he fled over fences and into the backyard of a residence in the 1400 block of Del Oro Circle, where Pacheco was caught in a garage of an occupied residence, Savano said.

Pacheco was arrested and booked in the Sonoma County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property, evading in a vehicle, resisting arrest and possession of hypodermic needles, Savano said.

Police found a replica firearm, hypodermic needles and shaved car keys that are used to steal vehicles in the stolen Mitsubishi, Savano said.