Vallejo man suspected of pursuit after injuring Petaluma officer

A Vallejo man is suspected of leading authorities on a chase that led to a confrontation with a Petaluma police officer in September, officials said this weekend.

Jason Hellman, 51, is being held in the San Mateo County Jail after being previously arrested in an unrelated case, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.

Hellman is suspected of possession of a stolen vehicle and other charges related to the chase in Sonoma County, officials said.

Sonoma County investigators said they have identified Hellman as a suspect in a pursuit and collision that occurred Sept. 7 on southbound Highway 101 near Cotati.

He is accused of fleeing after a deputy tried to pull him over for a traffic violation. Sheriff’s officials said he then drove recklessly, exceeded 100 mph and drove onto the wrong side of the freeway.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies ended the pursuit before Hellman “intentionally” rammed a Petaluma police officer’s vehicle, causing the officer to suffer a minor injury.

Hellman’s vehicle was found abandoned, officials said, adding that they learned it had been stolen out of Solano County.

On Oct. 24, they searched Hellman Vallejo’s home in the 1000 block of Alabama Street.

Inside, they said, were several boxes of ammunition and 42-year-old Vallejo resident Adam Jackson, who had an arrest warrant for violating conditions of post-release community supervision in Napa County.

Jackson is being held in the Solano County Jail on suspicion of illegal possession of ammunition and on a warrant.

Investigators also discovered suspected methamphetamine, which is still under investigation.

You can reach staff writer Colin Atagi at [email protected]. On Twitter @colin_atagi