Deputy shoots man after pursuit in Sonoma County

A Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy shot a San Francisco man Sunday evening after he led deputies on a pursuit through Petaluma and Windsor, sheriff’s officials said.

At about 4:50 p.m., a woman called Petaluma police to report that her 49-year-old son-in-law Christopher Eastwood was in his car, armed with a gun and saying that he wanted to be killed by law enforcement.

Eastwood’s mother-in-law said he was in a gold Volkswagen sedan and had been seen waving a handgun with either a yellow or wooden-looking handle, sheriff’s officials said.

Petaluma police broadcast a “be on the lookout” message after receiving the report.

At around 5:30 p.m., Sonoma County sheriff’s officials received a report of an erratic driver near Merner Drive and Old Redwood Highway in Windsor.

The caller said a man in his 50s had driven a gold four-door car onto the curb in an attempt to hit him, sheriff’s officials said.

The driver then turned around and drove by the caller several more times, speeding up and down the street.

Sheriff’s deputies tried to stop Eastwood, but he sped off north, they said. Deputies then began a pursuit north on Old Redwood Highway to Lakewood Drive, where Eastwood allegedly made a U-turn and started to speed south on Old Redwood Highway.

Eastwood turned right into Windsor Palms Plaza, sheriff’s officials said. Deputies followed him before he slammed on his brakes, opened the driver-side door and ran toward the deputies.

The primary sheriff’s deputy said he saw Eastwood pull out a black object and point it at him like a gun, so he pulled out his own gun and fired a few rounds at Eastwood.

Eastwood was hit once in his shoulder, causing him to drop the black item, which turned out to be a metal bicycle lock with a yellow handle, sheriff’s officials said.

Eastwood allegedly fought with deputies, who brought him to the ground with Tasers and then took him into custody.

Eastwood was treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for his non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Sheriff’s officials said just before 11 p.m. Sunday that they expected to book Eastwood into the Sonoma County Jail later that night on suspicion of felony assault.

Sheriff’s officials are investigating this incident despite the deputy-involved shooting because Eastwood’s injury was non-life-threatening.

If Eastwood’s injury had been more serious, Petaluma police would investigate, sheriff’s officials said.