Santa Rosa Man Arrested for Road Rage and Online Harassment

A 24-year-old North Bay man, Armando Sanchez Martinez, was arrested on Friday following a violent road rage incident earlier this month. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to reports of an assault that occurred on August 7 at approximately 9:45 a.m. near Highway 101 and Steele Lane. According to investigators, the altercation began when Sanchez Martinez followed the victim after a lane change and confronted him at a traffic light. During the confrontation, Sanchez Martinez allegedly exited his vehicle and attacked the victim with a window punch and a folding knife. The victim managed to take photos of the assailant and his vehicle, but Sanchez Martinez retaliated by throwing the victim's phone into the bushes before fleeing the scene. Following the incident, he tracked down the victim online and began making threats via social media. Using the photos taken by the victim, investigators were able to identify Sanchez Martinez, leading to the issuance of arrest and search warrants. On Friday morning, CHP officers, in collaboration with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, apprehended him at his residence. He was subsequently booked into the Sonoma County Jail on multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and witness intimidation. Sanchez Martinez is currently being held on $300,000 bail, with no information available regarding his court appearance. The case highlights ongoing concerns about road rage incidents and the potential for escalating violence.