Suspected DUI Driver Leads Novato Police, CHP on Chase

A Novato man was jailed Monday following a chase involving multiple local law enforcement agencies, according to police.

Novato police say it all began around 7 a.m. in the 800 block of State Access Road, when they got a report of a possibly impaired driver spinning "donuts" in a parking lot.  Responding officers tried to pull the driver over, but he sped off.

"Patrol initiated a vehicle pursuit and the suspect continued operating his vehicle in a reckless manner, running stop signs, running red lights, and driving around stopped traffic," Novato Police Sgt. J. Demski said in a news release. 

The driver-- later identified as 32-year-old Richard Goldsmith-- eventually headed northbound on Highway 101, which is when CHP took over the pursuit, according to Demski.

"CHP assumed the pursuit and later utilized pursuit intervention tactics to stop the suspect vehicle near Golf Course Dr. in Rohnert Park," he said. 

Goldsmith was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol, and handed over to Novato police.

NPD took the man to Petaluma Valley Hospital, where he was cleared-- and then apparently "...resisted officers and battered one officer when being taken to the patrol vehicle for transport to jail," Demski said. 

The man was taken to Marin County Jail on several charges, including:  reckless evasion of a peace officer, suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer, and multiple vehicle code violations, according to Demski.

Goldsmith-- who also resides in Canoga Pak in the L.A. area-- was additionally booked on an outstanding felony arrest warrant held by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to the sergeant.