Police motorcycle chase ends when Petaluma teen crashes into a parked vehicle, minor injuries

Police: A teenager on motorcycle that was not street legal tried to run but hit parked vehicle after a few blocks.|

A Petaluma teenager who is suspected of trying to outrun police on his motorcycle early Saturday morning before running into a parked vehicle was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail.

A Petaluma police officer spotted Martin Gabriele Lawson, 18, driving a motorcycle that was not street legal about 1:42 a.m. in the area of Petaluma Boulevard and East Washington Street, police said in a statement. The motorcycle was not equipped with lights or a license plate.

The officer turned on his emergency lights to stop the motorcycle but Lawson fled by turning onto Mary Street then onto Kentucky Street where he ran two stop signs and hit speeds of 50 mph, police said.

Lawson turned onto West Street and ran a stop sign while turning left onto Petaluma Boulevard North. He then drove onto the sidewalk for around 300 yards before turning onto West Payran Street, where he hit 60 mph before slamming into a parked vehicle, police said.

Lawson complained of pain and was brought to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and treated for minor injuries, police said. He was then booked in Sonoma County Jail for felony reckless evasion and probation violation.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @nrahaim.

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