2 winery burglary suspects caught after chase through Sebastopol

Two men accused of stealing wine from Hansel Vineyards west of Santa Rosa were arrested Sunday after being chased by the ranch manager and then police through Sebastopol, police said.

The manager saw the suspects leave the winery in a pickup and took chase in another truck, Sebastopol Police Sgt. Ken Troutfetter said.

As the two trucks sped into Sebastopol on Morris Avenue, Officer Dennis Colthurst saw them, and the ranch manager worker signaled to him that something was wrong.

Troutfetter said Colthurst began chasing the suspects, with speeds reach 60 to 70 mph on High School Road north of Sebastopol.

The pickup turned onto a driveway and stopped about a quarter-mile down. The driver ran but Colthurst immediately arrested the passenger, Troutfetter said.

Other officers joined the search for the driver, who was arrested later by Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies along High School Road, Troutfetter said.

The investigation found that the suspects burglarized Hansel Vineyards on Hall Road, taking wine with a “high cash value,” he said.

The names of the suspects were unavailable.