Woman Arrested for Intentionally Driving Through a Crowd Outside Bar
The El Rey Nightclub in Santa Rosa, where five were injured very early Saturday.
SANTA ROSA – According to a Community Bulletin issued by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s deputies and Fire Department personnel responded to a call from the El Rey Nightclub Saturday, November 14, shortly after 2:30 am at 5344 Sebastopol Road in the unincorporated area of Santa Rosa. The caller said that someone had been hit with a bottle and was bleeding from the mouth. There was much confusion on the call as background voices were heard crying and yelling in Spanish.
SCSO deputies were on the scene within minutes and found that several people had been assaulted. Deputies found that a car leaving the parking lot of the club after a fight had run into all of the victims. Ambulances arrived and medical personnel attended to at least five people who suffered from moderate to major injuries.
Leos was in a single vehicle collision at this corner, serious enough to deploy airbags.
Witnesses said that an Hispanic woman with long hair had struck the initial victim with a beer bottle, and was also the driver of a minivan that ran into the patrons. The vehicle was found disabled and unoccupied at the intersection of Ludwig Avenue and Llano Road, about three miles away, shortly after the reported assault. The minivan’s airbags had been deployed and the front end of the car was damaged.
SCSO deputies and Officers from the California Highway Patrol tracked the registered owner of the vehicle to an address on Dutton Meadows in South Santa Rosa. The owner of the car was identified as 29-year-old Jessica Garcia Leos and she had just arrived at the residence, which is about three and a half miles from where the van was found. She was positively identified as the person who drove the minivan into the crowd of people. She was placed under arrest, and because of the seriousness of the crimes detectives from the SCSO Violent Crimes Investigation were called to assist.
Leos was interviewed at the Detective Bureau, and was taken to the hospital as she complained of a wrist injury suffered during the incident. She was released after treatment and was booked into the Sonoma County Jail for DUI, assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury, and attempted murder. She is being held without bail.
The assault victims were all transported to local emergency rooms and treated for their injuries. Four victims were treated and released, and one victim remained in critical condition with very serious injuries.
Anyone with information pertaining to the crime is encouraged to call the Investigations Tip Line at 707-565-2185 or submit an anonymous tip through the SCSO website.
