Former Vallejo Councilman Arrested On Suspicion Of Hit And Run

By Bay City News Service

A former Vallejo police captain and city councilman is facing
misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run and driving under the influence.
           Tony Pearsall, 66, was arrested Sunday night after he allegedly
struck a parked Nissan in the parking lot of the Lucky Supermarket at 1740
Tuolumne St. in Vallejo around 9:15 p.m., police Lt. Ken Weaver said.
           A witness gave a description of the vehicle and its license plate
and responding officers determined it was Pearsall's Nissan Murano, Weaver
said.
           The officers drove to Pearsall's residence on El Camino Real and
saw Pearsall's Nissan driving toward them on the wrong side of the road.
           The officers turned on the overhead emergency lights of the patrol
car and stopped, and Pearsall stopped his Nissan, which rolled forward and
hit the push bumper of the patrol car causing minor damage, according to
Weaver.
           The officers contacted Pearsall who showed "objective signs of
being under the influence," Weaver said.
           Aware that Pearsall has "health issues," the officers took him to
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Vallejo where a blood sample was taken,
Weaver said.
           Pearsall was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and
hit-and-run and was released to his wife, Vallejo City Councilwoman Stephanie
Gomes.
           The Solano County District Attorney's Office will review the
police report to determine if charges will be filed against Pearsall.
           Pearsall's attorney, Daniel Russo, said the former city official
took the drug Ambien so he could sleep, but his wife asked him to go to the
store four blocks from their home to get Benadryl.
           Pearsall also had a glass of wine at dinner Sunday evening, Russo
said.
           "It's obvious what happened. I don't think there will be
measurable amounts of alcohol or pain killer in his blood," Russo said.
           Russo said Pearsall suffers from an injury on his back and leg.
           "I know him to be a real straight arrow. Drinking and driving is
not an issue for him. He's not a juicer or a pill guy. He's been under a lot
of stress and pain lately," Russo said.
           Russo said Nissan in the parking lot sustained a scrape. "There
was no damage to either vehicle," he said.
           Russo said he wants to meet with the district attorney's office to
try and settle the case before a court date is set.
           Pearsall is the former director of the Fighting Back Partnership,
a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting alcohol and drug abuse by
children and their families and the related crime and violence.
           It works with businesses, residents and government to improve
neighborhoods, strengthen families and support youth development to create a
safe, healthy and thriving community, according to its website.