ALPR Technology Helps SRPD Quickly Recover Stolen Vehicle and Arrest Wanted Felon

On January 19, 2026, at approximately 8:05 p.m., officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) were dispatched to the 800 block of 4th Street for a report of a recently stolen vehicle. The victim reported that his grey Honda Civic was taken while he was making a food delivery and that the theft had occurred within the previous 10 minutes. SRPD officers and dispatchers in the Communications Center immediately began searching for the stolen vehicle using Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. Within minutes, they determined the stolen vehicle was in the area of Stony Point Road and Sebastopol Road at approximately 8:13 p.m. 

At approximately 8:15 p.m., an officer located the stolen vehicle near Sebastopol Road and Dutton Avenue. When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the suspect driver fled onto Highway 12, initiating a pursuit. The pursuit continued for approximately 1.5 miles and reached speeds of up to 70 mph on the freeway. The driver took the highway interchange northbound, exiting the freeway at 3rd Street and continuing onto Morgan Street.  

As the vehicle exited onto the downtown offramp, officers became increasingly concerned that the suspect, already driving dangerously, was heading toward a densely populated area. To prevent the fleeing driver from entering downtown traffic and posing a significant risk to the public, an SRPD sergeant conducted a successful Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT). A PIT is a controlled maneuver used by trained officers to intentionally make contact with a fleeing vehicle’s rear quarter panel, causing it to spin and stop safely. This maneuver is only used when the danger posed by a fleeing driver outweighs the risks of the intervention. 

The PIT was executed safely, and the vehicle came to a stop. Ruben Bino Paez II, a 49-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, was detained without incident. Officers determined Paez was on felony probation and had outstanding felony warrants in both Sonoma County and Napa County, including one for assault with a deadly weapon.  

Paez was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail for his outstanding warrants and the following offenses: 

10851(a) VC – Vehicle theft 
2800.1(a) VC – Evading 
666.5(a) PC – Theft with priors 
496d(a) PC – Possession of a stolen vehicle 

There were no injuries to officers, the suspect, or members of the public. No patrol vehicles were damaged, and the stolen vehicle sustained only minor damage from the PIT maneuver. 

This incident also demonstrates the value of SRPD’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, which provided officers with timely vehicle data that helped them quickly identify and locate the stolen car within minutes of the initial call. The safe recovery of the vehicle, the arrest of a wanted felon, and the prevention of further risk to the community reflect SRPD’s ongoing commitment to using effective technology and trained tactical decision-making to keep Santa Rosa residents safe. 

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 26-591. 

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.