Crime & Safety
Rohnert Park Mom Booked on DUI Among New Year's Violations
New Year's Day arrest one of two involving drunk driving with children aboard.
Three incidents of drunk driving in Sonoma County dating from January 1 were reported this morning by s public information officer.
On New Years Day, at approximately 8:45 p.m, CHP Officer Adam Honzel was on routine patrol on southbound 101 near West Sierra Ave. when he observed a Cadillac traveling at a high rate of speed in the posted 55 mph construction zone.
Honzel confirmed the vechicle's speed on radar at 80 mph. As the officer overtook the vehicle, he noted that it was weaving between lanes.
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The officer stopped the vehicle, and contacted the driver, identified as Maria Pearce, 37, of Rohnert Park. Pearce initially denied drinking, however the officer noted signs of intoxication, and Pearce failed field sobriety tests.
Also in the vehicle were Pearce’s son, 11, and husband. Pearce was booked on charges of DUI and child endangerment.
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In another incident much earlier in the day, at approximately 12:45 a.m. (just after the turn of the calendar), a Cloverdale woman was arrested on similar charges when officer Thomas Barto responded to a call of a single vehicle collision on Hall Rd. near Sanford Rd. in west Santa Rosa.
Upon arrival, he observed a Mercedes sedan that had run off the road and struck a concrete utility box. The officer contacted the driver, who was identified as Heidi Rochford, 37, of Cloverdale.
The officer noted signs of intoxication, and began a DUI evaluation. Rochford was subsequently arrested.
Also in the vehicle were Rochford’s son, 10, and her husband. Rochford was booked on charges of DUI and child endangerment.
Another area New Year-related incident reported by the CHP was a single vehicle collision on Bodega Ave. at Middle Two Rock Rd, where a BMW sedan ran off of the roadway and struck an embankment. The vehicle was unoccupied, but after running a registration check, the officer contacted Jonathan David Miller, 19, of Petaluma.
The officer noted signs of intoxication as he gathered collision information from Miller, and began a DUI evaluation. A records check revealed that Miller’s driver’s license was suspended, and he is on probation for a DUI violation this past September. Miller was arrested, and charged with DUI, driving while suspended, and violation of probation.
