In an article that broke on Friday, the Press Democrat revealed that Sonoma County’s Health Officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in the winter of 2020. The incident happened on December 2nd, 2020 when Dr. Mase was seen driving erratically on I-80 in Oakland. She was followed by CHP as she merged onto 580, and they say she nearly hit another vehicle as she transitioned to the slow lane. After several attempts to pull her over, including use of lights and the officer’s PA system, she did exit the freeway and came to a stop on the side of the road. Officers say that Dr. Mase appeared intoxicated and she was asked to perform field sobriety tests. Court documents say that she failed to complete the tests properly and she was placed under arrest.
At the time of the arrest, Sonoma County was in the most restrictive tier of the state’s COVID response, and Dr. Mase was giving regular updates on the state of the vaccine rollout and clarifying rules regarding masks. She made no mention of her arrest during the update. Dr. Mase initially faced two misdemeanor charges: driving under the influence of alcohol with a prior offense; and driving with a blood-alcohol level above .08 percent, the legal limit in California, with a prior offense. The prior offense refers an incident in San Diego in May 2014 when she was arrested on suspicion of DUI. That case was dismissed and expunged in 2016.
In the wake of the December 2020 arrest, Dr. Mase was eventually convicted of misdemeanor reckless driving with alcohol involved after pleading no contest. She was given a year’s probation which will end on July 23rd this year and she was fined $530. Dr. Mase was also ordered to complete a DUI course, and records show that she enrolled in that course in August last year. On Friday evening, she issued a written apology to the Press Democrat, saying, quote, “I made a very serious mistake. After socializing with a friend after work hours, I misjudged my sobriety and got behind the wheel of my car. On my way home, I was pulled over and arrested.” She went on to say, quote, “I deeply regret that this occurred. I have apologized to my family and co-workers, and I want to extend my regrets to the community as well and ask for your forgiveness.”
Reaction to the news has rippled throughout the community. Tina Rivera, Sonoma County Health Services Director, says she is shocked and disappointed. Chair of the Board of Supervisors, James Gore, texted PD reporters, saying that he knew nothing of the arrest and conviction but that he would follow up to address the situation appropriately. Dr. Mase did inform her supervisor of the arrest at the time it happened. As of early Monday, there were no official statements from the Sonoma County Health Department or the Board of Supervisors.
