The public’s willingness to report a car accident, and divulge information about the involved parties led to the capture of a hit-and-run suspect in Santa Rosa, California. Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday, June 3, arrested the suspect following leads from an anonymous tipster.

The SCSO reported earlier that on Monday, June 1, a motorist operating a Maserati intentionally backed his vehicle against a man walking a dog. The victim ended up with serious injuries, while his dog died in the 9 a.m. accident on Las Lomas Road, a few miles from Boyes Hot Springs’ Central Avenue.

Initial reports indicated the incident began when the unidentified victim was walking a terrier mix brood on the sidewalk at Las Lomas. The pedestrian observed a white Maserati speeding towards him and cautioned the motorist to reduce his speed. Witnesses told detectives that the admonition led the motorist to stop his car completely. He then reversed his vehicle in the man’s direction and accelerated moments before running over the pedestrian and his dog.

The terrier mix died in the collision, while the man suffered injuries. The suspect fled the scene of the accident, without attempting to help the struck victims. Sheriff’s deputies utilized online platforms like Facebook and NextDoor to seek help from individuals in locating the culprit, leading to the June 3 tip-off.

Following the anonymous tip, SCSO officials discovered the white Maserati, sporting major rear-end damages in a driveway on the 1000 block of Elmond Drive. Deputies towed the vehicle to the sheriff’s office, where they identified its registered owner as Juan Mendoza-Meza, 30, of Santa Rosa.

They later apprehended Mendoza-Meza in an apartment on the 100 block of Butterfly Lane. Sheriff officials took him into custody on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. He also faces a charge of cruel felony against an animal and remains held at the Sonoma County Jail.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office used the incident to commend the public for their continued efforts and willingness to report car accidents and assist in the police investigation.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

Please follow and like us: