Law enforcement in Sonoma County has released details about the arrest of two people who allegedly led police on a chase that ended in a fiery crash at a gas station last week.
On March 5, a man and woman claiming to be officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department obtained a person’s cellphone and credit card information, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. The pair told the person that his accounts had been compromised.
On March 8, after being contacted on the victim’s cellphone by his tax preparer, the suspects posed as the man and his niece to get his tax return and a check for $100.
The victim discovered what had happened on March 11 when he tried to pick up his taxes, police said.
Investigators identified the two suspects as Jeanette Perez, 32, and Jorge Gonzalez Alvarez, 39, both from Ukiah.
Last Thursday, a sheriff’s deputy tried to pull over Perez and Alvarez in the 3700 block of Santa Rosa Avenue. Perez allegedly refused to yield and instead started a pursuit that ended with their vehicle crashing into a gas station at the corner of Corby and Hearn avenues in Santa Rosa. Nearby residences had to be evacuated after the car and a gas pump caught fire.
Both suspects allegedly fled the scene, but were located and arrested with the help of Santa Rosa Police, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Perez was booked into jail on suspicion of felony evading, burglary, conspiracy, and theft by false pretenses, along with misdemeanor impersonation of a police officer, possession of drugs, violation of parole, and on a warrant. She remains in custody without bail.
Alvarez was booked on suspicion of felony conspiracy and burglary and was released the following day with pre-arraignment conditions set by a judge.
The victim had his cellphone, credit cards and tax forms returned to him, the Sheriff’s Office said.
