Police news

June 21, 2006

Bicycling bank robber sought

Police released a surveillance photo of a man who robbed an eastside bank of an undisclosed amount of cash June 14 and rode away on a bicycle.

According to police, the robber entered the Bank of America at 181 N. McDowell Blvd., in the Plaza North shopping center, at about 1:55 p.m. He went to a teller window and demanded cash. He told the teller he was armed with a handgun, but no gun was seen. The teller handed him some cash and he immediately left the bank.

The robber is described as white, about 45 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 145 pounds. He had a weathered complexion, thick mustache and was unshaven. He was wearing a blue denim jacket, gray shirt, blue jeans and a blue knit cap and had a "dirty appearance," according to Sgt. Matthew Stapleton.

Stapleton said a witness gave police some good information that led to the recovery of evidence that may be helpful in the investigation.

Police are asking anyone who may have any seen the robber or who has any information about the case to call Detective Steve Nelson at 778-4456.

Man nabbed for acts of vandalism

A 35-year-old Petaluma man was arrested early June 15 after allegedly knocking over planters, ripping out plants, damaging a rest room and knocking over garbage cans.

At 12:44 a.m., police received numerous calls reporting vandalism in the downtown area. A witness described the suspect, later identified as Nalani Felli.

Officers located Felli in the area and detained him. He knocked over new, egg-shaped planters on the sidewalk on Kentucky Street and ripped plants out of them, Police Sgt. Ken Savano said.

A subsequent investigation revealed that he was responsible for acts of vandalism that started in Oak Hill Park, where a door to a rest room was damaged. He also was responsible for knocking over several garbage cans on Howard Street. The total amount of the damages is unknown.

Felli was taken to Sonoma County Jail and booked on charges of vandalism and violation of probation.

Boy arrested after vandalism spree

A 15-year-old Petaluma boy was arrested June 13 for allegedly knocking over planters and damaging parked vehicles.

Petaluma police received a call at 11:10 p.m. indicating that several juveniles were vandalizing property in front of Boulevard Cinemas on B Street at Petaluma Boulevard.

Officers found that other property had been vandalized on Petaluma Boulevard between E Street and East Washington Street. They located several male juveniles who matched the description of the suspects in the area of D Street and Petaluma Boulevard South.

After questioning them, police determined that one boy was responsible for all the damage. He was arrested and transported to the Petaluma Police Department, where he was booked on a vandalism charge.

He later was released to his parents, and given a citation requiring him to appear in juvenile court.

Petaluma police ask citizens who witness acts of vandalism report them by calling 911.

Driver arrested after fleeing police

A Petaluma man was arrested Thursday on DUI and other charges after driving recklessly, colliding with a parked vehicle and fleeing from officers on Clelia Lane.

At 11:31 p.m., police received several calls indicating that a man was driving a vehicle recklessly through the area of Henry Way, Crinella Drive, Filippini Way and Clelia. Reportedly, the vehicle was speeding, burning tires and driving through landscaping.

As officers drove to the area, they found that a white 1993 Chevrolet Tahoe had collided with a parked vehicle. They found the vehicle, without the driver inside, parked at Crinella and Filippini.

Police searched the area, and found Miguel Angel Ruiz-Cruz, 23, moving away from the vehicle and walking through several front yards on Filippini. They attempted to detain him, but he then began running toward Clelia, Police Sgt. Ken Savano said.

They found him hiding in the bushes by a house on Clelia. He was arrested on charges of DUI, reckless driving, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license and violation of probation from a previous DUI.

Ruiz-Cruz later was booked into Sonoma County Jail without bail, and his vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

Fire guts storage building, trailer

A fire destroyed a storage building and a trailer behind an appliance store on Petaluma Boulevard North early Thursday morning, reported Petaluma Fire Department sources.

An employee of Hunt and Behrens told police at 4:31 a.m. that a fire was burning behind Tresch and Silva's Appliances at 402 Petaluma Blvd. North. Firefighters from the Petaluma, Rancho Adobe, Wilmar and Lakeville departments responded.

Firefighters weren't able to battle the fire from inside the building and trailer, but brought it under control in 22 minutes.

The building, trailer and its contents and old appliance parts were destroyed. No damage estimate was made, and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, the sources said.