A big swing through the law enforcement community led to five arrests following a robbery at a Santa Rosa marijuana dispensary and subsequent vehicle pursuits, according to the City of Rohnert Park Police & Fire. Last Thursday evening, a distress call was made by an employee who was reportedly assaulted by several individuals who then made off with store products in a fleet of cars.

Officers quickly took positions along Highway 101, tracking two of the supposed getaway vehicles, although one pursuit was terminated due to dangerously high speeds. Another, assisted by the Sheriff’s Office helicopter Henry 1, ended with a crash on the HWY 116 exit in Cotati and the suspects fleeing on foot. The Santa Rosa Police, with a little help from local agencies, apprehended the three suspects swiftly without further incident.

A third vehicle, resulting in another chase, yielded near Todd Road, where law enforcement encountered resistance from one occupant who managed an escape. Yet, two others were detained with evidence of the robbery discovered in both this vehicle and the one found in Cotati. The Santa Rosa Police Department's Violent Crimes Detectives have since taken the reins of this ongoing investigation.

The apprehended suspects, hailing from Sacramento, range in age from 22 to 29 and face charges including felony robbery, conspiracy, and resisting arrest. The authorities are diligent in stressing the gravity of the crimes committed and the unity and effectiveness of the multi-agency operation, expressing gratitude for the concerted efforts to maintain public safety in Sonoma County.

Charged individuals include 23-year-old Aurya Pratap Singh, Javier Artemio Ruvalcaba, also 23, Jacourtney Deshawn and Chermeine Vedell Carter, 23 and 29, respectively, along with 22-year-old Reginald Dale Harris III, as listed by the Rohnert Park Department of Safety.