Sheriff: Dimitri Storm 'Believes He's a Police Officer'

Mental health, drug and alcohol issues are plaguing Dimitri Storm, the man who has eluded law enforcement from Petaluma and Woodacre all the way down to Big Sur over the last month, according to law enforcement officials.

At a press conference in Felton, Calif., Thursday, Santa Cruz Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Hart said that the 42-year-old Storm, the man who allegedly has been stealing cars and license plates and is accused of threatening to kill two Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies, "believes he is a police officer."

Storm's family has told local law enforcement that he has struggled with mental health issues, Hart said.

The fugitive, originally from the San Lorenzo Valley in Santa Cruz County, has returned to the area repeatedly during the course of his series of crimes. But he has also stolen cars, broken into cars and committed other crimes in Santa Clara, Monterey, Marin and Sonoma counties. 

Although he has ties to Santa Cruz County, Hart said it doesn't appear there is anyone in the area helping him when he returns to the San Lorenzo Valley.

"He travels alone. He's a loner. We don't have a residence to tie him to," Hart said. "He doesn't appear to have friends or a girlfriend, so there's nowhere for us to find him."

Deputy April Skalland said Storm also is estranged from his family. There is no reason to believe they are secretly aiding his criminal activity.

"I spoke with his mom and visited her house," Skalland said. "There are no signs of him there. She has been very forthcoming and helpful. The family calls me a couple times a week." 

Storm has not physically hurt anyone over the last month, but he did threaten a group of people in the Summit area with a gun a couple of weeks ago, Hart said.

His crimes are generally limited to the theft and burglary of vehicles. He has stolen 10 cars, broken into 40, and taken an unknown amount of license plates, which he uses to disguise stolen cars, Hart said. Storm also seems to have a preference for SUVs. 

Hart called Storm's actions "crimes of opportunity." He is only stealing cars with keys left inside. He is not hot wiring cars and taking them without keys.

Storm is also believed to have picked up a female hitchhiker in San Mateo County on April 22. He allegedly had a knife, and the hitchhiker was frightened before he dropped her off at a scenic viewpoint in Palo Alto, according to authorities.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, CHP and agencies in other counties are all on high alert for Storm. Anyone who reports seeing Storm or even just suspicious activity in their neighborhood should see response from police within minutes, Hart said, stressing that civilians not make contact with the fugitive.

"He's definitely a priority," Hart said. "We have a team of detectives working full times on the case. Really, it's going to take help from the public. The public is going to be the eyes and ears on this."

A $500 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture.

Storm is wanted for multiple crimes, including stealing a car and leading authorities on a pursuit through the North Bay last Friday and eluding a massive manhunt in West Marin.

Storm was identified as the suspect who stole a GMC Acadia in Windsor on Friday and was tracked by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies to Petaluma, where the deputies tried to contact him.

Storm allegedly threatened the deputies, who tried to subdue him with a Taser but were unsuccessful. He then fled in the SUV into the Woodacre area of Marin County and was not found despite an hours-long search.

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