Suspect crashes vehicle while evading arrest
Windsor police responded to a home invasion that awoke a Wilcox Road resident early Monday morning, leading to a high-speed chase as the suspect, Kory Wayne Messer of Santa Rosa, fled the scene in a Volvo with marijuana plants stolen from the victim’s property.
At 1:47 a.m., police received a call from a man who said he was awakened by the sound of a car in his driveway. The victim also heard someone trying to open his door.
When the victim called out in response to the disturbance, a male voice responded, saying that he was from the Sheriff’s Office. He ordered the victim to come outside and the victim complied.
Upon exiting his home, the victim saw Messer standing near a dark Volvo, holding a flashlight in one hand and an unknown object in the other. The suspect frisked him and asked him if he wanted to be arrested. Terrified, the victim was certain the man was not a police officer.
“[The suspect] basically had the person step out and then the suspect went into the trailer to look around and then came out and asked the victim to go back inside,” said Windsor Chief of Police Chris Spallino.
There, the victim called 911 and reported that the suspect was still on the property. While speaking with the dispatcher, the victim heard Messer start his car and leave without his headlights turned on.
Two Windsor officers arriving on the scene spotted the car leaving the premises. The officers turned on their lights and sirens, but the Volvo increased its speed and did not yield. Traveling southbound on Starr Road, the suspect passed several stop signs and intersections, reaching speeds of 80 to 90 miles per hour.
A 90-degree turn on Starr Road south of Reiman Lane proved too difficult for Messer to negotiate at a high speed, and he crashed his vehicle head-on into a large oak tree.
Messer, a 27-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, was trapped inside the wrecked vehicle, with his legs pinned under the collapsed dashboard. Windsor Fire Department paramedics responded and removed him from the car. He was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Police found numerous semi-dry marijuana plants in the rear of the Volvo, which were stolen from the victim’s property, according to Spallino.
While police believe Messer was impersonating law enforcement, he was not wearing a uniform or identifying clothing. “Typically if we search… we’re going to have clear identification,” Spallino said. “We really don’t do something with one person – there’d be several people. But that’s also the risk of growing marijuana; you make yourself vulnerable to robberies.”
Messer was out on bail for a pending felony matter stemming from a vehicle pursuit with the Santa Rosa Police Department. The incident occurred about a week prior to the home invasion, and Messer was released after he produced the $10,000 bail.
On Monday, Messer was arrested for several felonies, including home invasion robbery, false imprisonment, impersonating a peace officer, recklessly evading a peace officer and causing serious bodily injury, driving with a suspended license and committing a felony while out on bail. When his medical issues are resolved, Messer will be booked into jail.
