A routine welfare check by Sebastopol Police spiraled into a high-speed pursuit that ended with the arrest of a 53-year-old transient woman yesterday afternoon. Officers had initially responded to a call about a woman, identified as Carrie Mitchell, who appeared passed out in her car in the 600 block of Gravenstein Highway North.

Upon arrival, the situation quickly escalated when they discovered Mitchell was on felony formal probation in Sonoma County. She was required to submit to a search by law enforcement as part of her probation terms. However, instead of complying, Mitchell started her vehicle and led cops on a dangerous chase through the city.

The pursuit, which saw Mitchell hitting speeds of up to 80 mph, ended on Corline Court, just 2 miles from where it began. According to a statement posted by the Sebastopol Police Department on Facebook, Mitchell ditched her vehicle and attempted to escape on foot into a thicket of blackberry bushes. The tactic fell short, allowing officers to make an arrest without further complications.

The subsequent probation search of her vehicle turned up drug paraphernalia, alcohol, and marijuana – all items Mitchell wasn’t permitted to possess. Mitchell faces a slew of charges, including Violation of Felony Formal Probation, Felony Reckless Evading, and Resisting an Officer, among others. She was given medical attention before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail.