A Petaluma resident, Charles Piezzi, was arrested on Sunday afternoon under suspicion of driving under the influence. The arrest followed a four-vehicle collision and a foot chase through a residential neighborhood.
The incident began at around 5:50 p.m. when police responded to reports of a hit-and-run collision at the intersection of Lakeville Highway and S. McDowell Boulevard. Piezzi, driving an SUV, reportedly rear-ended one vehicle, leading to a chain reaction collision involving four vehicles in total.
One adult female was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash, and a 12-year-old child received on-site treatment for minor injuries. Following the incident, Piezzi allegedly drove his vehicle over a curb, parked in a nearby lot, and fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood. Police pursued him to the backyard of a home on the 1500 block of Rio Nido Way.
Despite police commands, Piezzi attempted to evade capture by entering the unlocked back door of a residence and subsequently jumping over the rear fence into another backyard. Officers eventually apprehended him without further incident.
Upon arrest, it was revealed that Piezzi’s blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit, and he had switched license plates with a different vehicle he owned. Additionally, records showed that Piezzi was on DUI probation, and his license had been suspended due to a prior arrest.
Piezzi was later booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on multiple charges, including DUI with injury, hit and run with injury, burglary, resisting or obstructing peace officers, driving with a suspended license, displaying a false license plate, and violation of DUI probation.