Suspect in marijuana robbery caught after highway chase

By Glenda Anderson
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

April 05, 2008 A man suspected of stealing marijuana led police on a chase on Highway 128 near Cloverdale befoe crashing his vehicle while trying to avoid a spike strip, authorities said.

Joseph Charles Denson, 30, of Vallejo, was taken to a Sonoma County hospital for treatment, said Mendocino County Sheriff's Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.

Denson allegedly pulled a small-caliber handgun on Mendocino Coast resident Abel Sommer and a mutual acquaintance, Soren Helstrom, at Sommer's home on Albion Ridge Road.

The suspect had gone to Sommer's home with Helstrom, Smallcomb said.

Denson allegedly took a pound of marijuana Sommer had for medical use, then fled in the gold Nissan Maxima in which he'd arrived with Helstrom.

The vehicle was spotted by Cloverdale police on Highway 128 just after noon, Smallcomb said.

Law enforcement tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver sped up, hitting speeds of up to 90 mph, Smallcomb said.

When a spike strip was placed on the highway in an attempt to flatten the tires and stop the car, the driver swerved, causing the car to overturn, Smallcomb said.

Denson was expected to be booked on suspicion of armed robbery and evading arrest, he said. He already is on parole for narcotics violations, Smallcomb said.

The incident is another example that growing and possessing marijuana, even legitimately, can attract crime, law enforcement officials said.

"It's dangerous to have pot," Smallcomb said.You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@

pressdemocrat.com.