Last Friday afternoon, California Highway Patrol officers in Santa Rosa responded to an alarming situation on US-101 near Petaluma. A motorist called 911 to report that a suspect had brandished a handgun while driving southbound. The caller kept the suspect in view and provided live updates to CHP dispatch, playing a critical role in relaying information that likely aided in the swift response from law enforcement. This incident was detailed in a post on the Santa Rosa CHP's Facebook page.

While maintaining contact with dispatch, the victim's quick thinking allowed a Santa Rosa CHP officer to locate and catch up with the involved vehicles. The officer found them in the San Rafael area, where, thanks to collaboration with Marin CHP officers, they stopped and detained the suspect's vehicle. The driver, the vehicle's sole occupant, was identified as 47-year-old Adrian Arroyo from Oakland. Kept on the floorboard of Arroyo's vehicle, the officers discovered a Colt .45 caliber handgun with a high-capacity magazine that matched the victim's description. To their shock, it was uncovered that Arroyo had been barred from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.

CHP officers arrested Arroyo, and he now faces charges including brandishing a firearm and illegal firearm possession. Furthermore, the handgun he had was unregistered, compounding the severity of his situation. After the arrest, Arroyo was booked into Sonoma County Jail. The California Highway Patrol announced the arrest proudly, reiterating its commitment to ensuring the "highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California", as highlighted in their social media statement.