SUSPECT ELUDES POLICE ON FITCH MOUNTAIN

Fitch Mountain Road in Healdsburg was shut for at least four hours Thursday as officers from four law enforcement agencies hunted a man who fled into the wooded terrain after a pursuit north from Windsor.

In addition to being wanted on two felony warrants out of Humboldt County, 28-year-old Wade Daniel Harris was believed to be armed when he crashed his car and ran on foot into the neighborhood overlooking the Russian River, Sonoma County Sheriff's Lt. Scott Dunn said.

About 30 people were involved in the manhunt, which stemmed from reports of an attempted theft at the Pick-n-Pull auto parts recycling yard on Old Redwood Highway in Windsor.

Deputies were responding to a theft call when Harris jumped into his car and drove out of the parking lot, only to encounter authorities. He turned west onto Starr Road, then turned back into the school parking lot. In the process he bolted through a chain that blocks off play areas.

Luckily, principal Tad Theiss said, the children scattered and no one was hurt.

Once the suspect had turned onto Old Redwood Highway, he sped northward despite an attempt by officers to get him to stop. He continued onto the freeway and north into Healdsburg, authorities said.

They lost sight of him entering Healdsburg, but members of the public pointed the way, leading authorities up Fitch Mountain Road, where the suspect fled into the woods.